Guam is a U.S. territory, and largest island in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific. While People born on the island are US citizens, Indiginous Guamanians are the Chamoru. There is also a Spanish colonial heritage and significant WWII battlefields. Magellan landed there in 1521. It’s distinguished by tropical beaches, Chamorro villages and ancient latte-stone pillars.

The flag depicts references many to its seafaring past including a Proa, a traditional multihulled outrigger and Two Lovers Point, a famous landmark overlooking Tumon Bay, one of 5 marine reserves, where 200 coral species and 500 marine species thrive in the pure environment of this dedicated habitat. Pati Point, Piti Bomb Holes, Sasa Bay, Achang Reef Flat are the other 4 in which the first known severe, widespread bleaching and mortality event in the Marianas Archipelago was recorded.

Guam is the closest land mass to the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the planet’s surface. Challenger Deep is the deepest point at 10,902–10,929 m (35,768–35,856 ft) by direct measurement from deep-diving submersibles, remotely operated underwater vehicles and benthic landers, and (sometimes) slightly more by sonar bathymetry.

Ocean plastic is a problem as are coral reef bleaching events but an observation network across the region directed by the University of Guam Marine Laboratory maps and monitors reef health. The lab focus is conservation and development of marine resources of the near-shore waters of Guam and Micronesia.