What ocean are the Mariana Islands in? Myths of the Marianas

Mariana Islands- A group of islands located in the western Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. include 15 major islands(Guam, Rota, Saipan, Tinian, etc.).

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 Japan.

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 of Spain, who at that time was regent for her young 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 landed - Guam, the largest and southernmost island in the entire Mariana Archipelago. Spain sold the rest of the islands to Germany 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 the local Japanese population committed mass suicide here. 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 - trim 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 the plants and trees that bloom all year round. 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 back in time 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 of fresh water in Saipan, 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.

Perhaps one of the most mysterious places on the earth map Mariana Islands. This is a place that is sometimes referred to as one of the best preserved mysterious corners of America and which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists with its unique nature and many historical sites.

Mariana Islands on the world map

Remoteness of the Mariana Islands from « mainland» makes them unique place where an atmosphere of peace and absolute carelessness reigns. real paradise for lovers of magnificent panoramas, unique sunsets and crystal clear air.

Where are they?

The Mariana Islands are a small Island state, whose territory covers 15 islands of the archipelago of the same name. They are located at the western end of the Pacific Ocean, in a region called micronesia.

Most travelers come here in search of solitude from the noise of megacities and in order to see with their own eyes the monuments of the “Battle of the Pacific” during the Second World War.

The islands of the archipelago are located in such a way that they form two chains with a total length of more than 700 kilometers.

Due to the characteristics of its geographical location Mariana archipelago does not have clear borders with neighboring states. To the south of it are caroline islands (Federated States Micronesia). The conditional natural boundary separating the Philippine Sea from the Pacific Ocean passes at the location of the Mariana Islands.

Relief

Mariana archipelago consists of two chains located from the north and south. In the northern chain, most of the islands are cones formed as a result of volcanic activity over 900 meters high. Note that some of them are small. active volcanoes. The islands in the southern chain are partly volcanic, partly formed by corals.

The nature of the Mariana Islands is typical for the region of the tropics, there are many places where the human foot has hardly set foot. The coral reefs of the Marianas amaze with their splendor and fantastic shapes, and deepest place on the planet - 11-kilometer Mariana Trench is located just a few tens of kilometers from the archipelago.

The coastal waters abound with fish, the beaches stretch for thousands of meters, and the rich undersea world and strives to show all its splendor to lovers of diving and snorkeling.

Climate

The climate of the Mariana Islands is characterized as humid, tropical ocean.

The average air temperature in the daytime fluctuates around +28/+33 degrees Celsius, and at night it drops by only a few degrees to +23/+25 degrees.

Humidity quite high and reaches 75-85%. Two seasons are clearly distinguished: in the period from to the wind season begins in this area, and from to the time of typhoons begins.

How to get from Russia?

The easiest way to get here is from some countries in Asia (, Japan, South Korea) or from , so among vacationers on Mariana Islands dominated Japanese and Americans.

Due to the remoteness of the Mariana Islands from no direct flights in this direction.

To the airport of the main island of the archipelago - Saipan– can be reached by plane of Asian airlines. Transfers to flights in this direction are carried out in Shanghai, Tokyo or. The duration of such a flight will be about 16 hours, and this is without taking into account flight connections.

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State structure

Picturesque Coral reefs, opportunities for fishing on the high seas, surfing and diving - all this is available today in abundance. But not all the time, life seemed like a fairy tale to the inhabitants of the Mariana Islands.

Story

The development of the Northern Mariana Islands took place many centuries ago - around 500 AD, the first settlers appeared here - Chamorro tribes having some kinship with the modern peoples of Polynesia. They were experienced sailors, actively explored the Pacific islands and left behind memorable signs - famous stones"Latte", the height of which could reach 6 meters.

It is curious that some historians see in latte stones some analogy with mysterious statues Easter islands.

European influence on the Mariana Islands began thanks to the legendary navigator Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European to discover these lands during circumnavigation in 1521. On his ship, he passed through the southern group of islands of the archipelago and named them "Isla de los Ladrones", which in translation meant "Islands of thieves."

The name has been changed to "Las Marianas" in the middle of the 17th century, when the Spanish priest Luis Diego Sanvitores, who found himself in these parts, named them in honor of Queen Anna Maria of Austria.

In 1668, missionaries of the Jesuit order, led by Sanvitores, organized the first mission on the islands, with the advent of which conflicts began between the local population and European colonists. The war lasted two decades, and its result was the eviction of most of the natives on the island of Guam.

In the 19th century resettlement began Spaniards and settlers from the Caroline Islands to the Mariana Islands, gradually began to show interest in the archipelago and. In 1899, Spain sold the Northern Mariana Islands to the German government, which hoped to organize the industrial production of coconut pulp here. However, these plans were corrected by the outbreak of the First World War, and Japan, which turned out to be stronger and more interested, captured the islands.

The Japanese began to grow sugar cane on the islands, cutting down tropical forests and thickets of coconut palms. In the 1930s, the Mariana cane plantations guaranteed the lion's share of Japan's profits.

Dramatic events unfolded in the area of ​​the archipelago in the years World War II when the archipelago became the site of one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in the Pacific. US military forces landed on the coast of Saipan in the summer of 1944 and simultaneously attacked the Japanese flotilla.

Thousands of soldiers of both armies became victims of the battle, but the civilian population of the islands suffered the maximum damage.

Subsequently, the United States set up a military airfield here, which was destined to go down in history. It was from this base that two heavy bombers took off into the sky, dropping atomic charges on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the end of the war, peace came to the islands, they were subordinate to the United Nations, and since 1947 they were influenced by the USA.

Politics

The Mariana Islands are a community with internal self-government. Since 1986, the status of the state has been in effect, "freely joined" to the United States, thanks to which the islands gained local self-government. The United States Custody ended in 1993. The state and the government are simultaneously headed by a governor elected by the population.

