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Managaha Island
Managaha is the only island within the lagoon. This small, 10 acre island is 1.5 miles offshore on the barrier reef on Saipan's west coast. The lagoon takes on beautiful hues of green and blue, changing by the hour as the clouds move overhead and the rays of the sun change the angle at which they strike the surface of the water.

Reef Line
The sea foams white as it breaks upon the fringing coral reef and washes over into the warm, jade colored lagoon. Marine biologists have determined that portions of Saipan's reef are dying as a result of pollution contained in run-off from rain and other island sources, sediments from erosion and increased fecal coliform bacteria. The reef protects Saipan' s western shoreline from the destructive force of ocean wave action.

Lau Lau Bay(Magicienne Bay)
On the windward side (east side) of Saipan is one of the most beautiful areas and the largest natural bay in the Northern Marianas. It is deep blue with reefs and white narrow beaches with rocky outcrops upon which waves crash. The bay was named in 1858 after the British survey vessel HMS Magicienne.

Cliff Lines
The cliffs are steep with caverns. Upland from shore, dense tropical vegetation flourishes on soil which gently slopes toward the cliffs. At its deepest points the bay is from 2,400 to 3,000 feet. The current within the bay is circular flowing from the southern portion and following the inside contours around the bay and exiting at the northeast.

Vegetation
The variety of botanical species is limited and there are no vegetation zones. This results in part because of the islands' isolation and geological formation. The Marianas are not considered to be tropical rain forest. Plants consist of vines, shrubs, ferns, grasses, including Savanna and trees. The more common trees are: coconut, flame tree, Formosan koa, ironwood ( Casuarina), Banyan, papaya, tangan tangan, mangrove and a few other varieties. There are very few citrus trees. There are several nurseries on Saipan and one commercial botanical garden where a wide variety of tropical flowers may be enjoyed such as Bougainvillea, Plumeria, etc. The islands are a photographer's delight when the flame trees bloom,(June and July). The official flower of the Commonwealth is the Plumeria, (Flores Mayo), Plumeria acuminate .