| Geography and Climate |
Northern Mariana Islands located in Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. Area comparatively 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.
Climate is tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October. Terrain consists of southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in the Pacific Ocean 0 m and highest point and unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m. Natural resources are arable land, fish. Land use:
arable land: 21%, permanent crops: NA%, permanent pastures: 19%. Natural hazards are 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.
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |
