Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas
Flag Seal
Anthem: Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi  (Chamorro) Satil Matawal Pacifiko  (Carolinian)
Capital		Saipan
Official languages		English, Chamorro, Carolinian
Government		Presidential representative democracy
-	Governor	Benigno R. Fitial
-	Lt. Governor	Timothy P. Villagomez
-	Resident    Representative	Pedro Agulto Tenorio
Commonwealth		in union with United States
-	Covenant	1975
Area
-	Total	477 km² (195th) 184.17 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2007 estimate	84,546 (198th)
-	Density	168/km² (n/a) 63.8/sq mi
Currency		United States dollar (USD)
Time zone		(UTC+10)
Internet TLD		.mp
Calling code		+1 670

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is a commonwealth in political union with the United States located at a strategic location in the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines, at 15°1′2″N, 145°4′5″E. The United States Census Bureau reports the total land area of all islands as 463.63 km² (179.01 sq mi). Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The flag of the Northern Mariana Islands was adopted on July 4, 1976. ... The Coat of arms of the Northern Mariana Islands takes its inspiration from the United Nations, as the NMI had once been a UN Trust Territory. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Chamorro (Chamoru in Chamorro) is the native language of the Chamorro or Chamoru of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. ... Carolinian is an Austronesian language spoken in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is an official language along with English and Chamorro. ... locator map for the Northern Marianas - made for Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: Northern Mariana Islands User:DanielZm/test Roman Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa Categories: Country locator maps | Northern Mariana Islands | GFDL images ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Chamorro (Chamoru in Chamorro) is the native language of the Chamorro or Chamoru of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. ... Carolinian is an Austronesian language spoken in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is an official language along with English and Chamorro. ... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separately from the legislature, to which it is not accountable and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors Carlos S. Camacho Democrat 1978-1982 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1982-1990 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Republican 1990-1994 Froilan C. Tenorio Democrat 1994-1998 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1998-2002 Juan N. Babauta Republican 2002- Categories: Lists of governors of U.S... Benigno Repeki Fitial (born November 27, 1945 - place of birth?) is the Governor of Northern Mariana Islands, elected on November 6, 2005. ... List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors Carlos S. Camacho Democrat 1978-1982 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1982-1990 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Republican 1990-1994 Froilan C. Tenorio Democrat 1994-1998 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1998-2002 Juan N. Babauta Republican 2002- Categories: Lists of governors of U.S... Pedro Agulto Tenorio (born August 8, 1941) is the newly appointed United States resident representative of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is an organized territory or colony that has established with the Federal Government a more highly developed relationship, which may be embodied in a written mutual agreement. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... USD redirects here. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .mp is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Northern Mariana Islands. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... The area code 670 is the local telephone area code for the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI). ... For other uses of Commonwealth, see Commonwealth. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

It has a population of 80,362 (2005 estimate). The official 2000 census count was 69,221.^[1] Of note is that the Northern Mariana Islands have the highest female to male sex ratio in the world, with an average of 76 men to every 100 women.^[2] This is due to the overwhelming female majority of foreign workers, especially in the garment industry.^{[citation needed]} The United States Census of year 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... Sex ratio by country for total population. ...

Geography and climate

• Wikimedia Atlas of the Northern Mariana Islands, holding maps related to the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Northern Mariana Islands, together with Guam to the south, compose the Mariana Islands. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are an archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels...

The southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on Anatahan, Pagan and Agrihan. The volcano on Agrihan is the highest elevation in the islands at 965 meters. About one-fifth of the land is arable, another tenth is permanent pasture. The primary natural resource is fish, which causes conflict with the protection of endangered species. Past development has created landfills that must be cleaned up and has caused contamination of groundwater on Saipan, which may contribute to disease. For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... Extant Subclasses and Orders Alcyonaria    Alcyonacea    Helioporacea Zoantharia    Antipatharia    Corallimorpharia    Scleractinia    Zoanthidea [1][2]  See Anthozoa for details For other uses, see Coral (disambiguation). ... Cleveland Volcano in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska photographed from the International Space Station For other uses, see Volcano (disambiguation). ... Anatahan is one of the most active volcanoes of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Pagan Island is an island of the Northern Mariana Islands chain, located at 18. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... Look up landfill in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Anatahan Volcano is a small volcanic island located 120 km (80 miles) north of Saipan Island and 320 km (200 miles) north of Guam. The island is about 9 km (5.6 miles) long and 3 km (2 miles) wide. Anatahan began erupting suddenly from its east crater on May 10, 2003 at about 5:00 p.m. (17:00h). Since then it has continued to alternate between eruptive and calm periods. On April 6, 2005, approximately 50,000 cubic meters of ash and rock were ejected, causing a large, black cloud to drift southward over Saipan and Tinian. Recent eruptions have caused some commercial flights to re-route. Anatahan is one of the most active volcanoes of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ...

The islands have a tropical marine climate moderated by seasonal northeast trade winds. There is little seasonal temperature variation; the dry season runs from December to June, and the rainy season from July to October can include typhoons. The Guinness Book of World Records has cited Saipan as having the most equable temperature in the world. [3] The trade winds are a pattern of wind found in bands around Earths equatorial region. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10...

History

European occupiers

The first European exploration of the area was that led by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, who landed on nearby Guam and claimed the islands for Spain. After being met offshore and accepting the refreshments offered to them by the native Chamorros, the latter then helped themselves to a small boat belonging to Magellan's fleet. This led to a cultural clash because in the old Chamorro culture there was little if any private property and to take something that one needed such as a boat to fish with may not have been considered thievery in the eyes of the local population. For the Presidential railcar named Ferdinand Magellan, see Ferdinand Magellan Railcar. ... Depiction of latte stone colonnades on the island of Tinian. ...

Due to this cultural misunderstanding, around half a dozen locals were killed and a village of 40 homes burned before the boat was retrieved, and the archipelago subsequently acquired the ignominious name Islas de los Ladrones ("Islands of the Thieves").

Three days after he had arrived, Magellan fled the archipelago under attack--a portentous beginning to its relationship with the Spanish. The islands were henceforth considered by Spain to be annexed and therefore under their governance, from the Philippines, as part of the Spanish East Indies. The Spanish built a Royal Palace in Guam for the Governor of the Islands (its remains could still be seen in 2006). Look up annex in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Flag Location of Spanish East Indies in the Pacific Capital Manila (Cebu until 1595, Bacolor 1762-1763, Iloilo 1898) Language(s) Spanish (official), Austronesian languages, Spanish creoles Religion Roman Catholicism Political structure Colony Monarch  - 1565-1598 Philip II  - 1896-1898 Alfonso XIII Governor-General  - 1565-1572 Miguel Lopez de Legazpi...

Guam was an important stop-over from Mexico for galleons carrying gold and other between the Philippines and Spain. There are several unfound sunken Spanish galleons off Guam.

In 1668 the islands were renamed by Padre Diego Luis de Sanvitores to Las Marianas after Mariana of Austria, widow of Spain's Philip IV. Mariana of Austria, 1652, portrayed by Diego Velázquez Mariana or Maria-Anna of Austria (Vienna, 23 December 1634 - Madrid, 16 May 1696), daughter of Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III and Infanta Maria Ana of Spain, was the second wife of her maternal uncle Philip IV of Spain. ... Philip IV (), (April 8, 1605 – September 17, 1665) was King of Spain from 1621 to 1665 and also King of Portugal until 1640. ...

Nearly all of the islands' native population (90%-95%)^[3] died out under Spanish rule, but new settlers, primarily from the Philippines and the Caroline Islands, were brought in to repopulate the islands. Despite this, the Chamorro population did gradually resurge, and Chamorro, Filipino and Carolinian language and ethnic differences remain basically distinct in the Marianas to this day. Sunset at Colonia on Yap The Caroline Islands form a large archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea. ... The Chamorro people or Chamoru people are the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands, which include the American territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. ... Carolinian is an Austronesian language spoken in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is an official language along with English and Chamorro. ...

The Marianas came under German control for a brief period when Spain sold them to Germany, exclusive of Guam. In 1919 the Japanese invaded and occupied these islands and the League of Nations, pre-cursor of the United Nations, awarded them to Japan by mandate. The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919–1920. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

Japanese possession

The Empire of Japan captured Guam during World War II and Japanese governance of the Islands moved to Guam. The Japanese annexation of the Marianas was not popular among its residents, and the Japanese forces have been accused of atrocities during their occupation of the islands, including the torture and killing of the residents of Guam and the Northern Marianas.^{[citation needed]} Anthem Kimi ga Yo Imperial Reign Capital Tokyo Government Constitutional monarchy Emperor  - 1868–1912 Emperor Meiji  - 1912–1926 Emperor Taishō  - 1926–1989 Emperor Shōwa Prime Minister  - 1885-1888, 1892-1896, 1898, 1900-1901 Itō Hirobumi  - 1888-1889 Kuroda Kiyotaka  - 1889-1891 Yamagata Aritomo  - 1906-1908, 1911-1912 Saionji Kinmochi... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

