ading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine: none

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications
--------------

Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: 2,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0

Televisions: 900 (1991 est.)

Defense
-------

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

======================================================================

@Northern Mariana Islands
------------------------

(commonwealth in political union with the US)

Map
---

Location: 15 12 N, 145 45 E -- Oceania, islands in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the
Philippines

Flag
----

Description: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on
the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone
used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Geography
---------

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 area: 477 sq km
land area: 477 sq km
comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1,482 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,
little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June,
rainy season July to October

Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and
fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use:
arable land: 5% on Saipan
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage
contributes to disease
natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons
(especially August to November)
int