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Northern Mariana Islands:
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Other pages in this profile of the Northern Mariana Islands:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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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, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978. |
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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 |
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 |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |