Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

13 28 N, 144 47 E

Oceania

total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

three times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

125.5 km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

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-rising hills in
center, mountains in south

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially
from Japan)

arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 45% (1993 est.)

NA sq km

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

extirpation of native bird population by
the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic species

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean