TUTUILA 14°20'S 170°42'W AMERICAN SAMOA General American Samoa, sometimes referredtoas Eastern Samoa, is an unincorporated territory of the United States administered by the Depart- ment of the Interior. The administration of the islands is headed bya civilian Governor, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The capital and Government administrative offices are located on Tutuila at Pago Pago. Physical Data There are seven islands in the American Samoan group: Tutuila; Annu'u; the three islands of the Manu'a group (TA'u, Olosega and Ofu); and two coral atolls, Rose and Swains. The main islands are of volcanic origin and are now mostly a series of ridges rising abruptly from the sea. Tutuila is of irregular shape, approximately 18 miles long and 6 miles across at the widest point and contains 42 square miles of land. A mountain range, with elevations to 2, 140-ft., extends almost the whole length of the island, which is nearly bisected by Pago Pago Bay, one of the finest harbors in the South Pacific. Climate The climate of the islands is tropical. From May to November moderate southeast trade winds blow. During the other months, the winds are variable. The heaviest rainfall occurs from December to March and the average per year for the past 40 years has been approximately 200 inches. The yearly temperature ranges from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is almost constant at 80 per cent, Facilities The Samoan Medical Services Department provides the only medical service and operates a 200 bed general hospital and two dispensaries on the main island of Tutuila and two small cottage hospitals in the Manu'a group. Radio-wireless communications are available. There are regular surface and air connections with the United States; several inter-island vessels make weekly trips to Western Samoa and local air- lines normally make daily flights. The International Airport at Tafuna, 9 miles SE of Pago Pago, can handle the largest of aircraft on its 9, 000-ft. runway. There is a USAF installation with facilities for 244 men located at the airport and a 101 room modern hotel is in Pago Pago. Passports are not required for American citizens but are recommended in order that visits may be made to neighboring islands under foreign jurisdiction. TheInternational Certificate of Vaccination is also a requirement. 37-1 VOL II April 1969