Contiguous zone: 12 nm;

Continental shelf: 200 m (depth);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

_#_Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south

_#_Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)

_#_Land use: arable land 11%; permanent crops 11%; meadows and pastures 15%; forest and woodland 18%; other 45%

_#_Environment: frequent squalls during rainy season; subject to relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)

_#_Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean 5,955 km west-southwest of Honolulu about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines