Northern Mariana Islands. Map

Perhaps one of the most mysterious places on the earth map Mariana Islands. This place, which is sometimes referred to as one of the best preserved mysterious corners of America, attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists with its unique nature and many historical sites.

Mariana Islands on the world map

Remoteness of the Mariana Islands from « mainland» makes them unique place where an atmosphere of peace and absolute carelessness reigns. real paradise for lovers of magnificent panoramas, unique sunsets and crystal clear air.

Where are they?

The Mariana Islands are a small Island state, whose territory covers 15 islands of the archipelago of the same name. They are located at the western end of the Pacific Ocean, in a region called micronesia.

Most travelers come here in search of solitude from the noise of megacities and in order to see with their own eyes the monuments of the “Battle of the Pacific” during the Second World War.

The islands of the archipelago are located in such a way that they form two chains total length over 700 kilometers.

Due to the characteristics of its geographical location Mariana archipelago does not have clear borders with neighboring states. To the south of it are caroline islands(Federated States of Micronesia). The conditional natural boundary separating the Philippine Sea from the Pacific Ocean passes at the location of the Mariana Islands.

Relief

Mariana archipelago consists of two chains located from the north and south. In the northern chain, most of the islands are cones formed as a result of volcanic activity over 900 meters high. Note that some of them are small. active volcanoes. The islands in the southern chain are partly volcanic, partly formed by corals.

The nature of the Mariana Islands is typical for the region of the tropics, there are many places where the human foot has hardly set foot. The coral reefs of the Mariana Islands amaze with their splendor and fantastic shapes, and the deepest place on the planet is an 11-kilometer Mariana Trench is located just a few tens of kilometers from the archipelago.

Coastal waters abound with fish, beaches stretch for thousands of meters, and the rich underwater world strives to show all its splendor to diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.

Climate

The climate of the Mariana Islands is characterized as humid, tropical ocean.

The average air temperature in the daytime fluctuates around +28/+33 degrees Celsius, and at night it drops by only a few degrees to +23/+25 degrees.

Humidity quite high and reaches 75-85%. Two seasons are clearly distinguished: in the period from to the wind season begins in this area, and from to the time of typhoons begins.

How to get from Russia?

The easiest way to get here is from some countries in Asia (, Japan, South Korea) or from , therefore, among vacationers in the Mariana Islands, Japanese And Americans.

Due to the remoteness of the Mariana Islands from no direct flights in this direction.

To the airport of the main island of the archipelago - Saipan– can be reached by plane of Asian airlines. Transfers to flights in this direction are carried out in Shanghai, Tokyo or. The duration of such a flight will be about 16 hours, and this is without taking into account flight connections.

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State structure

Picturesque coral reefs, offshore fishing, surfing and diving are all available today in abundance. But not all the time, life seemed like a fairy tale to the inhabitants of the Mariana Islands.

Story

The development of the Northern Mariana Islands took place many centuries ago - around 500 AD, the first settlers appeared here - Chamorro tribes having some kinship with the modern peoples of Polynesia. They were experienced sailors, actively explored the Pacific islands and left behind memorable signs - the famous "latte" stones, whose height could reach 6 meters.

It is curious that some historians see in the latte stones some analogy with the mysterious statues of Easter Island.

European influence on the Mariana Islands began thanks to the legendary navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to discover these lands during circumnavigation in 1521. On his ship, he passed through the southern group of islands of the archipelago and named them "Isla de los Ladrones", which in translation meant "Islands of thieves."

The name has been changed to "Las Marianas" in the middle of the 17th century, when the Spanish priest Luis Diego Sanvitores, who found himself in these parts, named them in honor of Queen Anna Maria of Austria.

In 1668, missionaries of the Jesuit order, led by Sanvitores, organized the first mission on the islands, with the advent of which conflicts began between the local population and European colonists. The war lasted two decades, and its result was the eviction of most of the natives on the island of Guam.

In the 19th century resettlement began Spaniards and settlers from the Caroline Islands to the Mariana Islands, gradually began to show interest in the archipelago and. In 1899, Spain sold the Northern Mariana Islands to the German government, which hoped to organize the industrial production of coconut pulp here. However, these plans were corrected by the outbreak of the First World War, and Japan, which turned out to be stronger and more interested, captured the islands.

The Japanese began to grow sugar cane on the islands, cutting down rainforests and thickets of coconut palms. In the 1930s, the Mariana cane plantations guaranteed the lion's share of Japan's profits.

Dramatic events unfolded in the area of ​​the archipelago in the years Second World War when the archipelago became the site of one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in the Pacific. US military forces landed on the coast of Saipan in the summer of 1944 and simultaneously attacked the Japanese flotilla.

Thousands of soldiers of both armies became victims of the battle, but the civilian population of the islands suffered the maximum damage.

Subsequently, the United States set up a military airfield here, which was destined to go down in history. It was from this base that two heavy bombers took off into the sky, dropping atomic charges on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the end of the war, peace came to the islands, they were subordinate to the United Nations, and since 1947 they were influenced by the USA.

Policy

The Mariana Islands are a community with internal self-government. Since 1986, the status of the state has been in effect, "freely joined" to the United States, thanks to which the islands gained local self-government. The United States Custody ended in 1993. The state and the government are simultaneously headed by a governor elected by the population.

On the islands representative presidential democratic system. The main person in the state is the governor. The Marianas are in political union with the United States, and the general funds are managed by a special department within the US Department of the Interior.

Most likely, such an unpleasant ailment as acclimatization will overtake the Mariana Islands. Get ready for it with .

Population

The population of the Mariana Islands archipelago is approximately 700 thousand people. Among them are representatives different nationalities:

1. The vast majority of residents are Filipino ethnicity — 34%;
2. The second place is occupied by the nationality chamorro -30%;
3. On the third Chinese — 12%;
4. Close the list micronesians — 8%;
5. And people from caroline islands — 5%.

In addition, on the islands of the archipelago live Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians.

Religion and language

The official language of the Commonwealth is English. In second place is language of the Chamorro people, as well as an important role caroline, Philippine, Japanese, Korean And Chinese languages.