American takeover

Nearing the end of World War II, the United States military invaded the Mariana Islands on June 15, 1944 beginning with the Battle of Saipan, which ended on July 9 with the Japanese commander committing seppuku (hara-kiri / traditional Japanese form of ritual suicide). U.S. forces moved on to recapture Guam beginning July 21 and to invade Tinian (see Battle of Tinian on July 24, which would provide the take off point for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima a year later. Rota was left untouched (and isolated) until the Japanese surrender in August 1945 due to its military insignificance. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Richmond K. Turner Holland Smith Yoshitsugu Saito â€  Chuichi Nagumo â€  Strength 71,000 31,000 Casualties 3,426 killed; 13,160 wounded 24,000 KIA and 5,000 suicides; 921 prisoners The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Seppuku with ritual attire and second. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... The battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from 24 July 1944 to 1 August 1944. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up rota in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

As an unusual sidenote, the war did not end for everyone with the signing of the armistice. The last group of Japanese soldiers to surrender on Saipan took place on December 1, 1945. On Guam, a Japanese soldier named Shoichi Yokoi hid out in the village of Talofofo until 1972. is the 335th day of the year (336th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Shoichi Yokoi (横井 庄一 Yokoi Shōichi, March 31, 1915 - September 22, 1997) was a Japanese soldier and celebrity. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

During the time period between the end of the invasion and the Japanese surrender, the Saipan and Tinian population was secured in concentration camps. Japanese nationals were eventually repatriated, and the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinians returned to the land.

The Commonwealth

After Japan's defeat, the islands were administered by the United States as part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; thus, defense and foreign affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. The people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence, but instead to forge closer links with the U.S. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the U.S. was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978. UN and U.N. redirect here. ... National motto: ? Official language English? Capital Saipan Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 78 (United States) 1,779 km² Negligible Population  - Total  - Density 132,929 (1980) N/Akm² GDP  - Total  - GDP/head N/A Currency US Dollar Time zone UTC: ? Independence UN trusteeship administered by the US Internet TLD none? Calling code...

Demographics

Asian 56.3%, Pacific Islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% Asian people[1] is a demonym for people from Asia. ... Pacific Islands (or Pacific Person, pl: Pacific People, also called Oceanic[s]), is a geographic term used in several places, such as New Zealand and the United States, to describe the inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands

Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic system, whereby the Governor is head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth in political union with the United States. Federal funds to the Commonwealth are administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Data code: CQ Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs Government type: commonwealth; self... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separately from the legislature, to which it is not accountable and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors Carlos S. Camacho Democrat 1978-1982 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1982-1990 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Republican 1990-1994 Froilan C. Tenorio Democrat 1994-1998 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1998-2002 Juan N. Babauta Republican 2002- Categories: Lists of governors of U.S... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally-owned land. ...

Repeating the separation of powers in other U.S. territories and state governments, executive power is exercised by the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors Carlos S. Camacho Democrat 1978-1982 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1982-1990 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero Republican 1990-1994 Froilan C. Tenorio Democrat 1994-1998 Pedro P. Tenorio Republican 1998-2002 Juan N. Babauta Republican 2002- Categories: Lists of governors of U.S... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature is the territorial legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      In the law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

However, politics in the Northern Mariana Islands is often "more a function of family relationships and personal loyalties" where the size of one's extended family is more important than a candidate's personal qualifications. Some critics, including the author of Saipansucks.com, charge that this is nepotism carried out within the trappings of democracy. [4] [5] Saipansucks. ... Look up nepotism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Northern Mariana Islands have also come into the news recently due to their connection to the scandals involving Jack Abramoff and allegedly former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay [6]. As a direct result of lobbying by Abramoff and associates, the Northern Mariana Islands received special federal subsidies. [7] As well, Congressman Bob Ney allegedly received free trips to the Northern Mariana Islands from Abramoff, in violation of federal law. [8] Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... The majority leader is a term used in congressional systems for the chamber leader of the party in control of a legislature. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... Robert William Bob Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. ...

The Northern Marianas Islands are also the site of another controversy involving Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), Jack Abramoff, and Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) and the alleged links to the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association and the Northern Mariana Islands, role in stopping legislation aimed at cracking down on sweatshops and sex shops” on the islands in 2001. This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Dolittle. ... Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Richard William Pombo (born January 8, 1961) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Californias 11th congressional district from 1993 to 2007. ...

