Northern Mariana Islands Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
islands in the United States
About Northern Mariana Islands
The earliest settlers in the Marianas chain are thought to have descended from the Malay race and to have migrated from the Malay peninsula via Indonesia or the Philippines. Early Chamorros were farmers, fishermen, hunters, and built their houses on large stone pillars known today as "latte stones" (a few of which still exist on Tinian and Rota). The first European in these waters wasFerdinand Magellan in 1521, who landed on nearbyGuamand claimed the islands for Spain. Not content to claim the land, the Spanish also helped themselves to whatever else happened to be lying around. The natives responded in kind, helping themselves to tools and other items from Magellan's ships. Angry at this, Magellan first dubbed the islands "Las Islas de los Ladrones", (The Islands of the Thieves), but in 1
Northern Mariana Islands Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 19 sections including: