American Samoa - National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

TALOFA!

Sent by Lika from National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

The National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (formerly the Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary) is a federally-designated underwater area protected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This sanctuary is the largest and most remote in the National Marine Sanctuary system. Spanning 13,581 sq mi, it is thought to be home to the greatest biodiversity of aquatic species of all the marine sanctuaries. Among them are expansive coral reefs, including some of the oldest Porites coral heads on earth, deep-water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare archeological resources. It was established as Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary on April 29, 1986, it is thought to be home to the greatest biodiversity of aquatic species of all the marine sanctuaries.and then expanded and renamed in 2012 (read more).