Northern Mariana Islands. Map

General information

Official name - Mariana Islands. A group of islands located in the western Pacific Ocean, in. Includes 15 large islands (Guam, Rota, Saipan, Tinian, etc.). The area is 1,018 km2. Population - 213 241 people. (as of 2010). The official language is English. The capital is Saipan. The monetary unit is the dollar.

The climate is tropical. average temperature January + 23 + 26 ° С, July - + 27 ° С. The islands are located in the belt of Pacific typhoons, which usually pass here from August to December. The wettest months are July-October, the dry season is from December to May. Precipitation falls 1800-2100 mm.

Story

Ferdinand Magellan went around South America and went out to Pacific Ocean. The hardest part of the journey lay before him. Although he didn't know it, he was about to cross the largest ocean in the world at the widest point! In the winter of 1520-1521, in four months, he swam 11 thousand kilometers in the open ocean. Supplies ran low and the crew had to boil the leather belts. Finally, Magellan's fleet reached the islands, located about 1900 kilometers south of.

On the islands, Magellan replenished food supplies, but he was angry with the theft of the natives. Those, having seen the things of the Europeans, could not resist, so Magellan called the islands Ladrones, that is, the islands of Thieves.

In 1667 a group of missionaries was sent to the same islands. They were sent by the queen, who at that time was regent for her infant son. The queen's name was Mariana; upon reaching the islands, the missionaries renamed them after the queen. Since then, the islands have been called the Marianas.

In 1898, after the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded to the United States the island on which Magellan had once landed - Guam, the largest and most south island throughout the Mariana archipelago. Spain sold the rest of the islands the following year. After World War I, defeated Germany ceded its possessions to Japan, and after World War II, defeated Japan ceded the islands to the United States.

South of the Mariana Islands is an archipelago of almost a thousand tiny islands scattered across the vast Pacific Ocean. The Portuguese were the first to discover them, but in 1686 the islands were annexed to Spain by the Spanish navigator Francisco Lazeano. He named the Caroline Islands in honor of Charles II of Spain. Charles II was the son of that very Queen Mariana. He grew up, although he was mentally retarded. The Caroline Islands also went to Germany, then to Japan, and then to the United States.

Attractions of the Mariana Islands

Saipan Island part of the Mariana archipelago. In 1521, during the first world travel The island was discovered by Fernando Magellan. At first, the island belonged to the Spanish colonizers. Then in the 19th century, the islands were ceded to Germany, which brought hired Japanese to Saipan for agricultural work. Soon the Japanese colonized the Pacific, including Saipan. Today Saipan is under the protectorate of the United States of America.

There are plenty of attractions on the island and its environs: Suisad cliff, Saint Lourdas, banzai cliff, bird island , Last command post, Calabera cave.

Saipan is the most visited island in the entire archipelago. Most interesting place on Saipan -

Grotto, a natural cave with underground lakes up to 15 meters deep. Grotto is a natural limestone cave with an underwater exit to the sapphire waters of the Pacific Ocean. Three underwater tunnels connect the cave with open sea. The cave looks like the gaping mouth of a large whale. Underwater cave Grotto in the north of Saipan is declared by scuba diving experts (for diving) the second place in the world in terms of its beauty.

Banzai Cliff located on top of Mount Marpi in the north of Saipan. From a height of 249 m above sea level, from the cliff offers an amazing view of the plateau at the foot and the ocean. At the end of the battle for Saipan, in order not to be captured by the Americans, Japanese soldiers and local Japanese population committed mass suicide. People, jumping on the rocks in the boiling sea, shouted "Banzai", paying last respects to the emperor and imperial Japan. Today, a Buddhist statue and a memorial have been erected on this site in memory of the dead.

Top of Mount Tapochao is the highest point on the island. Its height is 473 m above sea level. The mountain occupies a dominant position in the center of the island. From Tapochao opens a circular panorama. From here you can see the whole island at once and feel its beauty. At the top is a statue of Jesus Christ looking down at the island. The top of the mountain is a great shooting point for photographers.

Chamoli village located in the Garapan shopping center area. Built according to the rules of the ancient Chamorra and Caroline villages, this village introduces tourists to the local life and arts. Guests can try coconut peeling, banana stamping, coconut oil production and local sweets, as well as make their own Saipan beads, weave a tropical wreath, hat or basket. For men, there is also something to do here - to carve a real canoe and even try it in the lagoon of the island. Here you can also watch a Chamolin dance show, enjoy a barbecue and play local traditional games on the beach.

Bird Island got its name because of the sea birds that build their nests here. So observation deck this reserve offers a bewitching view of a small bay with sandy beach, the habitat of the white sea swallow, kingfisher and sea turtles.

American Memorial Park was opened in 1994 in honor of 3,000 American soldiers who died fighting for Saipan and Tinian during World War II. But this is not only a memorial complex. The park has also become the venue for island festivals and active rest. Here you can swim, surf, softball, run and tennis.

Saipan Botanical Garden covers an area of 30,000 m 2 It contains about 2,000 species of tropical plants - from fruits to rare exotic flowers. Here, while visiting, you can taste coconut, papaya, mango, avocado, guava, star apple, citrus fruits. Flower lovers will be inspired by blooming all year round plants and trees. One of the attractions of the garden are green iguanas and tropical lizards.

Sanctuary of Our Lady. Legend claims that this place was revealed to a German priest in a divine vision during the Spanish rule. Later, Christians who came here to pray erected a statue of Our Lady. Next to the altar open sky is the only spring in Saipan fresh water, called "the holy water of Our Lady". Indigenous people believe in miraculous medicinal properties water from this spring. During the Second World War, this place was the only one that escaped the bombing.

Cuisine of the Mariana Islands

The cuisine of the Mariana Islands combines French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Thai culinary traditions.

The locals' favorite drink is coconut wine. tuba".

Among the national dishes it is worth noting: all kinds of cakes; fried bananas; "lemai" - small slices of fruit fried in oil breadfruit; all kinds of legumes; various salads; pies (especially good options with shellfish and shrimp); pancakes stuffed with meat and seafood; rolls.

The hallmark of the cuisine of the Mariana Islands are sauces and seasonings that can change the taste of any product beyond recognition.

Sauce " kelagen"- a mixture of well-chopped coconut with vinegar, palm oil, various spices and other ingredients. Meat with this sauce is baked, stewed, grilled or barbecued.

Many local dishes are not complete without sauce " finadeni"- a mixture of soy sauce, green onions, lemon juice and red pepper. This sauce is especially good in combination with soups and rice. In it, cooks marinate beef, poultry and pork, which are then roasted over a fire.

Simple but very hearty soups deserve special attention: "sutang-hu" - a hearty soup made from poultry and rice; "atolin-mais" - a thick stew; "chalakilis" - a soup made from poultry, onions, cloves, rice and coconut milk.

As for meat dishes, they are quite traditional, and mouth-watering sauces give them a local flavor. Popular dishes are: fried beef or lamb ribs; " haole"- fried beef; baked chicken; venison with sauce; pork chops with young taro leaves and many other colorful dishes.

A lot on the local table and different seafood. Be sure to try such dishes as: "la-jo" - mussels with beans; white fish in vinegar; "capricorn-fish"; the favorite dish of the islanders "a la Chamorro" - spicy fish; pies with oysters and shrimps; shark fins.

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Northern Mariana Islands, actually and legally related to the territory of the United States of America (like the entire Mariana Archipelago), are presented to us as a separate direction. This was not done by chance: the very nature of the holiday, and many of the nuances of staying here are completely different than on other American beach resorts. For a tourist, the Northern Mariana Islands is an untouched and very beautiful tropical nature, many historical sites associated with the battles for the Pacific during the Second World War, fantastic coral reefs, sea fishing with a rich and varied catch, golf, surfing, diving, snorkeling and good conditions for a beach holiday.

How to get there

There is no direct flight from Russia to the islands. You can fly to Saipan with a connection in Shanghai (China Eastern), Tokyo (Japan Airlines and Northwest Airlines) or Seoul (Asiana Air). The duration of the flight (excluding connections) is about 16 hours.

