Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manu‘a Island Group, which is part of American Samoa in the Samoan Islands. These twin islands, formed from shield volcanoes, have a combined length of 6 km and a combined area of 12 square kilometers (5 square miles). Together, they have a population of about 500 people. Geographically, the islands are volcanic remnants separated by the narrow, 137-meter-wide (449-foot)) Āsaga Strait, composed of shallow-water coral reef. Before 1970, people crossed between the two islands by waiting until low tide and then wading across the shallow water of the strait. Since 1970, there has been a bridge over the strait, providing a single-lane road that connects the two islands.

Ofu-Olosega
Ofu-Olosega from the Space Shuttle
Highest point
Elevation	639 m (2,096 ft)
Prominence	639 m (2,096 ft)
Coordinates	14.175°S 169.618°W / -14.175; -169.618
Geography
Location	American Samoa
Topo map	USGS
Geology
Mountain type	Shield volcanoes
Last eruption	September to November 1866

The highest peak on Ofu Island is Mount Tumutumu (also called Tumu), at 491 m (1,611 ft). The highest peak on Olosega is Mount Piumafua, at 629 m (2,064 ft). The most recent volcanic eruption was in 1866, 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Olosega.[1]

Pre-historic artifacts discovered on Ofu by archaeological field work in the 1980s significantly furthered understanding of the ancient history of Ofu in particular, and the Samoa Islands and Polynesia in general. The artifacts include ceramics, adzes, and worked shell and bone pieces. Samples of red-slipped plainware ceramics were found that appear to have been crafted in the tradition of the Lapita culture. The field work, carried out by a team that included Pacific archaeology specialist Patrick Vinton Kirch, focused on a site called To'aga (site AS-13-1), a 2 km (1.2 mi) coastal stretch on the south coast of Ofu. Dating of the artifacts suggested that Ofu has been continuously inhabited by humans for about 3,000 years.[2]

Ofu

Ofu is the western part of the volcanic outcrop of Ofu-Olosega Island and the westernmost of the Manu'a Islands.[3] The main village of Ofu is located on the western shore, protected behind an offshore islet (eroded tuff cone) known as Nu'utele. Ofu has a small airport (IATA: OFU, ICAO: NSAS) and a boat harbor that serve the population on Ofu and Olosega. The twice-weekly flight from Pago Pago takes about half an hour, but the airport has been closed since April 2021 for runway rehabilitation leaving the island without air service.

Most of the southern shore and associated coral reef are part of the National Park of American Samoa.

The island forms the Ofu County subdivision of the Manua District. It has a land area of 7.215 km² (2.786 sq mi), and had an official population of 176 persons as of the 2010 census.

Situated on the south coast of the island is To'aga lagoon which has a high diversity of corals and fishes. The marine site has been part of long term research and study on coral reefs and global climate change.

The island is also home to the Samoa Flying-fox (Pteropus samoensis), a species of bat threatened by habitat loss.

Olosega

Olosega is the smallest island in Manu'a. It is possible to walk across to Ofu Island at low tide.[3][4] The name derives from Samoan ʻOlosega, "fortress of parakeets."[5]

Olosega Island is a remnant of the Sili shield volcano, the caldera of which may lie submerged off the north shore.

The volcanic eruption of 1866 was actually 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Olosega, on a submarine ridge that extends east southeast to nearby Ta‘ū.

The island forms the Olosega County subdivision of the Manua District. It has a land area of 5.163 km² (1.993 sq mi), and had an official population of 172 persons as of the 2010 census.

There are four villages on Olosega: Olosega, Lalomoana, Sili and Faiava.

Gallery

References

External links

• 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.
• "Ofu-Olosega". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
• National Park Service map of the Manu‘a Islands
• Persistence of Coral Reefs Under Extreme Environmental Stress in American Samoa Archived 2005-02-12 at the Wayback Machine G. Piniak, C. Birkeland, and G. Garrison (2004). University of Hawaii.

На других языках

[de] Ofu-Olosega

[fr] Ofu-Olosega

[ru] Офу и Олосега