Part of tuff cone of Faleasao Harbor, Taʻū Island, American Samoa

View of part of the tuff cone which contains both Faleāsao village and Faleasao Harbor from the northwest part of Taʻū Island, American Samoa. A tuff cone can form when magma and water interact at shallow depths, causing localized explosions. The layers exposed within the unvegetated cliff are the result of individual explosions during the eruption that created this tuff cone. The age of the eruption which formed this tuff cone is unknown. After the eruption, ocean waves and currents eroded (removed) the northern side of the tuff cone, leading to the creation of Faleasao Harbor. Faleāsao village is also located within the tuff cone. USGS photo by N. Deligne.