Islands of American Samoa

American Samoa is made up of seven islands.  Five are volcanic, two are coral atolls.  The main island of Tutuila is where the vast majority of the population lives.  Pago Pago is on Tutuila and is the seat of government.  The Pago Pago International Airport is located on Tutuila.  Tau, Ofu and Olosega comprise the Manu’a group of islands and account for three of the seven islands of American Samoa. 

Aunu'u is a small volcanic island off the southeastern shore of Tutuila in American Samoa. It has a land area of 375 acres and a population of about 475 persons. Faimulivai Marsh, on Aunu'u, was designated a protected National Natural Landmark in 1972.  Faimulivai Marsh is a freshwater marsh formed from drainage into the low-lying Aunu'u Crater and the largest such wetland in American Samoa. The Pacific black duck was seen in the marsh in 1976, but it may now be extinct in the region. Another significant local bird is the Purple Swamphen. This marsh is the only place in American Samoa that has Chinese water chestnut. Some think the marsh contains quicksand.  That may not be exactly right but one should be careful not to sink into the soft mud of ...
Pago Pago International Airport
Tutuila Island Tutuila is, by far, the largest of the seven islands of the territory of American Samoa. All addresses on Tutuila, as on all other islands in the group, are zip code 96799, or Pago Pago, AS 96799.Let's be very clear about the size of Tutuila. Although 95% of the territory population is on Tutuila, that number is no more than 60,000 (census data is unreliable). The CIA factbook says there is150 miles of road in American Samoa (all islands) but this seems like a huge overstatement. There are maybe 60 miles of paved road (probably an over-estimate) on Tutuila. There are fewer than 10 "STOP" signs (depending on how many are standing) and no traffic lights. The absolute ...
Swains Island
Swains Island, also known as Olohega, a very small atoll, is considered to be part of American Samoa. It is actually part of the Tokelau group but is owned by the Jennings family and administered by the United States. The politics are very complicated. The name "Swains Island" was bestowed upon the island by Captain William Hudson, in 1841. An American, Eli Jennings, joined the copra farmers on Swains Island, with his Samoan wife, in 1856. It is said that he purchased the island from a British Captain Turnbull, for 15 shillings per acre, plus a bottle of gin. So, if Swains was calculated to be 373 acres, the total paid would have been 5595 shillings. That would be about ...
Rose Island
Rose Atoll is a tiny uninhabited island located about 180 miles east-southeast of Pago Pago Harbor.  Rose was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1973.  Changes in fishing rights laws may have created some confusion over the status of fishing rights but it is best to just consider Rose Atoll and the surrounding sea as a no take zone.  If you are ever privileged to visit Rose, please just leave everything as you found it. Pago Pago Marine Charters, a company based in American Samoa, offers charter services to Rose. On January 6, 2009, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument was established, including Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge within its boundaries. For more information, please visit the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument ...
Although there are three islands in the Manu'a group, we will discuss them collectively because they are seldom referenced individually. The three islands are Ta'u, Ofu and Olosega. Manu'a is located about 70 miles east of Tutuila. The addresses are still stated as Pago Pago, American Samoa. Ta'u Ta'u is the largest of the Manu'a group and the easternmost volcanic island of the Samoan Islands. The island is the peak of a huge undersea mountain. Lata Mountain on Ta'u is the highest peak in American Samoa at an elevation of 3,054 feet (931 meters). The land area of Tau Island is 44.31 square kilometres (17.11 sq mi) and it had a population of 873 persons as of the 2000 census ...