Guam is an island in the Western Pacific Ocean, which serves as America's gateway to the Western Pacific and Asia. It is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. Geographically speaking, the island is located around 1,500 miles to south of Japan, 1,400 miles to east of the Philippines, 2,000 miles to north of Australia and 3,800 miles to west of Hawaii. It is about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippine. Guam shares most of the rights of Americans and is one of the five US territories that have an established civilian government. In the following lines, we have provided some more information on Guam.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Guam
- The official name of Guam is the ‘Territory of Guam’.
- The official languages of Guam are English and Chamorro.
- The currency of Guam is United States Dollar (US$).
- The capital of Guam is Hagatna.
- Dededo is the largest city of Guam.
- Guam is the largest and southernmost of the islands that form a part of the Mariana Islands.
- Bougainvillea spectabilis or Puti Tai Nobiu is the nation flower of Guam.
- Marianas Rose Crown Fruit Dove, also known as Tottot and Ptilinopus roseicapilla, is the national bird of Guam.
- Mt. Lamlam, rising to a height of 1,334 feet (407 meters), forms the highest point in Guam.
- Mariana Trench, deepest part of the ocean in the world, is in the vicinity of Guam.
- The motto of Guam is "Where America's Day Begins".
- It was in March 1998 that a bill was passed by the legislature, officially changing the name of capital city, Agana to its Chamorro name, Hagatna.
- Mariana Islands were claimed by Spain in the sixteenth century and named after Queen Mariana, the mother of Charles II of Spain.
- Guam came under US occupation in 1898, under the Treaty of Paris.
- The US military base on Guam is one of the most important American bases in the Pacific.
