| Rainmaker Mountain | |
| Elevation M: | 523 |
| Location: | Tutuila Island in American Samoa |
| Coordinates: | -14.2764°N -170.6528°W |
Rainmaker Mountain (also known as Mount Pioa[1] [2]) is the name of a mountain located near Pago Pago, American Samoa on Tutuila Island. Rainmaker Mountain traps rain clouds and gives Pago Pago the highest annual rainfall of any harbor. [3] [4] [5] The average annual rainfall on the mountain is around 200inches.[6] It has a three-pronged summit. Rainmaker Mountain and its base were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972 due to the slopes’ tropical vegetation.[7] [8]
Rainmaker Mountain is one of several giant volcanic mountains that created Tutuila Island. It dominates the scene from nearly every point in Pago Pago Harbor. It comprises three mountain peaks: North Pioa, South Pioa, and Sinapioa. The peaks range in elevation from to . The 170acres designated landmark area occurs above the 800acres contour line. Several endemic species are present only here and on Matafao Peak, the highest point on Tutuila.[9]
Rainmaker Mountain, famous in Samoan legend and lore, is also geologically important as an example of a volcanic plug (quartz trachyte). The upper slopes are montane rainforest and the crest is montane scrub. [10] The mountain is a volcanic feature known as a trachyte plug, a volcanic intrusion made of extrusive igneous rocks having alkali feldspar and minor mafic minerals as the main components and a fine-grained, generally porphyritic texture.
A closeup of the mountain is visible up Rainmaker Pass.[11]
Rainmaker Hotel was a hotel at the port entrance under the mountain.[12]