The sea washing the Caroline and Mariana Islands. Enigmatic Mariana Islands on the map. Representative offices of the Russian Federation

The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, a state in Micronesia - the western part of the Pacific Ocean, occupies most of the islands of the Mariana Archipelago (14 of the 15 islands. The 15th island of the chain is Guam, an overseas territory of the United States).
The islands form two chains - northern and southern, stretching almost strictly from north to south for 736 km (460 miles). Most of the islands in the northern chain are volcanic cones rising above the water (up to 965 m high), some of which are still active. Southern chain - coral and volcanic islands. The largest islands are Saipan (120 sq. km), Tinian and Rota, the smallest is Farallon de Medinilla, with an area of about 0.5 sq. km. km.
The northernmost (uninhabited) island of the archipelago, Mogue, was ranked first in the National Geographic magazine's "Best Wildlife Destination" ranking.
Mariana Islands mark the dividing line between the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea. To the east of the archipelago lies the Mariana Trench, whose depth reaches 11,775 m.
total area The Northern Mariana Islands is 480 sq. km.

Administrative center - Saipan island

Time: Time relative to Moscow: 6 hours ahead of Moscow summer time and at 7 o'clock - in winter.

Nature: Most of the islands in the northern chain are actually volcanic cones rising above the water (up to 965 m high), some of which are still active. Southern chain - coral and volcanic islands. The largest islands are Saipan (120 sq. km), Tinian and Rota, the smallest is Farallon de Medinilla, with an area of less than half a square kilometer. The Mariana Islands mark the dividing line between the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea. To the east of the island chain lies the world's deepest Mariana Trench, up to 11,775 meters deep.

Climate: Tropical, trade wind. Typhoons are frequent and tend to pass over the islands between August and December. Precipitation is 1800-2000 mm. per year, rainy season - from July to October. The best time to visit the Northern Mariana Islands is during the dry months from December to March.

Political system: The head of state and executive power is the governor, elected by the population. The Legislative Assembly consists of two chambers: the Senate (9 members) and the House of Representatives (18 deputies), which are re-elected every two years.

Population: The population is about 45.4 thousand people (1993), mainly Micronesians-Chamorros, as well as people from the Caroline Islands and the Philippines.

Language: English (official), Chamorro and Caroline dialects are also widely spoken, Japanese and Korean are spoken in most hotels and some shops.

Religion: Roman Catholic Christianity, local religions and cults.

Economy: The basis of the economy of the Northern Mariana Islands is foreign tourism (233.3 thousand tourists in 1988, mainly from Japan) and agriculture. Heat-resistant cereals, coconut palms, sugar cane, breadfruit, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, cotton, and citrus fruits are grown on the islands; raise cattle, pigs, goats; They catch and process fish (mainly tuna). There are deposits of phosphorites, sulfur, iron and manganese ores. The islands' exports consist of agricultural products.
The main foreign trade partners are Japan and the USA.

Currency: U.S. dollar.

Main attractions: The Northern Mariana Islands are often called "America's Best Keeping Secret", meaning quite untouched nature, abundance historical places(especially associated with the period of the "Battle of the Pacific" in World War II) and the ease of accessibility of the islands both from the territory South-East Asia, and from America. Coral reefs, sea fishing, surfing and excellent conditions for passive recreation attract more than 240 thousand tourists a year to these tiny islands.

For some guests, the island of Saipan can turn into a nightmare when vacationing on a package deal, since it is literally overcrowded with tourists from Japan, moving in “organized columns” and constantly clicking the shutters of their cameras; the recreation infrastructure here is relatively poorly developed and is aimed more at lovers of an active lifestyle, than the pampered "shop tourist", but this island is still famous for its charm - there are still plenty of turquoise waters, white sands and excellent conditions for diving, swimming, snorkeling and hiking. Saipan is the most popular place "historical tourism"from citizens Japanese Islands. In the recent past, this has allowed the island to achieve the fastest rate of tourism and population growth in Micronesia, with the construction of new golf courses and numerous resorts springing up around the island. Tourists and foreign workers now outnumber the natives, and the island has lost much of its Micronesian character. However, Saipan still has everything that attracts tourists here - beautiful beaches on the western and southern coasts, a bunch of scenic spots on stormy and rocky east coast, rolling hinterland and majestic cliffs on the northern coast. The island itself has 23 km. in length and 8 km. in width.

Garapan, the most Big city in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is the fastest growing city in the region. Almost destroyed during the fighting of the Second World War and resettled in the 1960s, Garapan has now been completely restored and is completely built up with sushi bars, karaoke clubs and other establishments that are clearly aimed at tourists from Japan. The white sands and turquoise waters of Micro city beach are considered the most beautiful on the islands. Just north of the beach, American Memorial Park stretches along the coast, which protects the habitat of forest and wading birds, and also serves as a favorite place for picnics and memorial events dedicated to the memory of American soldiers killed in the US invasion of Saipan and Tinian. Also located here is the Museum of the Second World War with an exhibition of weapons, uniforms, ammunition, photographs and other military attributes of that time. Tinian is a sleepy island with a single village just 2 km away. south of Saipan, it has "luckily" escaped the main influx of tourists and therefore serves as a good place for "escape from civilization" if the hustle and bustle of Saipan seems too intrusive. It is difficult to imagine that such a peaceful place could be involved in one of the most tragic events in history: Tinian became famous as runway for the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. San Jose, main locality islands, is the territory of an ancient Chamorro village. Those early settlers created the finest facilities that are largely what attract visitors to the area today. The main attraction of San Jose is the Taga House, which served as a place of large gatherings and the residence of Taga the Great, the legendary king. ancient state Chamorro.