In case of a flight through Tokyo, tourists will need to apply for a transit visa.

Search for flights to Saipan (nearest airport to Northern Mariana Islands)

Visa to the Northern Mariana Islands

To enter the territory of the Mariana Islands for up to 45 days for the purpose of tourism, citizens of Russia do not need a visa.

Customs

Import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited. Any amount can be imported in cash, traveler's checks and payment cards. Only amounts over 10,000 USD are required to be declared. When importing gold, a declaration is required. Items for personal use are not subject to duty, the import of perishable products (meat, vegetables, fruits, etc.), weapons and drugs into the country is prohibited. The export of corals and other local marine life is prohibited.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Useful phone numbers

All emergency services (ambulance, police, fire): 911

Roaming on the islands is not yet available to subscribers of Russian operators - but you can rent a cell phone there. Phone calls to Russia are best made using a phone card from public telephones in hotels, on the streets and in shops. Calls from hotel rooms are much more expensive.

Electricity

Mains voltage 110 V, 60 Hz. The outlet standard is American.

Weather in the Northern Mariana Islands

Money

Tourist travelers checks in US dollars are accepted everywhere, except for the most remote islands. It is not necessary to exchange them: most hotels, restaurants and large shops accept them as cash. There are commercial banks in Saipan, Rota and Tinian. On other islands, tourists will have to carry enough cash with them to pay for goods and services, as small private shops do not accept travelers checks. This also applies to the rental of boats and yachts, as well as payment for the services of guides and conductors. Major credit cards (especially Mastercard and Visa) are also accepted almost everywhere, but again only on the larger islands.

Tipping is optional and remains entirely at the discretion of the tourist. There is no generally accepted tip size, according to tradition in bars and restaurants Foreign tourists leave "for tea" no more than 10% of the bill, and porters and maids in hotels are usually given 1 USD.

Shopping and shops

Prices in all stores are fixed, bargaining is not accepted.

Popular hotels in Northern Mariana Islands

Entertainment and attractions of the Northern Mariana Islands

The best places for snorkeling: Saipan - Managaha island, Tinian - Tachona beach, Rota - Corell Gardens in Sasanaya Bay. All three main islands of the archipelago are good for hiking. The main route in Saipan is the Laderana-Tangka trail through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest. Tinian has an excellent route along the banks of the Cummer and Taga south of San José.

Other ways to relax: windsurfing is popular here ( the best place for him - Micro Beach on Saipan), tennis, golf and short underwater excursions in the lagoon between Saipan and the island of Managaha, where at the bottom of the sea, in addition to its many inhabitants, you can see traces of the wrecks of Japanese ships and American B-29s.

The Mariana Archipelago is located in the very west of the Pacific Ocean, in almost fabulous Micronesia. Wonderful nature and beach holiday in American style with a touch of civilized exoticism - everything about the Mariana Archipelago: map, photos, weather and tours.

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Mariana Archipelago - offspring American democracy. These islands have been unlucky with their owners all their lives. Either Spain will take them to itself, then Germany, then Japan. As a result, "beloved" by many US residents, President George W. Bush united the Northern Mariana Islands with Guam, and the Marianas archipelago thus became a "stars and stripes" territory.

The Mariana Islands is another place on earth that competes for the title of paradise. Once here, you realize that the best thing in the world is doing nothing. On one side of this archipelago is the Pacific Ocean, on the other, the Philippine Sea has crept up. Here you can jump from island to island and quickly "sing along" your summer.

Time difference with Moscow

7 o'clock

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with Samara

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with Severo-Kurilsk

with Kamchatka

How to get there

This archipelago has two important points- Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. There are no direct flights from Russia in both directions. You can fly to Guam with a connection in Tokyo or Seoul, or use a charter via Manila. Everything about everything will take you about 16 hours.

About the same amount of time you will spend flying to Saipan - via Shanghai, Tokyo or Seoul.

Search for flights to the Marianas Archipelago

Visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to visit the Mariana Archipelago for the purpose of tourism for up to 45 days. However, it is worth taking out a medical policy for the entire duration of the trip.

