American Samoa
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Territory of American Samoa
Country name - conventional short form : American Samoa
Government type : NA
Capital - name : Pago Pago
Capital - time difference : UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Population : 64,827 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
Nationality - adjective : American Samoan
Currency (code) : US dollar (USD)
Currency code : USD
American Samoa is located Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. The climate is tropical 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. The terrain is five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island).
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : 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.
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