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COUNTRY INFORMATION - SAMOA

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Location of Samoa
Samoa consists of nine islands. The largest of these is Savai’i, which covers 622 sq.miles. Fertile Upolu, the second largest at 433 sq.miles, lays 8 miles to the south-east across the Apolima Strait. The islands are quiescent volcanoes and reach heights of up to 6,097ft.on Savai’i and 3,608ft.on Upolu. Volcanic activity has not occurred since 1911. The main city, Apia, is located in the north of Upolu.

Airports
Apia airport is 21 miles from the capital and the travel time is around 40 minutes. Buses and taxis operate to the city.

Language
Samoan is the national language. In business and commerce, English is customary.

Places To Go
A drive anywhere on the two larger islands, Upolu and Savai’i, will inevitably pass through regions of remarkable beauty, and ferries sail regularly between them. The smaller islands are more difficult to reach. Boat trips and information on island tours and accommodation can be obtained from the Samoa Visitors Bureau (see Contact Addresses). Some hotels and eco-villages also arrange their own trips to neighbouring islands and villages.

UPOLU: The most populous island. Apia, the capital and main commercial centre, lies on the beautiful north coast. Nearby at Vailima is the house built by the Scottish poet and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson (the local name for him was Tusitala, meaning & #8216;teller of tales’), who lived there from 1889 until his death on 5 December 1894. From the lawn, one can see his tomb on top of Mount Vaea. The house has been restored, and was officially opened as the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in 1994 on the 100th anniversary of his death.

Aleipata district: This is the most beautiful part of Samoa, with a landscape dominated by waterfalls, white-sand beaches and traditional villages. From Apia, a 40 mile drive leads to the Falefa Falls, Fuipisia Falls and Mafa Pass. Four offshore islands are within accessible distance.

Lefaga Village: on the south-west coast, a cross-island road can reach this attractive village. The film Return to Paradise was filmed here in 1952.

Manono Island: Just off the coast of Upolu, this island was the inspiration for the legendary & #8216;Bali Hai’ in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, South Pacific.

SAVAI’I: The largest island in the Samoan archipelago, this has been described as & #8216;Polynesia at its truest’. There are scheduled flights and a regular car ferry from Apia on Upolu.

Tafua Peninsula Rainforest Preserve: Ideal for seeing flying foxes and birdwatching, this Preserve is situated near the coastal village of Tafua.

The Tia Seu Ancient Mound: An awe-inspiring & #8216;pyramid’ and the largest ancient structure in the whole of Polynesia at 39ft.tall.

Mu Pagoa Waterfall: This, along with the Alofaaga Blowholes, lava caves and lava fields, makes for interesting sightseeing, as does the Auala Green Turtle Conservation, a programme managed by the women’s committee where guides show you turtles before they are released back into the wild.

Samoa Tourism Authority
PO Box 2272,
Apia,
Samoa
Tel: 63500.
Fax: 20886.
E-mail: info@visitsamoa.ws
Website: www.visitsamoa.ws

Embassy of Samoa
PO Box 14,
123 avenue Franklin D Roosevelt,
B-1050 Brussels,
Belgium
Tel: (2) 660 8454.
Fax: (2) 675 0336.
E-mail: samoa.emb.bxl@skynet.be

Office of the Honorary British Consul
c/o Kruse, Enari and Barlow Barristers and Solicitors,
2nd Floor,
NPF Building,
each Road,
PO Box 2029,
Apia,
Samoa
Tel: 21895.
Fax: 21407.
E-mail: barlowlaw@keblegal.ws

Permanent Mission of Samoa to the United Nations
800 2nd Avenue,
Suite 400J,
New York,
NY 10017,
USA
Tel: (212) 599 6196.
Fax: (212) 599 0797.
E-mail: samoa@un.int
also deals with enquiries from Canada.

CIA World Factbook - Samoa 

YOUR LINK HERE