Saipan

Saipan is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. According to the 2010 United States Census, Saipan's population was 48,220. The Commonwealth's center of government is located in the village of Capitol Hill on the island. As the entire island is organized as a single municipality, most publications term Saipan as the Commonwealth's capital. The current Mayor of Saipan is David M. Apatang, who was sworn into office on June 12, 2015.

Tinian

Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Together with uninhabited neighboring Aguijan, it forms Tinian Municipality, one of the four constituent municipalities of the Northern Marianas. Tinian's largest village is San Jose. Tinian is about 5 nautical miles southwest of Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 square miles , with its highest elevation at Mount Lasso at 171 meters . The island has a variety of flora and fauna, and limestone cliffs and caves. The Tinian monarch is the island's only endemic bird species and it is threatened by habitat loss. There is a variety of marine life and coral reefs surrounding the island. Its clear, warm waters are ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving and sport fishing. The population of Tinian was 3,136 , which corresponds to less than 5 percent of all residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and a population density of 35 people per km2. Most of the inhabitants are Chamorros and members of various other groups of islands in the Caroline Islands. There is also a minority of East Asians and European-descended people.

Rota

Rota also known as the "Friendly Island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 nautical miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam. Sinapalo village is the largest and most populated followed by Songsong village . == Geography == Rota is 12.3 miles long and 4.2 mi wide. Its coastline is about 38 mi long. The highest point on Rota is Mt. Sabana which is 495.56 meters . Rota is 47 nmi north of Guam, 63 nmi south of Tinian and 73 nmi south of Saipan. Rota has diverse flora and fauna. == History == In 1521, the first European to see Rota was the lookout on Ferdinand Magellan's ship Victoria, Lope Navarro. However, Magellan's armada of three ships did not stop until they reached Guam, so the first European to arrive in Rota , was the Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano, who annexed it together with the rest of the Mariana Islands on behalf of the Spanish Empire. As with the other islands of the northern Marianas, Rota was sold to the German Empire under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. In World War I, the islands were occupied by the Japanese Empire. In 1919, the League of Nations formally recognized Japanese control under the South Pacific Mandate. However, development of Rota lagged behind that of neighboring Tinian and Saipan, with only 1000 Japanese residents arriving by the end of December 1935, most of them employed in raising sugar cane and in sugar refining. The refinery was not economical, and it was closed three years later. The Japanese garrison during World War II consisted of 1,031 Imperial Japanese Army men of the 10th Independent Mixed Brigade, under the command of Major Shigeo Imagawa, and about 600 Imperial Japanese Navy men. During the final stages of the war, Rota was occasionally bombed by aircraft of the U.S. Navy in an attempt to silence its radio transmitter that was providing warning to the Japanese home islands upon the take-off of B-29 Superfortress bomber attacks from Tinian, Saipan, and Guam, but the island was never invaded by American troops. On September 2, 1945, one hour after the surrender of Japan, a detachment of U.S. Marines arrived on Rota to accept the surrender of the Japanese garrison, which numbered 947 Imperial Japanese Army and 1853 Imperial Japanese Navy. After the end of World War II, Rota became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Since 1978, the island has been a part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The current mayor is Efraim Manglona Atalig. == Transportation == Rota has an airport, Rota International Airport. == Education == Northern Marianas College established the Rota Instructional Site to provide post-secondary, continuing, and adult education and training opportunities for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the people of Rota. Since its inception in August 1986, the Rota Instructional Site has assisted many people who chose to pursue college education locally over the high cost of post-secondary education elsewhere. Many students have obtained a Certificate of Completion, an associate degree, or the bachelor of science degree in Elementary Education, have found better paying jobs, and have continued pursuing higher degrees. The results are positive, and the community has depended on NMC for quality education and training. Presently, Rota offers a variety of programs: Adult Basic Education, Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, CREES (Agriculture and Aquaculture Extension), 4H Club, and Expanded Food & Nutrition Education (EFNEP), Business Development Workshops, Continuing Education Courses, and Community Services Programs Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System operates public schools. Rota has two public schools: Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior & Senior High School. In August 2011, Rota's junior and senior high schools were merged due to budget concerns. They are now Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior & Senior High School. With this merger, the junior high now consists only of the 7th and 8th grades. The 6th grade was moved to Sinapalo Elementary in Sinapalo Village. RHIJSHS is located on the former junior high school campus in Songsong Village. Sinapalo Elementary School is located in Sinapalo village. Rota's elementary school and junior high school were formerly located in the same area and shared class buildings at Songsong village. After the new elementary school was built in Sinapalo, the Songsong village school ground was reopened as Rota Junior High. In 2010, the junior high school was renamed for the former Commissioner of Education, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos. Rota has two private schools: Eskuelan San Francisco De Borja (ESFDB): Prep-9th Grade (Located in Songsong Village) Grace Christian Academy (GCA): Prep-9th Grade (Located in Sinapalo Village) == See also == Rota Latte Stone Quarry National Register of Historic Places listings in the Northern Mariana Islands == References ==

Rota Latte Stone Quarry

Rota Latte Stone Quarry is known as the As Nieves quarry and is located near the Chamorro village of Sinapalo, on the island of Rota, United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in the Marianas Archipelago. As Nieves was the origin the stone quarries in the Marianas. The prehistoric megaliths are believed to have been used as foundation pillars for houses, but their exact age and origins have not been determined. Some pillars weighed up to 35 tons with the methods of quarry and transportation not known.

Oleai Sports Complex

Oleai Sports Complex is a multi-use stadium in Saipan on the western Pacific Ocean Northern Mariana Islands. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home of the Northern Mariana Islands national football team. The stadium has a capacity of 2,000 people. The surface is grass with an athletics track around the perimeter. The complex is run by the government of the Northern Mariana Islands. A weight room and gymnasium are located on the site, the gymnasium hosting basketball and volleyball matches. The complex was used for the 2nd Micronesia Athletics Championships in 2005 and has been used as a training facility by visiting athletics teams. The complex also hosts little league baseball competitions.

Rota