The Marianas. Mariana Islands on the map. Marian Islands: photo

The Marianas in the west of the Pacific attract travelers with the beauty of a tropical paradise. A chain of 15 tiny lands is located to the north of the equator, bordering the eastern part of the Philippine Sea. On the territory of the archipelago are two independent state formations. One of them is called the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or simply the Northern Mariana Islands (SMO), the second is Guam.

Tropical paradise

The Marianas are a warm climate, evergreen forests and picturesque lagoons. The archipelago is surrounded by fantastically beautiful coral reefs, and the bright underwater world promises exciting adventures. In this part of Micronesia in summer heat throughout the year, there is an atmosphere of cordial hospitality and celebration. Tourists like to do snorkelling, diving, surfing on the islands. Many come to soak up the white sandy beaches. The hotels on the major islands have a high level of service, there are golf clubs, fine restaurants.

Where is the archipelago, how to get there?

The Marianas on the map stretched between parallels of 12 and 21º, they form an arc along the 145 ° c. W. With a total length of about 810 km. In the south the archipelago is bordered by the Carolinsky, and in the north - with the Japanese islands. In this territory, the time difference with Moscow is +6 hours. For a trip to the Mariana Islands, Russian citizens do not need to issue a visa if the stay does not exceed 45 days. You can get to the archipelago by plane with one change in the cities in the southeast of the mainland. You will need an amount of 1200-1300 US dollars for a flight with 1-2 transfers on the route "Moscow - Mariana Islands". Rest, prices in hotels depend on the city, where the tourist will choose. Between the islands of the archipelago, air transport, ferry, boats and inflatable boats run.

When is it better to go? Climate and seasons

Tours to the Marianas are organized year-round, because in all parts of the archipelago the summer lasts 12 months a year. The climate is due to the successful location of the islands between the North Tropic and the equator. The tourist season is open all year round, but travelers need to take into account the differences between dry and wet periods. Temperature conditions during the year are not very diverse - +27 ... + 29 ° C (maximum +33 ° C). Precipitation falls to about 2000 mm / year. There is a dry period, its duration is 8 months - from December to July. Then comes the wet season, which lasts until November. Trade winds at this time bring an abundance of moisture from the ocean, the bulk of precipitation falls. In August-November, the probability of typhoons and storms is high. The water temperature on the beaches almost all the year is +28 ... + 29 ° С, only in February and March it decreases to +27 ° С. The most comfortable months for rest are December-March.

State structure and population

Northern Mariana Islands - a territory freely associated with the United States, is self-governing. Citizens are considered subjects of the United States, but do not participate in national elections. The population of the island of Guam (the Marianas Islands) has the same rights. Another important information for tourists about the states of the archipelago:

• The administrative center of the SMO is about. Saipan;
• The capital of Guam - Hagatna;
• English is official, the language of the Chamorro aborigines and the Carolinic dialects are also used;
• Catholicism is the dominant religion;
• The US dollar is a monetary unit.

The indigenous population retained its language and traditions associated with the cultivation of land, hunting and fishing. Natives of other territories of Micronesia and the Caroline Islands support the cultural heritage of their ancestors in the form of national music, dances, crafts and needlework.

History of the Earth Chamorro

Presumably in the III millennium BC. E. Catamarans brought the first inhabitants of the Mariana Islands to the outskirts of the Philippine Sea from the territory of modern Indonesia. From these ancient seafarers the Chamorro people took place. The name of the archipelago was given by the Spaniards in honor of the actual head of Spain, Marianne of Austria. In 1565, Miguel-Lopez de Legaspi annexed the Mariana Islands to the possessions of the Spanish crown. Large-scale colonization began in 100 years and was associated with missionary activity. The population was converted to Christianity and taught to grow cereals, to breed cattle.

At the end of the XIX century, Spain lost to Guam with the United States along with Puerto Rico and the Philippines, and Germany sold the other Mariana Islands. Saipan became the center of cultivation of coconuts for Germans. Japan in 1914 seized control of the islands of the archipelago, held territory until the sea battle with the US Navy and the land forces of the American army in 1944. From the airfield on about. Tinian climbed a plane that dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. At the same time, the United Nations recognized the US protectorate over Guam, and in 1947 - the trusteeship of the United States over the Northern Islands of the archipelago.

