Marianas Islands

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (Commonwealth of Nothern Mariana Island), the state in the western part of Pacific ocean, in Micronesia, occupies the bulk of Mariana Islands, except for the archipelago of island Guam had in a southern part. Northern Mariana Islands occupy the space 475  sq. km. The largest islands - Saipan, Tinian, Rota. The population compounds nearby 45  thousand persons (1993), mainly Micronesias-chamorro, and also natives from Carolines and Philippines. The majority of believers - roman catholics. An official language - English. The capital considers island Saipan where lives 40  thousand persons.

The Head of the state and the governments - the governor selected the population. The legislature - Legislative Assembly consists of two chambers: the Senate (9 members) and the House of Representatives (18 deputies) which are re-elected each two years.

Northern Mariana Islands occupy 14 large and some small islands and the reefs, forming two chain - northern and southern. Islands of northern chain represent vulcanic cones (there are active volcanoes), their altitude to 965  m. of Island of a southern chain of a coral and vulcanic parentage. A climate of islands tropical, passatnyj. Typhoons are frequent, deposits falls out 1800-2000  mm a year.

From the seventeenth century Mariana Islands were colony of Spain. In 1898 Spain has sold islands of Germany. In 1914 Japan has captureed Mariana Islands, and in 1945 Americans here have come. After the Second World War Mariana Islands were a part of Micronesia - the terrain which were under control the USA. In the seventieth years Micronesia has been divided into four politiko-administrative units. One of these units Mariana Islands without southern have compounded parts (island Guam). In 1975 inhabitants of islands have voted for the status of terrain which have freely affiliated to the USA. In 1976 the agreement on building of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands has been signed. On November, 3rd, 1986 this agreement has come into force.

The Basis of economy of Northern Mariana Islands - foreign tourism (233,3  thousand tourists in 1988, mainly from Japan) and agriculture. On islands heat-tolerant graminoids, a coconut palm, a sugarcane, a breadfruit tree, coffee, apples of love, a cotton plant, citrus are cultivated; breed large horned stock, pigs, goats; hunt and work overtime fish (in the tuna core). There are deposits of phosphorites, brimstones, iron and manganous ores. For export there is agriculture products. The basic foreign trade partners - Japan, the USA. In the capacity of monetary unit the US dollar is used.