There are several on Tinian good places for swimming, including Cummer Beach in San Jose and Taga Beach south of the village, which have turquoise waters and white sand. Chulu Beach on the northwestern coast of Tinian is the site of fierce fighting during the Second World War, where American troops landed on the island, so massive battles continue here. archaeological excavations. The island of Rota lies halfway between Saipan and Guam, and is only just beginning to emerge from the shadows of the larger islands; it is still a slowly developing destination with little recreational infrastructure. The main village, Songsong, still has no traffic lights or shopping centers. Located on southwest coast Rota, Songsong stretches along a narrow peninsula, which only at the tip rises to the foot of Mount Taipingo (210 m.). The village is literally “saturated” with a variety of stones, which serve to strengthen the foundations of houses and to mark “streets” and as piers and fences. The local Franciscan Church of Borgia is proud of its hundred-year-old bell. You can travel from Songsong on foot or by jeep to the northeast, where the island's shores are particularly scenic, or visit the white coral sands of Twixberry Beach or climb to the top of Mount Taipingo for superb views of the village, harbor and Sasanaya Bay. The Northern Mariana Islands are an excellent place for active type recreation. Saipan has the most interesting place- Grotto (Grotto), natural cave with underground lakes up to 15 meters deep and tunnels to open sea. You can dive to WWII crash sites in Tanapag Harbor, caves and conger eel breeding grounds at Obian Beach, and huge coral formations just offshore at the Saipan Grand Hotel. The best place for snorkeling on Saipan is Managaha Island, on Tinian - Tachona Beach, and on Rota - Corell Gardens in Sasanaya Bay. All three islands have good conditions for hiking. On Saipan, the main route is the Laderana Tangka Trail through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest. There is a wonderful route along the banks of the Cammer and Taga south of San Jose on Tinian. Other recreational options include windsurfing, which is extremely popular here, ( the best place- Micro Beach on Saipan), tennis, golf and short underwater excursions in the lagoon between Saipan and the Managaha Islands, where you can see on the bottom of the sea, in addition to its many inhabitants, traces of the wrecks of Japanese ships or American B-29 “Superfortresses”. Most villages spend annual celebrations in honor of their patron saint, which are the biggest events of the year. Rota and Tinian each hold one such "festival", while Saipan has six: in San Vicente in early April, in San Antonio in mid-June, in Mount Carmel Cathedral in Chalan Canoa in mid-July, in San Rock in mid-August, Tanapag in early October and Koblerville in late October. The Tinian Festival takes place during the last weekend of April or the first weekend of May in honor of Saint José, the island's patron saint. The largest and most popular festival in the Northern Mariana Islands, however, is the Rota Festival on the first or second weekend of October. The celebration, held by the Franciscan Church of Borgia, includes a luxurious banquet at which only traditional dishes and drinks of the Chamorro people, religious processions, music and dance festivals.

Most events and festivals are still held in Saipan. Popular events include the half marathon and 10 km sea race, held at the end of January. The Kintetsu Buffaloes, a professional baseball team from Japan, hold training camps and competitions here in the spring, training and playing with local teams (and at a fairly serious level) during the first two weeks of February. The annual Micronesian Open and Saipan Lagoon Regatta are international windsurfing competitions, as well as the Hobie Cat competition, held in the Micro Beach area in mid-February. International athletes swim, bike and run nearly 80 kilometers during the Tagaman Triathlon, held in mid-May. The week-long Liberation Day Festival celebrates the liberation of the islands on July 4th, US Independence Day. The festivities include pageants, a beauty pageant, a night of varied entertainment, sports games and numerous banquets. The fishing tournament takes place in August during marlin season. Each island also hosts a different fishing competition, with Rota having Labor Day on a weekend in early September and Tinian having the Fishing Prize in early November.

Historical sketch: Since the 17th century, the Mariana Islands have been a colony of Spain. In 1898 Spain sold the islands to Germany. In 1914, Japan captured the Mariana Islands, and in 1945 the Americans came here. After World War II, the Mariana Islands were part of Micronesia, a territory under US administration. In the 1970s, Micronesia was divided into four political-administrative units. One of these units was the Mariana Islands without its southern part (the islands of Guam). In 1975, the islanders voted to become a "freely affiliated" territory of the United States. In 1976, an agreement on free association between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States was signed. On November 3, 1986, this agreement came into force, which meant the emergence of a new state - the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

National domain:.MP

Entry rules: All visitors require visas valid for up to three months and proof of no immigration intent. To obtain a visa, you must provide two completed forms, two photographs, a passport valid for at least 6 months, as well as evidence of the absence of immigration intentions (certificate of salary, certificate of real estate, etc.). Formally, an invitation is not required to obtain a visa. The consular fee is $45, in addition you need to pay the cost of the visa ($20 - one-time). The processing time - from a couple of days ("express") to one and a half months - depends on the documents provided and the appointment of the interview. The visa you receive does not guarantee entry into the United States and the Mariana Islands. Russian citizens are registered upon passing passport control. Immigration authorities at the first point of entry into the country will stamp the date of entry, permitted period of stay in the country, date of departure and visa category on the travel voucher insert.

