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
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
water: 0 sq km
land: 477 sq km

Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 1,482 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 15%
permanent crops: 7%
other: 78% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land NA sq km

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

NOTE: The information regarding Northern Mariana Islands on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Northern Mariana Islands Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Northern Mariana Islands Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.