The island of Saipan, in the western Pacific Ocean, is the
largest of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands. This is a group of 15 tropical islands that
belong to the Marianas archipelago. The island’s administrative
centre is situated in the village of Capital Hill.
Saipan is about 120 miles north of Guam and is just 12 miles
long and 5.5 miles wide with a population of about 65,000
people. It’s quite a popular destination for Asian tourists as it
offers an abundance of naturally beautiful landscapes, white,
sandy beaches, jungles, coral reefs, lagoons, and rocky
cliffs. There’s also a mountain named Mount Tapochau, which
stands as 1,560 feet in height.
Most people on the island speak English, but there’s also a
native language known as Chamorro, which is spoken by many of the local people. Other languages may also be spoken as there are
several different cultures on the island including people from
many Asian countries like China, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. The
combination of cultures can be found in the island’s music as
American, Asian, and local music and songs are popular. The
local music often features traditional dances.
It’s believed that Saipan was first settled about 2000 BC.
The first Europeans to visit the island were Spanish. However,
Saipan was under German rule from 1899 until the First World War
I, when the Japanese empire took control. There were
approximately 25,000 Japanese settlers on the island by 1941.
The vegetation in Saipan is pretty diverse and you’ll find
papayas, hot peppers, and coconuts growing wild, while taro
roots, bananas, and mangoes are grown by local residents. The
ocean is also a great source of food as it’s filled with Wahoo,
tuna, billfish and dozens of other species. The flora and
wildlife are also fascinating and interesting as Saipan is home
to many different types of native birds, such as Melanesian
honeyeaters, collared kingfishers, and Pacific reef herons. You
can see many of these animals from the Bird Island lookout.
Getting to Saipan isn’t too difficult as there’s an
international airport there as well as a ferry from the island
of Tinian, which is about five miles away. Once there you can
take taxis or rent a car. There are two main roadways that
connect local villages and beaches. There are 31 official
villages on the island, including Achugao, Capital Hill, Chalan
Kiya, Fina Sisu, Marpi, Oleai, Papago, San Roque, and Tanapag.
Because it’s close to the equator, the weather’s generally
fantastic all year around and this makes it an ideal spot for
beach activities such as swimming, surfing, snorkelling, and
diving. Golf is also pretty popular. There are also some fine
attractions to visit such as the local botanical gardens and
zoo. There’s also a water park and a memorial to the soldiers
who lost their lives in the war. Other sites include the
historic cliffs and local grotto.
There are numerous restaurants to choose from that serve a
variety of dishes, including local seafood. You’ll also find
quite a few beach bars, dinner shows, karaoke bars, and cocktail
lounges that all combine to make a pretty happening nightlife.
As for a place to stay, there are several hotels and resorts to
choose from for such a small island and these accommodations can
be found to suit all types of travel budgets.
The island of Saipan offers everything from great weather,
food, scenery, activities and beaches to friendly people and a
rich history.
About Saipan