Introduction - Northern Mariana Islands: |
Location - Northern Mariana Islands: |
Location | Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
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Geographic coordinates | 15 12 N, 145 45 E |
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Map references | Oceania |
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Area | total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian |
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Area comparative | 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries | 0 km |
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Coastline | 1,482 km |
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Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate | tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October |
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Terrain | southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m |
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Natural resources | arable land, fish |
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Land use | arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2005) |
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Irrigated land | NA |
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Natural hazards | active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) |
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Environment current issues | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
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Geography note | strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean |
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People - Northern Mariana Islands: |
Government - Northern Mariana Islands: |
Economy - Northern Mariana Islands: |
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This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007