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: 464 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 464 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: consists of 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
197
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain:
the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed elevation on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
agricultural land: 6.6%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 2.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 2.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 65.5%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 27.9%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
1 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan
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
