Where is the island of Samoa. western samoa

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Apia! Capital of Western Samoa crossword city of 4 letters!

Lonely Planet guides know about 25 synonyms marvelous, but when describing capitals, they use only one word: vibrant.

In Apia, the country's only city and the country's capital, the country's only real McDonald's is advertised in travel brochures with the slogan Taste a bit of home in paradise. In the background: Polynesian Blue outdoors, a one-plane airline, one of the group's companies Virgin Branson, demonstrates a metaphor for serious power: "tattooed" engines.

Compare with the tattooed shoulders of the bad guys:

Readers of my blog think that the bad guy has a "forearm" tattoo, although, in fact, this place of the arm is called, naturally, shoulder, a forearm- the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist:

Vibrant!

Apia mon amour!

There is even constructivism in Apia:

When you read about Oceania while sitting in Moscow, it seems that a typical ocean capital is a cool, fun city with a bunch of colonial architecture. The reality is that in Apia, which is disappointing: little has been preserved from better times.

Apia, like Moscow, grew by absorbing the surrounding villages. Districts of the city are still called by the names of these villages, and, most importantly, they have retained village self-government and communal ownership of land with all phono, matai, Aliyah, pulenuu and tulafale(). However, Apia is unique in that part of the land here is traded on the free market, which is why Apia is a kind of Samoan Skolkovo, where Western-style businesses develop.

This is - main square Apia. In a six-story building with a symbolic fail on the roof - the government house.

Samoa is the rarest example of a Polynesian country where there are TWO cellular operators (Digicel, Gomobile). Digicel, the only one with which Beeline roams, according to the ancient Polynesian tradition, does not know how to transfer data.

Landline telephone numbers - 5 digits:

Cars, as in Moscow, are decorated with furs and plush gaming dice:

Samoa is the rarest example of a country today (2009) that has switched from driving on the right (like ours) to driving on the left (like in England): to make it easier to use used cars from New Zealand. Therefore, all lanes are neatly marked with direction arrows, and the drivers themselves seem to still be a little confused: at least outside the city, it is customary to drive not in their own lane, but along the axial one. They write that the innovation caused popular unrest: and not surprisingly, the ratio of right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars in the country is exactly 1:1.

Another reform is being prepared in Samoa: on December 31, 2011, the country will move the clock forward a day, and from GMT-11 it will become GMT + 13 (or GMT + 14?), To move from yesterday, where, to tomorrow, where.

Speed limits are written immediately in mph and km / h: so that if a used car was brought from the USA, it would also be convenient to drive.

There are so many children, classes and schools in Apia that the color combinations of shirts and skirts are no longer enough to identify parallels and special stripes have to be invented:

What this country needs most

Useful data for tourists about Samoa, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Samoa, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Samoa.

Geography of Samoa

Independent State of Samoa - Island state in the South Pacific Ocean, occupying the western part of the archipelago of the same name. Consists of two major islands- Savaii and Upolu, two small ones - Manono and Apolima and five uninhabited islets.

The islands of the archipelago are the peaks of an underwater ridge of volcanic origin. The relief of the islands is mountainous. On about. Savai available active volcano Mathavan. Most high peaks- Mount Silisili (1858 m) on about. Savaii and Fito (1100 m) on about. Upolu. The surface of these islands decreases from the central most elevated regions to the periphery and in some places passes into the coastal lowlands. There are many fast mountain rivers on the islands. The shores are mostly rocky and indented.

State

State structure

Samoa is a constitutional monarchy with elements of a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the tribal leader (monarch). Executive power in the country is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Legislative Assembly, or Fono.

Language

Official language: Samoan, English

The Samoan language belongs to the East Austronesian group of the Austronesian language family. Samoan writing is based on the Latin alphabet.

Religion

Among believers - 49% of Protestants (represented mainly by Congregationalists and Methodists) and 45% of Catholics. There are also Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons.

Currency

International name: WST

The tala is made up of 100 sene. In circulation there are coins in denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 sene and 1 tala, banknotes in denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 tala.

You can exchange currency at any branch of ANZ Bank Samoa Ltd, National Bank of Samoa, Samoa Commercial Bank or Westpac, as well as in specialized exchange offices and hotels.

Most hotels accept credit cards the world's leading payment systems, in other places it is somewhat difficult to use them - everywhere outside the capital, preference is given to cash. There are very few ATMs. Traveler's checks can be cashed at most major hotels, banks and travel agencies.

Popular Attractions

Samoa Tourism

Popular hotels

Tips

Tipping is not accepted and not particularly encouraged, bargaining is also not met with understanding. According to Polynesian tradition, tips are a gift and must be given away, so almost all establishments do not have them at all.

Office Hours

Banks are open from Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 15.00, some banks are open on Saturdays, from 09.00 to 12.00, and even a little longer (although they usually do not work with private clients at this time).

