Fagasa

Fagasa
Village
Panorama from Forbidden Bay near Fagasa
Fagasa
Coordinates: 14°17′14″S 170°43′06″W / 14.28722°S 170.71833°W / -14.28722; -170.71833Coordinates: 14°17′14″S 170°43′06″W / 14.28722°S 170.71833°W / -14.28722; -170.71833
Country  United States
Territory  American Samoa

Fagasa is a village in the Eastern District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. The village lies by Fagasa Bay, on the north shore of the island. Its name is Samoan and translates to “Forbidden Bay.”[1] The village borders the Tutuila-section of National Park of American Samoa.[2] The trailhead to Mount ‘Alava is located near the village by Fagasa Pass (on Route 5).[3]

The first European expedition to ever set foot on Tutuila was headed by Frenchman Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, who landed at Fagasa in 1787. This encounter however ended tragic. A battle between the French and the Samoans found place in A'asu, where twelve sailors and 39 Samoans were killed.[4]

A porpoise sanctuary is located in Fagasa Bay.[5]

Geography

Fagasa is situated on the north shore of Tutuila, two miles southwest of Pago Pago. A stream with fales beside it follows the steep valley down to Fagasa.[6] The buses to Fagasa go every hour from the bus station at Fagatogo Market in Pago Pago.[7] Fagasa is located in Ituau County.[8]

At Fagasa Pass right outside of town is the primary trailhead for the Mount ‘Alava Trail. This 7-mile roundtrip trail leads to a mountain summit with panoramic views of Pago Pago Harbor and surrounding areas of Tutuila Island. The trail goes through dense rainforest in the National Park, home to a variety of tropical bird species and fruit bats. Halfway up the mountain is a coconut- and banana plantation.[9]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ http://www.frommers.com/destinations/american-samoa/attractions/overview
  2. ↑ Talbot, Dorinda and Deanna Swaney (1998). Samoa. Lonely Planet. Page 166. ISBN 9780864425553.
  3. ↑ Stanley, David (1999). South Pacific Handbook. Moon Travel Books. Page 437. ISBN 9781566911726.
  4. ↑ Talbot, Dorinda and Deanna Swaney (1998). Samoa. Lonely Planet. Page 13. ISBN 9780864425553.
  5. ↑ Goodwin, Bill (2006). Frommer’s South Pacific. Wiley. Pages 400-401. ISBN 9780471769804.
  6. ↑ Leib, Amos Patten (1972). The Many Islands of Polynesia. Schuster Merchandise &. Page 67. ISBN 9780684130101.
  7. ↑ Stanley, David (1999). South Pacific Handbook. Moon Travel Books. Page 446. ISBN 9781566911726.
  8. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Census of population and housing (2000): American Samoa Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics. DIANE Publishing. Page 210. ISBN 9781428985490.
  9. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/npsa/planyourvisit/upload/Day-Hikes-SB_NPSA_high-res.pdf
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