Ofu-Olosega

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Ofu-Olosega

Ofu-Olosega from Space Shuttle.
Elevation: 639 m (2,096 feet)
Coordinates: [14.175° S 169.618° W]
Location: United States
Range: Samoa Islands
Type: Shield volcanoes
Last eruption: 1866
First ascent:
Easiest route:

Ofu-Olosega
Ofu-Olosega from Space Shuttle.
Elevation:	639 m (2,096 feet)
Coordinates:	[14.175° S 169.618° W]
Location:	United States
Range:	Samoa Islands
Type:	Shield volcanoes
Last eruption:	1866
First ascent:
Easiest route:

Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manu‘a Group of the Samoa Archipelago—part of American Samoa. Although geographically separate volcanic remnants, only a narrow straight (Asaga) naturally bridged by a shallow coral reef separates them. Before 1970, one had to wade between the two islands at low tide; now a road bridge over the straight connects villages on Ofu with those on Olosega.

Contents

1 Ofu
2 Olosega
3 References
4 External links

Ofu

Ofu is the western part of the volcanic outcrop of Ofu-Olosega Island. The main village of Nu‘usilaelae is located on the western shore, protected behind an offshore islet (eroded tuff cone) known as Nu‘utele. Ofu has a small airport and a boat harbor that serve the population on Ofu and Olosega.

South shore of Ofu seen from Olosega across the narrow straight that separates them. The sharp peak, an eroding dike complex, is named Sunu‘itao.

The southern shore and associated coral reef are part of the National Park of American Samoa. The U.S. National Park Service is presently (2005) negotiating with village councils on Olosega to expand the park around that island.

Olosega

Olosega Island is a remnant of the Sili shield volcano, the caldera of which may lie submerged off the north shore. The undersea eruption of 1866 was actually 3 km east of Olosega, on a submarine ridge that extends eastsoutheast to nearby Ta‘ū.

There are two villages on Olosega: Olosega and Sili. Sili now consists of but one standing residence after much of the village was destroyed by hurricanes (and subsequently abandoned). Nearly all of the population of Olosega now resides in Olosega village along the southwestern-facing shore.

References

Office of the Governor. 2004. Manu‘a ma Amerika. A brief historical documentary. Manu‘a Centennial. 16 July 1904. 16 July 2004. Office of the Governor, American Samoa Government. 20 p.
* Siebert, L. and T. Simkin (2002-). Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3. URL: http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/ (Website difficult to use)

External links

[National Park Service map of the Manu‘a Islands]
[Persistence of Coral Reefs Under Extreme Environmental Stress in American Samoa] G. Piniak, C. Birkeland, and G. Garrison (2004). University of Hawaii.

	The U.S. Territory of American Samoa
Government	Politics · Former Governors · Elections
Capital	Fagatogo
Governor	Togiola Tulafono
Islands	Tutuila · Manua Group ( Ta'u · Ofu · Olosega) · Olosega · Swains Island
	Geography	Economy	Demographics	Communications	Transportation

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