Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manuʻa Islands, which is a 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.
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]
South shore of Ofu seen from Olosega across the narrow strait that separates them. The sharp peak, an eroding dike complex, is named Sunu‘itao.
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.
The island forms the Ofu County subdivision of the Manuʻa 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.
OlosegaEdit
Aerial view - Olosega village on the right, Ofu on the left. Both islands are connected via a single-lane bridge, crossing the Asaga strait.
Olosega is the smallest island in the Manuʻa Islands. It is possible to walk across to Ofu Island at low tide.[3][4] The name derives from SamoanʻOlosega, "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 mid-ocean ridge that extends east southeast to nearby Taʻū.
The island forms the Olosega County subdivision of the Manuʻa 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.
^"Global Volcanism Program, Ofu-Olosega". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
^Jason Tyler, Patric V. Kirch, Terry L. Hunt, Lisa Nagaoka (November 1989). "Final Report on Archaeological Investigations at Site AS-13-1, To'aga, Ofu Island, American Samoa". Department of Parks and Recreation, Government of American Samoa. Retrieved 13 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abHills, J.W. (2010). O upu muamua i le Tala i le Lalolagi mo e ua faatoa a'oa'oina u lea mataupu: Elementary Geography. Nabu Press. Page 63. ISBN9781147952896.
^Churchill, William (1913). "Geographical Nomenclature of American Samoa". Bulletin of the American Geographical Society. 45 (3): 187–193. doi:10.2307/199273 – via JSTOR.
External linksEdit
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.
Persistence of Coral Reefs Under Extreme Environmental Stress in American Samoa 2005-02-12 at the Wayback Machine G. Piniak, C. Birkeland, and G. Garrison (2004). University of Hawaii.
August 31, 2023
olosega, olosega, redirects, here, other, uses, olosega, disambiguation, olosega, parts, volcanic, doublet, manuʻa, islands, which, part, american, samoa, samoan, islands, these, twin, islands, formed, from, shield, volcanoes, have, combined, length, combined,. Olosega redirects here For other uses see Olosega disambiguation Ofu and Olosega are parts of a volcanic doublet in the Manuʻa Islands which is a 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 Asaga 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 OlosegaOfu Olosega from the Space ShuttleHighest pointElevation639 m 2 096 ft Prominence639 m 2 096 ft Coordinates14 10 30 S 169 37 05 W 14 175 S 169 618 W 14 175 169 618GeographyLocationAmerican SamoaTopo mapUSGSGeologyMountain typeShield volcanoesLast eruptionSeptember to November 1866The 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 Contents 1 Ofu 2 Olosega 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksOfu Edit South shore of Ofu seen from Olosega across the narrow strait that separates them The sharp peak an eroding dike complex is named Sunu itao 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 Olosega village 1896Most 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 Manuʻa 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 Edit Aerial view Olosega village on the right Ofu on the left Both islands are connected via a single lane bridge crossing the Asaga strait Olosega is the smallest island in the Manuʻa Islands 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 mid ocean ridge that extends east southeast to nearby Taʻu The island forms the Olosega County subdivision of the Manuʻa District It has a land area of 5 163 km 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 Edit References Edit Global Volcanism Program Ofu Olosega Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Retrieved 13 July 2010 Jason Tyler Patric V Kirch Terry L Hunt Lisa Nagaoka November 1989 Final Report on Archaeological Investigations at Site AS 13 1 To aga Ofu Island American Samoa Department of Parks and Recreation Government of American Samoa Retrieved 13 July 2010 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b Hills J W 2010 O upu muamua i le Tala i le Lalolagi mo e ua faatoa a oa oina u lea mataupu Elementary Geography Nabu Press Page 63 ISBN 9781147952896 Holmes Lowell D 1974 Samoan Village Holt McDougal Page 3 ISBN 9780030779251 Churchill William 1913 Geographical Nomenclature of American Samoa Bulletin of the American Geographical Society 45 3 187 193 doi 10 2307 199273 via JSTOR External links EditOffice 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ofu Olosega amp oldid 1162852078, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
