<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Guam<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
<item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 541.3 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 541.3 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 11%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 11%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 15%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 18%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 45%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> NA sq km
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> NA
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> NA
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean