Vaiava Strait (Samoan: ) is a narrow strait in
Vatia, American Samoa
Vatia is a village on Tutuila, Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is a north shore village located on Vatia Bay. The road to Vatia, American Samoa Highway 006, is the only road going through National Park of American Samoa. Vatia is a scenic com ...
which separates the
Pola Island
Pola Island (Samoan: ''Motu o Pola'') is an island just offshore from the village of Vatia on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is also known as Cockscomb.Goldin, Meryl Rose (2002). ''Field Guide to the Samoan Archipelago: Fish, Wildlife, an ...
(Cock's Comb) from Polauta Ridge on adjacent
Tutuila Island
Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...
. The strait is a good example of cliffs formed by the erosional forces of waves on volcanic rock. The lands surrounding the strait are held communally. A area surrounding the strait was designated a U.S.
National Natural Landmark in 1972. Pola-Uta is connected to the village of
Vatia
The gens Servilia was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The gens was celebrated during the early ages of the Republic, and the names of few gentes appear more frequently at this period in the consular Fasti. It continued to produce men of inf ...
on
Tutuila Island
Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...
. Pola Tai is a cliff that is an important nesting area for the (
brown booby
The brown booby (''Sula leucogaster'') is a large seabird of the booby family Sulidae, of which it is perhaps the most common and widespread species. It has a pantropical range, which overlaps with that of other booby species. The gregarious brow ...
) and (white tailored tropic bird). Hunting of brown boobies, known as the , was a tradition carried out by
Vatians in the past. Pola Tai includes Matalia Point, Cockscomb Point and Polauta Ridge.
It is located on the north coast of
Tutuila Island
Tutuila is the main island of American Samoa (and its largest), and is part of the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific. It is located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Au ...
, on the northwestern side of the village of
Vatia
The gens Servilia was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The gens was celebrated during the early ages of the Republic, and the names of few gentes appear more frequently at this period in the consular Fasti. It continued to produce men of inf ...
. It is a designated
National Natural Landmark, but also a part of the
National Park of American Samoa. Erosion by the sea has sculpted deep cliffs and sea arches in the rocks of a huge volcanic plug (
Pola Island
Pola Island (Samoan: ''Motu o Pola'') is an island just offshore from the village of Vatia on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is also known as Cockscomb.Goldin, Meryl Rose (2002). ''Field Guide to the Samoan Archipelago: Fish, Wildlife, an ...
). The cliffs and rock top are important nesting and resting areas for several seabird species.
[Goldin, Meryl Rose (2002). ''Field Guide to the Samoan Archipelago: Fish, Wildlife, and Protected Areas''. Bess Press. Page 284. .]
Gallery
Image:ETH-BIB-Friedlaender-Samoa,_Vatia,_Tutuila-Hs_0625a-0003-169.tif, Vaiʻava Strait, 1907
Image:Pola_Islands_Tutuila_NPS.jpg, Pola Island
Pola Island (Samoan: ''Motu o Pola'') is an island just offshore from the village of Vatia on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. It is also known as Cockscomb.Goldin, Meryl Rose (2002). ''Field Guide to the Samoan Archipelago: Fish, Wildlife, an ...
Image:Line4393_-_Flickr_-_NOAA_Photo_Library.jpg, Eastern point of Vatia
The gens Servilia was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The gens was celebrated during the early ages of the Republic, and the names of few gentes appear more frequently at this period in the consular Fasti. It continued to produce men of inf ...
Bay
Image:Pola_Tai_view_from_Mount_Alava_Adventure_Trail.jpg, Polauta Ridge and Pola Island
See also
*
List of National Natural Landmarks in American Samoa
This is a list of National Natural Landmarks (NNL) in American Samoa. All locations are on communally owned lands.
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Natural Landmarks in American Samoa
*
American Samoa
American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ...
References
External links
Vaiava StraitNational Park Service
National Natural Landmarks in American Samoa
{{AmericanSamoa-geo-stub