Is it possible to go to the Mariana Islands if the deportation period from the USA has not ended
What documents are needed to travel with a child to the Mariana Islands

Hotels

In the Northern Mariana Islands best hotels located in Saipan. There is a good selection of three and four star hotels. The cost of living - from 90 dollars per night.

On Guam, the center of high-end hotels, shops, and restaurants is located in Tumon Bay. Work here international networks hotels - Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and many others. Most often, near the bay you can find luxury hotels that take huge chunks of the cleanest beaches. Cheaper rooms are located a little deeper into the coastline.

Currency of the Marianas

The monetary unit of the country is the US Dollar (USD), in 1 dollar 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 USD = 64.87 RUB.

Transport

In the Northern Mariana Islands, the most comfortable view transport is an airplane. An indispensable means of transportation, given the remoteness of the islands. There is no railway and public transport is poorly developed. It is best to rent a car or use tourist buses that stop at the hotel, shops and restaurants.

On Guam with public transport take it easy. 15 people work here bus routes. Buses run every day, except Sunday, with an interval of 30 minutes. True, drivers will not go anywhere after 7 pm. The trip costs a dollar. Day pass is $3.

Also, open-top buses run around the island - they are best suited for excursions so that you can view and photograph the sights in detail.

Beaches

The archipelago has several beaches that attract the most tourists. One of the cleanest and most beautiful is Micro Beach. For fans of snorkeling, Lao Lao Bay is suitable, and for fans of outdoor food - Ladair Beach, picnics are often arranged here. And Paupau Beach offers playgrounds for sports.

In principle, anyone can choose a beach to their liking. It is not necessary to go to the territory crowded with tourists - within a few minutes you will definitely find a secluded corner where no one will bother you. There are enough wild beaches on the archipelago. True, while swimming, it is worth taking into account the strength of receding waves, as well as monitor the coral rubble that scratches bare feet.

Cuisine and restaurants

The cuisine of the Mariana Archipelago is a bizarre mixture of traditions from many countries. This is not surprising given the history of the territory. Each owner left a mark in food.

The cuisine has incorporated recipes from China, France, Italy, the USA and Japan. Cafes and restaurants serve traditional meat dishes with spicy sauces - fried lamb and beef ribs. Chefs prepare simple poultry soups with corn, rice, potatoes and spinach. In the course of coconut soup with vegetables and curry, as well as broth with tomatoes and minced meat.

Naturally, not a single self-respecting establishment can do without fish dishes: grilled, boiled, smoked or baked with all kinds of vegetables, fish is served with sauce, mussels, beans or ordinary noodles.

And on the archipelago they make tuba coconut wine - this is a naturally fermented juice of a young coconut with a very specific taste.

Shopping and shops

The Mariana archipelago is a whole heap of souvenirs that tourists buy in tons. This is what vacationers most often take home: souvenirs from shells and coconuts, hats and bags from the leaves of tropical plants, textiles and paintings, products made from agate, corals and pearls.

Each store has its own work schedule, but none of them will open their doors on Sunday - they rest. The exception is large shopping centers who do not want to lose profits.

The archipelago is full of duty-free shops selling products from global brands - from Chanel and Louis Vuitton to Gucci and Rolex. Prices here are an order of magnitude lower than in the US itself.

Payment in stores - in US dollars or credit cards, however, cards may not be accepted on outlying islands. There are commercial banks on the larger islands if you need to cash a check. Going to a small island, it is best to take plenty of cash with you.

3 things to do in the Mariana archipelago

Snorkeling is a type of swimming with fins and a breathing tube. With such equipment, you can spend a lot of time in the ocean, studying undersea world. Snorkeling is a favorite pastime of the locals. They are used by adults and children. You will be taught too.
Visit the Micronesian Arts and Crafts Fair - this event takes place annually in Guam. Representatives of exotic states like Nauru, Kiribati and Belau flock here. The highlight of the program is the dance and song festival. The fair is visited by about 20 thousand people.
Save the Guam shepherd is an endangered species of native bird, otherwise known as "ko-ko". Every year, the Ko-Ko Road Half Marathon is held in her honor. People gather and run 20 kilometers, drawing attention to the problem of the disappearance of the bird. You will have to run along the beaches and villages, so beautiful landscape provided during the rescue action.

