Introduction - 1

Islands lie east-northeast of Australia and northeast of New Zealand (Figure 1).

They fall about mid-way along a line between New Zealand and Hawaii. Their

separation is about 4,300 km (2,700 miles) from the nearest Australian coast and

3,200 km (2,000 miles) from the nearest New Zealand coast.

The islands Tutuila, Aunuu, Ofu, Olosega, and Tau comprise the principal

populated areas and together cover an area of 199 sq km (77 sq mi). Tutuila is

the largest of the five islands (Figure 2). The small island of Aunuu lies less than

a mile from the east end of Tutuila. The Manu'a Group, consisting of Ofu,

Olosega, and Tau, are located 160 km (60 mi) east of Tutuila and Aunuu. All

five islands are volcanic, with typically narrow coastal areas and steep moun-

tains. Fringing coral reefs are common around the islands and can extend to

610 m (2,000 ft) out from the shoreline (Sea Engineering, Inc., and Belt Collins

Hawaii 1994). These reefs are typically very shallow and some are exposed at

low tide.

Western Samoa, geographically part of the Samoa Islands group but

politically separate from the Territory of American Samoa, is less than 75 km

(50 miles) west of Tutuila. The International Date Line passes just west of

Western Samoa.

Pago Pago Harbor, the principal harbor area of the Territory of American

Samoa, is located on the southern side of Tutuila (Figure 2). The harbor is deep,

with typical depths of 60 m (200 ft) along its main axis. Tuna canneries, a wharf,

and government buildings are located on the inner harbor shores, where the

embayment has turned to an east-west orientation and is well-protected from the

open sea. Besides Pago Pago Harbor, Tutuila's coast is dotted with smaller

embayments; most are located on the north shore of the island. Aunuu and the

Manu'a Group lack natural embayments, although small harbors (Aunuu Small

Boat Harbor, Ofu Harbor, and Tau Small Boat Harbor) have been constructed by

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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Chapter 1 Introduction