American Samoa — map and facts

#### About American Samoa American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. Its capital and largest settlement is Pago Pago, which sits on the island of Tutuila and is home to one of the finest natural harbors in the Pacific. The territory has a population of approximately 55,000 people, the vast majority of whom are ethnically Samoan and maintain a strong connection to fa'a Samoa, the traditional Samoan way of life. American Samoa is the only United States territory located south of the equator. Residents are classified as United States nationals rather than citizens by birth, though many serve in the US military at rates that are among the highest per capita of any jurisdiction in the country.

#### Geography and Landscape American Samoa consists of seven islands and atolls spread across roughly 200 kilometers of ocean. The main island of Tutuila is volcanic in origin, steeply mountainous, and deeply indented by Pago Pago Harbor, which was formed from a flooded volcanic caldera. The island's interior is covered in dense tropical rainforest, rising to peaks exceeding 600 meters. The Manu'a Islands, lying to the east, include Ta'?, Ofu, and Olosega, each offering dramatic volcanic landscapes and pristine coral reefs. Rose Atoll, at the territory's southeastern edge, is a national wildlife refuge and one of the most isolated and ecologically intact coral atolls in the Pacific. The territory's marine environment is exceptionally rich, encompassing deep ocean trenches, extensive coral reef systems, and important nesting grounds for sea turtles.

#### History Samoa has been inhabited for at least 3,000 years, with Polynesian settlers establishing a sophisticated society built around communal land ownership and chiefly governance. European contact began in the 18th century, most notably with the arrival of French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1768. American interest in the islands grew significantly through the 19th century, driven largely by the strategic importance of Pago Pago Harbor for coaling and naval operations. Following the Tripartite Convention of 1899, which divided the Samoan archipelago between the United States and Germany, the eastern islands formally became American Samoa in 1900 when local chiefs signed deeds of cession. During the Second World War the territory served as a significant Allied base in the Pacific. In 1956, the territory's administration was transferred from the US Navy to the Department of the Interior, and American Samoa today operates under its own locally elected governor and legislature.