Purchases

Normal shop hours are Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 16.30, Saturdays 08.00 to 12.30, however many private shops operate on their own schedule.

Uniform government tax (VAGST, 12.5%) is imposed on the price hotel rooms, many types of food or drink and is usually included in the price of a good or service.

The medicine

Vaccination against cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and polio is recommended, as well as special precautions against filariasis and elephantiasis. There are no carriers of malaria on the islands, but there are occasional outbreaks of tropical fever, which are carried by mosquitoes.

Security

Women traveling alone should expect increased attention from local men. Usually this is expressed in various oral comments and rarely turns into threatening forms.

Emergency Phones

Unified rescue service (fire department, police and ambulance) - 999.
Ambulance - 996.
Fire department - 994.
Police - 995.
Motootua Hospital (Apia, Upolu) - (+685) 21-212.
District Hospital (Tuasivi, Savaii) - (+685) 53-511.

Independent State of Samoa(Samoan. Malo Sa’oloto Tuto’atasi o Samoa, English Independent State of Samoa) is an island state in the South Pacific Ocean, occupying the western part of the archipelago of the same name. Previous names were German Samoa (1900-1914) and Western Samoa (1914-1997). It was admitted to the United Nations on December 15, 1976, since 1970 it has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The capital of the country - the city of Apia is located on the island of Upolu, which is one of the two largest islands in the state of Samoa.

Name etymology

The exact origin of the country's name is unknown. There are several versions.

According to one of them, "Samoa" is an abbreviated form of the word "Sa-ia-Moa", which translates from the Samoan language as "sacred to Moa." One of the legends is connected with this version, according to which the God of the Universe Tagaloa had a son named Moa and a daughter named Lu. After getting married, Lu gave birth to a son, whom she also named Lu. One night while sleeping, Tagaloa heard his grandson Lou humming the words "Moa-Lu, Moa-Lu". After a while, Lu changed their order and began to sing "Lu-Moa, Lu-Moa", that is, putting his name in front of the name of his uncle Moa. Tagaloa, hearing this, became very angry, considering his grandson to be too arrogant. He asked Lou to scratch his back. When Lou started to do this, Tagaloa grabbed the boy and started beating him. Frightened, Lu fled and went to live on earth. Tagaloa also warned his grandson to honor his uncle Moa. Lou remembered the order already on the ground and decided to name his new house"Sa-ia-Moa". Subsequently, this name was transformed into "Samoa".

However, among the locals, another version is most popular. The Samoans indicate that "Moa" means either "center" or "chicken" (however, in the Manu'a Islands this word is not used in this context; there the word "manu" is used for chicken). Therefore, the name of the state can be translated from the Samoan language as “the sacred center of the universe” or as “the place of the moa” (moa is a local poultry resembling a chicken).

In addition, "Moa" is the surname worn by the holders of the royal title of Tuimanua.

Story

The islands of Samoa, like the islands of Fiji and Tonga, were believed by some scholars to have been settled in the 5th century AD. e. during the migration of representatives of the Lapita culture from the Bismarck Islands located in Western Melanesia.

According to other sources, the settlement took place at the turn of the 2nd and 1st millennium BC. e. Samoa was one of the centers of formation of the Polynesian culture. It was from Samoa that the development of the islands and atolls of the central and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean began.

There is very little reliable information about the history of Samoa before the arrival of Europeans there. From legends and traditions, as well as from the materials of a few archaeological excavations, it is known that between the tribes that inhabited Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, there was a constant bloody rivalry for dominance in the region. The empire of Tu'i Pulotu (Tonga) was succeeded by the empire of Tu'i Manu'a (Samoa), and it was succeeded by Tu'i Tonga (c. 950 AD). Aristocratic families were connected by marriage, which supported the cultural and historical proximity of the states.

By the middle of the 17th century, the ports of Samoa carried out the main trading functions in the region, both within Polynesia and in trade with Europeans.

The European discoverer of the islands was the Dutch traveler Jacob Roggeveen, who landed on Samoa in 1722. Subsequently, in 1768, the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville visited the archipelago, calling it the Navigators' Islands. Until the 1830s, when English missionaries and traders began to arrive on the islands, contact with outsiders was very limited. In August 1830, a member of the London Missionary Society, John Williams, began his missionary work in Samoa. The Samoans had a reputation for being a wild and warlike people, which was due to the frequent clashes between local residents and the French, British, Germans and Americans, who used Samoa until the end of the 19th century to refuel steamships with coal. By this time, the process of decomposition of the primitive communal system and the formation of a class society was underway in Samoa: the islanders were divided into nobility and ordinary community members, rather large territorial associations arose, headed by supreme leaders.

