paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:
2 under 914 m: 5 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2001)

Military Guadeloupe

Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces,
Gendarmerie

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Guadeloupe

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Guam

Introduction

Guam

Background: 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 Guam

Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E

Map references: Oceania

Area: total: 549 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 549 sq km

Area - comparative: three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 125.5 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: 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

Terrain: 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

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
from Japan)

Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% other: 78% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare,
but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Environment - current issues: extirpation of native bird population
by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive
species

Geography - note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

People Guam

Population: 160,796 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 yea