The Northern Marianas Islands allegedly harbor the most abusive labor practices of anywhere in the United States. According to the progressive think tank American Progress Action Fund, "Human 'brokers' bring thousands there to work as sex slaves and in cramped sweatshop garment factories where clothes (complete with 'Made in U.S.A.' tag) have been produced for all the major brands."^[4]

Political status

In 1947, the Northern Mariana Islands became part of the post-World War II United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). The United States became the TTPI's administering authority under the terms of a trusteeship agreement. In 1976, Congress approved the mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in Political Union with the United States. The CNMI Government adopted its own constitution in 1977, and the constitutional government took office in January 1978. The Covenant was fully implemented on November 3, 1986, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation no. 5564, which conferred United States citizenship on legally qualified CNMI residents. On December 22, 1990, the Security Council of the United Nations terminated the TTPI as it applied to the CNMI and five other of the TTPI's original seven districts (the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap)). National motto: ? Official language English? Capital Saipan Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 78 (United States) 1,779 km² Negligible Population  - Total  - Density 132,929 (1980) N/Akm² GDP  - Total  - GDP/head N/A Currency US Dollar Time zone UTC: ? Independence UN trusteeship administered by the US Internet TLD none? Calling code... is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

Under the Covenant, in general, Federal law applies to CNMI. However, the CNMI is outside the customs territory of the United States and, although the internal revenue code does apply in the form of a local income tax, the income tax system is largely locally determined. According to the Covenant, the federal minimum wage and federal immigration laws "will not apply to the Northern Mariana Islands except in the manner and to the extent made applicable to them by the Congress by law after termination of the Trusteeship Agreement" [9]

On September 23, 2004, Congressman Richard Pombo of California introduced H.R. 5135 - the Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act. The bill, had it become law, would have allowed CNMI to elect a non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives starting with the 2006 election. The bill died at the end of the 108th Congress. But, on February 18, 2005, the Delegate Act was reintroduced by Pombo with a new number, H.R. 873. [10] is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Richard William Pombo (born January 8, 1961) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Californias 11th congressional district from 1993 to 2007. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... Elections for the United States House of Representatives will be held on November 7, 2006, with all of the 435 seats in the House being contested. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands benefits from substantial subsidies and development assistance from the federal government of the United States. The economy also relies heavily on tourism, especially, from Japan, and the rapidly dwindling garment manufacturing sector. The tourism industry has also been dwindling since late 2005. Since late 2006, tourist arrivals fell 15.23 percent (73,000 potential visitors) from the eleven months prior. [11] The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands benefits substantially from financial assistance from the United States. ... Tourist redirects here. ... (See also List of types of clothing) Introduction Humans often wear articles of clothing (also known as dress, garments or attire) on the body (for the alternative, see nudity). ... Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, making by hand) is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale. ...

The Northern Mariana Islands has successfully used its position as a free trade area with the U.S., while at the same time not being subject to the same labor laws. For example, the $3.05 per hour minimum wage in the Commonwealth, which lasted from 1997 to 2007, was lower than in the U.S. and some other worker protections are weaker leading to lower production costs. This allows garments to be labeled "Made in USA" without having to comply with all U.S. labor laws. However, the U.S. minimum wage law signed by President Bush on May 25, 2007 will result in stepped increases in the Northern Marianas' minimum wage to reach U.S. level by 2015. [12] The first step (to $3.55) became effective July 25, 2007, and a yearly increase of $0.50 will take effect every May thereafter until the CNMI minimum wage equals the nationwide minimum wage. Labor law or labour law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the relationship between and among employers, employees, and labor organizations, often dealing with issues of public law. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

In the extreme, the island's exemption from U.S. labor laws have led to many alleged exploitations including recent claims of the existence of sweatshops, child labor, child prostitution and even forced abortions. [13] Ms. magazine took on the issue in depth in their Spring 2006 article "Paradise Lost: Greed, Sex Slavery, Forced Abortions and Right-Wing Moralists."

A separate immigration system outside of federal U.S. control has resulted in a large number of Chinese migrant workers (about 15,000 during the peak years) employed in the Islands' garment trade. However, the lifting of World Trade Organization restrictions on Chinese imports to the US has put the Commonwealth-based trade under severe pressure, leading to a number of recent factory closures. Adding to the U.S.-imposed scheduled wage increases, the garment industry is expected to become extinct by 2009. [14] “WTO” redirects here. ...

Agricultural production, primarily of tapioca, cattle, coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons exists, but is of relatively minor economic importance. For other uses, see Tapioca (disambiguation). ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg The Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a tree and fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands. ... For other uses, see Tomato (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Melon (disambiguation). ...

Exemptions from some federal regulations

Although the CNMI is part of the United States, several Republican Party members of Congress have fought hard to keep regulation out of the CNMI, preserving it without labor regulation. In 1998, Republican Congressman Tom Delay called the CNMI a "perfect Petri dish of capitalism." And two years later, in addressing the Governor of the Islands, Delay famously said: GOP redirects here. ...

