Saipan is largest of the the Northern Marianna Islands of North (archipelago of the Mariannes) in the Pacific Ocean Western and at the same time the capital of this the American Commonwealth .

The island, of a surface of 120 km (20 km length on 9 broad), is located at approximately 200 km in the north of Guam. The population is approximately 63.000 inhabitants.

The western part of the island has beaches and a coral reef, while the east part is primarily formed of rock cliffs. Its higher point is an extinct volcano, the Tapochau mount which culminates with 474 meters.

Spanish possession until 1899, Saipan became Japanese territory in 1917.

During the Second world war, the Corps of the Marines of the United States of America invades the island the June 15th 1944 and the conquered in three weeks. It was held there one of the most terrible moments of the war of the Pacific. Indeed the Japanese civilians present on the island, persuaded that the Americans were going to massacre them, committed suicide by throwing top of a cliff in the ocean.

In spite of its statute of the Commonwealth of the the United States, Saipan is free from certain federal laws, such as those relating to work and immigration. Consequently, a certain number of companies settled in Saipan where the average wages are lower by half than the American minimum wage, although the manufactured goods of Saipan can carry the mark " Made in the USA".

Saipan is a place with very weak thermal Amplitude. It thus holds of it the world records, noted over 9 years (1927-1935) where it was of 11,80°C only.

External bonds

• Marianas guides, see " Saipan Virtual Tour"
• SaipanSucks.com - has off site critical Saipan

Simple: Saipan