Customs regulations: The import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited. You can import any amounts in cash, traveler's checks and payment cards. Only amounts over $10,000 are required to be declared. When importing gold, declaration is required. Personal items are not subject to duty; perishable foods, weapons, and drugs are prohibited for import into the country.

Northern Mariana Islands or Community of the Northern Mariana Islands- small Island state in Micronesia, in the western Pacific Ocean in the Mariana Islands archipelago. It has the status of a non-aligned territory freely associated with the United States. Territory - 477 km². The capital is Saipan on the island of the same name.

The Mariana Islands archipelago consists of 15 islands volcanic origin, the largest of which are Saipan, Tinian and Rota. However, only 14 islands belong to the Northern Mariana Islands, and the fifteenth, Guam, the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands, is considered a separate territory belonging to the United States.

The Mariana Islands are an island arc located in a tectonically active region in the western Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is located 2,500 km east of the Philippines and the same distance north of Papua New Guinea. The islands extend approximately 800 km.

Geologically, the islands can be divided into two groups: the older southern (Rota, Tinian, Aguihan, Farallon de Medinilla, Saipan) and the young northern (the rest of the islands of the archipelago). All islands of the northern group are stratovolcanoes. Most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs. The reefs of the southern islands are older and better developed. In the area of the islands there are about 50 underwater volcanoes and 11 volcanoes form islands.

To the east of the islands is perhaps the most famous local geographical landmark - the Mariana Trench, 11,775 meters deep.

Climate of the Northern Mariana Islands

Climate of the Northern Mariana Islands- tropical, trade wind.

The rainy season lasts from July to December, the average temperature at this time is +33..+35°C. From August to November, tropical storms and typhoons occur in the Pacific Ocean. The “dry” months on the islands are from December to June; due to the sea breeze, the average temperature at this time is +27..+29°C. Average annual temperature sea water+25°C.

The best time to visit the Northern Mariana Islands is from December to March, and tourist season on the island of Saipan lasts all year.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Population

Population of the Northern Mariana Islands- 88.6 thousand people (2009). Average life expectancy is 74 years for men, 79 years for women.

Ethnic composition: Asians (Filipinos, Chinese, etc.) 56.3%, Oceanian peoples (including Chamorros) 36.3%, mixed origin 4.8%, whites 1.8%, others 0.8%.

The majority of believers on the islands are Catholics (Roman Catholic Christianity). Part of the population considers itself to be of East Asian origin.

official languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Currency

Currency: US dollar (USD), 1 USD = 100 cents. In circulation there are bills in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, coins - penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half dollar (50 cents), as well as 2 and 1 dollar.

Almost everywhere Japanese yen and Korean won are accepted for payment.

Bank branches are open from Monday to Thursday, from 10.00 to 15.00, on Fridays - from 10.00 to 18.00. Some bank offices on outlying islands may operate on their own schedule.

Most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and diving centers on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota accept plastic cards. ATMs can be found in bank branches and large shopping centers. On remote islands you may encounter problems when trying to pay for something with a plastic card, because often small private shops simply do not accept card payments.

Tourist checks in US dollars are accepted everywhere, and there is no need to visit a bank branch, as most hotels, restaurants and large stores cash them on the spot. If you are going to visit small islands during your trip, we recommend that you stock up on the necessary amount of cash in advance.

VAT and Tax-Free

When paying for services in hotels, a hotel tax of 10% is charged. There are no other commercial taxes, including VAT.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Communications

Telephone code: 1 - 670

Internet domain: .mp

Ambulance, police, fire service: 911

How to call

To call from Russia to the Northern Mariana Islands, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 1 - 670 - subscriber number.

To call from the Northern Mariana Islands to Russia, you need to dial: 011 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Landline communications

You can find pay phones everywhere. They all work using telephone cards, which are sold at post offices, newsstands and tobacco kiosks. You can make local, long-distance and international calls from any pay phone. Some phones accept credit cards.

mobile connection

Cellular communications cover almost all of the southern islands and some of the northern ones. Roaming with local networks (GSM 850/1900 standards) is available to subscribers of the largest Russian cellular companies through the networks of other operators in the region.

Internet

Internet cafes are few in number, mostly concentrated in Saipan, but almost all large hotels and business centers have their own access points, including those equipped with Wi-Fi equipment.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Where to stay

Prices for hotel accommodation on the island of Saipan are quite high, especially during the holiday season for the Japanese (the Northern Mariana Islands are visited by up to 0.5 million tourists a year, mainly from Japan). There are few cheap hotels on the islands and no hostels.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Sea and beaches

On the islands of the Southern group ( Saipan, Tinian and Rota)- beaches with fine white sand. The islands of the Northern group have beaches with black volcanic sand.

