ROTA

formerly Sarpan, one of the Mariana Islands, part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in the western Pacific Ocean. Rota is situated 32 miles (51 km) northeast of Guam. Of volcanic formation, the island has a total land area of 33 square miles (85 square km) and rises to 1,612 feet (491 m). Under Japanese administration before World War II, it became a sugar-growing and sugar-processing centre. Vegetable raising and tourism are now economically important. The island has an international airport. The indigenous Chamorro culture of the Marianas survives in its purest form on Rota. Pop. (1990) 2,295.