Now open your eyes...this is Guam!

DETAILS:

Land Area: Guam covers an area of 212 square miles (549 square km), and is about 30 miles (48.39 km) in length with a width of 8 1/2 miles (13.71 km) at the northern tip and a maximum width in the south of 11 1/2 miles (18.55 km).

Topography: A majority of the island is surrounded by a coral table reef with deep water channels. The coastline areas are characterized by sandy beaches, rocky cliff lines, and mangroves. Shaped like a footprint, Guam was formed by the union of two volcanoes; a limestone plateau in the northern and southern sections of the island. The relatively flat north is home to a majority of Guam's population and businesses, while in the south, cascading waterfalls, seldom visited hiking trails, and an abundance of lush agricultural lands add to the aura of a relaxed and laid back island lifestyle.

Location: Guam lies 13 degrees 38 minutes North latitude and 144 degrees 44 minutes East longitude. The island is the western most territory of the United States and 15 hours ahead of the Eastern Seaboard Time Zone. Hence, the popular slogan is often used: "Guam, Where America's Day Begins."

Climate: As in most tropical islands in the Western Pacific, the weather on Guam is warm throughout the year with less humidity from November through March. The mean annual temperature near sea level is about 81¡F (27.2C) with monthly means ranging from 80¡F (26.7C) in January to a little over 82¡F (27.8C) in June. Rarely does the temperature exceed 90¡F (32.2C) during the daytime hours or fall below 70¡F (21.1C) at night. The relative humidity commonly exceeds 84 percent at night throughout the year, but the average monthly humidity hovers near 66 percent.

Guam's climate is characterized by two distinct seasons, a dry season from January to May, and a rainy season from July to November. June and December are transitional months. The mean annual rainfall varies from about 80 inches in the central and coastal lowlands up to 110 inches on the uplands in southern Guam. A wide variation in rainfall can occur from year to year. In 2000, for example, rainfall of 78.64 inches was recorded and rainfall total was 110.2 inches in 2001.

The easterly trade winds, usually between 4 and 12 miles per hour (mph), are dominant throughout the year. Only occasionally, winds do exceed 24 mph, except during major tropical storms or typhoons, small scale storms, or squalls, can occur at any time and with little notice. The likelihood of typhoons is greatest during July through September, but they can occur during any month of the year.

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