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Story

The Mariana Islands were discovered by Magellan's expedition on March 6, 1521. The Chamorro aborigines, who lived at the stage of the primitive communal system, stole a boat from the Spaniards, and Magellan named these islands Las Islas de los Ladrones - that is, the Islands of Thieves or the Robber Islands.

Although these islands were declared the possession of Spain back in the 16th century, the Spaniards began to establish practical control over them only in 1668. Spanish Jesuit monks landed there, renamed the islands Marianas, “Las Islas Marianas” or “Las Marianas” in honor of Marianna of Austria, and began converting the natives to the Christian faith. This caused fierce resistance from the natives, and as a result, almost the entire male population of the islands was destroyed by the Spanish soldiers accompanying the monks. Subsequently, the population of the Mariana Islands increased again due to the offspring of aboriginal women from Spanish soldiers and monks.

The Spanish colonialists practically did not develop the islands, and at the end of the 19th century Germany became very interested in the Pacific territories. As a result, under an agreement dated February 12, 1899, Germany bought the Mariana Islands from Spain for an amount equivalent to $4.5 million (except for Guam, annexed by the United States - the largest and southernmost island of the Mariana archipelago).

The Germans began to create plantations on the islands, but their rule was short-lived - in the First world war The Mariana Islands (like the neighboring Caroline and Marshall Islands, also purchased by Germany from Spain in 1899) were occupied by Japan, which received them as a League of Nations mandate under the Treaty of Versailles.

The Japanese actively developed sugarcane plantations on the islands, as well as coconut palms, tobacco and citrus fruits, and pursued a deliberate policy of settling the islands with the Japanese and forcibly assimilating the aborigines (including through the method of forced physical mixing of aborigines with Japanese settlers).

During World War II, American troops captured the Marianas and other Pacific islands, after the war, Japanese settlers were deported to Japan, and the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands were transferred to US custody in 1947 by decision of the UN.

The Community of the Northern Mariana Islands was created in 1976 during the division of the UN Trust Territory Pacific Islands. Unlike the Marshall and Caroline Islands, the Marianas decided to abandon state independence, preferring only internal self-government.

On November 4, 1986, the final agreement on the political union of the Northern Mariana Islands with the United States came into force.

In 2007-08, changes were made to the treaty of political union between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States, bringing the laws of the Commonwealth closer to US requirements. Including the gradual increase in the minimum wage to the levels established in the United States, the election of a delegate to the House of Representatives in the US Congress and changes in immigration laws (the latest changes came into effect on November 28, 2009).

Last changes: 05/10/2013

Entertainment

Popular in the Northern Mariana Islands are: diving, snorkeling, trekking, windsurfing And golf.

Diving– the main dive site of Saipan “Grotto” (underwater access to the ocean through underwater grottoes) is unique in the world in terms of the beauty of underwater architecture. The water temperature in the coastal waters of the islands is comfortable all year round and does not change depending on the time of day. Perfect transparency allows you to see all the beauty of the underwater world.

Snorkeling– the best places for snorkeling: Saipan – Managaha Island, Tiniane – Tachona Beach, Rota – Corell Gardens in Sasanaya Bay.

Trekking– all three main islands of the archipelago are good for hiking. The main route on Saipan is the Laderana-Tangka Trail through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest. Tinian has a wonderful route along the Cammer and Taga banks south of San Jose.

Windsurfing– the best place for surfing is Micro Beach on Saipan.

Golf– several golf clubs are open on Saipan: Kingfisher Golf Links, Coral Ocean Point, Lao Lao Bay Golf Resort(“Lau Lay Bay Golf Club”), Marianas Country Club (“Marianas Country Golf Club”).

The island's golf courses differ greatly from each other technically, but are similar in one thing - beautiful views overlooking the ocean and gorgeous tropical nature. The clubs here require the same punctuality as most clubs elsewhere in the world. All clubs require that you dress appropriately for golf. Tops and flip-flops are not allowed.

The Mariana (Ladron) Islands are an archipelago located in Micronesia, in the western Pacific Ocean, consisting of 15 large and several small islands and reefs. The island of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have the status of unincorporated organized territories of the United States. The Mariana Islands have maritime boundaries with the Philippines, Japan, Marshall and Caroline Islands.

In the archipelago area there are about 50 underwater volcanoes and 11 volcano islands. The highest point is 965 meters. The Mariana Trench is the deepest fault point in the earth's crust with a depth of 11,775 meters.

Total area – 1018 sq. km, the population is about 215,000 people, of which 56% are Asians, 36% are peoples of Oceania, the rest are of mixed origin. Of the religions, Roman Catholic Christianity predominates; local religions and cults are widespread. Official languages are English, Chamorro, Caroline.

The administrative center is Garapan (Saipan Island).

Cities of the Mariana Islands

Saipan Island is most suitable for historical tourism. The infrastructure is well developed here, there are golf courses, conditions for diving and swimming. Saipan has the most even weather in the world - +27 degrees all year round.

