Native name: Luta | |
|---|---|
 Rota Island in Northern Mariana Islands | |
 Map showing location of Rota in the western Pacific Ocean | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 14°09′13″N 145°12′11″E / 14.15361°N 145.20306°E |
| Archipelago | Marianas |
| Area | 85.13 km2 (32.87 sq mi)[1] |
| Length | 19 km (11.8 mi) |
| Width | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 495 m (1624 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Manira |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| Commonwealth | Northern Mariana Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,893 (2020) |
Rota (Chamorro: Luta), also known as the "Friendly Island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the third southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago (the first being Cocos Island). In early Spanish records it is called "Zarpana"; the name Rota may have come from the Spaniards possibly naming the island after the municipality of Rota, Spain.[citation needed] It lies approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km) north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam. Sinapalo village is the largest and most populated, followed by Songsong village (Songsong). Rota also functions as one of the four municipalities of the CNMI.
- ^ "5 ROTA" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.