Capital City: Saipan
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI)is a commonwealth in political union with (and in practice, close to a territory of) the United States. The islands are in the Micronesia region of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan, the Philippines, and Palau.

» Climate

Tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation. Dry season December to June, rainy season July to October. The typhoon, or hurricane, season lasts several months and starts in late August to early September.

» Terrain

Southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs. Northern islands are volcanic.