NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 12 N, 145 45 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 477 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian water: 0 sq km land: 477 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,482 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October |
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Terrain:
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southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m |
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Natural resources:
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arable land, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 15.22%
permanent crops: 6.52% other: 78.26% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) |
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Environment - current issues:
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contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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77,311 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 23.4% (male 9,208; female 8,902)
15-64 years: 74.8% (male 27,041; female 30,781) 65 years and over: 1.8% (male 690; female 689) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.49% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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20.29 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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17.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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5.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.95 years
female: 79.23 years (2002 est.) male: 72.85 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.76 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: NA
adjective: NA |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean |
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Religions:
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Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found) |
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Languages:
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English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.) |