Northern Mariana Islands
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Country name - conventional short form : Northern Mariana Islands
Country name - former : Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Government type : commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital - name : Saipan
Capital - time difference : UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Population : 86,616 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : NA (US citizens)
Nationality - adjective : NA
Languages : Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)
Currency (code) : US dollar (USD)
Currency code : USD
Northern Mariana Islands is located Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. The climate is tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October. The terrain is southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
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