| Location: |
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
| Geographic coordinates: |
13 28 N, 144 47 E |
| Map references: |
Oceania |
| Area: |
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
three times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
125.5 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: |
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation |
| Terrain: |
volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m |
| Natural resources: |
fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan) |
| Land use: |
arable land: 3.64%
permanent crops: 18.18%
other: 78.18% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
NA |
| Natural hazards: |
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December) |
| Environment - current issues: |
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species |
| Geography - note: |
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean |
