Guam is "Where America's Day Begins"...
Guam, an island territory of the United States, rich with cultural heritage and pride, is located 900 miles north of the equator in the Western Pacific. Guam is four to eight miles wide and 32 miles long and is the largest of the Micronesian islands. Guam’s lush tropical terrain along with urban areas within the island covers 210 square miles and is the southernmost island in the Mariana Island chain. Because of its western location from the International Date Line, Guam is the first to experience the new day in the United States; hence Guam is “Where America’s Day begins.” Its capital city is Hagatña (formerly Agana).
The Island was formed by the union of two volcanoes; a limestone plateau in the northern and southern sections of Guam joins the extinct volcanoes. Guam sits at 13.28 degrees North latitude and 144.47 degrees East longitude, approximately 210 miles southeast of the Marianas Trench, the deepest trench in the world. Sharing a similar culture and weather are Guam’s sister islands: Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.
Guam is located approximately 6,000 miles from San Francisco, California; 3,800 miles west of Honolulu, Hawaii; 1,500 miles south of Japan; 1,596 miles east of the Philippines; 2,026 miles east of Hong Kong; and 1,922 miles east of Shanghai.
PEOPLE AND OUR POPULATION
The population of Guam is 159,358 (2010 Census).
Primary ethnic groups are Chamorro (37%), Filipino (26%), Pacific Islander (7%), Caucasian (6%), and other Asian ethnicities including Japanese, Korean and Chinese (2%).
Eighty-five percent of the population is Roman Catholic; the other 15 percent range from Presbyterian, Buddhist, Jehovah’s Witness and Seventh Day Adventist.
CLIMATE
Guam’s climate is characterized as Tropical Marine and the weather is hot and humid with minimal seasonal variations. The yearly temperature is 85⁰ Fahrenheit (29⁰ Celsius), with the mean low at 76⁰ Fahrenheit and a mean high at 86⁰ Fahrenheit. The average water temperature is also 85⁰ Fahrenheit, enabling many visitors to the island to enjoy an array of water sports. The island experiences two seasons – dry season from December through June and rainy season from July through November. September and October are the rainiest months, each averaging about 14 inches of rainfall. Turtle Tours’ Optional Tours are designed to make the best of Guam’s beautiful tropical climate. You will enjoy our line up of outdoor activities.
LANGUAGE
English and Chamorro are the official languages of Guam.
POLITICAL STATUS AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States. It is ruled by a civilian government with three branches – executive, legislative and judicial. Residents born in Guam were granted citizenship of the United States when the Organic Act was signed in 1950.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Time: Guam is 18 hours ahead of the Pacific Time or 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time.
Electricity Voltage: The electrical current is identical to the U.S. Mainland: 120 volts/60 cycles.
Currency: U.S. Dollar
Credit Cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB and other major credit cards are widely accepted.
Banks: Bank of Guam, Bank of Hawaii, Citibank, First Hawaiian Bank, ANZ Guam Inc., Coast 360, Community First Federal Credit Union and BankPacific
Internet Services/Media: Internet dial-up, broadband, Wi-Fi, digital cable television, local and national newspapers and magazine publications available.
TRAVEL TO GUAM
Guam is located in close proximity to many Asian countries including Japan, Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. The average travel time from Guam to key Asian cities is 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Travel time to Hawaii is 7 hours. Air service to Guam is provided by United Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Korean Air with most direct flights to many destinations in Asia, the United States and islands in the Pacific.
ADVENTURES ON GUAM
Visitors to Guam can choose from high quality, fun, and exciting optional tours, for themselves if they travel solo, for couples, or for the entire family. Turtle Tours Guam is the primary choice for optional tours; it is patronized and recommended by more visitors to Guam compared to any other tour provider. Turtle Tours offers Iruka Watching Adventure (Dolphin Watching), Eco Adventure Jungle Hiking Tour, Adventure River Cruise, City Sightseeing Tour, Turtle Tours Bus or Limousine Charter, and Boat Charter.
Information above mostly credited to MicronesiaTour.com.
