AmericanSamoa

media type="facebooklike" key="http%3A%2F%2Fpcep.wikispaces.com%2FAmericanSamoa" width="270" height="48" align="right"** Talofa **, Welcome to the American Sāmoa Community Page

//Excerpted from the first recorded version of this story in the "Samoan Village, Then and Now" by Lyell and Ellen Holmes//
 * Creation**

In the beginning, there were only the heavens and the waters covering the earth. The god Tagaloa looked down from his place in the sky and considered creating a place on the earth where he could stand. So he made a resting place by creating the rock called Manu'atele [Greater Manu'a]. Tagaloa was pleased with his work and said, “It would be – well to have still another resting place.” He divided the rock Manu'atele so he would have other places in the sea that would serve as stepping stones. From these pieces of rock, he created Savai'i, Upolu, Tonga, Fiji, and the other islands that lie scattered about the wide ocean. When Tagaloa had finished fashioning all of these islands, he returned to Sāmoa. He measured the distance between the islands of Savai'i and Manu'a and found it to be too great. So he placed a rock halfway between and designated it as a place of repose for the chiefs. He called this last island Tutuila.

= About the Creation Story = More can be found online at @http://www.nps.gov/npsa/historyculture/legendpo.htm.  toc

=American Sāmoa=  **Languages**: Samoan (91%), English  **Indigenous Ethnicities**: Sāmoan (Polynesian)
 * //Amerika Sāmoa//**
 * Capital**: Pago Pago
 * Population**: 65,897 (2010)
 * Land Area**: 199 sq km (77 sq mi), including Rose and Swains islands
 * Greetings**: //Talofa// (formal)(informal)

Find a more detailed profile of American Sāmoa at: @http://pcep.dsp.wested.org/content_items/389048

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=Environment= American Sāmoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States, is part of the Sāmoa Islands chain and is the southernmost entity in the United States. It is located southeast of the Independent State of Sāmoa, north of Tonga, west of the Cook Islands, and south of Tokelau. American Sāmoa consists of five volcanic islands (Tutuila, Manu'a, Ofu, Olosega, Tau, and Aunu'u) and two coral atolls (Rose and Swains). Most of American Sāmoa's population resides in Tutuila; Manu'a is the second-most inhabited island in the territory. Rose Atoll, the easternmost part of American Sāmoa, is uninhabited and maintained as a Marine National Monument.

The highest point of elevation in American Sāmoa is Lata Mountain at 964 meters (3,163 feet). Pago Pago (on Tutuila) has one of the best natural deep water harbors in the South Pacific, as its shape and nearby mountains shelters it from waves and winds. Rainy season in American Sāmoa is November to April and typhoons are common from December to March. American Sāmoa has limited fresh water resources and the government’s water division has spent substantial funds to improve water catchment and pipelines.

__Learn more about the //Environment// in American Sāmoa__: > //Includes information about plants, animals, natural features, and environmental risks in American Sāmoa//
 * **National Park of American Sāmoa (Nature & Science)**: @http://www.nps.gov/npsa/naturescience/index.htm
 * **Le Tausagi Environmental Camp**: @http://www.firstpost.com/topic/place/american-samoa-le-tausagi-environmental-camp-video-kBqSaOfKZBs-47580-23.html
 * **Seacology Island Projects**: http://www.seacology.org/projects/polynesia_projects.htm#americansamoa
 * **Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary** (NOAA): @http://fagatelebay.noaa.gov/about/welcome.html

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=Climate & Climate Impacts in S āmoa =

__ Average Climate __ Year round, the islands of American Sāmoa are warm, humid and rainy. The average daily temperature is 26.5°C (79.7°F). On average, temperatures in America Sāmoa reach 32.22°C (90°F) 60 days out of the year. The record high temperature is 35.56°C (96°F) and the record low is 16.67°C (62°F). Rainfall averages 125 inches (3.175 m) per year at Tafuna Airport while averaging over 200 inches (5.08 m) in mountainous areas, such as Rainmaker Mountain. Wind speed averages 11 mph at both Tafuna airport and Cape Matatula. Daily humidity ranges from 73-90% at Tafuna Airport.

American Sāmoa has two seasons: the tropical wet period, and the dry period.

__ Tropical Wet Season __ American Sāmoa's long wet season runs from October through May. Average daily air temperature is 27.78-28.33°C (82-83°F). Near shore (0-30 ft) water temperature ranges from 28.89-30°C (84-86°F) and in waters deeper than 100 feet the average temperature is 27.78°C (82°F). Prevailing wind direction blows in the southeasterly direction. Winds tend to lose strength and become more variable from late December to early April. Typhoons are more prevalent during the wet season, caused by warming waters in the western South Pacific.

__ Dry Season __ American Sāmoa's dryer and cooler season is runs from June through September. During these months, average daily air temperatures drops to 27.22°C (81°F) and rainfall across the islands decreases. On the island of Tutuila, rainfall decreases by half. Average ocean water temperatures drops to 27.78°C (82°F). The prevailing winds continue to blow in the southeasterly direction, gaining strength and consistency.

__ Ocean Moderated Climate __ Because the islands of S ā moa and American S ā moa are encircled by the waters of the Pacific, air temperature is moderated by the temperature and currents of the surrounding ocean. Warm ocean waters bring humidity and precipitation while cooler waters lead to decreases in both humidity and rainfall.

__ South Pacific Convergence Zone __ The island of Tutuila is set within a region that is influenced by the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ). The SPCZ is a band of cloudiness and precipitation reaching from the West Pacific to French Polynesia. The band of weather is produced as southeast trade winds meet the easterly flow of winds originating from the Eastern South Pacific. As winds meet, a band of clouds form which leads to rainfall and occasional thunderstorms. Because the island of Tutuila lies along the SPCZ, rainfall is higher and more variable than on other islands of Samoa and American Samoa.

__Learn more about //Climate & Climate Impacts// in American Sāmoa__:
 * Additional information about climate and climate impacts in S ā moa

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=History & Way of Life= > //Includes description of places and Samoan legends// > //Includes a cultural history, multimedia (maps, photos, audio), a list of relevant publications, and a list of cultural organizations in American Sāmoa// > //Teacher Resources on Selected Pacific Cultural Topics// >                                                                                                                                                                 Back to the Top
 * **National Park of American Sāmoa (History & Culture)**: @http://www.nps.gov/npsa/historyculture/index.htm
 * **American Sāmoa Historic Preservation Office**: @http://www.ashpo.org/index.php/history.html
 * **Teach ReSPECT** (PREL): http://www.prel.org/teams/teach-ReSPCT.asp

=Education= Back to the Top
 * Education demographics from PCEP: @http://pcep.dsp.wested.org/content_items/389048
 * **American S ā moa Department of Education**: @http://www.doe.as/
 * **American S ā moa Community College**: @http://www.amsamoa.edu/

=Photo Gallery= Want to know how to add photos to this gallery? Please see the Photo Gallery Tutorial. Back to the Top

=Tell Your Climate Story= You can share a story about how climate change is affecting your community in two ways

Add a Story using Facebook
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Or                   Create a New Wiki Page with Pictures and Links
Your new page will appear in the list of American Samoa Climate Stories here. include component="pageList" hideInternal="true" tag="american samoa story" limit="10" Back to the Top
 * 1) Create a new wiki page
 * 2) Give it a title that includes your name
 * 3) Tag your page as //American Samoa story//.
 * 4) Tell us your story (you can even include pictures and links!)