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American Samoa

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12 Photos
A view of Pago Pago Harbor on Tutuila Island in American Samoa; the mouth (entrance) is to the left. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
Located on one side of Pago Pago Harbor in American Samoa, Matafao Peak is one of five great masses of volcanic rock that were extruded as molten magma during the major episodes of volcanism that created Tutuila Island. Matafao Peak is the highest mountain on the island. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
One of the seven National Natural Landmarks located on the opposite side of Pago Pago Harbor, Rainmaker Mountain is a great mass of volcanic rocks extruded as molten magma during major episodes of volcanism that created Tutuila Island in American Samoa. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
The tensions of World War II prompted the US Government to begin fortifying American Samoa in 1940. US Marines installed the two 5-inch coast defense guns on the west side of Pago Pago Harbor at Blunts Point, and another two on the east side of the harbor at Breakers Point. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
This view is a classic example of steep cliffs and erosion-resistant outliers formed by wave action on a volcanic land mass. Pola Island rises over 125 m (400 ft) straight out of the ocean off Tutuila in American Samoa. A short walk from Vatia village, Pola is an ideal nesting site for many species of seabirds. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
Afono village on the northeast coast of Tutuila, in American Samoa, is one of that island's more populous villages. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
The coconut crab is a species of terrestrial hermit crab that also goes by the name of robber crab or palm thief. Found on islands in the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific, including American Samoa, it is the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world, and it can weigh up to 4.1 kg (9 lb) and grow to up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
The Tongan fruit bat or flying fox ("pe’a fanua" in Samoan) is among the largest bats in the world and is one of the most unusual animals found in American Samoa. Flying foxes eat fruit, other plant matter, and occasionally insects and are important to the environment as seed dispersers and pollinators. These bats are large with a wingspan up to 0.9 m wide (3 ft), have a keen sense of sight and smell, and are active day and night. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
The sparsely populated Manu'a Islands are 100 km (60 mi) east of Tutuila in American Samoa; they include the volcanic islands of Ofu and Olosega (far distance), and Ta'u (foreground). Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
A school of reef needlefish near American Samoa. These distinctively shaped fish are capable of making short jumps out of the water at up to 60 km/h (37 mph). Since needlefish swim near the surface, they often leap over the decks of shallow boats rather than going around. Occasional deaths and serious injuries have been attributed to needlefish. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
Si'u Point is a good place to view the south coast of Ta'u in American Samoa. Some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world stairstep over 900 m (3,000 ft) to the summit of Lata Mountain. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.
A humpback whale breaching; its name in Samoan is "i'a manu." Image courtesy of the US National Park Service.
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