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___SamoaDestination Samoa, a virtual guide to the islands of Samoa. The Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) is located south of the equator, in the Polynesian region of the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. The Polynesian group of islands known as Samoa consists of two main islands Upolu and Savai'i and seven smaller islets. Upolu is home to Samoa's capital city Apia and nearly three-quarters of Samoa's total population. The archipelago has a combined land area of 2,831 km², making it somewhat larger than Luxembourg, or slightly smaller than Rhode Island. Samoa has a population of 193,000 people, capital and largest city is Apia, official languages are Samoan and English. |
Independent State of Samoa | Malotuto'atasi o Samoa |
Country Profile |
Background: In the time of 1000 B.C. Southeast Asian immmigrants arrived in the Samoan islands and from there they settled the rest of Polynesia. First sparsely contacts with Europeans began in the early 1700s, intensified with the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s. Before World War I (Western) Samoa was a German protectorate, occupied by New Zealand in 1914. In 1962 Samoa became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. Despite of modern influences Samoan people still hold firmly to "Fa'asamoa", the traditional Samoan way, related to their language, dress, food, customs and even property. related countries: American Samoa, New Zealand other Polynesian islands: American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Niue, Pitcairn, Tonga, and Tuvalu. |
Official Name: Malotuto'atasi o Samoa short form: Samoa (spoken Sa moa) int'l name: Independent State of Samoa int'l short form: (Western) Samoa former: British Samoa (1918 to 1963), Western Samoa (Samoa i Sisifo) also known as: The Navigator Islands ISO Country Code: ws Time: Local Time = UTC -11h Actual Time: Wed-Apr-24 05:11 Country Calling Code: +685 Capital City: Apia on the island of Upolu (pop. 34 000) Government: Type: Mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy under native chief. Independence (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship): January 1, 1962. Constitution: January 1, 1962. Geography: Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Area: about 2,900 km², two main islands plus seven smaller ones. Terrain: Volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior with narrow coastal plain. Climate: Tropical; dry season (May to October), rainy season (November to April). People: Nationality: Noun and adjective--Samoan(s). Population: 193,000 (2015) Ethnic Groups: Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4% Religions: Christian 99.7% (about one-half of population associated with the London Missionary Society). Languages: Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English. Literacy: 99.7% Natural resources: Coconut products, timber, fish, taro, hydropower. Exports - commodities: fish, coconut oil and cream, nonu, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer Exports - partners: American Samoa 57.1%, Australia 17.2% (2015) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Fiji 22.6%, NZ 18.8%, China 15.8%, South Korea 7.9%, Australia 6%, US 5.6%, Singapore 5.2% (2015) Currency: Tala, or Samoan dollar, (SAT, former WST code is still in use) |
Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of SamoaSamoa The Government of Samoa. The Parliament of Samoa Samoa's Legislative Assembly. Samoa Tourism Authority Samoa - The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific. Intergovernmental organisations Pacific Islands Forum Inter-governmental organization for the cooperation between the countries of the Pacific Ocean. Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Intergovernmental organisation of the Pacific islands. MapsSamoa MapDetailed Map of Samoa. Administrative Samoa Map Map showing the administrative districts of Samoa. Google Earth Samoa Searchable map and satellite view of Samoa. Google Earth Apia Searchable map and satellite view of Samoa's capital town. Map of Polynesia Map of the countries in Polynesia, the island states in the eastern part of Oceania. Map of Oceania and the Pacific Islands Reference map of Australia/Oceania. Image: Teinesavaii |
Samoa News Samoa News American Samoa based online news. Samoa Observer A (news) portal to Samoa. The CocoNET Wireless Australia based Pacific Islands News and Information. Pacific Islands Report Up-to-date news of all the islands of the South Pacific. Pacific Forum opens Samoa talks Leaders of some of the Pacific Forum seek to boost regional co-operation at their summit in Samoa (BBC News). |
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Arts & CultureFa'asamoameans the Samoan way - the way of our ancestors, a Samoan chieftain system of hereditary ranks, rules the Samoan society in almost every aspect. Siapo.com Siapo, also known as tapa, a symbol of Samoan culture, is one of the oldest Samoan cultural art forms; the site also shows Siapo artists and artworks. Pacific Legends and Oral History Tales and stories of the Pacific. Polynesian Cultural Center A portal to Polynesian culture. |
Business & EconomyCentral Bank of SamoaThe Central Bank of Samoa is the nation's reserve bank. Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry Includes national investment policy, foreign investment registration, company registrations. Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters - SAME Samoa trade association. __Transportation Polynesian Airlines The Airline of Samoa, a state owned enterprise. |
© visitsamoa.ws / Photo: David Kirkland |
Travel and Tour Consumer Information
Destination Samoa - Travel and Tour GuidesSamoa Tourism AuthorityProvides information on Samoa - the treasured islands of the South Pacific. Finding Samoa A capsule guide to Samoa by David Stanley. Jane's Samoa Home Page Jane's guide to American Samoa and (Western) Samoa. Samoalive.com A Samoan portal and community site. Samoa Sensation Samoa portal with news in Samoan and English. South Pacific Tourism Organisation Inter-governmental body for the tourism sector in the South Pacific Islands, find information on: accommodation, activities, online bookings and news. Travel advice Travel advice for Samoa Islands Travel advice for Samoa Islands by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. |
© visitsamoa.ws Photo: David Kirkland |
EducationThe National University of SamoaSamoa's institution of higher learning for approximately 2,000 students. University of the South Pacific Premier institution of tertiary education in the Pacific region, jointly owned by the governments of twelve island countries, USP is an international centre of excellence for teaching, research and consulting on all aspects of Pacific life. University of the South Pacific Libraries The Main Library of the University of the South Pacific based at Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. |
Environment & NaturePacific Environmental Information Network (PEIN)A people-people information network that utilises IT tools to assist in strengthening national capacity for environmental protection and sustainable development of the Pacific island states and territories in general and the Pacific ACP states in particular. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) The Pacific region's major intergovernmental organisation charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources. |
HistoryA Brief HistoryAbout Samoa's history. History of Amerika Samoa History of American Samoa and the Samoa islands. The Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) How Polynesian seafarers discovered and settled nearly every inhabitable island in the Pacific Ocean before European explorers arrived in the 16th century. |
Additional Information on SamoaBBC News Country Profile: Samoa Background Notes: Samoa Open Directory Project: Samoa Wikipedia: Samoa The World Factbook -- Samoa |
Other island territories and states in the South Pacific: American Samoa | Fiji| Kiribati| New Caledonia | Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands | Tahiti | Tonga | Tuvalu | Vanuatu |
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