Geography of Northern Mariana Islands
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: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | NA |
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 |