American Samoa is a United States territory which comprises the easternmost islands of a volcanic island chain formed by the Samoan hotspot in the South Pacific Ocean. Its small islands are the tops of volcanoes, and there is an active volcanic seamount nearby. The most recent eruption witnessed by local residents occurred in 1866, and submarine eruptions and earthquakes remind us that this region remains volcanically active.

American Samoa includes Tutuila Island (the main population center), Aunu‘u Island, and the Manu‘a Islands of Ta‘u and Ofu-Olosega about 70 miles to the east. Vailulu‘u Seamount is about 30 miles east of the Manu‘a Islands on top of the Samoan hotspot, where submarine eruptions have occurred several times in the past few decades. Additionally, a near-shore eruption o

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