White sand
All around.
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Managaha is a small islet inside the lagoon off the west coast of Saipan, about 3.7 km in a straight line north-west of Garapan. No one lives there permanently, but it is one of Saipan's best-known attractions, visited by around seventy per cent of the island's tourists. Wide white-sand beaches ring the islet, with a small forest in the middle where the facilities are. The water around it is clear, shallow and turquoise, so people come to swim, snorkel, parasail and ride jet skis. Wedge-tailed shearwaters nest in burrows on its east side. The islet also matters to islanders' history: it holds the grave of the Carolinian chief Aghurubw, said to have founded the first Carolinian settlement on Saipan in 1815 after leading his people from Satawal following a devastating typhoon, and a statue honours him. The whole island is listed as a historic district. It is a short ferry ride from Saipan, and an entry fee applies. Bring reef-safe sun cream, do not touch the coral, and allow at least half a day.
All around.
Shallow and clear.
Nest here.
Saipan Lagoon, Northern Mariana Islands
By a short ferry from Saipan.
Yes, in the middle of the island.