Harry, JG7PSJ will be active again as WH0RU from Saipan Island, IOTA OC - 086, during October 2025.
He will operate on 40 - 10m CW, SSB, RTTY, its possible he will be active also in CQ WW DX SSB Contest, 25 - 26 October 2025.
Recent DX Spots WH0RU
QSL via JG7PSJ only direct, LOTW.
Ads for direct QSL:
Hiroyuki Kawanobe, 1-4-1, Mikamine, Taihaku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0826, Japan.
At the edge of the world: Saipan Island
In the westernmost part of the Pacific Ocean, at the junction of tectonic plates, the Mariana Islands stretch out in an arc. This is one of the largest island groups in the world: it includes 15 large islands with a total area of just over a thousand square kilometers.
In terms of territory, the Mariana Islands are divided into two political entities: the Commonwealth of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Saipan is the largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands, where all the political and economic activity of the archipelago is concentrated.
Peering into the abyss: geography and climate
The distance from Saipan to the nearest shore is almost 3,000 kilometers, which automatically makes it one of the most remote territories from mainland land.
The island is surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean on all sides. Thanks to the huge number of coastal reefs, the coastline is protected from strong currents and storm waves.
Saipan is the second largest island in the archipelago, with a total area of about 120 square kilometers, including coastal formations. Despite the fact that Saipan is almost five times smaller than Guam, it is home to most of the population of the northern part of the archipelago — more than 50,000 people according to the 2016 census.
Saipan can be divided into two parts: western and eastern. The former is characterized by a flat volcanic surface, sandy beaches, and no sharp changes in elevation. Most of the settlements are located in the western part of Saipan.
This is due to the influx of tourists attracted by the quiet shallow lagoons with coral reefs surrounded by evergreen forests. The eastern tip of Saipan is rocky and ends in a steep cliff. This is where the descent into the famous Mariana Trench begins — the deepest place on our planet.
Saipan's flora and fauna include thousands of species of plants, animals, and fish. Many of them are endemic and listed in the International Red Book. Fruit trees, exotic flowers, orchids, green iguanas, and rainbow-colored lizards — most of the exotic species are concentrated in the Saipan Botanical Garden, which is open to the public.
The climate on Saipan is surprisingly even and predictable: the island has even been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the territory with the smallest temperature variations throughout the year. The average air temperature throughout the year is between +25 and +27 degrees Celsius — even during the rainy season, the air does not cool down, which can cause mixed feelings for inexperienced travelers.
From hand to hand: history and present
The first settlers appeared on Saipan long before people ventured out to sea, around 2000 BC. However, the island only became known to the general public in the 17th century, when a Spanish mission landed there.
The Mariana archipelago was incorporated into the Spanish Empire. Saipan, as the largest and most developed island in the archipelago, was used as an international port, which served as an impetus for its development.
Unfortunately, the island did not escape the typical colonial history. At the end of the 18th century, Saipan was occupied by the United States. After two years of bloody war, the island was sold to Germany, and it remained in this position until 1915, when it was taken over by the Japanese Empire. At the end of World War II, Saipan voluntarily joined the overseas possessions of the United States—the Pacific Islands.
In the late 1980s, an agreement was signed on final voluntary association with the United States, as a result of which the Mariana Islands gained the status of an independent administrative unit with its own executive and legislative authority.
Saipan. Author - Yao Paladin.
In paradise: tourist infrastructure
Saipan can safely be called the most tourist-developed island in the archipelago. It should be noted that the Mariana Islands themselves are not very popular with tourists due to their remoteness from the mainland, high prices, and a certain air of mystery. Few people know that this archipelago offers a full range of tourist services, from a relaxing beach vacation to extreme diving to depths of several hundred meters. Saipan is the center of the archipelago's tourist industry.
In terms of the number of hotels, shops, shopping centers, restaurants, and bars, it is way ahead of the much larger Guam. At the same time, all the nightlife is concentrated in the city of Garapan. Unfortunately, prices in Saipan are a bit higher than in the rest of the region and are comparable to prices in Japan. You can rent a room for a few hundred dollars a day — fortunately, due to the mild climate, you can get by with private bungalows.
Public transport on Saipan is in its infancy — it is recommended to use car rental services or rent a boat. In addition, Saipan is devoid of all the charms of the industrial revolution: there are no industrial complexes or factories polluting the environment.
Clean air and water, a surprisingly mild and predictable climate, and the absence of dangerous insects, jellyfish, and snakes make Saipan an ideal destination for lovers of exotic vacations.