In the Mariana Archipelago, representatives of each religious group have their own organization and premises for the implementation of rituals.

Main religious movements:

• Catholicism;
• Protestantism;
• Islam;
• local religions and cults.

Numerous activities are taking place here. sects ranging from Mormons to Seventh Day Adventists.

Map of Mariana Islands with cities

Of the 17 islands of the archipelago, only 4 are inhabited: Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam.

Capital

The capital of the Mariana Islands is city ​​of Susupe located on the island of Saipan. It is very popular among tourists from and Japan, who come here in large numbers.

Susupe attracts with its unhurried, measured rhythm, the absence of cataclysms and upheavals, which is so important for a modern person.

You can enjoy warm summer in Susupa all year round and completely forget about all the worries.

Big cities

• The largest city in the archipelago Garapan located in the western part of the island of Saipan. Most of the administrative buildings on the islands are concentrated here. The city is unique in that its boundaries are not clearly defined, and almost everywhere west coast the island stretches a chain of small villages and residential buildings surrounded by farms and lush gardens.
• big village Songsong- the largest settlement on the island of Rota. It is located in the southwestern part of the island. The usual city rules do not apply here - residents do just fine without traffic lights and shopping centers. At almost every step you can see all kinds of stones, which are used not only for construction, but also perform the function of marking.
• City hagatna is the administrative center of the island of Guam. It is located on a narrow isthmus that separates the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1668 by the Spaniards, who established the first Jesuit mission on the island. Here you can admire beautiful landscapes and vivid historical monuments.

Watch an informative video about the Mariana Islands:

Mariana Islands - an archipelago of fifteen large and several small islands in the west of the central Pacific Ocean. The islands form the northern part of the Western Pacific sub-region of Micronesia and consist of two political and administrative entities: Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Both have the status of an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. This means that they are not part of the United States, but are their property, and the US Constitution has a limited effect here. Moreover, the US Congress forms the local government.
The archipelago is divided into two chains - northern and southern, formed about 20 million years ago. The appearance of both chains above the surface of the water was the result of the displacement of the Pacific plate under the Mariana plate. Along the islands in the zone of convergence of two plates formed - the deepest section of the bottom of the oceans. As of 2011, its depth is 10,994 ± 40 m below sea level.
The islands of the northern chain are represented by cones of volcanoes, among which some are active, up to 965 m high. In total, there are about 50 underwater volcanoes in the archipelago; 11 stratovolcanoes form the islands. The southern chain is represented by coral and tectonic volcanoes.
The Mariana Islands are in a zone of tectonic activity, and earthquakes are not uncommon here. In addition, the archipelago is located in the tropical climate zone, so typhoons often pass here.
Unlike many Pacific Islands, the Mariana Islands are covered with dense thickets of tropical forests; there are also areas of savannahs, the vegetation of which is represented by flowerless cryptogamous plants: ferns, horsetails.

Discovery history

The Mariana Islands, located on the edge of the abyss of the Mariana Trench, were inhabited, presumably, no later than 1500-1400. BC e. The first inhabitants of the islands of the archipelago were immigrants who arrived from the Philippine Islands.
The islands were discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. The discoverer of the archipelago was Ferdinand Magellan himself (1480-1521), a Spanish-Portuguese navigator. During his famous - and the very first in history - world travel March 6, 1521 Magellan saw a chain of islands in the ocean. It is believed that great traveler landed on the island of Guam, but it could also be a small island near Guam.
Magellan tried to start an exchange and trade with the locals, who called themselves tao-tao-tano, or "people of the earth", and received the name khachamori (chamorro) from Europeans. They were typical Micronesians, and even managed to create a semblance of civilization. Its remains have been preserved on the island of Tinian in the form of limestone latte columns dating back to the 9th century.
But Magellan failed to establish a dialogue with the natives: they stole a ship's boat from the Europeans, thus provoking a serious conflict. As a result, the sailors killed seven Chamorros, returned the boat, replenished their food supplies and left the island. Magellan, in memory of the tragic events, named the archipelago the Robber Islands (Islas de los Ladrones).
The Mariana Islands stretch from north to south. Guam Island, which is a separate administrative unit, is the largest and southernmost island of the archipelago. Its area is 541.3 km 2 - 77.7 km 2 more than the total area of ​​the rest of the land, bearing the name of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Mariana Islands served for many years as a transit point for the Manila galleons of Spain, and in the 20th century. acquired military significance. It was from here that the bombers took off that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The islands got their current name in 1667, when Spain officially claimed the rights to them. In Spanish, it sounded "Las Marianas", in honor of the Spanish Queen Marianne of Austria (1634-1696).
From the second half of the XVII century. the colonization of the islands began, missionaries were sent here. Local leaders prevented the spread of Catholicism, and attacks on members of the mission led to a war between the Spaniards and the natives, which broke out in 1672 and lasted 25 years.
In just a hundred years of colonization, most of the Chamorros died from diseases brought to the islands by the Spaniards. Those who managed to survive mingled with the Spaniards. Mestizos - descendants of mixed marriages - still live in the Mariana Islands.
For the Spaniards, the islands served as an intermediate stop for the so-called Manila galleons, which sailed between the Mexican and Philippine islands. The islands remained a Spanish colony until the Spanish-American War (1898), as a result of which the Spaniards handed Guam over to the Americans. This year began the political separation of Guam from other islands of the archipelago. Under an 1899 treaty, the Spaniards sold the remaining Mariana Islands to Germany, which annexed them to their New Guinea protectorate.
In 1914, Japan occupied the Northern Mariana Islands, creating large plantations of sugar cane here. Later, already during the Second World War, the archipelago became the scene of fierce battles between the Japanese and the Americans. Especially bloody for the islands was 1944, when the Americans lost more than 2 thousand people dead and wounded, and over 40 thousand Japanese were killed or committed hara-kiri. At first, the Japanese even managed to capture American Guam.
However, the Americans regained Guam and captured the Northern Mariana Islands, subsequently using them as an airfield to bomb Japan. Both aircraft with atomic bombs (Enola Gay and Boxcar), which dropped cargo on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, took off from the "Northern Airfield" of Tinian Island in the Marianas.
After the end of the war, all the Mariana Islands came under the full control of the United States. America did not begin to unite them with Guam, but created a separate administrative territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, where the head of state is a US-appointed governor.
On the island of Guam - the largest of the Mariana Islands - the Americans have equipped the largest Pacific naval and air force bases, including Andersen and Apra Harbor. They are served by the majority of the island's population. Here, on Guam, the city of Hagatna is located - the main passenger and fishing port of the archipelago.
At present, the Marianas have become tourist center in the western Pacific. Actually, it was thanks to the American military that the Mariana Islands earned fame as one of the best resort areas in the Pacific Ocean.
The most ancient attraction of the archipelago is the preserved latte stone pillars. The origin and purpose of the pillars are unknown, there are only suggestions that they served for some mysterious cult purposes. There are about 500 of them in total, and they are often compared with stone statues on Easter Island.