Garapan is the administrative center of the Mariana Islands, where popular tourist places are Sugar – King – Park and shops Duty Free. Not far from Garapan there are interesting American memorial park and the World War II Museum. In the park, in addition to historical attractions, you can see natural mangrove forests with big amount rare birds, as well as sports and stage venues (where festivals and concerts of local importance are held).

Managaha Island is the oldest and most picturesque island with beautiful coral reefs and exotic fish. Historically memorable places on the island are the cliffs of Banzai - Cliff and Suyside - Cliff, Korean Peace Park.

Tinian Island is the calmest, with one village, San Jose. IN measured life The islands harmoniously accommodate a fashionable hotel, casino, shops and restaurants. The attraction here is the accumulation of ritual stones of ancient peoples – Latte – Stone – Site.

The highest point of the island of Rota rises almost 500 meters above the sea. Tourist attractions here include the limestone Toga Cave, replete with stalactites and stalagmites, Mount Taipingo, an old Japanese locomotive, Chugai rocks with ancient petroglyphs and a bird sanctuary.

Agrikhan Island is the peak of a young volcano almost 1000 meters above sea level and the most high point in Micronesia. There is almost no vegetation or wildlife on the island, and perhaps only extreme sports enthusiasts – divers and fishermen – come here.

Most popular islands Northern group - Anatahan volcano, Asuncion volcano, Pagan, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug Islands.

How to get to the Mariana Islands

There are no direct flights between Belarus and the Mariana Islands.

The most the best option There will be a flight from Moscow with a connection in Tokyo, Shanghai or Seoul. Travel time excluding connections will be about 16 hours.

Climate of the Mariana Islands

The territory of the Mariana Islands is influenced by a tropical trade wind climate.

Throughout the calendar year, the air temperature in the archipelago averages +27 degrees, water temperature - +25 degrees.

Annual precipitation is 1800 – 2000 mm per year. Air humidity can reach 82%. The rainy season generally falls between June and November. And from August to December strong winds and storms are possible.

The best time to travel around the archipelago is from December to March and from May to June.

The hotel base of the Mariana Islands is represented by both hotels belonging to world-famous chains and local 3* - 4* hotels, providing guests with decent service and comfortable accommodation. The average cost of accommodation is from 90 to 300 US dollars per night.

Economy accommodation options include private boarding houses and motels. An overnight stay here will cost from 35 to 65 US dollars. There are no hostels on Mariany.

Beaches of the Mariana Islands

The islands of the Southern group have beaches with fine white sand, while the Northern ones have black volcanic sand.

The best and most beloved beaches of the Mariana Islands are Micro Beach, Lao Lao Bay, Ladair Beach, Paupau Beach. But lovers of secluded relaxation will always find nearby wild beach to fully enjoy the sea, sun and beautiful nature.

On the island of Tiniana, Tachona Beach attracts attention, on Rota - Corell - Gardens, Teteto Beach.

On the island of Saipan on Micro Beach there are excellent conditions for windsurfing.

Be careful when swimming in the open sea.

Banks, money, exchange offices

The Marian currency is the US dollar, equal to 100 cents. There are paper bills in circulation in denominations of 1,2,5,10,20,50,100 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half-dollar (50 cents). On most islands, Japanese yen and Korean won are also accepted for payments.

Banking hours:

From Monday to Thursday – from 10.00 to 15.00

Fridays – from 10.00 to 18.00

Credit cards from the world's major payment systems (preferably Master Card and Visa) are accepted for payments almost everywhere. ATMs are located in many banks and shopping centers. Travel checks (preferably in US dollars) are also accepted for payments almost everywhere except the most distant islands.

There are no commercial taxes on the islands, hotel tax is 10%.

Tips on the archipelago amount to 10–15% of the total cost of services.

Tourist safety

The Mariana Islands are a safe zone for tourists. Only basic rules should be followed:

It is advisable to leave valuables, large sums of money and documents in the hotel safe
In crowded places it is not recommended to leave personal belongings unattended
It is not recommended to walk alone at night in deserted places
Don't take pictures local residents without their permission
Before going outside, be sure to use sunscreen, wear UV-blocking sunglasses and light, long-sleeved clothing
Before departure, you should take preventive measures against hepatitis B and dengue.
It is recommended to use only bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice
It is recommended to consume meat, fish and seafood only when thermally processed.
Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed, vegetables should be pre-heated, fruits should be peeled first
When swimming in the sea, you should be careful because of the so-called “rip currents”
When moving along many shores, special shoes are required due to coral rubble and volcanic rocks

Transport

The most common mode of transport in the Mariana Islands is airplane and helicopter.

There are no train connections and public transport is not very well developed, but tourist buses operate between hotels, shops and restaurants.

You can also use taxi services.

The service of renting a car (from 20 US dollars per day with an international driver's license and credit card), a motorcycle (from 10 US dollars per day), and a mountain bike (from 2 US dollars per day) is popular in the archipelago. Traffic is on the right.

Entertainment, excursions, attractions

The main attraction of the island of Guam is its main street - Chamorro, where every evening you can see local residents singing and dancing, who also prepare dishes national cuisine. By the way, Chamorro is the name of the local people. There is plenty for divers to do in Guam - Fort Apugan is fraught with many mysteries.