Entertainment and attractions of the Mariana Archipelago

One of the most interesting sights of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Chamorro street

This street is located in Guam. Locals gather here every evening, play, sing, dance, cook delicious meals and sell souvenirs. Chamorro is the name of the natives of the island. Their history, among other things, can be studied from the ancient Latte stones - the columns on which dwellings were built.

Fort Apugan

Fort Alugan is located near the capital of Guam. Here in 1944 there were battles between the armies of Japan and the United States. Hundreds of soldiers are buried in a large meadow, and the remains of a German cruiser and Japanese ships lie at the bottom of the sea. Divers like to descend here in search of interesting finds.

Diving

The Mariana Archipelago is a kind of transit point for divers, who then go to Fiji, Yap, Truk, Palau. There are some good dive sites on Guam. For example, near Fort Alugan. Or the well-known Kingdom of black corals is a large deep-water reef with a sheer wall that goes 100 meters deep.

Trekking

Hiking enthusiasts are best off heading to the Northern Mariana Islands. The main islands - Saipan, Tinian and Rota - are good for walking. One of the main trails is the Laderana-Tangka trail leading through the Marpi Commonwealth Forest.

Citizens of Russia and Belarus do not need a visa to the Northern Mariana Islands in 2019. At the same time, you can stay here no more than 45 days, and the purpose of the visit should be tourism or a guest visit.

The following documents must be presented at the point of arrival:

international passport
return flights
a completed migration card (forms I-94 and I-736), forms are usually issued on the plane. Here you can download

Issuance of an entry permit

This entry permit is no longer required in 2019. It was required several years ago until January 15, 2012, after which it was abolished, now the tourist only needs to show a return ticket at the border control, a valid passport and

To travel to the islands, the tourist had to obtain an entry permit in advance. If you went on a tour, then the travel agency was engaged in this. If the tourist was traveling on his own, then he had to submit documents to the Department of Immigration of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Long-term stay in the Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands are under the jurisdiction of the United States, for a longer stay on their territory, the Russians will need.

Also, during a visa-free stay on the islands, it is forbidden to enter other US territories, with the exception of Guam.

Ukrainians need to obtain a US visa to visit the archipelago for any period, there is no visa-free entry for them.

The Mariana Trench and Everest - most people remember these names from the 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 about 1,500 km long, directed by its convex part to the east. The deepest point of the trough is called "Challenger Abyss" 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. Guam Island, the closest to the Challenger Deep, is located 340 km northeast of it. Coordinates deepest point 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 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 the normal atmospheric pressure.

The hollow was first discovered by the English sailing and steam corvette Challenger during the world's first integrated oceanographic expedition in 1875. The depth was then determined twice with the 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 an ocean survey in these places.

With the help of 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 corrected several times in both directions, the last value of 10,994 m was recorded in 2011.

The difficulty of measuring the 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 are different depending on the depth. To obtain accurate values, it is necessary to take water samples from different depths, analyze them and take into account the data in subsequent measurements.

For the first time, the bathyscaphe Trieste sank to the bottom of the depression (10,915 m) in 1960 with two researchers on board (US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss oceanologist Jacques Picard). Then several times autonomous dives were made by unmanned vehicles, and the Japanese Kaiko probe in 1995 took the first soil samples from a depth of 10911 m.

In 2012, the famous director James Cameron for the first time in history alone made a dive to the bottom, having been 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 is worth mentioning that famous traveler Fedor Konyukhov in 2019 also announced his intention to dive to the bottom of this depression.

Fauna of the Mariana Trench

Sunlight cannot penetrate to a depth of more than 1000 m, eternal darkness reigns there. Along with the 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 shown by the first samples taken, 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, holothurians, and fish live here. Even during the first visual observations from the Trieste bathyscaphe, small fish resembling a flounder were seen. The specifics of the conditions make the appearance of many local fish amazing: they have huge teeth, eyes rotating in different directions (or their absence), instead of fins there are sharp spikes.

