| 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 |
