Expedition Afualo: mapping Aunu'u Island

Did you know that this is the best map of Aunu'u Island on the internet? I challenge you to find a better one. This map was lovingly documented by Google Maps; someone  crisscrossed the island on foot to provide us with images all over the island. I then took the Google GPS tracking pathways (shown in the map below in turquoise) and labeled them with the few geographic features I could find.

Click on the map to see a larger version

So let's map Aunu'u Island and provide the world with a better map!

We'll all take paper maps (about the size of a large index card) with us, and we will map any geographic features on the island, as well as important buildings like churches, malae fonos, and shipwrecks. If we sight any flora or fauna, like the purple swamphen (a gorgeous shade of violet, I understand), we'll note that too. After our vacation I will incorporate all of our observations into a detailed map, and put it out there for future hikers and naturalists.

I have long heard rumors of the shrieking eels, and the red quicksand, but I never saw any of it the last time I was there. Let's make sure to find it this time!

Don't forget: water, mozzie spray, map, pen, and reef walker shoes. We might be traversing some marshy areas.

The pictures below are from Google Maps. Yeah for google!

Ma'ama'a Cove

Very dangerous to swim here, but beautiful teapot action when the waves hit the cove.

Taro patch in the Lalopapa Marsh region.

Beach to the immediate left of Aunu'u Harbor, facing Tutu'ila Island.

Evacuation Point, at the crossroads between Taufusitele Marsh and Lalopapa Marsh.

If a tsunami warning sounds, run here!

Cove near Pala Lake

Quicksand at Pala Lake








Even google couldnt get close enough to catch a glimpse through the thick foliage to spot the shrieking eels that infest Red Lake. I hope we can find a guide who may be able to bring us near.

Finally, here is a picture of Aunu'u from the air, showing the geographical features of the island:

You can see Red Lake and Pala Lake, and you can see that the evacuation point is the highest point on the island. Red Lake looks so accessible here! It's hard to believe that the thick brush prevents anyone from approaching the lake and her eels.