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
People ::Northern Mariana Islands
Population:
88,662 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 8,372/female 7,616)