A traditional Carolinian sailing canoe, in the Saipan lagoon. Managaha Island is pictured in the background.

Total area: 189 sq. mi. Land area: 179 sq. mi. Located in the perpetually warm climes between Guam and the Tropic of Cancer, the 14 islands of the Northern Marianas form a 300-mile-long archipelago. The indigenous population in 1990 was concentrated on the 3 largest of the 6 inhabited islands: Saipan, the seat of government and commerce (38,890+), Rota (2,290+), and Tinian (2,100+). Mariana Islands An island group and U.S. commonwealth in the western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines. Guam, the largest island of the group, is independent of the commonwealth, known as the Northern Mariana Islands, which gained official status in 1986. The Marianas were discovered by Magellan in 1521 and held by Spain until 1898. They were sold to Germany in 1899 (when Guam was ceded to the United States) and later became a Japanese mandate (1919-1944). Population, 16,780+. Updated 06-10-04 © Bill_MT 2000