American Samoa is a set of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
It is thought to have been settled as early as 100 BC.
European explorers discovered Samoa sometime in the 18
th Century.
International rivalries led to Samoa being divided in 1899 by a treaty with America and Germany.
America got the smaller Eastern islands, with the excellent port of Pago Pago.
Americans settled Pago Pago in 1900. To be more exact on American Samoa's location, it is located in Oceania,
about half way between New Zealand and Hawaii.
American Samoa is 199 square kilometers;
it has very little surface water, and included the Swains Island and Rose Island.
American
Samoa is slightly larger than Washington D.C.
The
climate of American Samoa is tropical marine. It is moderated by southeast
trade winds with annual rainfall averages of about 3 meters! There is a rainy
season from November to April, and a dry season from May to October. There is
little seasonal temperature variation on American Samoa's islands.
The
terrain of American Samoa is composed of five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, there are two
coral atolls also (Rose and Swains Island). The lowest point on American Samoa
is at 0 meters, it is where the beach meets the Pacific Ocean. The highest point
is 966 meters called Lata.
The
natural resources of American Samoa include pumice and pumicite. 5% of the land
is arable land, 10% of the land is permanent crops, and another 85% is used for other use.
Typhoons
are a danger from December to March in American Samoa. Current environmental
issues are the fact there is limited natural fresh water resources, and the water division of the government has spent substantial
funds in the past few years to improve water catchements and pipelines. On a
geography note, Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, and is sheltered by shape
from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains (which block high winds). Pago
Pago is strategically located in the South Pacific.
The population of American Samoa is 70,260 in the July 2003 estimate.
Samoan (Polynesian) is 89% of the Ethnic groups on American Samoa, 2% is Caucasian,
4% Tongan, and 5% other. 50% of American Samoa is Christian Congregationalist,
20 is Roman Catholic, and 30% is Protestant or other.
Samoan (very closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages) and
English are the languages spoken on American Samoa. Most people living on American
Samoa are bilingual. There is a 97% literacy rate in American Samoa.
Samoa's
conventional long form is the Territory of American Samoa, the conventional short name is American Samoa, and American Samoa's
abbreviation is AS.
American
Samoa is unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; it is administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, in the US
Department of the Interior. The capital of the island is Pago Pago. There is
no administrative divisions on American Samoa for it is a territory of the US. There
are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the United States Government, but there are three districts and
two islands* at the second order, Easter, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, and Western.
American
Samoa's national holiday is April 17. It was created in 1900, and is known as
Flag Day. The Constitution of American Samoa was ratified in 1966, and was in
effect in 1967.
The ports and harbors of American Samoa are Aunu'u (which is new and under construction),
Auasi, Faleosao, Pago Pago, and Ta'u. There are three airports located throughout
American Samoa. American Samoa's military is the responsibility of the United
States, and there are no international disputes involving American Samoa.