general information

Location: western Pacific.

Islands: 15 large islands (Agihan, Agrihan, Alamagan, Anatahan, Asuncion, Guam, Guguan, Maug, Pagan, Rota, Saipan, Sarigan, Tinian, Farallion de Medinilla, Farallion de Pajaros) and several small islands and reefs .
Origin of the islands: tectonic, volcanic, coral.

Administrative affiliation: unincorporated organized territories of the United States.

Administrative-territorial division: Guam Island, Northern Mariana Islands.

Administrative center: Hagatna (Guam Island) - 1051 people, 2010; Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) - 48,220 people, 2010

Languages: Guam Island - English (official), Chamorro, Filipino languages; Northern Mariana Islands - Chamorro, English (official), Filipino, Chinese.

Ethnic composition: Guam Island: Chamorro - 37.1%, Filipino - 26.3%, other Oceanian - 11.3%, white - 6.9%, other Asian - 6.3%, other ethnic groups - 2.3%, mestizo - 9.8%, 2000; Northern Mariana Islands: Asian 56.3%, Oceanian 36.3%, Mestizo 4.8%, White 1.8%, Other 0.8%, 2000

Religions: Catholicism, local beliefs.

Currency unit: U.S. dollar.
The most important port: Hagatna (Guam Island).

The most important airports: international Airport them. Antonio B. Won Pata (Guam Island), Saipan International Airport. Francisco Sea Ada (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands).

Numbers

Area: 1004.9 km2.

Length: 2519 km.

Distance: 2500 km from the Philippine Islands, 2500 km from the island of New Guinea.
Guam Island

Area: 541.3 km2.

Population: 160,378 (2013).

Population density: 296.3 people / km 2.

Urban population: 93% (2010).

125.5 km.
The most high point: Peak Lamlam (406 m).
Northern Mariana Islands

Area: 463.6 km2.

Population: 51,170 (2013).

Population density: 110.4 people / km 2.

Urban population: 91% (2010).

Length coastline: 1482 km.
highest point: Agrikhan volcano on the island of the same name (965 m).

Climate and weather

tropical marine. The influence of the trade winds.
Average annual temperature:+24 - +30°С.

Rainy season: July-October.

Average annual rainfall: 1800-2300 mm.
Relative humidity: 78-82%.

Frequent typhoons.

Economy

GDP: Guam ($4.6 billion, per capita - $28,700, 2010), Northern Mariana Islands ($733 million, per capita - $13,600, 2010).

Agriculture: crop production (sugar cane, bananas, coffee, cotton, taro, citrus fruits, copra, vegetables, breadfruit), animal husbandry (poultry, pig breeding, dairy and meat animal husbandry).
Maintenance of US Air Force and Navy bases (Guam Island).
Industry: construction, food, textile.
Minerals: phosphorites, sulfur, iron and manganese ores.
Fishing (tuna).
Service sector: tourism, trade, financial.

Attractions

■ Guam Island: Pati Point Nature Reserve, ruins of Kaca-Gobierno (Hagatna, Governor's Palace, 1736), statue of Pope John Paul II (Hagatna), mini-Statue of Liberty in Paseo de Susanna (Hagatna), Dolce Nombre Cathedral - de Maria Agaña (Hagatna), Plaza de Espain (Hagatna), Latte Stone Park (Hagatna), Santa Agueda Fort (Hagatna), World War II Memorial Park (Fonte Plateau Unit), Tailfuck Bridge (1785), Guam Museum (Adelap Point Peninsula), World War II Japanese Coastal Gun Exhibition, University of Guam Marine Laboratory, Ty Lavers Point Limestone Cliffs, Caching Zoo, China Park, Gath Pago Inalahan Village , Gadao cave, Talofofo waterfall, Historical Museum Guama, Yokoi Caves, Meriso Bell Chapel (1910), Spanish Fort Nuestra de La Soledad,
■ Northern Mariana Islands: latte columns, San Jose Catholic Church (Tinian, 1956), Sugar King Park (Saipan), American Memorial Park (Saipan), Banadero Limestone Cave (Saipan), Laderan Tangke Cliffs (Saipan) ), Korean Peace Park (in memory of Korean women taken out by the Japanese to work in Saipan, 1981), Grotto Natural Cave, Taga House (residence of Taga the Great, king of the ancient state of Chamorro, Tinian).

Curious facts

■ The island of Guam is only three times the size of the US capital, Washington.
■ In addition to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands.

■ The Limestone Latte Columns on Tinian Island are massive columns made of fossilized coral and limestone, up to 2 m wide and up to 4.5 m high, with a rounded top. Ancient Spanish sources report that burial urns of the Chamorro people were embedded in the columns. Images of the latte column are present on the flag and coat of arms of the Northern Mariana Islands.
■ In 1899, the Spaniards sold the northern part of the Mariana Islands to Germany for 837,500 German gold marks, which is about $4.1 million at the current exchange rate.
■ During World War II, Guam became the first American territory to be occupied by the Japanese. Japan captured the island by attacking it on December 8, 1941, the same day that Pearl Harbor was raided. The Japanese actually attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, but the International Date Line in the Pacific must be taken into account.
■ Residents of the island of Guam are recognized as US citizens without the right to vote in national elections. Guam has one non-voting delegate, elected for two years, in the US House of Representatives.