Lovers of trekking and hiking come to the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

On the island of Saipan there is also an interesting Grotto cave with underground lakes 15 meters deep and tunnels leading directly into the sea.

Cuisine and restaurants

The national cuisine of the Mariana Islands is a mixture of traditions of many peoples.

Shopping and shops

Store opening hours:

On weekdays – from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00

On Saturdays – from 8.00 to 13.00

Private – on an individual schedule

Closed on Sunday (except for large supermarkets and Duty Free stores)

Most often, souvenirs made from sea shells and coconuts, hats and bags made from the leaves of tropical plants, textiles, jewelry made from agate, coral and pearls are brought from the Mariana Islands.

Mariana is famous for its duty-free shops, the prices of which are quite reasonable.

Customs

You can import and export national and foreign currencies without restrictions in cash, travel checks, credit cards. Amounts exceeding US$10,000 and gold must be declared.

Allowed to import:

Up to 600 cigarettes made in the USA or up to 200 cigarettes from other manufacturers, up to 454 g cigars
Up to 1 bottle of strong alcohol, up to 1 bottle of wine, up to 1 case of beer (for persons over 21 years old)
Perfumes and personal items - in reasonable quantities

It is prohibited to import:

Perishable food
Drugs and narcotic-containing medications
Mangoes from the Philippines
Meat and meat products(except those manufactured in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii)
"dry" foods (such as instant noodles)
parrots

When importing pets, an international veterinary certificate is required. For cats and dogs, a rabies vaccination certificate is required, made no less than 30 and no more than 90 days before departure.

Not found suitable option vacation - transfer the hassle of organizing a trip to our professional managers by filling out and they will promptly contact you! We can send you anywhere in the world!

What is interesting to see in the Mariana Islands?

Saipan Island, 23 km. in length and 8 km. in width - the largest among the Mariana Islands and is administrative center Commonwealth. Saipan amazes with its beauty and attracts tourists all year round warm sea and bright sun. The center, Gararan, is the most…

Video from the Mariana Islands

How to get to the Mariana Islands?

From Russia to o. Saipan can be reached by flying through Seoul, South Korea, or Tokyo, Japan. There are daily flights from both countries to the Mariana Islands.

flight time: 3 hour flight from Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya),

4.5 hours flight from South Korea(Seoul, Busan),

5 hours flight from China - Shanghai (regular charters from Beijing and Guangzhou are also available)

vaccinations: No vaccinations are required to visit the Mariana Islands.

How to comfortably move around the Mariana Islands?

traffic: Traffic is on the right side, cars are left-hand drive. Rules traffic the same as in Russia with small exceptions, for example, at a red light you can turn right, allowing cars from the opposite lane turning left to pass.

Road traffic and rules are very simple. There are no huge traffic jams here like in big cities. Maximum speed 35 mph on some big roads 40-45 mph. To rent a car, the age limit is 21 years or older.

Traffic Laws:

Wear a seat belt (fine starts at $50.00)

Children under 4 must be fastened in child seats, from 4 years and older - with a car seat belt

When there is a stop signal (STOP) on a school bus, you must stop

Driving into oncoming traffic is prohibited

Parking on blue (with handicapped sign) is prohibited

The middle lane (yellow solid or dotted on both sides) is allowed to be used only during a left turn or a full U-turn, but only after a complete stop.

After sunset, low beams must be turned on (18:30)

When a police officer stops your car, do not get out of the car. You need to open the window.

Driving while intoxicated is strictly prohibited.

car rental: Car brands

Toyota, Ford, Nissan, KIA

Documentation

It is enough to have your Russian license with you. You can pay by card or cash.

The car is rented with a full tank and the car must be returned with a full tank. If the agreement is violated, the amount for gasoline will be charged in triple amount.

Some car rental offices ask you to pay for gas in advance.

Insurance

Each car rental office offers several types of insurance.

It is not necessary to insure the car. You can refuse insurance, but in this case you must leave your credit card information.

Taxi: Taxis in Saipan can only be caught in hotel parking lots. Taxi services, although metered, are expensive.

buses: Saipan, Tinian and Rota do not have a public transport system. Eat free bus Duty Free from the store to the hotels and back.

hitch-hiking: It is possible to hitchhike in the Mariana Islands, but it is not a common practice.

airports: There are international/local airports on each island: Saipan, Rota and Tinian. The main airport of the Mariana Islands is international Airport on o. Saipan.

airlines: Asiana Airline (OZ)

Delta Airlines (DL)

Shanghai Airline (FM)

Continental Airline (CO)

Freedom Air (FRE)

railway: There are no railways in the Mariana Islands.

ports: The only international port is on Saipan, and three local ones are on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Where is the best place to stay when traveling to the Mariana Islands?

Climate in the Mariana Islands

The climate is tropical. O. Saipan is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the owner of the most constant round-the-clock year-round temperature in the world of +27 degrees C. The season for tourists in the Mariana Islands is open all year round.

There are 2 seasons - dry and wet. The wet season occurs for 6 months from July to December. A special characteristic of the wet season is short rains during the day and heavy rains at night, which does not prevent tourists from enjoying the warm sea and bright sun. average temperature air during the wet season is +33 - +35 degrees Celsius and the average precipitation is 1800-2000 mm.

The dry season occurs for 6 months from January to June. The weather this season is cool with a light breeze and the air temperature drops to +27 degrees Celsius. The average water temperature is +25 degrees Celsius, precipitation is reduced to a minimum, and droughts are possible.

Between July and November, tropical storms and typhoons are possible in the Pacific Ocean. They mainly originate in the Mariana Islands and move north, gaining strength off the coast of the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea or Japan.

National cuisine of the Mariana Islands

The cuisine in the Mariana Islands is international. Initially, with the development of the textile and tourism industries on the islands, a multinational population emerged. The Chinese, Filipinos, Thais, Japanese, Koreans, Americans, Australians and other nationalities have influenced the islands' diverse cuisine. Accordingly, the island has many restaurants and eateries to suit each of these nationalities.

The locals are very hospitable, and if you make friends in Saipan, you will definitely invite them to visit, where they will offer local dishes such as red rice, grilled meat or poultry or in coconut milk, corn tortillas, spicy chicken kalaguen, apigigi (young coconut with starch flour, wrapped in banana leaf), tropical fruits and many other dishes. Taste local dishes You can do it in hotel restaurants or at the local fair in Garapan on Thursdays.

Tourist safety in the Mariana Islands

History of the Mariana Islands

The first settlers migrated from Southeast Asia to the Marina Islands 1500 BC. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer and navigator, discovered and charted the Mariana Islands in 1521, and in 1565 Spain declared the islands its territory and...

Mariana Islands: souvenirs

Coconut products Bojobo talisman dolls Products made from Bojobo tree seeds Shell and coral jewelry Traditional wood products Traditional bone products Wickerwork from leaves coconut tree Traditional bead products Pictures Medicinal products from Noni fruit Noni ...

Mariana Islands: fun facts

The world's deepest trench, the Mariana Trench, which is more than 11,000 meters deep, is located east of the island of Saipan.

Guinness Book Records:

Temperature: The Mariana Islands have the most stable temperature in the world at +27 C.

In 2007, Marine Dive magazine put 18 categories of dive-related places around the world up for reader voting. After voting, 5 prestigious awards were determined for the Mariana Islands.

Managaha Island Lagoon took first place as “Best Place for Snorkeling”

Fourth place was shared by Managaha for “Best Beach” and the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota for “ Best Region for diving"

Fifth place was shared by Rota for “Teteto” beach as “Best Beach” and the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota as “Best Resort Area”.

The underwater cave “Grotto” is considered the second most beautiful place in the world among diving experts. Skin Diver magazine named this place one of the top ten places for scuba diving.

For four years in a row, Managaha Island has been awarded the title of “Best Snorkeling Destination” at the Tokyo International Fair.

Saipan - Treasure Island! The Saipan Museum of History and Culture has the world's largest collection of artifacts and treasures from Spanish galleons! In 1638, off Cape Agingan in the Saipan Strait, not far from the PIC Hotel, the galley “Nuestra Señora de la Conception” with a cargo of gold crashed. Only a small part of the cargo was found by an underwater expedition in the 80s of the last century. Most of the treasures still remain at the bottom of the strait. The most expensive part of the treasure is in the museum and their duplicates can be seen in one of the halls: gold jewelry inlaid with diamonds and other precious stones, necklaces, chains, fine porcelain, etc.

On the island of Saipan lived the artist Douglas Rankin, who created a unique painting technique - banana painting. Instead of a brush, he used banana tree trimmings. He cut and wrapped leaves, cut dies and rollers from trunks. Then he created unique paintings with his unusual instruments. Douglas Rankin died in 2007.

Citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus need a visa to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands in 2020. Visa-free regime entry into the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Guam and Saipan was canceled on October 3, 2019.

Mariana Trench and Everest - most people remember these names from a school geography course. The first is the deepest point on the planet, the second is the deepest high mountain. Height and depth are measured from ocean level. In absolute terms, the most deep depression overtakes the highest peak by a significant margin.

The Mariana Trench on the world map should be looked for in the Pacific Ocean northeast of the Philippine archipelago (southeast of the Japanese Islands); it is a semicircular trench approximately 1,500 km long, directed with its convex part to the east. The deepest point of the trench is called the Challenger Deep and is 10,994 meters deep.

The Mariana Trench is named after the adjacent Mariana Islands, which stretch along the western part of the trench. The island of Guam, closest to the Challenger Deep, is located 340 km northeast of it. Coordinates of the deepest point of the world's oceans: 11°22’23.9″N, 142°35’30.1″E.

The trench is located at the junction of two tectonic plates, and its relief is a relatively flat bottom strip no wider than 5 km between two steep slopes. In some places along its length the bottom has a stepped structure and mountain ranges. The water pressure at the lowest point is approximately 108 MPa, which is 1,072 times higher than normal atmospheric pressure.

