Rota, also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). It lies slightly northwest of the United States territory of Guam. Songsong village is the largest and most populated followed by Sinapalo village. Rota stands out as a pristine and untarnished island boasting white sandy beaches, a diverse flora and fauna, and breathtaking panoramas. This image has been attributed to the lack of overt development which has been seen in the two larger islands of Saipan and Tinian. The current mayor is Benjamin Manglona, also a former lieutenant governor, senator and congressman of the CNMI.

The culture and language of the native people of the CNMI is called "Chamorro". Half of the words in the language are Spanish or of Spanish origin, though when spoken colloquially, fewer Spanish words are used. This is attributed to the fact that prior to colonization by the Spanish, the Chamorro people did not have words for many of the things they had never been exposed to. The Chamorro word for 'bread', for instance, is 'pan', just as it is in Spanish.

=Stats

• Latitude: 14° 09' 13" N (14.153611)
• Longitude: 145° 12' 11" E (145.203056)
• Area: 85 square kilometers (32.8 sq.miles)
• Dimensions (approximately):
  • 16.9-kilometers (10.5-miles) long
  • 4.8-kilometers (3-miles) wide
• Coastline: 61.6 kilometers (38.3 miles)
• Highest point: Mt. Manira - 495 meters (1,625 ft)
• Population: 3,283 (2000 - U.S. Census Bureau^*)
• Distances:
  • Guam - 76 kilometers (47 miles; south)
  • Tinian - 101 kilometers (63 miles; north)
  • Saipan - 117 kilometers, 73 miles; north)

Northern Mariana Islands | Micronesia | ロタ島

External references

• ROTAcom° Web Oficial de los Amantes de Rota (España/Spain) Website from Rota (Spain). Extra Information of the relation with Rota Island. On-line since 1999! Into Spanish, English, German... (www.rotacom.tk) / Contenido exclusivo sobre la ciudad española de Rota, asi como de su relación con la ciudad de Rota del archipielago de las Islas Marianas. On-line desde 1999! Disponible en diferentes idiomas.(www.rotacom.tk)