National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa: Difference between revisions

The '''National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa''' (formerly the '''Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary'''<ref name="NOAA2">http://americansamoa.noaa.gov ''National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.'' NOAA.gov. Retrieved 1 January 2018.</ref>) is a federally-designated underwater area protected by the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]'s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This sanctuary is the largest and most remote in the [[National Marine Sanctuary]] system.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY OF AMERICAN SAMOA ABOUT THE SANCTUARY |url=https://americansamoa.noaa.gov/about/}}</ref> Spanning 13,581 sq mi,<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Marine Sanctuary |url=https://www.americansamoa.travel/national-marine-sanctuary |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Visit American Samoa |language=en-US}}</ref> it is thought to be home to the greatest biodiversity of aquatic species of all the marine sanctuaries.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa |url=https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2998 |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Recreation.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Fagatele Bay {{!}} Ocean Futures Society |url=https://www.oceanfutures.org/exploration/films/american-samoa-culture-ocean-conservation-film-series/fagatele-bay |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=www.oceanfutures.org}}</ref> Among them are expansive coral reefs, including some of the oldest Porites coral heads on earth, deep-water reefs, hydrothermal vent communities, and rare archeological resources.<ref name="NOAA2" /> It was established as Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary on April&nbsp;29, 1986,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanctuary Designations & Expansions |url=https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/designations.html |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=NOAA}}</ref> it is thought to be home to the greatest biodiversity of aquatic species of all the marine sanctuaries.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa |url=https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2998 |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Recreation.gov |language=en}}</ref> and then expanded and renamed in 2012.