The depression was first discovered by the English sailing-steam corvette Challenger during the world's first comprehensive oceanographic expedition in 1875. The depth was then determined twice with results of 8,367 m and 8,184 m, which made it possible to call this depression the deepest on the planet. In 1951, the British scientific vessel Challenger II conducted ocean research in these places.

Using an echo sounder, a depth of 10,899 m was recorded. This point was given the name of the ship. Over the following years, new measurements were taken, the depth was adjusted several times in both directions, the last value of 10,994 m was recorded in 2011.

The difficulty of measuring depth of such scales with an echo sounder lies in the dependence of the speed of sound waves in water on its properties (density, temperature, chemical composition, impurities). These properties vary depending on the depth. To obtain accurate values, it is necessary to take water samples from different depths, analyze them and take the data into account in subsequent measurements.

For the first time, the bathyscaphe Trieste with two researchers on board (US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard) sank to the bottom of the depression (10,915 m) in 1960. Then, unmanned vehicles made autonomous dives several times, and the Japanese Kaiko probe in 1995 took the first soil samples from a depth of 10,911 m.

In 2012, the famous director James Cameron dived to the bottom alone for the first time in history, staying there for a total of 6 hours. Subsequently, a 3D film about the history of this dive called “Challenge to the Abyss” was released. It's worth mentioning that famous traveler Fedor Konyukhov also announced his intention to dive to the bottom of this depression in 2020.

Fauna of the Mariana Trench

At a depth of over 1000 m, sunlight cannot penetrate; eternal darkness reigns there. Along with colossal pressure, this makes living conditions in the abyss extremely difficult. Nevertheless, the Mariana Trench is inhabited. The bottom is covered with silt, which, as the first samples taken showed, is saturated with shell organisms; huge armored amoebae (up to 10 cm in diameter) were also found here.

In addition to the simplest barophilic bacteria, crayfish, gastropods, sea cucumbers, and fish live here. Even during the first visual observations from the Trieste bathyscaphe, small fish resembling a flounder were noticed. The specific conditions determine the appearance of many local fish amazing: they have huge teeth, eyes rotating in different directions (or lack thereof), instead of fins there are sharp spines.

Worms up to 2 m long, which have not yet been identified, are also found here. At such depths there are no algae, and the source of food for protozoa is the remains (detritus) falling to the bottom. Recent studies have shown that the bodies of local small crustaceans contain many heavy metals that are extremely toxic to ordinary living cells.

Overall fauna Mariana Trench poorly studied, many scientists believe that species long extinct on Earth can be found there.

For example, the teeth of a giant shark, megalodon, were recently found. It is believed that these monsters, which weighed up to 100 tons, became extinct approximately 2 million years ago, and the age of the teeth found ranges from 11 to 24 thousand years.

The research was constantly accompanied by various mysterious stories: unclear huge shadows resembling dragons appear on the monitors, a loud metallic grinding sound is heard, and once, according to the team of the German deep-sea submersible "Hayfish", on the monitor of the infrared camera they saw a creature clinging to the bathyscaphe with its teeth, they had to scare it off with an electric discharge.

There are 15 large islands, and there are also several small rocks and reefs. The population is about 215,000 people. The nationality of the indigenous people is Chamorro, which is also the name of their language. It is believed that the Chamorros are descendants of ancient settlers from the Philippines. Currently, there are practically no true representatives of this people left; everyone who calls themselves Chamorro is mestizos.

The nationality of the Mariana Islands is not as easy to determine as it might seem. Most south island, Guam, has an independent status, it is an unincorporated organized territory of the United States, that is, the island is not included in the United States, but its territory is considered American, and the islanders (more than 180,000 people) have US citizenship. The capital is the city of Hagatna, located on the west bank.

The Northern Mariana Islands constitute a separate administrative entity - the Commonwealth, the state status is completely similar to Guam (loosely associated with the United States). Main Island— Saipan, the capital is called the same.

The first Europeans to discover these lands were members of Magellan's crew, who dropped anchor here in 1521. The meeting with the aborigines ended with the disappearance of the ship's boat. An annoyed Magellan gave the archipelago the name “Isles of Thieves” (de los Ladrones, Ladrones), which existed until the beginning of the twentieth century.

The islands were immediately declared the property of Spain. A few decades later, colonialists began to come here. As often happened, the missionaries arrived first. It was they who gave the territories modern name in honor of the Spanish Queen Marianna, since then the Mariana Islands have been called that way on the map. Colonization did not go smoothly. As a result of armed clashes and long-term repression, the indigenous population decreased by 30 times 200 years after Magellan's visit.

In 1899, the Northern Mariana Islands were sold to Germany, and at the beginning of the First World War, the entire archipelago was occupied by Japan. In 1944, US troops landed on the island of Saipan, long bloody battles began with numerous casualties, approximately 40,000 local residents alone were killed.

The Americans equipped the island of Tinian military base, from which the bombers that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki took off. After the end of the war, the archipelago was for some time under the control of the UN, and in 1947 it was transferred to the custody of the United States.

US citizens do not need a visa to visit the Mariana Islands, and having an American visa in their passport serves as a pass to these territories for citizens of other countries.

The monetary currency is the US dollar.