Fort Santo Angel, Spanish fortress on the island of Guam
Fort Santo Angel is a fort built on a large rock at the entrance to Humåtak Bay in southern Guam. The structure featured stone walls, a small guard room, and a platform designed to hold three cannons for controlling the bay.
The fort was rebuilt in 1756 by Governor Enrique de Olavide y Michelena after earlier defenses proved inadequate. Around 1800 it was dismantled as wave damage weakened its foundation and officials deemed it no longer secure.
The fort's name reflects Spanish colonial influence on the island. Visitors can observe how this defensive position shaped the relationship between the community and the bay for centuries.
The fort sits on a rocky outcrop accessed by steps cut into the stone and offers open views across the bay and ocean. The ruins are now part of a public park covered with vegetation and can be explored on foot.
Treasure hunters were drawn to the site for years by rumors of buried gold and valuables, leading to unauthorized digging that further damaged the ruins. Such activities reveal how the fort's past continues to captivate people today.
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