"You are a shining light for what is happening in the Republican Party, and you represent everything that is good about what we’re trying to do in America in leading the world in the free-market system."

However, the lack of labor regulation is not without controversy.

Some extreme labor practices, not common elsewhere in the United States, have occurred. Some of these labor practices include forcing workers to have abortions, as exposed in the March 18, 1998 episode of ABC News' 20/20, and enslaving women and forcing them into prostitution, as the U.S. Department of Justice conviction of several CNMI traffickers in 1999 attests. In 2005-2006, the issue of these regulatory exemptions in the CNMI was brought up during the American political scandals of Congressman Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... ABC News logo ABC News Special Report ident, circa 2006 ABC News is a division of American television and radio network ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company. ... This article is about the television show. ... The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is a Cabinet department in the United States government designed to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. ... This article provides a list of major political scandals of the United States. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... Lobbying is the practice of private advocacy with the goal of influencing a governing body, in order to ensure that an individuals or organizations point of view is represented in the government. ... Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ...

Transportation

Current Northern Mariana Islands license plate.

The islands have over 350 kilometers of highways, three airports with paved runways (one some 3000 meters (9840 feet) long; two around 2000 meters (6560 feet), three airports with unpaved runways (one about 3000 meters long; two under 1000 meters (3280 feet)), and one heliport. Current Northern Mariana Islands license plate. ... Current Northern Mariana Islands license plate. ... // Introduction A license plate, number plate or registration plate (often referred to simply as a plate, or colloquially tag) is a small metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle for official identification purposes. ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ...

Islands, island groups and municipalities

The islands total 463.63 square kilometers. The table gives an overview, with the individual islands from north to south: To help compare different orders of magnitude, this page lists lengths starting at 108 m (100 Mm or 100,000 km). ...

Administratively, the CNMI is divided into four municipalities: Farallon de Pajaros (from Spanish Farallón de los pájaros, meaning Birds Rock), also known as Urracas (from Spanish Urracas, meaning Magpies), is the westernmost island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Three islands, the caldera of an ancient volcano, form the Maug Islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Asuncion (or Ascuncion) is the third northmost independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain at . ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Pagan Island is an island of the Northern Mariana Islands chain, located at 18. ... Alamagan The Northern Marianas island of Alamagan is located 146 nautical miles north from Saipan and is 4. ... Guguan is the seventh indepedndent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Sarigan is the ninth independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Anatahan is one of the most active volcanoes of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Farallon de Medinilla is the eleventh independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Rota Rota, also known as the peaceful island, is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ... A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly referring to a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. ...

Islands 1 through 10 are collective known as the Northern Islands, together forming the Northern Islands Municipality. Islands 11 through 14 are collectively known as the Southern Islands, with the municipalities Saipan, Tinian, and Rota (uninhabited Aguijan is part of Tinian municipality). Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... Rota Rota, also known as the peaceful island, is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ...

Because of volcanic threat, the northern islands have been largely evacuated. Currently, human habitation is limited to Agrihan, Pagan, and Alamagan, but population varies due to various economic factors including children's education. The Census of April 2000 registered just six people in all of the Northern Islands municipality (then residing on Alamagan), and the Northern Islands' mayor office is located in "exile" on Saipan.

Saipan, Tinian, and Rota have the only ports and harbors, and are the only permanently populated islands.

See also

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Richmond K. Turner Holland Smith Yoshitsugu Saito â€  Chuichi Nagumo â€  Strength 71,000 31,000 Casualties 3,426 killed; 13,160 wounded 24,000 KIA and 5,000 suicides; 921 prisoners The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World... The battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from 24 July 1944 to 1 August 1944. ... The Freedom Tower Silver Dollar is a one dollar coin minted under license of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2004. ... Garapan is the largest village and the center of the tourism industry on the island of Saipan which is a part of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... The National Collectors Mint is a company based in Port Chester, New York that produces novelty commemorative coins. ... Northern Marianas College, also known as NMC, is a two-year community college located in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. ... Susupe is a village on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. ... United Nations Trust Territories were the successors of the League of Nations mandates and came into being when the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 15,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,200 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota... Population: 71,912 (July 2000 est. ... The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands benefits substantially from financial assistance from the United States. ... The Northern Mariana Islands are an island chain dependency of the United States. ... Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Data code: CQ Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs Government type: commonwealth; self... Scouting in the Northern Mariana Islands is presently in a state of development and growth. ... Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic system, whereby the Governor is head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... The Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is the law enforcement agency for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the territory. ... Saipan International Airport or Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport (IATA: SPN, ICAO: PGSN, FAA LID: GSN) is a public airport located on Saipan Island in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ...

