There are very few parks that can pull off an upset against the leviathan that is Yosemite National Park — the National Park of the American Samoa is one of them. As both the furthest park away from the continental United States and the only National Park Service park south of the equator, it is without a doubt one of the most unique parks in the American collection. This idiosyncrasy is highlighted best when compared side by side with Yosemite. The National Park of the American Samoa receives less than 5,000 visitors every year, while Yosemite receives about 4 million; Yosemite is over 55x larger in area, consisting of five different biomes, compared to the National Park of the American Samoa which is a small island cluster occupying only tropical rainforest. These parks were also established over a century apart from one another. In other words, Yosemite and American Samoa could not be more different.

When people think of the great American National Parks, Yosemite is one of the parks to come to mind first. It birthed the California State Park System, it is well known as the second national park ever established, and its preeminence only grows when popular culture — such as in the case of Free Solo and The Dawn Wall — utilizes the park for its awe-inspiring setting. Yosemite, deservedly placed in the first seed, will be a hard opponent for the National Park of the American Samoa to topple. 

However, a victory for the American Samoa wouldn’t be unheard of. Why? Because the National Park of the American Samoa is really darn cool. 30% of plant species which exist in the park are endemic to the archipelago, it is the habitat for over 950 species of reef fish, 250 species of coral reef, and fruit bats with a wingspan of three feet. While an uphill battle, I’d pose that given the park’s peculiarity and ecological beauty it stands a better chance relative to most for its stark differences, unique setting, and under-dog identity.