|
|
|
|
|
|
National Park of American Samoa
Nature & Science
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NPS photo by Tavita Togia. |
Brown booby, fua'o, nest on Pola Ridge. |
|
Overview
The Samoan Archipelago is a typical Pacific Ocean Volcanic Island arc. As the Pacific Ocean plate moves across a stationary hot spot (a place where molten rock from the Earth's mantle pierces the lithosphere plate) it forms a line of volcanoes, some of which reach the ocean surface to form a string of islands. The National Park of American Samoa is really 'three parks' on four separate islands--Ta'u, Ofu/Olosega, and Tutuila. American Samoa National Park is undeveloped and remote--in the Southern hemisphere and near the International Date Line and (from America) in the far Pacific. These web pages offer you an opportunity to visit the park vicariously--and appreciate the park's unique culture, biodiversity and scenic beauty, and day-dream of actually visiting Ofu, Olosega, Ta'u, and Tutuila. Plan to spend some time here someday.
|
| | |
|
|
Natural History Guide to the Park The on-line version of our latest book more... | | Fish Inventory Lots of pictures of our local fishes more... | | Coral Inventory More than 200 species, many illustrated more... | | Plant Inventory Checklist of higher plants with some illustrations more... | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did You Know?
The Act of Congress which established this national park allowed limited subsistence fishing and farming (the parklands are theirs—it is merely leased for park purposes). This lavish example of a village celebratory feast came from local reef waters.
|
|
|
|
Last Updated: January 29, 2008 at 13:44 EST |