Northern Mariana Islands - online puzzles

Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI; Chamorro: Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; Carolinian: Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago; the southernmost island, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self governing territory until 1990.The Northern Marianas were part of the United Nations trust territories after World War II under American administration, while previously they had been under the control of the Spanish (1500s–1899), the Germans (1899–1914), and the Japanese (1914–1944). In the late 20th century the American trustee government held a referendum on whether the territory should join the United States. This process was completed in the late 20th century and recognized internationally, and the people of the Northern Marianas became United States citizens in 1986. They have one federal representative in Congress. The other U.S. Pacific island territories with significant populations include Guam and American Samoa, in addition to the State of Hawaii. The population of the Northern Marianas is several times smaller than the U.S. states, so its representation is handled differently, in that they have more autonomy with a governor and in Congress, but less participation in the federal government. They are U.S. citizens with free movement around the United States and have access to many federal programs, but do not pay federal income tax. The Northern Marianas are near to but separate from Guam which became a part of the U.S. in 1898. Together Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, and Hawaii represent Pacific peoples of the United States tying together many assets such as marine reserves, atolls, and islands dotting the Pacific.

The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km2). According to the 2020 United States Census, 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at that time. The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other islands of the Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan, which was left largely uninhabited since a 1981 volcanic eruption. The total area of the island chain makes it bigger than American Samoa or U.S. Virgin Islands, but as an island chain the distance between the northernmost island and southernmost, Rota, is roughly over 300 miles (around 500 km) which is nearly 1/3 the length of California, for example (which is over 1000 miles from North to South). The main islands of northern Marianas, from north to south, are: Farallon de Pajaros (or Uracus), Maug Islands (actually three islands), Asuncion Island, Agrihan, Pagan, Alamagan, Guguan, Sarigan, Anatahan, Farallon de Medinilla, Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, and Rota (aka Luta). Of these, most live on Saipan; Tinian and Rota also have populations. The highest point on Saipan is Mount Tapochau on, at 474 m (1,555 ft) while the highest point in the Northern Mariana islands is Agrihan at 977 meters, 3204 feet (on Agrihan island). Pagan is home to an active volcano, which had a fairly large eruption in 1981, and had had activity as recently as 2021. The bottom three islands Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are mostly limestone, but the northern islands are volcanic. To the east of the islands in the Mariana Trench lies some of the deepest ocean on the planet.

The administrative center is Capitol Hill, a village in northwestern Saipan. The current governor of the CNMI is Arnold Palacios, he is the tenth Governor and took office in January 2023. The legislative branch has a 9-member senate, and there is a 14-member House of Representatives. The CNMI joined the United States in the late 20th century, a country with a unique system by which other territories or nations can become states with another country. The U.S. currently has 50 States and 5 territories. Compared to Puerto Rico, which is larger, which are also U.S. Citizens but do not pay Federal income tax but the CNMI had a much clearer referendum on becoming a part of the U.S. The CNMI's were quite definitive, with over 93 approving the 1977 constitution; by 1986 they were granted U.S. Citizenship and the United Nations acknowledged their choice. In the 21st century, the CNMI maintains their own local government with some variations in local law.

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