Polynesia
What tectonic plate is American Samoa on?
American Samoa sits entirely on the Pacific Plate.
- Plates
- 1
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 0
- Holocene volcanoes
- 1
- Land area
- 120 km²
Plates under American Samoa
Share of American Samoa's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along American Samoa: the Tonga-Pacific boundary (convergent, about 19.3 cm/yr).
The fastest of these is the Tonga-Pacific boundary, where the plates move about 19.3 cm/yr relative to each other. That is faster than fingernails grow.
Earthquakes in American Samoa
The USGS catalog has no earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or more centered in or just off American Samoa since 1900. Smaller quakes still happen, and distant large ones can be felt.
Volcanoes in American Samoa
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 1 volcano active in the last 12,000 years in American Samoa.
- Tutuila Tuff cone(s) · 653 m Last eruption 440
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is American Samoa on?
American Samoa sits entirely on the Pacific Plate.
Is American Samoa on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along American Samoa: the Tonga-Pacific boundary (convergent, about 19.3 cm/yr).
Does American Samoa get earthquakes?
The USGS catalog has no earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or more centered in or just off American Samoa since 1900. Smaller quakes still happen, and distant large ones can be felt.
Are there volcanoes in American Samoa?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 1 volcano active in the last 12,000 years in American Samoa.