American Samoa:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of American Samoa:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

Location	Definition Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates	Definition 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references	Definition Oceania
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 199 sq km land: 199 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative	Definition slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 116 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain	Definition five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources	Definition pumice, pumicite
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 10% permanent crops: 15% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Natural hazards	Definition typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues	Definition limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines
Geography - note	Definition Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

American Samoa: Geography

American Samoa:
Geography