Fort Soledad

Several fortifications were built to defend Spain's interests in Guam and its Pacific trading routes. The majority of these fortifications were open batteries with embrasures for guns to fire through. And one of which is regarded as one of the most beautiful historical sites in Guam named Fort Soledad. The fortress of Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is located near Umatac, Guam. It was the fourth of four defenses built by the Spanish between 1802 and 1819 to secure an anchorage for galleons sailing between Acapulco, Mexico, and the Philippines, a route that was abandoned in 1815 when Mexico gained independence.

The Fort Soledad was placed eighty varas, or approximately 224 feet, above the bay and faced the sea. The esplanade was partially encircled by a low parapet made of mamposteria, stone, and mortar, and was paved with flagged coral stones. The fort had enough room for seven cannons to be fired on a fixed line over the parapet. The sentry post of the fort, which looks out over the beautiful bay, has become a symbol of the island's beauty and the days of the Spanish galleon trade. The park is becoming one of Guam's most popular tourist destinations. Restoration efforts were done to the area's stonework in the mid-1990s, and the community has since undertaken many beautifying projects to improve the historic site.

Location: Umatac