Notes and references

• CIA World Factbook 2000.
• Land areas and population data from United States Census Bureau.
• Northern Mariana Islands and constituent municipalities, United States Census Bureau

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

External links

U.S. and CNMI relations

• Full Committee Hearing: Conditions in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Thursday, February 8, 2007, United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

View complete webcast of above hearings (streaming Real video). Aprox 2.5 hours long.

• "Cohen Warns of Imminent CNMI 'Federalization'" Pacific Daily News, 7 January 2007.

Government

• Northern Mariana Islands official government site
• The CNMI Covenant
• The CNMI Constitution
• CNMI Office of Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio
• H.R. 873 - the Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act
• H.R. 5550 - The United States-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Human Dignity Act

News

• Saipan Tribune
• Marianas Variety
• Bruce Lloyd Media Services CNMI News
• The Pacific Times
• Food for Thought - Weekly commentary on CNMI society by KZMI and KCNM manager Harry Blalock

Overviews

• Open Directory Project - Northern Mariana Islands directory category
• Moon Handbooks Micronesia
• myMicronesia/Northern Marianas section
• Digital Micronesia
• Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Archives

Other

• www.lonelyplanet.com
• Micronesian Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Northern Mariana Islands Online Encyclopedia
• Micronesian Seminar
• Fresh Air (NPR): "Sweatshops in U.S. Territory"
• "Neo-Colonialism & Contract Labor Under The U.S. Flag" by Phil Kaplan
• "Solving Worker Abuse Problems in the Northern Mariana Islands" by Karen M. Smith
• "About Saipan" - A strongly critical take on the CNMI, Saipan Sucks
• Satellite Image of Anatahan Ash Plume
• Ocean Dots pictures
• Thinkprogress' information on sex and labor slavery
• Saipan and Tinian locator map
• Pascal Horst Lehne and Christoph Gäbler: Über die Marianen. Lehne-Verlag, Wohldorf in Germany 1972.
• Ms. magazine Spring 2006 article "Paradise Lost: Greed, Sex Slavery, Forced Abortions and Right-Wing Moralists" Article about the plight of garment workers, the Abramoff scandal, and other abuses, by Rebecca Clarren

	v • d • e Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Saipan (capital)
Topics	Archipelago | Geography | Politics | Economy | Campaign is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Saipan Sucks website screenshot. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands. ... In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is an organized territory or colony that has established with the Federal Government a more highly developed relationship, which may be embodied in a written mutual agreement. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are an archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels... Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands Data code: CQ Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs Government type: commonwealth; self... In the Pacific theater of World War II, the American Marianas Campaign, known as Operation Forager, pushed westward from the Marshall Islands in the summer of 1944 to capture the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. ...
Islands	Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas) | Maug Islands | Asuncion | Agrihan (Agrigan) | Pagan | Alamagan | Guguan | Zealandia Bank | Sarigan | Anatahan | Farallon de Medinilla | Saipan | Tinian | Aguijan (Agiguan) | Rota Farallon de Pajaros (from Spanish Farallón de los pájaros, meaning Birds Rock), also known as Urracas (from Spanish Urracas, meaning Magpies), is the westernmost island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Three islands, the caldera of an ancient volcano, form the Maug Islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Asuncion (or Ascuncion) is the third northmost independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain at . ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Pagan Island is an island of the Northern Mariana Islands chain, located at 18. ... Alamagan The Northern Marianas island of Alamagan is located 146 nautical miles north from Saipan and is 4. ... Guguan is the seventh indepedndent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Zealandia Bank is the eighth independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Sarigan is the ninth independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Anatahan is one of the most active volcanoes of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Farallon de Medinilla is the eleventh independent island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Rota Rota, also known as the peaceful island, is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ...
Municipalities	Northern Islands Municipality | Saipan | Tinian | Rota A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. ... Saipan seen from the air A map of Saipan, Tinian & Aquijan Saipan (IPA: in English) is the largest island and capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean (15°10... Saipan, Tinian & Aguiguan The atom bomb pit on Tinians North Field, where Little Boy was loaded aboard the Enola Gay Tinian Shinto shrine. ... Rota Rota, also known as the peaceful island, is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ...