The Mariana Archipelago is located in the very west of the Pacific Ocean, in almost fabulous Micronesia. Amazing nature And beach holiday in American style with a touch of civilized exoticism - everything about the Mariana Archipelago: map, photos, weather and tours.

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The Mariana Archipelago is the offspring of American democracy. These islands have been unlucky with their owners all their lives. Either Spain will take them to itself, then Germany, then Japan. As a result, "beloved" by many US residents, President George W. Bush united the Northern Mariana Islands with Guam, and the Marianas archipelago thus became a "star-striped" territory.

The Mariana Islands is another place on earth that competes for the title of paradise. Once here, you realize that the best thing in the world is doing nothing. On one side of this archipelago is the Pacific Ocean, on the other, the Philippine Sea has crept up. Here you can jump from island to island and quickly "sing along" your summer.

Time difference with Moscow

7 o'clock

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• with Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

How to get there

There are two important points on this archipelago - Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. There are no direct flights from Russia in both directions. You can fly to Guam with a connection in Tokyo or Seoul, or use a charter via Manila. Everything about everything will take you about 16 hours.

About the same amount of time you will spend flying to Saipan - via Shanghai, Tokyo or Seoul.

Search for flights to the Marianas Archipelago

Visa

From October 1, 2019, citizens of the Russian Federation to visit the Mariana Archipelago will need a visa, which must be issued in advance. In addition, do not forget about the medical policy for the entire duration of the trip.

• Is it possible to go to the Mariana Islands if the deportation period from the USA has not ended
• What documents are needed to travel with a child to the Mariana Islands

Hotels

In the Northern Mariana Islands best hotels located in Saipan. There is a good selection of three and four star hotels. The cost of living - from 90 dollars per night.

On Guam, the center of high-end hotels, shops, and restaurants is located in Tumon Bay. International hotel chains work here - Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and many others. Most often, near the bay you can find luxury hotels that take huge chunks of the cleanest beaches. Cheaper rooms are located a little deeper into the coastline.

Currency of the Marianas

The monetary unit of the country is the US Dollar (USD), in 1 dollar 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 USD = 75.12 RUB.

Transport

In the Northern Mariana Islands, the most comfortable view transport is an airplane. An indispensable means of transportation, given the remoteness of the islands. There is no railroad here public transport poorly developed. It is best to rent a car or use the tourist buses that stop at the hotel, shops and restaurants.

On Guam, public transport is easier. There are 15 bus routes operating here. Buses run every day, except Sunday, with an interval of 30 minutes. True, drivers will not go anywhere after 7 pm. The trip costs a dollar. Day pass is $3.

Also, open-top buses run around the island - they are best suited for excursions so that you can see and photograph the sights in detail.

Beaches

The archipelago has several beaches that attract the most tourists. One of the cleanest and most beautiful is Micro Beach. For fans of snorkeling, Lao Lao Bay is suitable, and for fans of outdoor food - Ladair Beach, picnics are often arranged here. And Paupau Beach offers playgrounds for sports.

In principle, anyone can choose a beach to their liking. It is not necessary to go to the territory crowded with tourists - within a few minutes you will definitely find a secluded corner where no one will disturb you. Enough in the archipelago wild beaches. True, while swimming, it is worth taking into account the strength of receding waves, as well as monitor the coral rubble that scratches bare feet.

Cuisine and restaurants

The cuisine of the Mariana Archipelago is a bizarre mixture of traditions from many countries. This is not surprising given the history of the territory. Each owner left a mark in food.

The cuisine has incorporated recipes from China, France, Italy, the USA and Japan. Cafes and restaurants serve traditional meat dishes with spicy sauces - fried lamb and beef ribs. Chefs prepare simple poultry soups with corn, rice, potatoes and spinach. In the course of coconut soup with vegetables and curry, as well as broth with tomatoes and minced meat.

Naturally, not a single self-respecting establishment can do without fish dishes: grilled, boiled, smoked or baked with all kinds of vegetables, fish is served with sauce, mussels, beans or ordinary noodles.

And on the archipelago they make tuba coconut wine - this is a naturally fermented juice of a young coconut with a very specific taste.

Shopping and stores

The Mariana archipelago is a whole heap of souvenirs that tourists buy in tons. This is what vacationers most often take home: souvenirs from shells and coconuts, hats and bags from the leaves of tropical plants, textiles and paintings, products made from agate, corals and pearls.

Each store has its own work schedule, but none of them will open their doors on Sunday - they rest. The exception is large shopping centers that do not want to lose profits.

The archipelago is full of duty-free shops that sell products from global brands - from Chanel and Louis Vuitton to Gucci and Rolex. Prices here are an order of magnitude lower than in the US itself.

Payment in stores - in US dollars or credit cards, however, cards may not be accepted on the outlying islands. There are commercial banks on the larger islands if you need to cash a check. Going to small island It's best to bring plenty of cash with you.

3 things to do in the Mariana archipelago

1. Snorkeling is a type of swimming with fins and a breathing tube. With such equipment, you can spend a lot of time in the ocean, exploring the underwater world. Snorkeling is my favorite pastime local residents. They are used by adults and children. You will be taught too.
2. Visit the Micronesian Arts and Crafts Fair - this event takes place annually in Guam. Representatives of exotic states like Nauru, Kiribati and Belau flock here. The highlight of the program is the dance and song festival. The fair is visited by about 20 thousand people.
3. Save the Guam shepherd is an endangered species of native bird, otherwise known as "ko-ko". Every year, the Ko-Ko Road Half Marathon is held in her honor. People gather and run 20 kilometers, drawing attention to the problem of the disappearance of the bird. You will have to run along the beaches and villages, so a beautiful landscape is guaranteed during the rescue action.

Entertainment and attractions of the Mariana Archipelago

One of the most interesting sights of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Chamorro street

This street is located in Guam. Locals gather here every evening, play, sing, dance, cook delicious meals and sell souvenirs. Chamorro is the name of the natives of the island. Their history, among other things, can be studied from the ancient Latte stones - the columns on which dwellings were built.

Fort Apugan

Fort Alugan is located near the capital of Guam. Here in 1944 there were battles between the armies of Japan and the United States. Hundreds of soldiers are buried in a large meadow, and the remains of a German cruiser and Japanese ships lie at the bottom of the sea. Divers like to descend here in search of interesting finds.

Diving

The Mariana Archipelago is a kind of transit point for divers, who then go to Fiji, Yap, Truk, Palau. There are some good dive sites on Guam. For example, near Fort Alugan. Or the well-known Kingdom of black corals is a large deep-water reef with a sheer wall that goes 100 meters deep.

Trekking

Hiking enthusiasts are best off heading to the Northern Mariana Islands. The main islands - Saipan, Tinian and Rota - are good for walking. One of the main trails is the Laderana-Tangka trail leading through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest.

Citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus need a visa to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands in 2020. Visa-free entry to the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Guam and Saipan was canceled on October 3, 2019.

The Mariana Trench and Everest - most people remember these names from the school geography course. The first is the deepest point on the planet, the second is the deepest high mountain. Height and depth are measured from ocean level. In absolute terms, the most deep depression overtakes the highest peak by a significant margin.

The Mariana Trench on the world map should be looked for in the Pacific Ocean northeast of the Philippine archipelago (southeast of Japanese islands), it is a semicircular trough approximately 1,500 km long, with its convex part directed to the east. The deepest point of the trough is called "Challenger Abyss" and is 10,994 meters deep.

The Mariana Trench is named after the adjacent Mariana Islands, which stretch along the western part of the trench. Guam Island, the closest to the Challenger Deep, is located 340 km northeast of it. Coordinates deepest point oceans: 11°22’23.9″N, 142°35’30.1″E.

The trench is located at the junction of two tectonic plates, and its relief is a relatively flat bottom strip no wider than 5 km between two steep slopes. In places along its length, the bottom has a stepped structure and mountain ranges. The water pressure at the lowest point is approximately 108 MPa, which is 1,072 times the normal atmospheric pressure.

The hollow was first discovered by the English sailing and steam corvette Challenger during the world's first integrated oceanographic expedition in 1875. The depth was then determined twice with the results of 8,367 m and 8,184 m, which made it possible to call this depression the deepest on the planet. In 1951, the British scientific vessel Challenger II conducted an ocean survey in these places.

With the help of an echo sounder, a depth of 10,899 m was recorded. This point was given the name of the ship. Over the following years, new measurements were taken, the depth was corrected several times in both directions, the last value of 10,994 m was recorded in 2011.

The difficulty of measuring the depth of such scales with an echo sounder lies in the dependence of the speed of sound waves in water, on its properties (density, temperature, chemical composition, impurities). These properties are different depending on the depth. To obtain accurate values, it is necessary to take water samples from different depths, analyze them and take into account the data in subsequent measurements.

For the first time, the bathyscaphe Trieste sank to the bottom of the depression (10,915 m) in 1960 with two researchers on board (US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss oceanologist Jacques Picard). Then several times autonomous dives were made by unmanned vehicles, and the Japanese Kaiko probe in 1995 took the first soil samples from a depth of 10911 m.

In 2012, the famous director James Cameron for the first time in history alone made a dive to the bottom, having been there for a total of 6 hours. Subsequently, a 3D film about the history of this dive called "Challenge to the Abyss" was released. It is worth mentioning that famous traveler Fedor Konyukhov in 2020 also announced his intention to dive to the bottom of this depression.

Fauna of the Mariana Trench

Sunlight cannot penetrate to a depth of more than 1000 m, eternal darkness reigns there. Along with the colossal pressure, this makes living conditions in the abyss extremely difficult. Nevertheless, the Mariana Trench is inhabited. The bottom is covered with silt, which, as the first samples showed, is saturated with shell organisms; huge armored amoebas (up to 10 cm in diameter) were also found here.

In addition to the simplest barophilic bacteria, crayfish, gastropods, holothurians, and fish live here. Even during the first visual observations from the Trieste bathyscaphe, small fish resembling a flounder were seen. The specificity of the conditions makes the appearance of many local fish amazing: they have huge teeth, eyes rotating in different directions (or their absence), instead of fins there are sharp spikes.

Worms up to 2 m long, not yet identified, are also found here. There are no algae at such depths, and the food source for the protozoa is the remains falling to the bottom (detritus). Recent studies have shown that the bodies of local small crustaceans contain many heavy metals that are extremely toxic to ordinary living cells.

In general, the fauna of the Mariana Trench is poorly studied, many scientists believe that species that have long been extinct on Earth can be found there.

For example, the teeth of a giant shark, the megalodon, were recently found. It is believed that these monsters, which weighed up to 100 tons, died out about 2 million years ago, while the age of the teeth found is from 11 to 24 thousand years.

Research has been accompanied by various mystery stories: obscure huge shadows resembling dragons appear on the monitors, a loud metallic rattle is heard, and once, according to the team of the German deep-sea apparatus Highfish, on the monitor of the infrared camera they saw a creature clinging its teeth to a bathyscaphe, it had to be scared away by an electric discharge.

major islands there are 15, there are also some small rocks and reefs. The population is about 215,000 people. The nationality of the indigenous people is the Chamorro, and their language is also called. It is believed that the Chamorros are descendants of ancient settlers from the Philippines. Currently, there are practically no true representatives of this people; everyone who calls themselves Chamorro is mestizo.

The state affiliation of the Mariana Islands is not as easy to determine as it might seem. The southernmost island, Guam, has an independent status, it is an unincorporated organized territory of the United States, that is, the island is not included in the United States, but its territory is considered American, and the islanders (more than 180,000 people) have US citizenship. The capital is the city of Hagatna, located on west bank.

The Northern Mariana Islands constitute a separate administrative entity - the Commonwealth, the state status is completely similar to Guam (freely associated with the United States). The main island is Saipan, the capital is called the same.

