Samoa Guide, 1. Local facts & maps

Site (1)	Year	Location	km sq	acres
Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary	1973	Rose Atoll	158.8	39,251
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary	1985	Tutuila	0.7	161
National Park of American Samoa (2)	1988	Tutuila, Ofu, Ta'u	42.6	10,520
Vaoto Territorial Marine Park	1994	Ofu	0.5	120
Sea Turtle/Marine Mammal Sanctuary (3)	2003	All territorial waters (0-3 miles offshore)
Community-based marine protected areas	-------	several villages	-------	-------

Few. On land, no poisonous snakes, but a bite from a large 8-inch centipede can be extremely painful. In the ocean, sharks are generally not a problem but stepping on the poisonous spine of a stonefish can be a serious medical emergency although this rarely happens. Consumers of fish should note that ciguatera poisoning has been found (infrequently) in several snappers (locally called mu) and a few other fish species. Also, avoid eating any fish or invertebrate caught in Pago Pago Harbor, because they are contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants.

Malaria is not present, but two other mosquito-transmitted diseases can occur here: dengue fever (caused by a virus) and filariasis (elephantiasis, caused by a parasitic nematode worm). However, the chance of getting either by a visitor is slight (see chapter on mosquitoes). Leptospirosis, a common tropical bacterial disease spread through contact with the urine of infected animals (pigs, dogs, cats, rats), is fairly common among local residents (17% recent infection history); most people have mild flu-like symptoms but it can be fatal.

(1) All fishing is prohibited at Rose Atoll, but traditional subsistence fishing is permitted at the other sites. The village marine protected areas have been periodically opened to fishing.

(2) An expansion of the National Park on Olosega and Ofu islands was pending in 2005.

(3) Governor’s Executive Order No. 005-2003 established the turtle/marine mammal sanctuary. Other “special management areas” in the Territory include Pago Pago Harbor, Nu'uuli Pala
Lagoon and Leone wetlands.

The total land area of 76.1 square miles (197.1 km2) includes five volcanic islands (Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega, Ta'u) and two remote atolls (Rose, Swains).

Hot, humid and rainy year-round, but there is a long, wet summer season (October - May) and a slightly cooler and drier season (June - September). Total rainfall is 125 inches at the Tafuna airport and 200+ inches in mountainous areas.

Most native species here are closely related to those in Indonesia, but due to our remote location in the Pacific Ocean, the diversity of terrestrial species here is low: 343 flowering plants, 135 ferns, 25 resident or migratory land and water birds, 20 resident seabirds, 3 mammals (all bats), 7 skinks, 4 geckos, 2 sea turtles, 1 snake, and other occasional visitors. In contrast, the diversity of marine species here is high: 890 coral reef fishes, over 200 corals, and several whales and dolphins. Insects and other invertebrate species here are not well known.

Federally listed species here include humpback and sperm whales, and the green and hawksbill sea turtles. Additional species 'of concern' in the Territory include the sheath-tailed bat, 3 birds (Spotless Crake, Friendly Ground Dove, Many-colored Fruit Dove), several land snails, and others.

There are many: rats, 3 bird species (2 mynas and bulbuls), feral pigs, dogs, cats, toads, house gecko, tilapia and molly fishes, African and predatory snails, various insects, about 250 alien species of vascular plants (many of them weed species), and others.

Polynesians arrived here about 3,000 years ago. The current population (62,000 in 2005) is growing rapidly at about 1.8% per year, which equates to about 1,100 additional babies and immigrants per year. Most people (96%) live on Tutuila Island. The ethnic composition is approximately 90% Samoan, 4% Tongan, 2% Caucasian, and 4% others.

The main islands are steep mountains that emerge from the ocean floor 2-3 miles below the sea surface. Peak elevations are 3,170 feet on Ta'u Island (Lata Mountain) and 2,142 feet on Tutuila Island (Matafao Peak).

While very destructive, cyclones are a natural but erratic feature of the environment in this part of the world. The most recent ones in American Samoa have occurred at intervals of 1-13 years: 1981 Esau, 1987 Tusi, 1990 Ofa, 1991 Val, 2004 Heta, 2005 Olaf.

Species found only in the Samoan Archipelago include one bird (Samoan starling), one stream fish, several land snails, and about 30% of local plant species. Five flowering plant species are endemic to American Samoa itself. Marine endemics have not been identified, but a thorough investigation has not been conducted.

This chain of 13 Pacific islands (9 inhabited) plus two remote atolls is located 140 south of the equator near the international date line. It is divided into two political entities, the US Territory of American Samoa and the neighboring independent country of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa. The youngest islands in this chain lie towards the east (Ta'u). The land area of (western) Samoa (2934 sq km, 1132 sq mi) is approximately 15 times larger than the land area of American Samoa (197.1 sq km, 76.1 sq mi).