| Â | | | | The economy depends on US military spending, |
| | | | tourism, and the export of fish and |
| The island of Guam, which is called Guahan in | | | | handicrafts. Over the past 20 years, the |
| the Chamorro language; it is an | | | | tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating |
| unincorporated U.S. territory. It is the most | | | | a construction boom for new hotels and the |
| southern of the Mariana Islands and is | | | | expansion of older ones. More than 1 million |
| located in the western Pacific Ocean, about | | | | tourists visit Guam each year. The industry |
| three fourths of the way between Hawaii and | | | | has recently suffered setbacks because of the |
| the Philippines. | | | | continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese |
| | | | normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. |
| It is an organized, unincorporated territory | | | | Most food and industrial goods are imported. |
| of the United States. Geographically | | | | |
| speaking, the island is located around 1,500 | | | | Wildfires plague the forested areas of Guam |
| miles to south of Japan, 1,400 miles to east | | | | every dry season despite the island's humid |
| of the Philippines, 2,000 miles to north of | | | | climate. Most fires are man-caused with 80 |
| Australia and 3,800 miles to west of Hawaii. | | | | percent resulting from arson. Poachers often |
| It is about three-quarters of the way from | | | | start fires to attract deer to the new |
| Hawaii to the Philippine. Guam shares most of | | | | growth. Invasive grass species that rely on |
| the rights of Americans and is one of the | | | | fire as part of their natural life cycle grow |
| five US territories that have an established | | | | in many regularly burned areas. |
| civilian government. | | | | |
| | | | During the rainy season sediment is carried |
| Guam is the largest of the Mariana Islands. | | | | by the heavy rains into the Fena Lake |
| The highest point in Guam is Mount Lamlam. | | | | Reservoir and Ugum River leading to water |
| Settlement in the Mariana Islands dates back | | | | quality problems for southern Guam. Eroded |
| around three and a half thousand years. It is | | | | silt also destroys the marine life in reefs |
| thought that early migrants to the Marianas, | | | | around the island. Soil stabilization efforts |
| which are known as the Chamarro and it was | | | | by volunteers and forestry workers to plant |
| from Southeast Asia. | | | | trees have had little success in preserving |
| | | | natural habitats. |