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NAVIGATION
Territory of Guam
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 28 N, 144 47 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 549 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 549 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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three times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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125.5 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m |
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Natural resources:
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fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan) |
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Land use:
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arable land: 10.91%
permanent crops: 10.91% other: 78.18% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December) |
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Environment - current issues:
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extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
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Geography - note:
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largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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160,796 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 35.1% (male 29,706; female 26,813)
15-64 years: 58.6% (male 49,457; female 44,697) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 5,070; female 5,053) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.99% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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24.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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6.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.11 years
female: 80.72 years (2002 est.) male: 75.81 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.73 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chamorro 37%, Filipino 26%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 27% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.) |
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Languages:
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English, Chamorro, Japanese |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.) |