The imposing form of Suicide Cliff towers over the Last
Command Post on the north end of the island. An uplifted
coral reef thousands of years old, this area was once a
thriving undersea ecosystem until seismic activity thrust it
above the surface. At the Last Command Post site you can
also see an ancient Chamorro grinding stone (right) displayed
among the Japanese relics of WWII. Whether this stone has
been in this spot for hundreds of years, or whether it was
placed here as part of the display, I don' t know. Click the
above photo by Mike Ventura for a larger version.
Command Post on the north end of the island. An uplifted
coral reef thousands of years old, this area was once a
thriving undersea ecosystem until seismic activity thrust it
above the surface. At the Last Command Post site you can
also see an ancient Chamorro grinding stone (right) displayed
among the Japanese relics of WWII. Whether this stone has
been in this spot for hundreds of years, or whether it was
placed here as part of the display, I don' t know. Click the
above photo by Mike Ventura for a larger version.
Another spot where Saipan's natural
beauty is tied to WWII is here at Banzai
Cliff, just north of the Last Command
Post. Here hundreds of Japanese,
Okinawans, and Koreans jumped
instead of surrendering in 1944. Click
each for a larger version.
beauty is tied to WWII is here at Banzai
Cliff, just north of the Last Command
Post. Here hundreds of Japanese,
Okinawans, and Koreans jumped
instead of surrendering in 1944. Click
each for a larger version.
With the next island north in the Marianas chain far out of sight over the
horizon, the powerful currents of the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea
collide and pound the northern coast of Saipan. Looking down from the cliff,
one can see gigantic boulders that have been broken off the cliff face just under
the turbulent surface. Click each image above for a larger version.
horizon, the powerful currents of the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea
collide and pound the northern coast of Saipan. Looking down from the cliff,
one can see gigantic boulders that have been broken off the cliff face just under
the turbulent surface. Click each image above for a larger version.
Whereas Guam is known for its 'boonie'
dog population first, Saipan is better known
for its friendly stray cats (right). Mike
befriended this little feller at the Last
Command Post. Photo by Mike Ventura.
dog population first, Saipan is better known
for its friendly stray cats (right). Mike
befriended this little feller at the Last
Command Post. Photo by Mike Ventura.
On Saipan's north-eastern coast is the
spectacular Bird Island Lookout. Bird
Island is a coral islet that erosion has
cut off from Saipan proper. This islet
is a haven (and protected sanctuary)
for island birds. Click the above
image for a high-res version.
spectacular Bird Island Lookout. Bird
Island is a coral islet that erosion has
cut off from Saipan proper. This islet
is a haven (and protected sanctuary)
for island birds. Click the above
image for a high-res version.
With turbulent waves crashing endlessly
against the coast around Bird Island, the
relentless strength of the Pacific Ocean is
clearly visible. Click the image at left for a
high-res version.
against the coast around Bird Island, the
relentless strength of the Pacific Ocean is
clearly visible. Click the image at left for a
high-res version.
Drive south on the dirt road from Bird
Island Lookout (the road is Chalan Kalabera),
and you will eventually find, on the right, the
trailhead to Kalabera Cave (pronounced
'Collie-Bera'). This is a massive and beautiful
limestone cavern that cuts deep into the cliff.
Kalabera is what is known as a "living
cave". Water still seeps through it, cutting
new formations and building stalactites and
stalagmites. You can see the "infant" form of
these creations in the shiny crystalline lumps
on various rocks. Don't touch these or break
them up; it takes hundreds, sometimes
thousands of years for these formations to
grow.
BE CAREFUL--IT IS EASY TO SLIP IN
THIS CAVE AND FALL VERY, VERY
FAR!!!
Island Lookout (the road is Chalan Kalabera),
and you will eventually find, on the right, the
trailhead to Kalabera Cave (pronounced
'Collie-Bera'). This is a massive and beautiful
limestone cavern that cuts deep into the cliff.
Kalabera is what is known as a "living
cave". Water still seeps through it, cutting
new formations and building stalactites and
stalagmites. You can see the "infant" form of
these creations in the shiny crystalline lumps
on various rocks. Don't touch these or break
them up; it takes hundreds, sometimes
thousands of years for these formations to
grow.
BE CAREFUL--IT IS EASY TO SLIP IN
THIS CAVE AND FALL VERY, VERY
FAR!!!
Flying back south to Guam on March 15th, we passed over the rugged finger of
Forbidden Island. Just south of the east coast village of Kagman, this is not really an
island at all, but a sharp peninsula sticking out into the Pacific.
Forbidden Island. Just south of the east coast village of Kagman, this is not really an
island at all, but a sharp peninsula sticking out into the Pacific.
