Suicide Cliff
Marpi, northern Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Suicide Cliff is a solemn but essential stop on any Saipan itinerary. The cliff is part of the island’s wartime memoryscape and is associated with the tragic final days of the Battle of Saipan, when civilians and soldiers faced impossible choices. Today it functions as both a memorial landscape and a dramatic overlook over the northern coast. The site is best visited slowly, with time to take in the views and the memorials placed along the edge. It is one of the places where Saipan’s natural beauty and wartime history are inseparable, which is exactly why it belongs so high in the ranking. For many travellers, it is the most emotionally resonant stop on the island.