v • d • e Countries and territories of Oceania

Australasia Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Largest metro area Little Rock Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[3] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[2] Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[4] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Delaware. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Official language(s) English [1] Capital Boise Largest city Boise Largest metro area Boise metropolitan area Area  Ranked 14th  - Total 83,642 sq mi (216,632 km²)  - Width 305 miles (491 km)  - Length 479 miles (771 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Largest metro area Des Moines metropolitan area Area  Ranked 26th  - Total 56,272 sq mi (145,743 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 199 miles (320 km)  - % water 0. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Largest metro area Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44° 21′ N to 49° N  - Longitude 104° 2′ W to 116° 3′ W Population  Ranked... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... For other uses, see New Hampshire (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Largest metro area Albuquerque metropolitan area Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... This article is about the state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (900 km)  - % water 9. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For the capital city of the United States, see Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Largest metro area Charleston metro area Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Largest metro area Greater Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42° 30′ N to 47° 05′ N  - Longitude 86° 46′ W to... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... An insular area is United States territory that is neither a part of one of the fifty states nor a part of the District of Columbia, the nations federal district. ... Motto Samoa, Muamua Le Atua(Samoan) Samoa, Let God Be First Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner, Amerika Samoa Capital Pago Pago; Fagatogo (seat of government) Official languages English, Samoan Government  -  Governor Togiola Tulafono United States unincorporated territory  -  Treaty of Berlin 1899   -  Deed of Cession of Tutuila 1900   -  Deed of Cession... For the board game, see Puerto Rico (board game). ... Motto United in Pride and Hope Anthem Virgin Islands March Capital (and largest city) Charlotte Amalie Official languages English Government  -  Head of State George W. Bush  -  Governor John de Jongh Organized, unincorporated territory  -  Revised Organic Act 22 July 1954  Area  -  Total 346. ... The flag of the United States is used for all of the United States Minor Outlying Islands The United States Minor Outlying Islands, a statistical designation defined by ISO 3166-1, consists of nine insular United States possessions: All of these islands are in the Pacific Ocean except Navassa Island... Baker Island is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at 0°13′N 176°31′W, about 3,100 km (1,675 nautical miles) southwest of Honolulu. ... Howland Island Howland Island is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at 0°48′N 176°38′W, about 3,100 km (1,675 nautical miles) southwest of Honolulu. ... Jarvis Island (formerly also known as Bunker Island[1]) is an uninhabited 4. ... Johnston Atoll is a 130 km² atoll in the North Pacific Ocean at 16°45′N 169°30′W, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands. ... The flag of the US is used for Kingman Reef Kingman Reef Kingman Reef—NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kingman Reef is a one-square-kilometer tropical coral reef located in the North Pacific Ocean, roughly half way between Hawaiian Islands and American Samoa at 6°24... Orthographic projection centred over Midway. ... Navassa Island map from The World Factbook Navassa Island - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Navassa Island (La Navase in French, Lanavaz in Haitian Kreyòl) is a small, uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea. ... Palmyra Atoll - Landsat Image N-03-05_2000 (1:50,000) Palmyra Atoll - Marplot Map (1:50,000) Orthographic projection over Palmyra Atoll Palmyra Atoll, is an incorporated atoll administered by the United States government. ... USGS Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite image of Wake Island. ... This is an alphabetical list of Oceanian countries and dependencies. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1096x744, 47 KB)Australasia ecozone re-drawn from French wiki by MPF Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Australia · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · New Zealand1 · Norfolk Island Melanesia Copyright 2004 Affordable Solutions Pty Ltd Aust. ... Map showing Melanesia. ... East Timor 2 · Fiji · Indonesia (Maluku Islands) · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea3 · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu Maluku redirects here. ... Micronesia Image File history File links Micronesia. ... Federated States of Micronesia · Guam · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Nauru · Northern Mariana Islands · Palau Polynesia Image File history File links Polynesia. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Niue · Pitcairn · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna 1 Often included in Polynesia · 2 East Timor is often included in Asia Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... 3 New Guinea is often included in Australasia

v • d • e Austronesian-speaking countries and territories

v • d • e Formosan Taiwan v • d • e Malayo-Polynesian  American Samoa  Brunei  Burma  Cambodia  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands  Cook Islands  Easter Island  East Timor  Fiji Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia. ... Below is a list of countries that are home to Austronesian languages along with the most notable languages in each country. ... The Formosan languages are a group of Austronesian languages spoken 2% of the population of Taiwan, almost exclusively aboriginals. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages used by some 351 million speakers. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_American_Samoa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brunei. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Myanmar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cambodia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Christmas_Island. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Cook_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Rapa_Nui,_Chile. ... Rapa Nui redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_East_Timor. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Fiji. ...  French Polynesia  Guam  Hainan Island  Hawaii  Indonesia  Kiribati  Madagascar  Malaysia  Marshall Islands  FS Micronesia Image File history File links Flag_of_French_Polynesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guam. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Not to be confused with the unrelated provinces of Henan and Hunan Hainan (海南; pinyin: Hǎinán) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located at the southern end of the country. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kiribati. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Madagascar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Marshall_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Micronesia. ... Anthem Patriots of Micronesia Capital Palikir Largest city Weno Official languages English (national), Ulithian, Woleaian, Yapese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, and Chuukese (at state or local level) Government Constitutional government1  -  President Joseph J. Urusemal Independence from US-administered UN Trusteeship   -  Date 3 November 1986  Area  -  Total 702 km² (188th) 271 sq mi...  Nauru  New Caledonia  New Zealand  Niue  Northern Mariana Islands  Orchid Island  Palau  Papua New Guinea  Patani  Philippines Image File history File links Flag_of_Nauru. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Niue. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Old photo of the people of Orchid Island, near Taiwan published in a Japanese colonial government publication, ca. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Papua_New_Guinea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Pattani. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ...  Samoa  Singapore  Solomon Islands  Suriname  Tokelau  Tonga  Tuvalu  Vanuatu  Vietnam  Wallis and Futuna Image File history File links Flag_of_Samoa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Solomon_Islands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Suriname. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tonga. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tuvalu. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vanuatu. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

