Pago Pago Harbor is one of the finest natural harbours in the Pacific, formed by the collapse of a volcanic caldera that left an almost completely enclosed bay. The harbour is deep enough to accommodate large vessels — the StarKist tuna cannery on the waterfront is one of the largest in the world, and the smell from it on a warm day is unmistakable.
The harborfront in Fagatogo (the government district, distinct from Pago Pago proper) has the main government buildings, the museum, and the market. The fishing boats unload here early in the morning. The harbor is enclosed enough that when the mountains are clear you can see the full ring of peaks above the water — a rare piece of intact volcanic geography.