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The Northern Marianas were settled around 1500 BC by Chamorros who shared cultural ties with Guam's indigenous people. This early group of Chamorros are responsible for the 'latte stones' found throughout the Marianas. Reaching as high as 20ft (6m), these limestone posts are capped with a piece of limestone or brain coral in the shape of a large bowl.
Ferdinand Magellan named the islands the Islas de los Ladrones (Islands of Thieves) in 1521; they were renamed Las Marianas upon the arrival of Spanish priest Luis Diego Sanvitores, in honor of the Spanish queen Maria Ana of Austria. In 1668, Sanvitores and five other Jesuits established the first mission in the Marianas, touching off two decades of hostilities between the priests and less-than-welcoming Chamorros. Spanish troops managed to quell the uprising in the late 1680s.
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Nature
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Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Area: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
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