Pagan ( English Pagan ) - an island in the archipelago of the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean . It belongs to the Northern Mariana Islands and is part of the Northern Islands municipality.
| Pagan | |
|---|---|
| English Pagan | |
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Square | 47.24 km² |
| Highest point | 579 m |
| Population | 0 people (2010) |
| Location | |
| Water area | Pacific Ocean |
| A country |
|
| Region | North Islands |
Content
Geography
The island of Pagan is located in the northern part of the archipelago of the Mariana Islands . Washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean . Agrihan Island is located 68 km to the north of the island, and Alamagan Island is 48 km to the south [1] . The nearest continent, Asia , is located at 2,600 km [2] .
The island of Pagan, like the other Mariana Islands, has a volcanic origin [2] and consists of two stratovolcanoes , which are connected to each other by a narrow isthmus [1] . Both volcanoes formed within the calderas , and their diameter is 7 and 4 km [3] . The highest point of the island, the North Pagan Volcano, reaches 579 m [2] . The second volcano, South Pagan , reaches 548 m and has an elongated peak, on which four craters are located [3] . The largest eruption on the island occurred in 1981 [3] . The length of Pagan is 17 km, and the maximum width is 7 km [4] . The area is 46.6 km² [2] .
The climate is humid tropical . The island is subject to volcanic eruptions and cyclones [2] .
Part of Pagan is occupied by tropical forests , which are dominated by coconut palms and various shrubs, as well as meadows [2] . In the northern part of the island is a small salt lake.
History
The European pioneer of the island was the Spaniard , the Catholic missionary Diego Luis de Sanvitores ( Spanish Diego Luis de Sanvitores ), who discovered Pagan in 1669 [5] . The island subsequently became a possession of Spain .
On February 12, 1899, the Mariana Islands were sold by Spain to Germany [6] . During the exploration of the island, the German administrator Georg Fritz ( German Georg Fritz ) on Pagana found traces of the presence in the past of representatives of the Chamorro people, including throwing stones and cultivated plants [4] . Since 1907, Pagan has been part of German New Guinea , submitting to the district officer of the Caroline Islands [6] . In the German period, residents were engaged in the production of copra , but after the typhoons of 1904 , 1905 , 1906 and 1907, its production decreased by 50% [4] .
On October 14, 1914, the Mariana Islands were occupied by the Japanese . In 1920, the mandate of the League of Nations was established over the islands [6] . During the Second World War, a Japanese outpost operated on Pagan [4] .
Population
In 1981, the entire population of the island, 53 people, were evacuated after a strong volcanic eruption. Since then, Pagan is uninhabited [4] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Oceandots.com . Pagan Island. (eng.)
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site . Northern Mariana Islands. (eng.)
- ↑ 1 2 3 Pagan : [ eng ] // Global Volcanism Program . - Smithsonian Institution .
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 PIBHMC . Pagan Island. (eng.)
- ↑ Homepage Christoph Gäbler . Über die Marianen. Pagan Island. (him)
- ↑ 1 2 3 World Statesmen.org . Northern Mariana Islands. (eng.)