TheNorthern Mariana Islands, officially theCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is an insular area and andcommonwealthof the United States consisting of fifteen islands in the northwesternPacific Ocean. The CNMI includes all islands in theMariana ArchipelagoexceptGuam, which is the southernmost island of the chain and a separate U.S. territory.
The administrative center isCapitol Hill, avillagein northwesternSaipan. However, most publications consider Saipan to be the capital because the island is governed as a single municipality.