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Northern Mariana Islands Geography
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| 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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| 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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| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 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:
21%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
19%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
60%
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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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