Northern Mariana Islands (GPS: 15 12 N, 145 45 E) located in Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. The country’s area measurements are total: 464 sq km; land: 464 sq km, water: 0 sq km. This sovereign state is 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC. The total irrigated land is 1 sq km (2012).
One of the critical features of the Northern Mariana Islands: Strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Saipan’s GPS coordinates are 15 12 N 145 45 E. Saipan’s local time is 15 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+10.
Google Maps Northern Mariana Islands and Saipan, Oceania
About the Northern Mariana Islands in detail
Flag of Northern Mariana Islands
Map of Northern Mariana Islands
Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the Northern Mariana Islands people 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 and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
Northern Mariana Islands’ names conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands. Abbreviation; CNMI, former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District, etymology: formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria.
Northern Mariana Islands’ terrain is typically the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands. The country’s mean elevation: N/A, elevation extremes; lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: the unnamed height on Agrihan 965 m.
The country’s general climate is tropical marine: moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation: dry season December to June, rainy season July to October.
The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Northern Mariana Islands’ coastline is 1,482 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 6.6%; arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 2.2%; permanent pasture 2.2%; forest: 65.5%; other: 27.9% (2011 estimate).
The population in Northern Mariana Islands 51,994 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 89.2% of total population (2015), central urban area’s population: SAIPAN (capital) 49,000 (2014), while Northern Mariana Islands has N/A. Their spoken languages are Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official language), 24.1%, English (official language) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1%, Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, additional 1.9% (2010 estimate). Main religions in Northern Mariana Islands are Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found). The nation uses US system applies, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation. It is a(n) presidential democracy; a commonwealth in political union with the US, National holiday(s) Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978).
Economic overview for the country: The economy of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) has been on the rebound in the last few years, mainly on the tourism industry’s strength. In 2016, the CNMI’s real GDP increased 28.6% over the previous year, following two years of relatively rapid growth in 2014 and 2015. Chinese and Korean tourists have supplanted Japanese tourists in the last few years. The Commonwealth is making a concerted effort to broaden its tourism by extending casino gambling from the small Islands of Tinian and Rota to Saipan’s main Island, its political and commercial center. Investment is concentrated on Saipan hotels and casinos, the CNMI’s largest island and home to about 90% of its population. Federal grants have also contributed to economic growth and stability.
In 2016, federal grants amounted to $101.4 billion which made up 26% of the CNMI government’s total revenues. A small agriculture sector consists of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. The legislation is pending in the US Congress to extend the transition period to allow foreign workers to work in the CNMI on temporary visas.
Natural resources of Northern Mariana Islands: arable land, fish.
Main export partners for the Northern Mariana Islands, Oceania, are N/A for garments, while the country’s main import partners are N/A for food, construction equipment, and materials, petroleum products.
When you visit this country in Oceania, consider the natural hazards in the Northern Mariana Islands: Active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan, typhoons (especially August to November), while infectious diseases are N/A. Also, note that the Northern Mariana Islands faces the following environmental issues: Contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to infection, Clean-up of the landfill, Protection of endangered species conflicts with development.
You may also be interested in the countries next to the Northern Mariana Islands around its 0 km border – No border countries.
