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American Samoa Geography Profile

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LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map referencesOceania
Areatotal: 224 sq km

land: 224 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparativeslightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundariestotal: 0 km
Coastline116 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climatetropical 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
Terrainfive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremeshighest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resourcespumice, pumicite
Land useagricultural land: 24.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 15% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 75.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land0 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards

cyclones common from December to March

volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century

Geography - notePago 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

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021