Micronesia

Micronesia is east of the Philippines and north of Indonesia and Melanesia (see Figure 10.5). Most of Micronesia's islands are low islands composed of coral. Some, such as the Mariana Islands, are high islands of volcanic origin.

The Mariana Island archipelago is divided into two jurisdictions: the northern part is the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the southern part is the U.S. territory of Guam. The northern islands are volcanic (see Figure 10.6).