NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Territory of American Samoa
Territory of the United States
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand |
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Geographic coordinates:
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14 20 S, 170 00 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 199 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island water: 0 sq km land: 199 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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116 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m |
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Natural resources:
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pumice, pumicite |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 10% other: 85% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons common from December to March |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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68,688 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.1% (male 13,445; female 12,688)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 19,228; female 19,741) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 1,931; female 1,655) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.31% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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24.04 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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10.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.53 years
female: 80.21 years (2002 est.) male: 71.12 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.4 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5% |
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Religions:
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Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% |
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Languages:
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Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English
note: most people are bilingual |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% male: 98% female: 97% (1980 est.) |