American Samoa National Park

American Samoa National Park
Ofu Beach
Coordinates: 14 ° 15 ′ 29 ″  S , 170 ° 41 ′ 6 ″  W.
Location:	American Samoa , United States
Next city:	Pago Pago
Surface:	36.8 km²
Founding:	October 31, 1988
Visitors:	28,626 (2018)
Address:	National Park of American Samoa Pago Pago, AS 96799 Tel. [phone]

The National Park of American Samoa ( English National Park of American Samoa , Samoan Paka O Amerika Sāmoa ) is a national park in the United States in the American outskirts of American Samoa in the southern Pacific . The park is spread over three islands: Tutuila , Ofu and Taʻū .

The national park includes coral reefs , tropical rainforests, and white sand beaches and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and diving. The primary goal of the park, however, is to protect the unique natural treasures of Samoa. The animals in the national park include the fruit bat , the Pacific boa , sea ​​turtles , as well as almost 900 species of fish, over 200 species of corals and more than 35 species of birds .

After approval by the US Congress on October 31, 1988, the National Park Service took over the management of the land on September 9, 1993 from the local councils for a lease term of 50 years. Exactly half of the leased areas are distributed over public land owned by the municipality and private land. The area of ​​the national park of 36.8 km² includes 25.5 km² on land and 11.3 km² of water. In 2014, 13,952 visitors came. Most of the visitors are restricted to the Tutuila area. However, all areas offer good opportunities to observe the natural treasures of the Samoa Islands, on land and under water.

Visitors

The Tutuila area on the largest island in American Samoa is accessible by car. There are two easy approaches. From Pago Pago on a paved road towards Fagasā, a signposted hiking trail begins on the ridge (Fagasā Pass) at a small parking lot. It runs along the hill above Pago Pago to Mount Alava . The eastern part of the park can be reached via a range of hills above the north side of Pago Pago Harbor, from the village of Aūa in the direction of Āfono. From Āfono to the west one reaches the border of the park above Āfono Bay on a paved road. The road goes through the park to the village of Vatia. Behind the school on the western edge of Vatia starts a hiking trail towards Pola Tai.

The park's former visitor center with a museum on Samoan culture was destroyed in a tsunami in September 2009 . Around half of the exhibits were also lost. A new visitor center in Pago Pago is open on weekdays.

You can get to the partial area of ​​Ofu with a small plane from Tutuila. Overnight stays are possible at Ofu airport and in Asaga.

The Ta'ū area can be reached by taking a flight from Tutuila to Fiti'uta on Ta'ū. There are overnight accommodations on Ta'ū.

• 

  Tutuila

• 

  Ofu

• 

  Dew

Web links

Commons : American Samoa National Park  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

• National Park Service: National Park of American Samoa (official site; English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ National Park Service: Public Use Statistics - National Abstract 2010 (PDF; 949 kB)
2. ^ National Park Service: Park Statistics . Page 20
3. ↑ National Parks Traveler: Piecing The National Park of American Samoa Back Together Will Take Time , October 5, 2009
4. ^ National Park Service: National Park of American Samoa - Plan your Visit