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Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June,
rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces
and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 60%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan;
typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater
on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection
of endangered species conflicts with development
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific
Ocean
Background:
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of
the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided
in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer
links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in
1972.
A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the
US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went
into effect in 1978.
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