- Umatac, Guam
Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = Village
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =United States subdivision_type1 = Territory
subdivision_name1 =Guam
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =timezone=ChST
utc_offset=+10unit_pref=Imperial
map_caption =Location of Umatac within the Territory of Guam.
latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS=
longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=
elevation_ft =
official_name = Umatac
Humåtak
area_total_sq_mi =
population_total = 903
population_as_of = 2007
population_blank1 =
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Jesus A. Aquiningoc
Mayor_since =
leader_name1 =
blank_info =Umatac is a village on the south-western coast of the island of
Guam . The village's name is believed to be derived from theChamorro word "Umatalaf" meaning to catch guatifi, a type of fish.History
Prior to Spanish arrival on the island, an annual celebration was held North of the village at Funa Rock where the first humans were created according to the legends of the
Chamorros , the native people of Guam.In 1521, the Spanish Explorer
Ferdinand Magellan arrived on Guam while circumnavigating the globe. Umatac Bay is traditionally sited at the location of the Spanish landing. Another explorer,Miguel López de Legazpi , arrived in Umatac in 1565 and claimed the island of Guam for Spain. During both visits, misunderstandings led to the Spanish burning village homes and killing islanders.When Guam was colonized in the 17th century, the Spanish made Umatac a parish so the Chamorros in the area could be converted to
Christianity . Remains of two Spanish forts built on hills on either side of the village are still visible today.In 1898, Guam was taken by the U.S. during the
Spanish-American War . Under the U.S. administration, the small village has grown gradually. Today, the Discovery Day festival is held every year in the village. While the holiday was first established in memory of Magellan's discovery of the island, it is now a celebration of Chamorro culture.Education
Guam Public School System serves the island.Southern High School in Santa Rita serves the village." [http://www.gdoe.net/ci/high_sch_crse_desc/guam_PHS.pdf Guam's Public High Schools] ." "Guam Public School System". Accessed
September 8 ,2008 .]See also
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Villages of Guam References
* Rogers, Robert F (1995). Destiny's Landfall: A History of Guam: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 0-8248-1678-1
* Sanchez, Pedro C. Guahan, Guam: The History of our Island: Sanchez Publishing House.External links
* [http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2005/April/04-27-ft.htm "Umatac - Guam's Cradle of Creation"] by Anthony P. Sanchez, "
Pacific Daily News ",26 April 2007
* [http://www.guampdn.com/communities/maps/umatac.html Village Map] , "Pacific Daily News"
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