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
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: 21%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

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

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

NOTE: The information regarding Northern Mariana Islands on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Northern Mariana Islands Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Northern Mariana Islands Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.