The amazing nature of the islands

Relatively young Mariana Islands on the map represent a chain of land areas of volcanic and coral origin. They appeared more than 25 million years ago. In the same part of the ocean there is the deepest place in the World Ocean - the Marian Trench with the Challenger hollow (more than 11 km). On the northern island of Agrihan is the highest active volcano of the archipelago (965 m). Soils, flora and fauna were formed under the influence of a warm moist climate, the proximity of the ocean. Isolation from the mainland also influenced. The wealth of nature of large islands is:

• The valleys covered with fertile lands;
• rainforests;
• The sandy beaches glistening in the sun.
• Majestic cones of extinct volcanoes;
• Picturesque underwater caves and grottoes.

Flora includes many kinds of heat-loving trees, shrubs of flowers. Here grow a banana, coconut palm, hibiscus, orchids. 40 species of birds inhabit the islands, giant crabs and lizards, whose size reaches 1 m. Among the lush tropical vegetation on the island. Wild animals are found in the Sarigan.

Tourism in the Islands

On about. Saipan has 90% of the Commonwealth's population and most beach hotels. The picturesque islands of Tinian and Rota are inhabited, where many hiking trails are organized. Uninhabited parts of the archipelago are also popular due to the opportunity to reach them in one day and engage in water sports. Travelers go to the islets to watch birds and dive to coral reefs. On Saipan there are golf courses, excursions around the area are offered. Among the favorite entertainment of tourists are:

• Boating with a transparent bottom;
• Cruises on a yacht;
• windsurfing;
• Walks in the jungle;
• Mountain bike trips through the mountains and the jungle;
• Air flights and parachute jumps over the lagoon of Saipan;
• Attending courses in golf clubs.

Diving, snorkeling and fishing

The coastal waters of the archipelago are clean and transparent. Such conditions are favorable for different forms of living beings.

Dozens of species of coelenterates form coral reefs bordering the Mariana Islands. Photos of the underwater world do not leave indifferent any diver and snorkeler.

Often come across a fish-clown, tuna, barracuda, swordfish. In the waters of the ocean near the islands there are dolphins, whales and other marine creatures (octopus, lobsters, sea turtles).

Sights of the archipelago

The abundance of natural conditions for an unforgettable holiday is complemented by a developed tourist infrastructure on the large islands - Saipan, Tignana, Rota and Guam. Popular fans of relaxation on the water coral reef and Lau-Lau Beach are located on the south-east coast of. Saipan. Grotto is a natural cave with lakes up to 15 m deep and underwater outlet to the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the Mariana Islands, prehistoric latte structures are formed by two parallel rows of plates. The height is about 1.5 m, width - over 3.5 m, from above there are stone ceilings. The 12-meter-long buildings could serve as a support for religious buildings or houses. On the island of Tinian is the most famous of these artifacts, called "House Tag". The eventful history of the Mariana Islands is reflected in the expositions of museums and memorial sites.

8 puzzles of the Mariana Islands

1. In the IX century BC. E. The population built huge pillars of "tag", the exact purpose of which has not yet been unraveled.
2. On the islands, before the arrival of Europeans, matriarchy was preserved.
3. The islands of the Marian Archipelago are distinguished by a great variety of peoples and languages. Scientists counted at least a dozen different ethnic groups that participated in the formation of the genetic fund.
4. The famous seafarer of the Middle Ages, Fernand Magellan, who gave the name "Pacific" to the ocean, replenished food and water supplies on Guam. The name of the archipelago given to them did not take root.
5. The Marianas are considered "the best preserved secrets of America", which is connected with the ambiguous attitude to the US military operations during the "Battle for the Pacific" in 1944-1945.
6. In 1638, in the Saipan Strait at Cape Aginggan, the Spanish galleon, carrying gold, crashed. A small part of the precious cargo was found in the 80s of the XX century, and the main treasures still lie on the bottom.
7. The enviable constancy of the island's climate raises many questions for meteorologists. All the year round the temperature is about. Saipan is +27 ° С. The record is included in the Guinness Book.
8. Cave Grotto on Saipan amazes everyone with its unusual beauty. Scientists find it difficult to explain what caused such a variety of its underwater world. The magazine Skin Diver included the cave in the top 10 best places for diving.