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Hafa
adai,
Today,
I’m introducing Emerald Valley, a popular tourist spot that has gained
popularity in recent years. It takes about 30 minutes by car from Tumon.
Although it’s a bit of a distance, it’s very easy to get there by simply
heading south on Route 1, making it a highly recommended spot.
After
passing through Tumon, Tamuning, Hagåtña, and Asan, you’ll arrive at a village
called Piti. Once you enter Piti and drive along the coastline for a while,
you’ll see the smokestack of a power plant on the right. From there, if you
take the road extending west, you will reach the commercial port of Apra
Harbor. Therefore, the surrounding area is busy with trucks carrying containers
all day long.
Emerald
Valley, which I’m introducing, is located just off the road leading to Apra
Harbor. By the way, the scenery from Route 1 to Emerald Valley is also
exceptional! While the sea in Tumon is beautiful, this place offers a different
kind of beauty. It’s so picturesque that you’ll want to stop the car and snap a
photo.
Now,
just beyond this view is Emerald Valley. Take a look! This is Emerald Valley!
The water is crystal clear and shines with an emerald green hue.
Although
the weather was good that day, there were many clouds, and a light shower was
intermittent. At the time of the shoot, a large cloud covered the sun, causing
a brief drizzle. If the sun had been shining, the water’s surface would have
sparkled even more, and the colors would have been even more beautiful.
This
beautiful color is why it’s called Emerald Valley, but despite the name
‘Valley,’ it is not a canyon or a valley. The long, protruding land leading to
Apra Harbor was once an island separate from Guam before the war. After the
war, it was connected to Guam Island by a road, and the section resembling a
waterway where the two meet is what we now call Emerald Valley. Walking a few
dozen meters along this beautiful waterway, you’ll find that it leads to the
sea.
Since
it’s seawater, small tropical fish in the shallow areas of the sea are swimming
happily. The water is so clear that you might be tempted to go in, but it’s
actually quite deep, even for adults, and there may be sea snakes or sea
urchins, so it’s not suitable for swimming.
Looking
at it like this, you might wonder why only this place has such a beautiful
emerald green color. The color seems to be created by a combination of various factors,
including water transparency, depth, the color of the seabed, and the
refraction and reflection of sunlight. Naturally, it shows different colors
depending on the season, weather, and time. This is the mystery of nature! When
you drive through this area, be sure to visit not only on your way there but
also on your way back. You may encounter a different kind of beauty compared to
what you saw on the way there.
By
the way, there is an open space right next to Emerald Valley where you can
park.