The first Europeans to discover these lands were members of Magellan's team, who anchored here in 1521. The meeting with the natives ended in the loss of the ship's boat. Frustrated, Magellan gave the archipelago the name "Islands of Thieves" (de los Ladrones, Ladrones), which existed until the beginning of the 20th century.

The islands were immediately declared the property of Spain. A few decades later, colonialists began to come here. As was often the case, the missionaries arrived first. It was they who gave the territories modern name in honor of the Spanish Queen Marianna, since then the Mariana Islands on the map have been called that way. Colonization did not go smoothly. As a result of armed clashes and prolonged repression indigenous people 200 years after visiting Magellan, it decreased by 30 times.

In 1899, the Northern Mariana Islands were sold to Germany, and at the beginning of the First World War, Japan occupied the entire archipelago. In 1944, US troops landed on the island of Saipan, long bloody battles began with numerous casualties, only about 40,000 people died on local residents.

Americans equipped on the island of Tinian military base from which the bombers took off, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After the end of the war, the archipelago was for some time under the control of the UN, and in 1947 it was transferred to the custody of the United States.

US citizens do not need a visa to visit the Mariana Islands, and the presence of an American visa in the passport serves as a pass to these territories for citizens of other countries.

The monetary currency is the US dollar.

Mariana Islands, or to be more precise - the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI - Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands)- a small island nation micronesia, in the western part Pacific ocean. The ridge consists of 15 islands of volcanic origin, the largest of which Saipan, Tinyan And Company. However, only 14 islands belong to the Commonwealth, and the fifteenth is an island Guam, the largest and southernmost of Marianas islands, is considered a separate territory belonging to USA, which they received as a war trophy back in 1898. The islands form two chains - northern And South, stretching in the ocean for almost 650 km.

South Commonwealth Marianas islands borders on Caroline islands that are under guardianship and lie 1100 km from the island Company, to the east - Marshall islands, in the west -, to the north and northwest is located. To the east of the islands is perhaps the most important local geographical attraction, familiar to everyone from school geography lessons - Mariana Trench, with a depth of 11,775 meters.

Saipan - main island state, located approximately 2660 km east of Manila; 2730 km north of Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), 5980 km west of Honolulu (Hawaii, USA) and approximately 80 km northeast of the island Guam (USA). There are no cities on the islands in their usual sense, and even the inhabited territories cannot be called urbanized. After all, even the island Saipan, With administrative centers Susupe And Goropan occupy an area of ​​only 120 sq. km.

The ubiquitous and demanding Japanese and Koreans dominate here among the tourists. They really know a lot about quality service. They come here in tens of thousands every month, especially during the days of the Japanese golden week or at New Year . This is explained by the fact that Tokyo or from Seoul before Saipan the flight is approximately three and a half hours. And the state language here, it seems, is English, and the monetary unit is the dollar. USA, but still, at times, the impression does not leave the impression that these islands are almost Japanese or Korean - this is how the presence of Asian tourists is felt here. Many restaurants with Japanese names accept both Japanese yen and Korean won, and hotel staff willingly answers in both Korean and Japanese.

Most recently the newspaper "Saipan Tribune" wrote about how a Japanese doctor named Hiroyuki Maida, who has been visiting for ten years in a row Saipan from Tokyo, arrived on the island for the jubilee hundredth time. To the question: "Why?" - he laughs and replies that on his very first visit here he fell in love with Saipan and now he likes it here as much as ten years ago.

Tourists from Russia here in the vast minority, although they appear here, perhaps more often than other Europeans. And they're starting to like it too. And everyone has their own reasons for this. Diving enthusiasts, for example, can be seduced by the beauties Grotto- a natural cave with underground lakes up to 15 meters deep and tunnels to the open sea. Here you can also dive to the crash sites of World War II planes in the harbor Tanapag, to the caves and breeding sites of conger eels in the area Obyan Beach, as well as to huge coral massifs off the coast in the area. But for snorkeling the best place on Saipan- island Managaha, on Tignane- beach Tachona, and on Company - Corell Gardens, coral gardens in the bay Sasanaya. If you have never dived at all, then on Saipan everything you need, you will be taught by Russian dive guides.

The same tourists who are far from diving, masks, snorkels and scuba gear are not familiar with Marianas the islands will also be very good. It is an ideal place for both relaxed and active species recreation. There are many cycling and hiking trails around the islands. On Saipan main route - trail Laderana Tangka through the forest Marpy Commonwealth. There is a beautiful route along the coast Cummer And Taga south of San Jose on Tignane.

Other ways to relax include windsurfing, which is extremely popular here (the best place is the beach Micro on Saipan), tennis, golf and short underwater excursions in the lagoon between Saipan and island Managaha, where you can see at the bottom of the sea, in addition to its numerous inhabitants, traces of the wrecks of Japanese ships or American bombers "Superfortresses" B-29. Don't forget to bring your driver's license with you to travel along the scenic roads to anywhere on the island.

Beach holidays here are a real pleasure. One of the favorite places for tourists is the island Managaha, which is located half an hour by boat from Saipan(round-trip ticket 50USD). It's best to spend the whole day here. The island is small, quiet and cozy. The whole beach is pure white sand, no algae and shells. You can rent sun loungers and a mask with a snorkel (15USD) and swim, look at the underwater world ... There are a huge number of various inhabitants of the seabed, of all shapes and colors, and they are completely fearless - many of them can easily be touched with your hands, and if you offer if they get some delicacy, they will be happy to eat from your hands ... And when you get hungry yourself, numerous restaurants located in the shade of palm trees will offer you dishes for every taste.

Local population - chamorro. Smiling, welcoming and friendly. They smile not because it is necessary to do so out of courtesy, but simply because the smile reflects their state of mind. TO characteristic features local etiquette can be attributed almost Japanese reluctance to refuse a guest or fear of upsetting him with his refusal. Therefore, situations of complete misunderstanding are not uncommon, since a local resident can easily give the advice that, in his opinion, will not upset the tourist, and not at all the one that corresponds to reality. At the same time, some Asian "compliance" is striking, which, however, does not go beyond the usual careful attitude towards tourists. And at the same time, in some regions, especially on the outlying islands, the influence of the old traditions of the indigenous inhabitants of the islands is noticeable, with numerous taboos and ceremonies. In most places visited by tourists, the orders are quite European, and you can not be afraid of any difficulties in communicating with the locals.

