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: 544 sq km land: 544 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | three times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries | total: 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 | highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m |
Natural resources | aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped) |
Land use | agricultural land: 33.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.) forest: 47.9% (2018 est.) other: 18.7% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 2 sq km (2012) |
Natural hazards | frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December) |
Geography - note | largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021