Aasu, American Samoa

Aasu
Village
Aasu
Coordinates: 14°17′51″S 170°45′30″W / 14.29750°S 170.75833°W / -14.29750; -170.75833Coordinates: 14°17′51″S 170°45′30″W / 14.29750°S 170.75833°W / -14.29750; -170.75833
Country  United States
Territory  American Samoa
Area
  Total 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2)
Population (2012)
  Total 353
  Density 130/sq mi (51/km2)

Aasu is a village on the north coast of Tutuila Island, American Samoa. It is located to the west of Fagasa and northwest of Pago Pago. It is one of multiple villages involved in an archaeological survey of the island.[1] Aasu lies on Massacre Bay and can be reached from a hiking trail in A’oloaufou.[2] Aasu has no road outlets, and can only be reached by hiking trails. It is a near-abandoned village which is home to just a few families. It is possible to camp in the village before returning to A'oloau. Aasu might be most famous for a battle which took place on December 11, 1787, where twelve Europeans and 39 Samoans were killed.[3]

History

Laperouse expedition memorial, c. 1920.

In 1722, Samoa had its first contact with Europeans, a Dutchman named Jacob Roggeveen. Others came later, such as, in 1768, Louis-Antoine de Bougainville and Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse in 1787. An incident occurred, in which 12 members of Perouse's crew died at Massacre Bay in Aasu. In response to this, a monument was erected by the French government in 1883 to commemorate the event; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. "Archaeology project documents sites affected by Sept. 29 tsunami" - Samoa News
  2. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/american-samoa/tutuila/activities/massacre-bay/a/poi-act/1456121/362248
  3. Swaney, Deanna (1994). Samoa: Western & American Samoa: a Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet Publications. Pages 181-182. ISBN 9780864422255.
  4. "Annexation of Samoa / 2nd Apia Expedition" - Global Security
  5. Apple, Russell A. (May 25, 1971), National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form: Aasu (PDF), retrieved November 27, 2014 .


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