National Park of American Samoa 758636 219399211 2008-06-15T01:20:26Z 200.96.120.126 + [[pt:Parque Nacional da Samoa Americana]] {{Infobox_protected_area | name = National Park of American Samoa | iucn_category = II | image = LocationAmericanSamoa.png | caption = | locator_x = 176 | locator_y = 94 | location = [[American Samoa]], [[United States|USA]] | nearest_city = [[Pago Pago]] | lat_degrees = 14 | lat_minutes = 15 | lat_seconds = 30 | lat_direction = S | long_degrees = 170 | long_minutes = 41 | long_seconds = 0 | long_direction = W | area = 9000 acres (36 km²) | established = [[October 31]], [[1988]] | visitation_num = 1,239 | visitation_year = 2006 [http://www.nps.gov/npsa/parkmgmt/statistics.htm] | governing_body = [[National Park Service]] }} The '''National Park of American Samoa''' is a [[U.S. national park|national park]] on the American territory of [[American Samoa]], distributed across three separate islands: [[Tutuila]], [[Ofu-Olosega|Ofu]], and [[Tau, Samoa|Ta‘ū]]. Authorized by [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1988, the [[National Park Service]] entered into 50-year leases for all park land from Samoan village councils on [[September 9]], [[1993]]. The park includes [[coral reef]]s and [[rain forest]] and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and [[scuba diving]], although the primary purpose of the park is that of preservation of Samoa's unique natural resources. Of the park's 9000 acres (36 km²), 2500 acres (10 km²) is water area. [[Image:AmSamoa Tutuila 491.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Pola Tai (Cock's comb) off Vatia Bay, National Park of American Samoa, Tutuila]] The Tutuila Unit of the park is accessible by car on Tutuila, the main (largest) island of American Samoa. Two easy access points exist. 1) Drive from Pago Pago Village towards Fagasa on the paved road to the top of the ridge (Fagasa Pass), where a small parking area and NPS sign mark the trail head for a trail that goes along the ridge above [[Pago Pago]] to Alava Mountain. 2) The eastern side of the park can be reached by crossing over the ridge above the north side of Pago Pago Harbor from the village of Aua over to Afono. From Afono, continue along the paved road towards the west, entering the park boundary on the ridge above Afono Bay. The road continues on through the park to the village of Vatia. Beyond the school at the far western end of Vatia is an NPS sign marking a trail out towards Pola Tai. To visit the Ofu Unit requires travel by small plane from the airport on Tutuila to Ofu. Accommodations are available on Ofu at the airport and at Asaga. To visit the Ta‘ū Unit requires a flight from Tutuila to Fiti‘uta on Ta‘ū. Accommodations are available on Ta‘ū. The vast majority of people visit Tutuila rather than the Ofu and Ta‘ū units. All of the park units offer excellent opportunities to observe various natural resources of the Samoan Islands, above and below the water. ==References== * ''The National Parks: Index 2001–2003''. Washington: [[United States Department of the Interior|U.S. Department of the Interior]]. == External links == *[http://www.nps.gov/npsa/ National Park Service: National Park of American Samoa] *[http://www.nps.gov/npsa/pdf/manua.pdf National Park Service map of the Manu‘a Islands] showing the present park boundaries (pdf). *[http://www.seacology.org/projects/polynesia_projects.htm#americansamoa Seacology National Park of American Samoa projects] [[Seacology]] {{National parks of the United States}} {{DEFAULTSORT:American Samoa, National Park of}} [[Category:National parks of the United States]] [[Category:Geography of American Samoa]] [[Category:1988 establishments]] [[de:Nationalpark von Amerikanisch-Samoa]] [[es:Parque Nacional Samoa Americana]] [[fa:پارک ملی آمریکن ساموا]] [[fr:Parc national des Samoa américaines]] [[he:הפארק הלאומי סמואה האמריקנית]] [[nl:Nationaal park van Amerikaans-Samoa]] [[ja:アメリカン・サモア国立公園]] [[no:Amerikansk Samoas nasjonalpark]] [[pt:Parque Nacional da Samoa Americana]] [[fi:American Samoan kansallispuisto]] [[sv:American Samoa nationalpark]] [[zh:美屬薩摩亞國家公園]]