Asuncion Island

Asuncion

US Geological survey photo of Asuncion island
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	19°41′33″N 145°24′13″E / 19.69250°N 145.40361°E / 19.69250; 145.40361
Archipelago	Northern Mariana Islands
Area	7.9 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Length	3.3 km (2.05 mi)
Width	3 km (1.9 mi)
Highest elevation	857 m (2,812 ft)
Highest point	Mount Asuncion
Administration
United States
Commonwealth	Northern Mariana Islands
Demographics
Population	0 (2010)

Asuncion (or Ascuncion) (from Spanish meaning "assumption") is the third northernmost island in the Northern Mariana Islands chain in the Pacific Ocean. The island is uninhabited. Asuncion is situated 101 kilometers (63 mi) northwest of Agrihan and 37 km (23 mi) southeast of the Maug Islands.

Asuncion is a densely forested island, roughly elliptical in shape, with a length of 3.3 kilometers (2.1 mi) and a width of 3 km (1.9 mi) and an area of 7.9 km² (3.1 sq mi). The entire island is a massive stratovolcano which rises from the ocean floor to a height of 857 m (2,812 ft) above sea level, which last erupted in 1906.

The volcano is asymmetrical, with steep northeast slopes terminating in high cliffs. The southwestern slopes are shallower and meet the sea in low cliffs. Coastlines are generally rocky. Vegetation includes Swordgrass (Miscanthus floridulus) grasslands on the upper slopes, forests of Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), with some Pandanus trees and Papaya (Carica papaya) on the lower slopes, along with native Pisonia.

From a European perspective Asuncion was discovered in 1669 by the Spanish missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores who gave it its present name (Assumption of Mary in Spanish). It is likely that it was previously visited in 1522 by the Spanish sailor Gonzalo de Vigo, deserter from the Magellan expedition in 1521, and also the first European castaway in the history of the Pacific. In 1695, the native Chamorros were forcibly removed to Saipan, and three years later to Guam.