Guam | History, Geography, & Points of Interest

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md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam">Guam</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Guam">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53979"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam#ref53979">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53980"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam#ref53980">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53981"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam#ref53981">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53982"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53983"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam/Government-and-society#ref53983">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53984"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Guam/Government-and-society#ref53984">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Guam">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/69561-050-4B2E5EFC/Flag-Guam.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/75889" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/69561-004-A15C446C/Flag-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/99/3299-050-9BCA67B1/Guam.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/190593" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/99/3299-004-DED90403/Guam.jpg" alt="Guam" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-050-CF8ED90C/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/208814" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-004-38724236/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-050-040EBC62/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/110740" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-004-48FBE30F/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg" alt="Tumon Bay" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/247691/208819" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/185245-049-0CD20332/World-Data-ethnic-composition-pie-chart-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam: Ethnic composition" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/247691/208821" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/46/185246-049-5D84A8E0/World-Data-religious-affiliation-pie-chart-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam: Religious affiliation" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/247691/208823" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/184259-049-1F679C99/World-Data-pie-chart-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam: Urban-rural" height="50" /> </a> <a href="" data-href="/media/1/247691/208825" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/185244-049-B1AD60D1/age-breakdown-bar-graph-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam: Age breakdown" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-050-B259DC8C/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/226024" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-004-D4F91A59/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg" alt="F-22 Raptor" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/104834-050-F0564AFD/brown-tree-snake-wildlife-specialist-species-military.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/123683" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/104834-004-8FFF6A5A/brown-tree-snake-wildlife-specialist-species-military.jpg" alt="Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) in Guam" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div 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width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos" >Islands and Archipelagos</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-does-the-term-Oceania-refer-to"> What does the term Oceania refer to? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/How-far-from-north-to-south-does-the-Pacific-Ocean-extend">How far from north to south does the Pacific Ocean extend?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-the-salinity-of-the-Pacific-Ocean">What is the salinity of the Pacific Ocean?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-is-the-deepest-region-of-the-Pacific-Ocean">What is the 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Coauthor of <em>Historical Dictionary of Guam and Micronesia </em>and coeditor of <em>Oceania Today: Towards New Directions and Political...</em></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Dirk Anthony Ballendorf</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Sophie-Foster/5255" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Sophie Foster</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Journalist, Suva, Fiji.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Sophie Foster</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-03-26T00:00:00CDT" >Mar 26, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6213903/2025/03/19/marshall-islands-arkansas-first-game/" rel="nofollow">Marshall Islands to play their first 11-a-side international match in Arkansas</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 19, 2025, 3:25 AM ET (New York Times) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/americastateguam/105064876" rel="nofollow">Guam legislature to debate push for statehood</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Mar. 18, 2025, 3:45 AM ET (ABC News (Australia)) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/guam-lawmakers-call-for-more-bomb-shelters-as-tensions-rise/104988024" rel="nofollow">Lawmakers fear US defence spending is neglecting Guam's local population</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 27, 2025, 1:18 AM ET (ABC News (Australia)) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref513807"></span>Guam</strong>, island and unincorporated territory of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a> in the North <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a>, the largest, most populous, and southernmost of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mariana-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mariana Islands</a>. It lies about 5,800 miles (9,300 km) west of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/San-Francisco-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">San Francisco</a> and 1,600 miles (2,600 km) east of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Manila" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Manila</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208814" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-050-CF8ED90C/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/247691/208814"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-050-CF8ED90C/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-050-CF8ED90C/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg?w=300" alt="Guam" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/183654-050-CF8ED90C/World-Data-Locator-Map-Guam.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/208814">Guam</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hagatna" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Hagåtña</a> (Agana) is the capital. Major settlements are <span id="ref1180255"></span>Dededo, in the north-central part of the island, <span id="ref1180256"></span>Machanao, in the north, and <span id="ref1180257"></span>Apotgan, on the west coast.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/69561-050-4B2E5EFC/Flag-Guam.