Rainmaker Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainmaker Mountain |
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Rainmaker Mountain from Pago Pago Harbor
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 523 m (1,716 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Tutuila Island in American Samoa |
| Designated: | 1972 |
Rainmaker Mountain, also called Mount Pioa, is a famous mountain near Pago Pago, American Samoa, on Tutuila Island. It's known for catching rain clouds, which makes Pago Pago Harbor one of the wettest places around! The mountain gets about 200 inches (5 meters) of rain every year. It has a unique top with three points. In 1972, Rainmaker Mountain and its lower areas became a National Natural Landmark. This was because of the amazing tropical plants growing on its slopes.
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What Makes Rainmaker Mountain Special?
Rainmaker Mountain is one of the huge volcanoes that helped create Tutuila Island. It stands tall and can be seen from almost anywhere in Pago Pago Harbor. The mountain actually has three main peaks: North Pioa, South Pioa, and Sinapioa. These peaks are between 1,619 and 1,718 feet high. The special landmark area covers 170 acres, starting from 800 feet up the mountain. Some plants and animals found here grow nowhere else in the world, except maybe on Matafao Peak, which is the highest point on Tutuila.
A Mountain of Legends and Rocks
Rainmaker Mountain is important in old Samoan stories and legends. It's also special to scientists because it's a great example of a volcanic plug. Think of a volcanic plug as the hardened lava that filled the vent of an old volcano. The top parts of the mountain are covered in a type of montane rainforest, which is a forest that grows in cooler, cloudier mountain areas. The very top is a montane scrub, with smaller, tougher plants.
The mountain is made of a rock called trachyte. This rock forms when lava cools and hardens inside a volcano. It's a type of igneous rock that has tiny crystals and a fine texture.
Seeing Rainmaker Mountain Up Close
If you want to get a closer look at this amazing mountain, you can drive up Rainmaker Pass. It offers great views of the area.
Images for kids
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Rainmaker Mountain as seen from the former Rainmaker Hotel.