Nature and Climate

If you ask a local resident about what kind of Saipan if the weather happens, then you will not hear many and lengthy explanations. The weather all year round is either good or very good. Often very good. That is, it is when it is warm, regardless of the time of year + 27 + 30 degrees in the shade. Clear sky, blue-blue ocean and water temperature +26 degrees. And good weather differs from very good weather in that it is only a couple of degrees lower.

It is worth noting that sometimes the islands are hit by typhoons that originated in the open spaces Pacific ocean. But even these typhoons did not prevent us from taking Saipan worthy place V Guinness Book of Records for the most stable weather and temperature in the world.

The sun is very hot here and the level of solar radiation is very high, so it is recommended to wear sunglasses, hats and light protective clothing, which should not be discarded when swimming, especially in the first days after arrival - a thin layer of water does not protect from ultraviolet radiation at all.

Do not underestimate the danger of tidal currents - when passing through the cracks and narrowness of the reefs, they form quite powerful eddy currents that can seriously impede navigation. For unaccustomed swimmers, one should be careful in the ocean surf, because even a small wave with a force of up to two points generates intense rebound waves that can greatly complicate the beaching.

Many beaches covered with coral rubble and volcanic rocks are quite difficult to move around and require strong shoes. Also, special requirements for footwear and clothing are imposed when visiting caves, in which ideally smooth sections of rocks are periodically replaced by characteristic limestone "brushes" with rather sharp edges.

Currency exchange and Banking

The state currency is the US dollar (USD). The exchange rate fluctuates in line with changes in the financial market.

There are 100 cents in one US dollar. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 dollars, as well as coins in denominations of 1 dollar, half dollar (50 cents, half dollar) and quarter dollar (25 cents, quarter) and denominations of 5 and 1 cent.

Almost everywhere they accept Japanese yen and Korean won.

Traveler's checks in US dollars are accepted everywhere. USA, and it is absolutely not necessary to visit a bank branch, since most hotels, restaurants and large stores cash them on the spot. If during the trip you are going to visit small islands, we still recommend that you stock up on the necessary amount of cash in advance.

Bank branches are open from Monday to Thursday, from 10.00 to 15.00, on Fridays - from 10.00 to 18.00. Some banking offices on the outlying islands may operate on their own schedule.

ATMs and Credit Cards
All major international credit cards of common payment systems are accepted everywhere: VISA, Master Card, Diners Club, American Express. On remote islands, you may encounter problems when trying to pay for something with a plastic card, because often small private shops simply do not accept card payments. Most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and diving centers on Saipan, Tinyan And Company accept plastic cards for payment. ATMs can be found in bank branches and large shopping centers.

VAT and Tax-Free
When paying for services in hotels, a hotel tax of 10% is charged. There are no other commercial taxes, including VAT.

Customs and Passport Control

Allowed import and export of national (USD) or any other foreign cash currency, as well as checks, including travel, debt and securities. Imported cash exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 USD is subject to mandatory declaration. Items made of gold and precious stones are subject to mandatory declaration.

Prohibited import to Marianas islands of drugs, stimulants, psychotropic substances, anabolic steroids and growth hormones, amphetamines, erythropoietin, barbiturates, hallucinogens and some other medicines.

The transport of weapons is strictly regulated: firearms, pneumatic, cold steel and sports (including nunchucks, bows and crossbows, slingshots, switchblade and folding knives), as well as ammunition for it and parts of weapons, which require appropriate certificates and licenses issued by the office of the General prosecutor CNMI.

Perishable products, mangoes from the Philippines, meat and meat products are prohibited for import into the country, except for those made in the mainland. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, on Hawaii And Guam, noodles with instant meat and other "dry" foods.

We allow duty-free import of the following goods:
- no more than 600 cigarettes manufactured in USA marked Surgeon General's Warning, or, no more than 200 cigarettes manufactured in other countries;
- up to 450 grams of cigars;
- up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages (for persons over 21 years old);
- up to 1 liter of weak alcoholic beverages (for persons over 21 years old);
- up to 2 ounces (56 ml.) of perfume;

If the specified norms are exceeded, the owner of alcohol must pay a duty for each fluid ounce in the amount of: 5 cents for beer and wine, 3 cents for spirits. Commercial items are not exempt from taxes and duties, as they are not considered everyday items.

You should pack flammable items, aerosols, hairspray, lighter gas, piercing items in your luggage, as they will not be allowed on the plane as hand luggage.

Transportation of animals
With rules for the transport of pets and clearance travel documents we recommend that you familiarize yourself with them in advance, when booking and buying air tickets. Please note that the weight of the animal and the container for its transportation is not included in the free baggage allowance and is paid exclusively as excess baggage. Only guide dogs accompanying their owners in flight are transported free of charge.

Time

On Marianas On the islands, time is not converted to winter and summer. It always remains in one unchanged time zone and is + 10 hours to the time Greenwich.
Hourly difference between Moscow And Saipan is + 7 hours.

Visas and Consular Information

From October 3, 2019 for citizens of the Russian Federation canceled visa-free entry to the Mariana Islands. To visit Saipan or Guam, Russians need to have an American B1 or B2 visa, which entitles them to multiple entries into the United States within 180 days. Visa must be obtained in advance at the US Embassy in the territory Russian Federation.

An important condition for entry to the Mariana Islands is the presence of a biometric foreign passport (i.e. valid for 10 years).

Opening hours of institutions, shops and museums

The usual working hours of trade enterprises are from Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 17:00, on Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00. Many private shops have their own hours and are often closed on Sundays, but most major department stores and duty-free shops are Saipan open all week.

Bank branches are open from Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 to 15:00, on Fridays - from 10:00 to 18:00. Some banking offices on the outlying islands may operate on their own schedule.