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/75889" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/69561-050-4B2E5EFC/Flag-Guam.jpg" alt="Guam" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Guam">flag of Guam</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of Government: </dt> <dd>Governor: Lou Leon Guerrero</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Hagatna">Hagåtña</a> (formerly Agana)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2022 est.) 152,600</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Currency Exchange Rate: </dt> <dd>1 US dollar equals 0.937 euro</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State: </dt> <dd>President of the United States: <a href="/biography/Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Languages: </dt> <dd>Chamorro; English</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>none</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Guåhan (Chamorro); Territory of Guam (English)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>561</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>217</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>United States dollar (U.S.$)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2023) 192</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>166,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2018) 786.1</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2018) 303.7</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2018) 94.8%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2018) 5.2%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2017) 73.6 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2017) 78.6 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: 100%</dd> <dd>Female: 100%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2009) 24,446</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Political Status: </dt> <dd>self-governing, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States with one legislative house (Guam Legislature [15])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni: (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2009) 4,491</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Guam"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref53979"><h2 class="h1"><span id="ref513809"></span>Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="110740" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-050-040EBC62/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/247691/110740"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-050-040EBC62/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-050-040EBC62/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg?w=300" alt="Tumon Bay" data-width="800" data-height="546" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/93359-050-040EBC62/Slopes-Two-Lovers-Leap-Guam-Tumon-Bay.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/110740">Tumon Bay</a><span>Slopes of Two Lovers Leap, Tumon Bay, Guam.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The island is sharply divided into a northern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/limestone" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">limestone</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="plateau" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/plateau" data-type="EB">plateau</a> with a general elevation of about 500 feet (150 metres) and a higher area of volcanic hills to the south. The plateau is covered with a thick growth of jungle, while the volcanic hills support mainly sword <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/grass" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">grass</a>. The hills rise to an elevation of more than 1,000 feet (300 metres); their lower <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/slope-mathematics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">slopes</a> to the east (and also, in part, to the west) are covered with younger limestones, generally similar to those of the northern limestone <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plateau-landform" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plateau</a>. The island rises to 1,332 feet (406 metres) at <span id="ref513810"></span>Mount Lamlam, in the southwest. To the southeast of Mount Lamlam is another major hill, <span id="ref513811"></span>Mount Bolanos (1,240 feet [378 metres]).</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Guam has a pleasant tropical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-meteorology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">climate</a> tempered by the northeast <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/trade-wind" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">trade winds</a> and the north equatorial <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ocean-current" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">ocean current</a> that flows west across the Pacific. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/temperature" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Temperatures</a> range between approximately 70 and 90 °F (20 and 30 °C) and are fairly even throughout the year. Average annual <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/precipitation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">precipitation</a> is about 95 inches (2,400 mm), three-fourths of which falls in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/storm" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">storms</a> during the wet <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/season" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">season</a>, generally starting in May or June and lasting through November. The evenness of the climate is punctuated by destructive <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/typhoon-1359078" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">typhoons</a> (tropical cyclones) that occur at irregular intervals.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/palm-tree" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Palm</a> trees, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/fern" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ferns</a>, and other tropical plants abound. Many types of marine life and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/insect" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">insects</a> are also found. However, as a result of the accidental introduction in the 1940s of the <span id="ref1000724"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/brown-tree-snake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">brown tree snake</a>, an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/invasive-species" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">invasive species</a> from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Guinea</a>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="indigenous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indigenous" data-type="MW">indigenous</a> bird life on Guam has been devastated. At least a dozen <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bird</a> species have become extinct, and several more are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/endangered-species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">endangered</a>. The abundant <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/snake" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">snakes</a> have also caused numerous power outages by climbing poles and wires and crawling into transmission equipment, and they have killed small <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mammals</a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/102281-131-26EFC52A/islet-reef-New-Caledonia.jpg" alt="Island, New Caledonia." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Islands and Archipelagos</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref53980"><h2 class="h1"><span id="ref513813"></span>People</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Native Guamanians, ethnically called <span id="ref513814"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chamorro" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chamorros</a>, are of basically Malayo-Indonesian descent with a considerable admixture of Spanish, Filipino, Mexican, and other European and Asian ancestries. Chamorros and other Micronesians <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitute" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute" data-type="MW">constitute</a> about half the population. Nearly one-third of the people are Asians, notably Filipinos and Koreans, and there is a small minority of people of European ancestry. About three-fourths of the people are Roman Catholic, and one-eighth are Protestant.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="mb-20"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208819" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/Ygac8y78Sk66IemHM80q" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Guam: Ethnic composition"></script></div></figure></div><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208821" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/c5p0QN6lRDGzawo1rS4O" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Guam: Religious affiliation"></script></div></figure></div></div> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <span id="ref513815"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chamorro-language" class="md-crosslink ">Chamorro language</a> is an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Austronesian-languages" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Austronesian language</a> that has, over time, come to incorporate many Spanish words. The word Chamorro is derived from Chamorri, or Chamoli, meaning “noble.” English and Chamorro are the official languages; although Chamorro is still used in many homes, English is the language of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/education" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">education</a> and commerce. Because of the number of tourists and investors from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a>, Japanese is increasingly also used.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The island’s rate of natural increase, although about average for the region, is high compared with that of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, partly because of a low <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mortality-demography" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">death rate</a>. There are large numbers of migrants from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Philippines</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Korea</a>, as well as from neighbouring states such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Micronesia-republic-Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Federated States of Micronesia</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Palau" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Palau</a>, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Marshall-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Republic of the Marshall Islands</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span><div class="mb-20"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208823" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/Vtj2EmO15Xn0k21YiK2Q" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Guam: Urban-rural"></script></div></figure></div><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208825" data-asm-type="infogram"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/mRIAFkKUA0JTeKUqmwtw" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="Guam: Age breakdown"></script></div></figure></div></div></section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref53981"><h2 class="h1">Economy</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The development of Guam into an important U.S. military base brought about profound changes in the island’s agricultural patterns after <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>. Foodstuffs were imported in increasing amounts at the expense of local cultivation, and Guam now imports most of its food.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100 assembly-container"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="226024" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-050-B259DC8C/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/247691/226024"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-050-B259DC8C/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-050-B259DC8C/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg?w=300" alt="F-22 Raptor" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/131015-050-B259DC8C/pair-deployment-F-22-Raptors-Pacific-Ocean-Andersen.jpg" data-href="/media/1/247691/226024">F-22 Raptor</a><span>A pair of F-22 Raptors patrolling the Pacific Ocean during a deployment of the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The U.S. armed forces are represented at multiple military facilities on Guam. Andersen Air Force Base and its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="annexes" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/annexes" data-type="EB">annexes</a> are concentrated at the northern end of the island. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-Navy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">U.S. Navy</a> facilities, located around the island, include a naval air station, a naval base with a ship repair yard, communications centres, and a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/hospital" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hospital</a>. Work at the military facilities has drawn many islanders away from their former lives of subsistence agriculture and fishing.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref513818"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/tourism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tourism</a> is the most prominent component of the economy, with more than a million visitors arriving per year. There are several luxury hotels along Tumon Bay, which has been highly developed as a tourist area. An international airport links Guam with other Pacific islands, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Asia</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hawaii-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hawaii</a> and the continental <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/poultry-farming" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Poultry farming</a>, garment-finishing plants, and oil refining are important earners. Guam is a duty-free port, and this status has attracted a number of small manufacturing companies from countries in Asia and has also prompted some immigration. Major imports—mostly from the United States and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a>—include food products, motor vehicles and parts, and shoes and other <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/leather" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">leather</a> products. The leading exports are motor vehicles and parts, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fish" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fish</a> and other food products, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/scrap-metal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">scrap metal</a>, and tobacco products. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Finland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Finland</a>, Japan, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Micronesia-republic-Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Federated States of Micronesia</a> are the main export destinations.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":2,"pageId":247691,"pageLength":848,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.134.26"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.134.26' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Guam | History, Geography, & Points of Interest | Britannica