Saipan

Saipan Island is located in the southern part of the Mariana Islands Archipelago. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean . Tinian island is located 9.3 km south-west of the island, Anatakhan island is 117 km north, and Guam island is 184 km south-west ^[2] . The nearest mainland, Eurasia , is 2800 km ^[3] . From the nearest island - Tinian - Saipan is separated by the Strait of Saipan, 9.3 km wide.

Saipan Island has a mixed volcanic and coral origin ^[3] . Sandy beaches are located in the western part of the island, and coastal reefs form a large lagoon . The eastern side of Saipan is rocky and steep, surrounded by a reef. Saipan is about 23 km long and 10 km wide. The highest point of the island, Mount Tapochau ( Eng. Mount Tapochau ), reaches 474 m ^[3] and, in contrast to many mountains of the Mariana Islands, is a limestone formation, and not an extinct volcano ^[4] . Mount Achugao , the remnant of a volcanic cone, whose Eocene center was located not far north from the present peak, is 3.2 km to the north ^[5] . The area of ​​Saipan is 115.38 km².

The eastern side of Saipan is the beginning of the descent into the Mariana Trench .

The climate is humid tropical . The island is prone to tropical cyclones ^[3] .

Spanish Colonial Period

The island of Saipan, as well as neighboring Guam , Rota , Tinian , were inhabited by humans in about 2000 BC. e. The Spanish were the European discoverers of the island, who in the 17th century completely subjugated the islands of the Mariana archipelago. Saipan and nearby Tinian were probably discovered by the Spaniards of the expedition of Fernand Magellan , who landed in the southern part of the Mariana Islands on March 6, 1521 . ^{[6] [7]} . Gonzalo de Vigo , a deserter from the Trinidad ship , who took refuge among the Chamorro and visited with them for four years 13 Marianas Islands , probably visited Saipan Island . The first clear evidence of the arrival of Europeans in Saipan was left by the crew of the Santa Margarita manila galleon , commanded by Juan Martinez de Guillistegi. He crashed near the island in February 1600 and the surviving 250 people stayed on Saipan for two years, until they were rescued by the ships "Santo Thomas" and "Mary Jesus". ^[8] Formally, the island was annexed to Spain in 1668 , with the landing of the missionary expedition of Diego Luis de San Vitores, who named the island of San Jose. Since 1670, Spanish and, occasionally, English , Dutch and French ships began to enter Saipan to replenish supplies of food and water. ^[9] The size of the indigenous population was greatly reduced due to diseases introduced by Europeans, as well as during conflicts with the Spaniards over land, and survivors were forcibly relocated to Guam in 1720 for better control and assimilation. During the period of Spanish rule, livestock farms were created on the island to supply the Spanish galleons with provisions on their way to Mexico. In 1815, a large number of Carolynians settled on Saipan from the island of Sataval , while most of the indigenous population of Saipan, the Chamorro people, were resettled on the island of Guam ^{[10] [11]} .

German Colonial Period

After the Spanish-American War of 1898 , Saipan was occupied by the United States . On February 12, 1899, the Mariana Islands were sold by Spain to Germany ^[12] . Since 1907, the island was part of German New Guinea , obeying the district officer of the Caroline Islands ^[12] . Germany has not made any attempts to develop the economy or change the structure of government over the entire period of her rule in Saipan. The island continued to be controlled by local Spanish landowners.

Japanese colonization of Saipan

On October 14, 1914 , during the First World War, the island was captured by the Japanese Empire , which declared war on Germany . Officially, Japanese control over Saipan was established in 1920 within the framework of the South Pacific mandate of the League of Nations ^[12] . Militarily and economically, Saipan was one of the most important islands in the South Pacific and became the center of Japanese colonization. Immigration began in the 1920s - ethnic Japanese , Koreans , Taiwanese, and Okinawans arrive on the island to develop large-scale sugarcane plantations. The Japanese company Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha ( Nan'yō K興 hatsu Kabushiki Kaisha ) built sugar factories in Saipan. Under the rule of Japan, large-scale development of infrastructure began, including the laying of roads, the construction of port and hydraulic structures, power plants, schools, as well as cultural and entertainment facilities and Shinto shrines. By October 1943, the civilian population of Saipan consisted of 29,348 Japanese settlers and 3,926 Chamorro and settlers from the Caroline Islands . In the 1930s, Japanese garrisons began to concentrate on the island, which by 1941 had reached 30,000.

Saipan in World War II

Japan considered Saipan to be the last line of defense for the metropolis , and therefore paid great attention to its defense. Since the late 1930s, the presence of the Japanese Imperial Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy has been increasing on the island. The garrison of Saipan is reinforced by the construction of numerous coastal artillery batteries , coastal defensive structures, underground fortifications and runways . The battle of Saipan , which took place from June 15 to July 9, 1944, was one of the main US campaigns in World War II. The United States Marine Corps and Army units landed on the beaches of the southwest of the island and spent more than three weeks in heavy fighting with Japanese troops. The capture of Saipan cost the Americans 3426 people killed and 10 364 wounded. Of the approximately 30,000 Japanese soldiers, only 921 were captured. After stubborn defense of the island by Japanese troops, an order followed that ordered all survivors to commit suicide, thereby showing a feeling of love and devotion to the emperor of the country of the Rising Sun. There were also large losses among the civilian population of the island. About 20,000 Japanese civilians died during the battle for the island, including more than 1,000 committed suicide by dropping from the "rock of suicides" and "Banzai Cliff" ^[13] . US forces began building a military airfield on Saipan. With the capture of Saipan, the American army was only 1300 miles from the Japanese islands. Most Japanese cities were within reach of the US B-29 strategic bombers. The loss of Saipan was a heavy blow to both the military and civilian administrations of Japan. The Prime Minister of Japan was forced to resign. In memory of the battle of Saipan , an American Memorial Park was laid on the island. After the war, almost all surviving Japanese settlers were repatriated to Japan.

Saipan in the postwar years

After the end of World War II, Saipan became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands , administered by the United States. In the postwar years, the American army continued to play a large role in the development of the island. Since 1978, the island has become part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . Tourism began to develop in the 1990s, which still plays an important role in the local economy. In November 1986, the Northern Mariana Islands entered into free association with the United States.

The population of the island is 48,220 people ( 2010 ), approximately 90% of the total population of the country. The main language spoken by the locals is English , although Chamorro , the indigenous language of the local Chamorro people, is also used in everyday life.

Saipan is home to a large number of immigrants from China , Bangladesh , the Philippines , Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia . A high proportion of the first generation of immigrants from Japan , China and Korea .