GUNUNG · Kepulauan Mariana Utara (AS)

Mount Tapochau

Tapotchau

Information

Elevation: 474 m
Country: Kepulauan Mariana Utara (AS) (MP)
Location / Range: Interior tengah Pulau Saipan, di utara desa San Vicente dan barat laut Teluk Magicienne
Mountain type: Puncak tertinggi Pulau Saipan — bukit batu gamping (madrepore & gamping koral) berasal-usul laut, di jantung pulau
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 15.1875, 145.7439
Difficulty: Mudah–sedang: bisa didaki (pulang-pergi ~13 km / 8,3 mil) atau dicapai dengan kendaraan 4x4 lewat jalan tanah menuju puncak
Best Season: Musim relatif kering Desember–Juni; panas dan lembap sepanjang tahun sehingga terasa lebih berat
Permits & Rules: Akses publik bebas, tanpa izin khusus; jalan tanah ke puncak sebaiknya dilewati dengan kendaraan 4x4 terutama seusai hujan lebat
Hazards: Panas dan kelembapan tinggi tanpa banyak naungan, jalan tanah berlumpur dan licin setelah hujan, serta tanjakan yang cukup melelahkan bila ditempuh berjalan kaki

Description

Mount Tapochau (Tapotchau) is the highest point of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, rising about 474 metres (1,555 ft) at the very centre of the island. Unlike many Pacific summits it is not a volcano but is built of madrepore and coral limestone — marine rock that reveals the island once lay beneath the sea. Its summit gives an unobstructed 360-degree view over the whole of Saipan, the surrounding ocean, and neighbouring islands such as Tinian. Tapochau also carries a heavy Second World War history: during the 1944 Battle of Saipan its summit was a strategic observation post fought over by Japanese and American forces. Today it is a popular sightseeing and hiking destination — reachable on foot from Navy Hill Road in Garapan or Capital Hill Road, a round trip of roughly 13 km, or by four-wheel-drive up a dirt road to the top.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Jalan tanah ke puncak (kendaraan 4x4)

Mudah bila kering; butuh gardan ganda saat basah

Beberapa menit berkendara dari jalan utama

A no-hike alternative: a dirt road climbs straight to the summit of Tapochau. It is best driven in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, especially after heavy rain when the surface turns muddy and slippery. It suits visitors who want the summit view without a long climb.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Visitor accounts of Mount Tapochau generally stress two ways to reach the top: hiking the trail up from Navy Hill or Capital Hill (a round trip of about 13 km, moderate but made strenuous by the heat and humidity), or driving up the dirt road in a four-wheel-drive that can turn muddy after rain. Almost everyone agrees the payoff is the same: a 360-degree panorama over the whole of Saipan, the blue ocean all around, and neighbouring islands such as Tinian. Many videos also note the summit's history as an observation post during the 1944 Battle of Saipan, along with the large cross and statue of the Virgin Mary that stand at the top.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.