Climate and Topography of Micronesia

The Mariana Islands were formed by the subduction of the Pacific plate by the Mariana plate (note geographers say Mariana and Marianas interchangeably). It also created the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth's oceans and the lowest part of the surface of the Earth's crust. The maximum known depth of the Mariana Trench is 10,984 meters, which exceeds the elevation of Mount Everest by more than 2,000 meters.

Vegetation on the islands of Micronesia depends on whether it is a high island or a low island. The volcanic islands have rich soils that can support a variety of vegetation, while the coral islands have much poorer soils. Figure 10.7 shows the coral island of Nauru.