35 Facts About Guam

1.

In Oceania, Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia.

FactSnippet No. 433,429
2.

Guam's capital is Hagatna, and the most populous village is Dededo.

FactSnippet No. 433,430
3.

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Guam was an important stopover for the Spanish Manila Galleons.

FactSnippet No. 433,431
4.

On December 8, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam was captured by the Japanese, who occupied the island for two and a half years.

FactSnippet No. 433,432
5.

Since the 1960s, Guam's economy has been supported primarily by tourism and the U S military, for which Guam is a major strategic asset.

FactSnippet No. 433,433
6.

Guam is among the 17 non-self-governing territories listed by the United Nations, and has been a member of the Pacific Community since 1983.

FactSnippet No. 433,434
7.

The Spanish-Chamorro Wars on Guam began in 1670 over growing tensions with the Jesuit mission, with the last large-scale uprising in 1683.

FactSnippet No. 433,435
8.

Guam was transferred to the United States Navy control on December 23, 1898, by Executive Order 108-A from 25th President William McKinley.

FactSnippet No. 433,436
9.

Guam was a station for American merchants and warships traveling to and from the Philippines while the Northern Mariana Islands were sold by Spain to Germany for part of its rapidly expanding German Empire.

FactSnippet No. 433,437
10.

The Governor of Guam was federally appointed until 1968 when the Guam Elective Governor Act provided for the office's popular election.

FactSnippet No. 433,438
11.

Since Guam is not a U S state, U S citizens residing on Guam are not allowed to vote for president and their congressional representative is a non-voting member.

FactSnippet No. 433,439
12.

Guam is 30 miles long and 4 to 12 miles (6 to 19 kilometers) wide, giving it an area of 212 square miles (549 square kilometers) and making it the 32nd largest island of the United States.

FactSnippet No. 433,440
13.

Mariana chain of which Guam is a part was created by collision of the Pacific and Philippine Sea tectonic plates, with Guam located on the micro Mariana Plate between the two.

FactSnippet No. 433,441
14.

Guam is the closest land mass to the Mariana Trench, the deep subduction zone that runs east of the Marianas.

FactSnippet No. 433,442
15.

The north of Guam is a result of this base being covered with layers of coral reef, turning into limestone, and then being thrust upward by tectonic activity to create a plateau.

FactSnippet No. 433,443
16.

Cocos Island off the southern tip of Guam is the largest of the many small islets along the coastline.

FactSnippet No. 433,444
17.

Guam has experienced severe impacts from invasive species upon the natural biodiversity of the island.

FactSnippet No. 433,445
18.

Culture of Guam is a reflection of traditional Chamoru customs in combination with American, Spanish and Mexican traditions.

FactSnippet No. 433,446
19.

At the 2007 Games, Guam finished 7th of 22 countries in the medal count, and 14th at the 2011 Games.

FactSnippet No. 433,447
20.

Guam is home to various basketball organizations, including the Guam Basketball Association.

FactSnippet No. 433,448
21.

Guam hosted qualifying games on the island for the first time in 2015 and, in 2018, clinched their first FIFA World Cup Qualifying win.

FactSnippet No. 433,449
22.

Guam's economy depends primarily on tourism, Department of Defense installations and locally owned businesses.

FactSnippet No. 433,450
23.

Guam is governed by a popularly elected governor and a unicameral 15-member legislature, whose members are known as senators.

FactSnippet No. 433,451
24.

District Court of Guam is the court of United States federal jurisdiction in the territory.

FactSnippet No. 433,452
25.

However, in sending delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions, Guam does have influence in the national presidential race.

FactSnippet No. 433,453
26.

On July 31, 2020, the Government of Guam joined the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.

FactSnippet No. 433,454
27.

Guam was added to the North American Numbering Plan in 1997 (country code 671 became NANP area code 671), removing the barrier of high-cost international long-distance calls to the U S mainland.

FactSnippet No. 433,455
28.

Guam is a major hub for submarine cables between the Western U S, Hawaii, Australia and Asia.

FactSnippet No. 433,456
29.

Guam currently serves twelve submarine cables, with most continuing to China.

FactSnippet No. 433,457
30.

In 1899, the local postage stamps were overprinted "Guam" as was done for the other former Spanish colonies, but this was discontinued shortly thereafter and regular U S postage stamps have been used ever since.

FactSnippet No. 433,458
31.

Port of Guam is the island's lifeline because most products must be shipped into Guam for consumers.

FactSnippet No. 433,459
32.

Guam is served by the Antonio B Won Pat International Airport.

FactSnippet No. 433,460
33.

The island is outside the United States customs zone, so Guam is responsible for establishing and operating its own customs and quarantine agency and jurisdiction.

FactSnippet No. 433,461
34.

Since Guam is under federal immigration jurisdiction, passengers arriving directly from the United States skip immigration and proceed directly to Guam Customs and Quarantine.

FactSnippet No. 433,462
35.

Government of Guam maintains the island's main health care facility, Guam Memorial Hospital, in Tamuning.

FactSnippet No. 433,463