v • d • e List of former German colonies and protectorates
Colonies	Africa	Wituland · German East Africa (Tanganyika · Rwanda · Burundi) · Togoland · German South-West Africa (Namibia) · German West Africa (Kamerun · Neukamerun)
	Pacific	German New Guinea (German Solomon Islands · German Marshall Islands · Caroline Islands · Mariana Islands · Nauru · Palau) · German Samoa
Concessions	China	German Kiautschou · Tsingtao
Unrecognised	Antarctica	New Swabia

Coordinates: 17° N 146° E German colonial empire This is a list of former German Empire colonies and protectorates (German: Schutzgebiete), the German colonial empire. ... This article is about a type of political territory. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Wituland (also Witu or Swahililand) was an approximately 3000 km² territory in East Africa centered on the town of Witu just inland from Indian Ocean port of Lamu north of the mouth of the Tana River in what is now Kenya. ... German East Africa (German: Deutsch-Ostafrika) was Germanys colony in East Africa, including what is now Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanganyika, the mainland part of present Tanzania. ... Flag of Deutsch-Ostafrika (1885-1919) Flag of Tanganyika (1919-1961) Flag of the Republic of Tanganyika 1962–64 Tanganyika is the name of an East African territory lying between the largest of the African great lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, after which it was named. ... Togoland was a German protectorate in West Africa. ... Flag German South-West Africa (black), other German colonies in red Capital Windhoek (from 1891) Political structure Colony Governor  - 1898-1905 Theodor von Leutwein  - 1905-1907 Friedrich von Lindequist  - 1907-1910 Bruno von Schuckmann  - 1910-1915 Theodor Seitz Historical era The Scramble for Africa  - Established 7 August, 1884  - Genocide 1904... The German West African Company, in German Deutsch-Westafrikanische Gesellschaft / Compagnie, was a German chartered company, founded in 1882, which exploited two German Schutzgebiete in West Africa knwon as German West Africa, but apparently, unlike German East Africa, without a central authority. ... The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central Africa. ... Neukamerun (German for New Cameroon) was the name of Central African territories ceded by France to Germany in 1911. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... German New Guinea (Ger. ... The North Solomons are the former German Solomon Islands in Melanesia which were part of German New Guinea. ... Motto: Jepilpilin ke ejukaan Anthem: Forever Marshall Islands Capital (and largest city) Majuro Official languages Marshallese, English Government  -  President Kessai Note Independence  -  from the United States October 21, 1986  Area  -  Total 181 km² (213th) 69. ... Sunset at Colonia on Yap The Caroline Islands form a large archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea. ... The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning Islands of Thieves) are an archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels... The Independent State of Samoa (conventional long form) or Samoa (conventional short form) is a country comprising a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. ... In international law, a concession is a territory within a country that is administered by another entity than the state which holds sovereignty over it. ... Capital Berlin Language(s) German (official), Chinese Political structure Colony King List of German monarchs Historical era German colonization  - Colonization November 3, 1897  - Treaty of Versailles June 28, 1914 Currency Goldmark and Pfennig, by 1905 Dollar (Mexican Silverdollar) and Cents The Kiautschou Bay (chin. ... Tsingtao redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_German_Empire. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (615x707, 424 KB) Other versions File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): German Empire Hamburg Mecklenburg-Strelitz Württemberg Mecklenburg-Schwerin Schaumburg Bremen (state) Reuss Duchy of Anhalt... New Swabia (German: Neuschwabenland or Neu-Schwabenland) is a section of the continent Antarctica between 20°E and 10°W (overlapping a portion of Norways claim zone Queen Maud Land), which was claimed by Nazi Germany between 19 January 1939 and 8 May 1945. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...