Transport

The remoteness of the islands from each other made the plane the most convenient means of transportation. There are no railroads at all. There is no public transport other than taxis. The best way to get to know Saipan is a rental car.

Aircraft
Almost all tourists come to Marianas islands by plane. The main and most major airports is located Saipan And Guam. Airplanes from countries arrive at this airport daily. Asia And North America . Flights are operated by airlines Japan Airlines, Continental Micronesia, Northwest Airlines And Asia Airlines.

Direct flights to Marianas islands from Moscow and other cities Russia does not exist. The shortest route to Northern Mariana islands for tourists Russia passes through countries South-East Asia . Usually tourists from the Russian Federation go to Saipan or Guam with transit stops at Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul.

Domestic flights between the islands are operated by local airlines. The plane is the most convenient means of transportation on the islands. There are several domestic flights daily between Saipan, Rota And Tignan.

Buses
The islands do not have a developed bus system, however, there are several routes connecting the main cities. But you can easily find a taxi at the airport and in the city, in parking lots near hotels. A number of hotels organize regular bus routes to major shopping centers and the airport.

Car rental
The most convenient way to travel around the islands is by car.

Renting a car will not be difficult for you. There are many car rental agencies on the island. It is best to take a car in already well-known and proven companies Hertz or Avis. All rights are valid on the island and no deposit is required. The rental price depends on its term and, of course, on the class of the car. The cost of gasoline is 1.9 USD per gallon (4 liters).

Before you get behind the wheel, be sure to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the traffic rules adopted on the island.

Telephone codes

In order to call Marianas islands, you need to dial the code:

8 - 10 - 1 - 670 - "island code" - "subscriber number"

Subscribers on all islands have seven-digit numbers, where the first three digits of the number indicate a specific island, and the rest are the subscriber's number.

telephone system Marianas islands is modern and integrated with communications USA. International telephone service is available from any public telephone, from most hotels and restaurants.

pay phones
You can find pay phones everywhere. All of them work with telephone cards, which are sold at post offices, newspaper and tobacco kiosks. You can make local, as well as long-distance and international calls from any pay phone. You can purchase cards T&E Long Distance And PTI Long Distance denominations of 5 and 10 USD. All local calls cost, depending on the place of the call, from 25 to 35 cents, from a hotel room - 50-75 cents per minute. Some phones accept credit cards AT&T and credit cards.

cellular
Cellular communication covers almost everything southern islands and part of the north. Roaming with local networks PTI Pacifica Inc.(GSM 850 standard) and Wave Runner LLC Mariana Islands(i CAN GSM, GSM 1900) is available to subscribers of the largest Russian cellular companies through the networks of other operators in the region.

Internet
Internet services in the territory Marianas islands are relatively poorly formed, but in Lately certain efforts are being made to develop them. Internet cafes are few and far between, mostly focused on Saipan, however, almost all major hotels and business centers have their own access points, including those equipped with WiFi.

Representations of the Russian Federation

In the territory Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands diplomatic, trade and other missions Russian Federation No.

Electricity

On Marianas On the islands everywhere the voltage in the network is 220-240V, with a current frequency of 50Hz. Plugs and sockets are class A, i.e. those that are widely used in Northern And Central America and in . The plug consists of two parallel blades. In the Japanese version, the contacts are the same length. In the American one, one is slightly longer than the other. Devices with a Japanese plug can be used in American outlets, but not vice versa.

Tips

Tipping is accepted but not required and usually amounts to no more than 10-15% of the bill. Mandatory tips -1 USD, are given only to hotel employees when bringing luggage and to dancers in striptease clubs. When paying for rooms directly at the hotel, a hotel tax of 10% is charged. There are no commercial taxes. Bargaining is not accepted.

Additional Information

The Marianas use the imperial system of weights and measures.

Personal safety
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands considered a safe country to visit. The crime rate is low, the situation with personal security is quite calm. There is petty theft, currency fraud and other offenses, without outgrowing, however, the local sizes familiar to the islands. When visiting the country, it is recommended to be guided by common sense - you should not leave valuables and documents unattended, it is not recommended to deliberately demonstrate your well-being or visit certain areas alone and at night, this especially applies to Philippine neighborhoods.

Health and Medicine
No vaccinations are required to cross the border of the country. When visiting outlying islands vaccination against hepatitis B and dengue is recommended.

All drinking water on the islands comes from natural sources or through rainwater harvesting and within settlements practically safe to use. However, it is recommended that you only use boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth, or making ice, especially during the first week of your stay. Milk and dairy products are usually pasteurized and are safe to consume. Meat, seafood and fish are considered safe, but it is still recommended to use them only after preliminary heat treatment, preferably hot. Vegetables should be thoroughly washed and pre-treated, and fruits should be peeled.

Medical care at Marianas islands is quite high quality, but relatively expensive. On Saipan, Tinyan And Company there are quite modern clinics, with qualified staff and good equipment to provide most medical services. Ambulance is free of charge, for other cases of contacting doctors you will need to pay on the spot. Cash is preferred, however some clinics work with credit cards. In case of serious medical problems, patients are transferred to clinics Hawaiian islands or Japan.

Dangerous plants and animals
There are no dangerous animals on the territory of the islands. However, there are many poisonous or rather aggressive sea creatures in the surrounding waters, so when swimming and diving under water, you should pay special attention to the bottom and the water column. The backbones of many bottom-dwelling fish are venomous, and the quills sea ​​urchins and the sharp edges of coral massifs leave harmless, but rather painful and long-healing wounds. It is recommended in all cases of diving in unfamiliar places to consult with local residents or diving instructors.

manners
When photographing locals, you should always ask their permission beforehand.

Saying hello and goodbye is accepted by the hand.

Attitude towards clothing is quite democratic. In formal occasions, it is supposed to have strict evening wear - light trousers or a long skirt and a strict shirt with medium-length sleeves will be enough, and in the evenings a light sweater will be useful. In everyday life, you can get by with a light dress and even jeans, although jeans are not the best choice in the local hot climate. The most appropriate leisure wear is a t-shirt and shorts. Beach suits are not recommended to be worn outside the coastline, too open bikinis can also cause disapproval.