Page 368 - Micronesia

SIGHTSEEING & HISTORICAL LANDMARKS Sightseeing & Historical Landmarks

Apart from the rich The beginning of our island’s Here are a few others you may shaped structures that sit at
find on your journey, begin- its peak. The point offers a
38 Chamorro culture, the history is characterized by the ning with the northern portion bird’s eye view of nearby An- 39
of the island and working your dersen Air Force Base as well
historic landmarks on Guam use of latte, a limestone pillar way down to the scenic south: as the nearby island of Rota.

make the island a truly unique (haligi) capped by a curved Northern Guam Battle of Yigo Monument
Commemorating one of the
place to explore. From un- stone (tasa). Now known as a South Pacific last WWII battles between
Peace Memorial the Japanese and U.S. Forces
spoiled beaches to World War symbol of strength through- Park following the American inva-
To commemorate sion on July 21, 1944, the
II sites and thriving remnants out the Marianas Islands all those who monument stands as a solemn
died on Guam reminder of the casualties of
of the Spanish era, the natural where they are found, latte during World war. It is located across from
War II, a Japanese nonprofit a gas station off Marine Corps
charm of our island offers were once used as a founda- group called the South Pacific Drive in Yigo, where U.S.
Memorial Association Mission forces made their way through
funded the construction of Japanese roadblocks on
this memorial, completed in Aug. 8, just two days before
May 1970. Located just off Ma- Americans declared the island
rine Corps Drive at the foot of secured.
Mt. Matagi, it is known as the
something for every visitor. tion for homes and other site of the last Japanese com-
mand post held by General
buildings in ancient Chamorro Hideyoshi Obata, commander
of the Imperial Japanese Army
during WWII. The 50-foot tow-
er, shaped like praying hands,
commemorates the 500,000
Japanese lives lost throughout
Micronesia during the war.

Historic landmarks and sce- culture.

nic sites throughout Guam

represent five different eras Latte exist throughout the

of the island’s history, be- island as remnants of an-

ginning with the Pre-Latte/ cient Chamorro villages, and

Latte Period (500 AD – 1521), at sites including Senator

and extending through the Angel Santos Memorial Park

Spanish Era (1565 – 1898); (also known as Latte Park) in

the American Period (1898 Hagåtña. Now protected by Mount Santa Rosa Ritidian Point
Known as the highest point in Known as the site of the Guam
– 1941); the Japanese Occupa- the Guam Historical Preserva- northern Guam, Mount Santa National Wildlife Refuge oper-
Rosa is an extinct volcano that ated by the U.S. Fish and Wild-
tion (1941 – 1944); Liberation tion Committee, lattes are just can be identified by the dome- life Service, Ritidian Point is

and U.S. Territorial Status some of the many attractions

(1944 – Present). to explore on Guam.