American Samoa National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

National Natural Landmarks

TM www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/

National Natural Landmarks Program

360-854-7203

steve_gibbons@nps.gov

www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/

O le polokalama o 

le National Natural 

Landmarks (NNL) sa 

faavaeina e faamalosia ai 

ma lagolago i taumafaiga 

e faasao nofoaga e taua i 

le siosiomaga ma le tala faasolo pito o se 

atunuu, ma faalauteleina ai le iloa ma le 

malamalama o tagata i le taua o nei foi 

nofoaga. E fitu NNL iinei i Amerika Samoa 

sa mafai ona faatulagaina i le 1972.

O National Natural Landmarks e filifiliina 

ona o le tulaga aulelei o le nofoaga, tele 

o lona taua, ma e iai lona aoga i suesuega 

faaleaoga ma faasaienisi. O NNLs e aofia ai 

nofoaga lautele ma fanua faasaina e eseese 

foi lona faaaogaina.

The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) 

Program was established to encourage and 

support the voluntary conservation of sites 

that illustrate the nation’s geological and 

biological history, and to strengthen the 

public’s appreciation of America’s natural 

heritage. Here in American Samoa, seven 

NNLs were designated in 1972. 

National Natural Landmarks are selected 

for their outstanding condition, illustrative 

value, rarity, diversity, or value to science 

and education. NNLs include public and 

private lands with a wide variety of uses.

Cape Taputapu offers the best illustration in American 

Samoa of wave action on older massive volcanic 

activity which created Tutuila Island.

Directions: Drive the coast road west to the village of ‘Ämanave. Park off the road just before the road makes a 

sharp right turn uphill. The cape is about a mile walk along 

the shoreline. Only hike at low tide.

Cape Taputapu

Le’ala Shoreline

Fogama’a Crater is one of the very few illustrations 

of the most recent volcanism in American Samoa and 

contains clues to the sequence of volcanic eruptions in 

this portion of the South Pacific region.

Note: Temporarily closed. Contact the national park at 

684-633-7082 for more information.

Fogama’a Crater

As complementary National Natural Landmarks, located on opposite sides of Pago Pago Harbor, Matafao Peak 

and Rainmaker Mountain are two of five great masses of volcanic rocks extruded as molten magma during 

major episodes of volcanism which created Tutuila Island. Matafao Peak is the highest mountain on the island.

Matafao Peak Rainmaker Mountain

Vai’ava Strait

An excellent exposure of a relatively young flow of 

basalt inter-bedded with layers of tuff. The site also 

illustrates erosion by wave action, and is covered with 

dense tropical vegetation.

Directions: Drive the coast east to the village of ‘Au’asi and 

take the ‘Aunu’u Island ferry. The one mile trip to the island 

costs one dollar per person. The ferry may stop running midday, so make sure you know when your captain will return.

‘Aunu’u Island

Vai’ava Strait is a classic illustration of steep cliffs and 

erosion-resistant outliers formed by wave action on a 

volcanic land mass. 

Directions: It is located on the north-central coast of Tutuila 

Island, adjacent to the village of Vatia. The best place to 

view the landmark is from the national park fale pulloff on 

the road to Vatia, 4.1 miles past the village of Aüa.

Directions: Located 11⁄2 miles south of the village of Pago 

Pago. There is a rough trail to the peak that starts off the 

road near Fagasä Pass. It is not recommended to hike 

without a guide.

Directions: Rainmaker Mountain is easily viewed from the 

west side of Pago Pago Harbor. For a closer view, drive to 

Äfono Pass from the village of Aüa on the east side of Pago 

Pago Harbor.

An excellent exposure of a relatively young flow of 

basalt inter-bedded with layers of tuff. The site also 

illustrates erosion by wave action, and is covered with 

dense tropical vegetation.

Directions: Drive west on Route 001 and take the first 

left turn onto Taputima Road, just past the Leone Village 

welcome sign.

A view of Pago Pago Harbor 

and Rainmaker Mountain.
American Samoa: National Natural Landmarks Map

09/12

Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink

Āfono

Bay

Fagasā

(bay)

Tāfeu

Cove Vatia Bay

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

PAGO PAGO

 HARBOR

Mount ‘Alava

1610ft

491m

Āfono Pass

North Pioa Mountain

1718ft

523m

Fagasā

Pass

Hospital

Matafao

2142ft

653m

Rainmaker Mountain

National Natural

Landmark

Fagatele Bay

National Marine

Sanctuary

Vai’ava Strait

National Natural

Landmark

Cape Taputapu

National Natural

Landmark

Le’ala Shoreline

National Natural

Landmark

Fogama’a Crater

National Natural

Landmark

Matafao Peak

National Natural

Landmark

‘Aunu’u Island

National Natural

Landmark

Manofā

Pola Island

420ft

128m

Cape Matātula


AUNU’U

ISLAND

Amalau

Valley

Ridge

Maugaloa

Pago Pago

International Airport

Authorized park area Coral reef Hiking trail

Paved road Unpaved road

North

Faga’alu

A’oloaufou

1340ft

408m

Leone

Vaitogi

Fogāgogo

Fūtiga

Pava’ia’i

Tafuna Nu’uuli

Fagasā

Fagatogo

Pago Pago

Vatia

Utulei

Masefau

Faga’itua

Āmouli

‘Aunu’u

Aūa

Vailoatai

Poloa

‘Āmanave

Fagamalo Fatumafuti

Sa’ilele

Onenoa Tula

‘Au’asi

Ālega

‘Aoa

‘Ili’ili

001

001

001

001

001

001

005

006

002

To Manu’a Islands

60mi

96km

National Park

Visitor Center

www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/