SAMOA TRAVEL GUIDE

SAMOA

Samoa Islands (Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa), previously known as Western Samoa, are located in the South Pacific (Polynesia) between the islands of Tonga, American Samoa, Tokelau and the Wallis and Futuna Islands, are governed by a constitutional monarchy. The state is formed by the two main islands of Upolu (1,114 sq km) and Savai'i (1,709 sq km) and some smaller islands that surround them, between those, in the Strait of Apolima, between Savai'i and Upolu, lies the islands of Manono, Apolima and Nu'ulopa, while close to the south-east coast of Upolu are the islands of Aleipata (Nu'utele, Nu'ulua, Namua, and Fanuatapu) and Nu'usafe'e.

All the islands are of volcanic origin, but only on the largest island of Savai'i volcanic activity still manifests, Savai'i has also the highest mountain in the country, Mount Silisili (1,858). The islands are surrounded by coral reefs and inside are covered with a dense rainforest. The island of Upolu, where is the capital Apia is the most densely populated, it's cultivated with palm trees, bananas and cocoa; Mount Fito, its highest mountain reaches 1,100 metres. The economy of Samoa is based on agriculture, there are grown cocoa, bananas, coconuts, yams, taro, bread fruits. Other economic resources are forestry, farming (pigs and cattle), and fishing. Tourism has great potential for development, thanks to the islanders intact traditions and beauty of natural landscapes.

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