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

In general 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, the megalodon, were recently found. It is believed that these monsters, which weighed up to 100 tons, died out about 2 million years ago, while the age of the teeth found is from 11 to 24 thousand years.

Research was constantly accompanied by various mysterious stories: obscure huge shadows resembling dragons appeared on the monitors, a loud metal rattle was heard, and once, according to the team of the German deep-sea apparatus Highfish, they saw a creature on the infrared camera monitor, clinging its teeth to a bathyscaphe, it had to scare away with an electric shock.

major islands there are 15, there are also some small rocks and reefs. The population is about 215,000 people. The nationality of the indigenous people is the Chamorro, and their language is also called. It is believed that the Chamorros are descendants of ancient settlers from the Philippines. At present, there are practically no true representatives of this people; everyone who calls themselves Chamorro is mestizo.

The state affiliation of the Mariana Islands is not as easy to determine as it might seem. The southernmost 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 western coast.

The Northern Mariana Islands constitute a separate administrative entity - the Commonwealth, the state status is completely similar to Guam (freely 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 team, who anchored here in 1521. The meeting with the natives ended in the loss of the ship's boat. Frustrated, Magellan gave the archipelago the name "Islands of Thieves" (de los Ladrones, Ladrones), which existed until the beginning of the 20th century.

The islands were immediately declared the property of Spain. A few decades later, colonialists began to come here. As was often the case, 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 on the map have been called that way. Colonization did not go smoothly. As a result of armed clashes and prolonged repressions, the indigenous population decreased 30 times 200 years after visiting Magellan.

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

The Americans equipped a military base on the island of Tinian, from which bombers took off, dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 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 the presence of an American visa in the passport serves as a pass to these territories for citizens of other countries.

The monetary currency is the US dollar.

In fact, few people know anything about the island of Guam in the distant sea-ocean ... Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Marine Islands! We don’t know much about the Mariana Islands either ... My story is about the myths and reality of this corner of the Earth!

Myth I . Mariana Islands - a white spot on the world map

"White Spot" is a 3-hour flight from Tokyo or Manila, a 4-hour flight from Seoul. The Mariana Islands are located in Micronesia and conditionally separate the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea. That is, the seventeen islands of the Mariana Archipelago are washed by the waters of the ocean on one side, and the sea on the other.

Myth II. The Mariana Islands are named after the Mariana Trench

Exactly the opposite. The depression is called Mariana, because it is located relatively close to the Mariana Islands. From Guam - the largest and southernmost island of the Mariana Ridge - to the depression is only 300 km.

The islands were discovered during his round-the-world trip by Magellan. This happened in 1521. Fernand called the islands of Thieves, because. local residents liked the things on the ship so much that they were not too lazy to steal them.

But already in 1568 the islands were renamed in honor of the Spanish Queen Maria Anna of Austria (wife of King Philip IV).

Myth III. Primitive tribes live on the Mariana Islands

Marian tribes with a matriarchal way of life were described in their chronicles by Jesuit missionaries, who formed their first settlement in 1568. In 1565 Guam became a Spanish colony. In the course of numerous wars and upheavals, Japanese, Spanish and American threads were woven into the history of Guam.

Today Guam is the most important air hub in Micronesia, an island of two US military bases and extremely popular resort, which is visited annually by more than 1 million tourists. The aforementioned institutions are serviced by the indigenous population, including lawyers, hotel managers, and doctors. By the way, the Department of Marine Biology at the University of Guam trains some of the best specialists in this field of knowledge.

Myth IV. There are many dangerous animals in the Marianas

A tree snake can be attributed to the dangerous creatures of God. It is dangerous for birds - because it feeds on eggs that it finds in nests. Snakes live in the jungle, are afraid of all kinds of noise and are never the first to attack. AT tourist places, where the hubbub and enthusiastic exclamations, snakes are not found.

Myth V. Marianas prone to frequent typhoons

There are two seasons in the tropics, the rainy season and the windy season. The first lasts 4 months - from June to September. Typhoons are possible during this time. But the last strong typhoon passed over Guam in 2000. By the way, in the entire history of meteorological observations on Guam, not a single person died during a typhoon.