Rose_Atoll_Marine_National_Monument
Rose Atoll Marine National Monument is a United States National Monument in the South Pacific Ocean, covering 8,571,633 acres (13,393.18 sq mi; 10,113.45 sq nmi; 34,688.17 km2)[1] and encompassing the Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1973 with 39,066 acres (61.04 sq mi; 46.09 sq nmi; 158.09 km2), only 20 acres (8.1 ha) of which is emergent. The monument's marine areas are likely to also be incorporated in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.
Rose Atoll is a small island about 170 miles (150 nmi; 270 km) to the east of Tutuila, the principal island of American Samoa. It is a nesting site for rare species of petrels, shearwaters, and terns; and at the signing of the order establishing the monument, President George W. Bush noted that "the waters surrounding the atoll are the home of many rare species, including giant clams and reef sharks—as well as an unusual abundance of rose-colored corals".[2] The wildlife refuge is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the wider-ranging monument waters are co-managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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Map of the Samoan Islands, showing the location of Rose Atoll
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