Vaiʻava Strait

Vaiʻava Strait
Vaiʻava Strait National Natural Landmark
Vaiʻava Strait (American Samoa)
LocationAmerican Samoa
Nearest cityVatia
Coordinates14°14′19″S 170°40′17″W / 14.2386°S 170.6713°W / -14.2386; -170.6713
Area250 acres (100 ha)
Designated1972
Administered byU.S. National Park Service

Vaiʻava Strait (Samoan: Vāinuʻu o Vaiʻava) is a narrow strait in Vatia, American Samoa which separates the 420-foot-high (130 m) Pola Island (Cock's Comb) from Polauta Ridge on adjacent Tutuila Island. 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 250-acre (100 ha) area surrounding the strait was designated a U.S. National Natural Landmark in 1972. It is also a part of the National Park of American Samoa.

Pola-Uta is connected to the village of Vatia on Tutuila Island. Pola Tai is a 400-foot (120 m) cliff that is an important nesting area for the fuaʻō (brown booby) and tavaʻe (white tailored tropic bird). Hunting of brown boobies, known as the Aʻega o le Pola, was a tradition carried out by Vatians in the past. Pola Tai includes Matalia Point, Cockscomb Point and Polauta Ridge.