On the islands representative presidential democratic system. The main person in the state is the governor. The Marianas are in political union with the United States, and the general funds are managed by a special department within the US Department of the Interior.

Most likely, such an unpleasant ailment as acclimatization will overtake the Mariana Islands. Get ready for it with .

Population

The population of the Mariana Islands archipelago is approximately 700 thousand people. Among them are representatives of different nationalities:

1. The vast majority of residents are Filipino ethnicity — 34%;
2. The second place is occupied by the nationality chamorro -30%;
3. On the third Chinese — 12%;
4. Close the list micronesians — 8%;
5. And people from caroline islands — 5%.

In addition, on the islands of the archipelago live Americans, Japanese, Koreans, Australians.

Religion and language

The official language of the Commonwealth is English. In second place is language of the Chamorro people, as well as an important role caroline, Philippine, Japanese, Korean and Chinese languages.

In the Mariana Archipelago, representatives of each religious group have their own organization and premises for the implementation of rituals.

Main religious movements:

• Catholicism;
• Protestantism;
• Islam;
• local religions and cults.

Numerous activities are taking place here. sects ranging from Mormons to Seventh Day Adventists.

Map of Mariana Islands with cities

Of the 17 islands of the archipelago, only 4 are inhabited: Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam.

Capital

The capital of the Mariana Islands is city ​​of Susupe located on the island of Saipan. It is very popular among tourists from and Japan, who come here in large numbers.

Susupe attracts with its unhurried, measured rhythm, the absence of cataclysms and upheavals, which is so important for a modern person.

In Susupa, you can enjoy warm summers all year round and forget about all your worries.

Big cities

• The largest city in the archipelago Garapan located in the western part of the island of Saipan. Most of the administrative buildings on the islands are concentrated here. The city is unique in that its boundaries are not clearly defined, and almost everywhere west coast the island stretches a chain of small villages and residential buildings surrounded by farms and lush gardens.
• big village Songsong- the biggest locality on the island of Rota. It is located in the southwestern part of the island. The usual city rules do not apply here - residents do just fine without traffic lights and shopping centers. At almost every step you can see all kinds of stones, which are used not only for construction, but also perform the function of marking.
• City hagatna is the administrative center of the island of Guam. It is located on a narrow isthmus that separates the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1668 by the Spaniards, who established the first Jesuit mission on the island. Here you can admire beautiful landscapes and vivid historical monuments.

Watch an informative video about the Mariana Islands:

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!

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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).

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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.

In recent years, due to global warming, air masses have been gathering into a tropical storm not only at the equator, but also in the tropics themselves.

For example, in September 2009, several tropical storms formed near the Mariana Islands, “twisted” into typhoons: one went to Samoa, the second to Japan. A tropical storm, by the way, is a downpour with gusts of wind. It does an excellent job of washing cars and glass, it should be noted.

The remaining 8 months of the year in Guam are the windy season. A beautiful sea breeze, a wind that drives white clouds across the sky. Of course, it rains from time to time and during the windy season, but they are short-lived. And most often it rains from just one cloud: there are clouds all around, a blue sky, the sun - and a rainbow under one small cloud!

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The Northern Mariana Islands is a state in the Pacific Ocean, made up of several volcanic islands rising from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Nearby is the world's deepest oceanic trench, the Mariana Trench, diving into the depths of eleven kilometers. In this trench, one lithospheric plate dives under another, being processed into magma, which will then pour out through volcanoes.

(Use + and - to zoom in and out of the map)

The Mariana Islands were discovered by Magellan in 1521, however, despite the fact that he was greeted there very friendly, he sailed away from there very unhappy. The natives did not understand that it was impossible to take someone else's and took full hands of everything they could reach when they climbed onto the ship. Yes, then they dragged the boat away, for which Magellan called these islands "the islands of thieves", and marked it on the map. The islands were not very interested in the Spanish crown, which was the ruler of this territory, in fact only nominally. Nevertheless, missionaries periodically came here, whom the local population did not like and merchants, whom they loved, even adored. And he strove to put a prettier girl, because the merchants always gave various useful things and children.

And everything would be fine, but they sold the islands to Germany. The Germans started, it was there to create a German order, but they quickly got bogged down in wars on the continent and no attention was left to the islands. During the Second World War, the islands were captured by the Japanese and immediately began to actively plant on them. And even more actively, to participate in the breeding program, forcibly marrying their colonists to the natives. However, this violence was forced - almost all the natives died out from simple European diseases, so many mestizos were required, resistant to diseases.

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Mariana Islands, a traditional center of tourism. Here they willingly spend honeymoon travel. It is easy to order a banquet on the honey mountain, which hints at Honeymoon. Of course, river cruises are not available here, due to the lack of more or less significant rivers, but you can easily arrange a boat rental, just pay for relaxation and increased exoticism.

The Northern Mariana Islands, which actually and legally belong to the territory of the United States of America (like the entire Mariana Archipelago), are presented here 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 tourists, the Northern Mariana Islands are untouched and very beautiful tropical nature, many historical sites associated with the battles for the Pacific Ocean during World War II, 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

Until October 1, 2019 For entry into the territory of the Mariana Islands for up to 45 days for the purpose of tourism, Russian citizens do not need a visa. From the beginning of October, you will have to obtain a B1 / B2 visa, which allows multiple entries into the United States within 180 days.

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.

Maps of Northern Mariana Islands

Electricity

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

Weather in the Northern Mariana Islands

Money

Traveler's checks in US dollars are accepted everywhere except the most outlying 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 no more than 10% of the bill amount “for a tip”, and porters and maids in hotels are usually given 1 USD.

Shopping and stores

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.