Alamagan
| Native name: Alamagan | |
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US Geological Survey photo of Alamagan
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 17°36′2″N 145°50′0″E / 17.60056°N 145.83333°E |
| Archipelago | Northern Mariana Islands |
| Area | 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi) |
| Length | 4.8 km (2.98 mi) |
| Width | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 965 m (3,166 ft) |
| Highest point | Bandeera Peak |
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United States
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| Commonwealth | Northern Mariana Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2010) |
'Alamagan is an island in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The island is currently uninhabited . Alamagan is located 30 nautical miles (56 km) north from Guguan and 250 nautical miles (463 km) north from Saipan, and is 60 nautical miles (111 km) south from Pagan.
Alamagan is roughly elliptical in shape, with a length of 4.8 kilometers (3.0 mi) and a width of 4 km (2.5 mi) and an area of 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi). The entire island is the summit of stratovolcano which rises over 4,000 meters (13,120 ft) from the ocean floor, to an altitude of 744 m (2,441 ft) above sea level at its highest peak, Bandeera Peak, at the northwestern edge. The volcano is topped by a caldera, 700–900 meters in diameter with a depth of about 370 m (1,210 ft) deep. There are three smaller cones at the north, northwest and south of the main crater. The volcano has not erupted in historical times, but by radiocarbon dating, eruptions occurred in 540 AD and 870 AD, with a potential error in dating of around 100 years. These eruptions involved pyroclastic flows, and had a VEI of 4. Any claims of historical eruptions are inaccurate, though uncertain eruptions have occurred as late as 1887. Within the main crater and on the western slopes are a number of active fumaroles.
The island has extremely steep slopes on its eastern side which are prone to landslides. The western slope has deep canyons as the result of erosion. The shoreline is dominated by steep cliffs of up to 100 m (330 ft) in height on the eastern shore.
Vegetation on the west side of the island includes swordgrass (Miscanthus floridulus), whereas the southeast side is a steep slope of bare lava. There are deep valleys with caves. Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera), grow on the gradual slopes. Warm fresh water springs are located on the northern part of the west coast.
Alamagan is the home of the endangered nightingale reed warbler (Acrocephalus luscinia) which presently can be found only here, and Saipan.
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Wikipedia