Aleipata Islands
Encyclopedia
The Aleipata Islands is a group of four uninhabited islands off the eastern end (the historical Aleipata region) of Upolu
Island, Samoa
, with an aggregate area of 1.68 km²):
Namua and Fanuatapu are at the outer edge of the fringing reef
of Upolu, with distances of 0.7 km and 2.5 km to the Upolu mainland, respectively. Nu'utele and Nu'ulua are 4 to 6 km further south, outside of the fringing reef, at distances of 1.4 km 3.5 km off Cape Tapaga, the southeastern headland
of Upolu.
These islets are remnants of eroded volcanic
tuff rings. Only Namua is open for visitors (Namua Island Resort, beaches). Fanuatapu, being the easternmost island, has a lighthouse
. The islands are important nesting locations for seabird
s.
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
Island, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, with an aggregate area of 1.68 km²):
- Nu'uteleNu'uteleNu'utele is an island which consists of a volcanic tuff ring situated 1.3 km off the eastern end of Upolu island, Samoa. It is the largest of the four Aleipata Islands, at 1.08 km²....
(1.08 km²) - Nu'uluaNu'uluaNu'ulua is a small uninhabited island in the Aleipata Islands situated more than 1.3 km from the eastern end of Upolu in Samoa.Nu'ulua has a land area of 25 hectares and is a habitat for locally and regionally endemic birds including the endangered Tooth-billed Pigeon, , also known as Samoan...
(0.25 km²) - NamuaNamuaNamu'a is a small uninhabited island off the east coast of Upolu island in Samoa.The island is a 10 minute boat ride from Upolu and has beach fale accommodation for visitors. There are lookouts and it takes about an hour to walk around the island....
(0.20 km²) - FanuatapuFanuatapuFanuatapu is an uninhabited island which consists of a volcanic tuff ring, situated off the eastern tip of Upolu, Samoa. It is the smallest and easternmost of the four Aleipata Islands, with an area of 15 hectares, and has an automated lighthouse....
(0.15 km²)
Namua and Fanuatapu are at the outer edge of the fringing reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
of Upolu, with distances of 0.7 km and 2.5 km to the Upolu mainland, respectively. Nu'utele and Nu'ulua are 4 to 6 km further south, outside of the fringing reef, at distances of 1.4 km 3.5 km off Cape Tapaga, the southeastern headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
of Upolu.
These islets are remnants of eroded volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
tuff rings. Only Namua is open for visitors (Namua Island Resort, beaches). Fanuatapu, being the easternmost island, has a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
. The islands are important nesting locations for seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
s.
See also
- List of protected areas of Samoa
- Samoan IslandsSamoan IslandsThe Samoan Islands or Samoa Islands is an archipelago covering in the central South Pacific, forming part of Polynesia and the wider region of Oceania...
- Geography of SamoaGeography of SamoaThe independent country of Samoa consists of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i and 8 smaller islands located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific....
- List of birds of Samoa
- List of mammals of Samoa