The Pacific Theater refers to the area of conflict during World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean and its islands. This theater primarily involved battles between the Allied Powers, including the United States, and the Axis Powers, particularly Japan. Key battles included the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Guadalcanal, which were crucial in shifting the balance of power in the region. The Pacific Theater was characterized by island-hopping campaigns, where Allied forces captured strategic islands to use as bases for further attacks. The war in this theater ended with the dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the conclusion of World War II.