Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: 0% other: 60%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands:People
Population: 71,912 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 8,652; female 8,377) 15-64 years: 75% (male 25,441; female 28,233) 65 years and over: 1% (male 591; female 618) (2000 est.)