Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Northern Mariana Islands

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Northern Mariana Islands.

Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Highest Point: 965 — unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources: Arable land, fish, and a modest tourism-driven economy that depends on the islands' natural coastal and marine environments. The Northern Mariana Islands possess limited terrestrial natural resources, with only a small percentage of land suitable for cultivation. Marine resources, particularly the surrounding Pacific waters, support local fishing activity and contribute to food security. Coral reefs and diverse marine ecosystems also hold ecological and economic value, though they face ongoing pressures from climate change and ocean warming.
Natural Hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Current Environmental Issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Detailed geography