By the middle of the 19th century, rivalry between Germany, Britain and the United States flared up for control of the islands, which was expressed in sending warships to the area of the islands, supporting the warring leaders of Samoa, supplying them with weapons, organizing training, and even in direct participation in internecine clashes. Already from the middle of the 19th century, these three states began to increase their presence in Samoa: in 1847, Britain opened its consulate in Apia; the United States followed in 1853 and Germany in 1861. In 1881, the rivals agreed to recognize the Samoan king of the supreme leader Malietoa Laupepa, but King Laupepa in 1885 came into open conflict with the Germans, who in response began to support his main rival Tamasese. Taking advantage of the actual dominance of Germany in Samoa and the lack of unity among the British and Americans, the Germans overthrew Laupepa in 1887, sent him into exile, and proclaimed Tamasese king. The German captain Brandeis, appointed prime minister, imposed high taxes on all Samoans and, relying on German warships, tried to strengthen his position on the islands with bloody repressions. These actions led to a series of protests among the indigenous people. At the head of the dissatisfied stood the leader Mataafa, who was very popular. After the victory of the warriors of Mataafa over the troops of Tamasese, the German authorities had to recall Brandeis. Stung by this failure, the German consul ordered an attack from the sea on the villages of Mataafa's supporters.

Concerned about the aggressive actions of the Germans, the governments of Britain and the United States sent armed forces to the islands to defend their interests. This led to an eight-year civil war, actually inspired by opposing external forces. All three countries sent their warships to Apia, and a large-scale war seemed inevitable, but on March 16, 1889, serious damage was caused to the fleet by a strong storm, which led to an end to the military conflict. As a result of the Berlin Agreement, a protectorate of three powers was established over the islands.

However, already in 1899, the Samoan islands were divided into two parts (the dividing line passed along 171 ° W): the eastern group, now known as “ American Samoa”, became the territory of the United States (Tituila Islands - in 1900, Manua - in 1905); the western islands were called "German Samoa", and Britain renounced claims in exchange for the return of Fiji and some other Melanesian territories.

The first German governor was Wilhelm Solf, who later became secretary of the colonies of the German Empire. During the years of German rule, protests against the colonial regime were constantly taking place in the country. The largest uprising, which was brutally suppressed by the German troops, occurred in 1908.

Samoa in the 20th century

On August 29, 1914, a New Zealand detachment of 1,374 men landed on Upolu to capture a German radio station. Not having received a rebuff from the Germans, the New Zealanders quickly took possession of the islands.

From the end of World War I until 1962, Samoa was administered by New Zealand, initially under a League of Nations mandate and later by the UN. Approximately one-fifth of Samoa's population died as a result of the 1918-1919 influenza epidemic, in part because New Zealand authorities failed to enforce quarantine.

In the early 1920s, Western Samoans founded the patriotic organization "Mau" ("Opinion") with the slogan "Samoa for the Samoans", which was a non-violent popular movement against the mistreatment of the Samoan people by the New Zealand administration. The Mau was led by Olaf Frederick Nelson, half Samoan, half Swedish. Among the forms of protest used were non-payment of taxes, the cessation of work on plantations, disobedience to the colonial court, the creation of their own governments. Nelson was expelled from the country during the 1920s and early 1930s, but continued to support the organization financially and politically.

On December 28, 1929, the newly elected leader of the Tupua movement, Tamasese Lealofi, led the Mau to a peaceful demonstration in Apia. New Zealand police attempted to arrest one of the leaders of the demonstration, which led to a clash. The police began firing indiscriminately at the crowd with a Lewis machine gun. The leader of the movement Tamasese, who tried to bring calm and order among the demonstrators, was killed. Another 10 demonstrators died on the same day, and 50 were shot and maimed as a result of police actions. This day in Samoa is known as Black Saturday. Despite constant repression, the Mau grew while remaining a non-violent movement.

After the Second World War, Western Samoa changed from a mandate to a Trust Territory of New Zealand, which began political reforms, including granting limited self-government to the Territory. In 1961, a referendum was held, during which the inhabitants of Western Samoa voted for independence. An agreement was signed with New Zealand, according to which she took over the defense of Western Samoa, as well as its representation in relations with foreign states. On January 1, 1962, Western Samoa became the first Pacific island nation to gain independence.

In July 1997, the country's constitution was amended, securing the new name of the state - "Samoa", under which it joined the UN in 1976. The administration of American Samoa protested against the renaming, arguing that by doing so, the national identity of American Samoa itself was called into question. In American Samoa, the expressions “Western Samoa”, “Western Samoan” are still used in relation to Samoa and its inhabitants.

Despite the fact that the inhabitants of both Samoans belong to the same nation and have the same language, there are cultural differences between them. People from Eastern Samoa usually move to Hawaii and the US mainland, and the residents themselves adopt specific American hobbies, such as American football and baseball. People from Western Samoa are usually oriented towards New Zealand whose influence can be seen in the great popularity of rugby and cricket.

Political structure

The 1960 constitution, which came into effect upon independence, established a republican (de facto), (de jure) federal elective absolute monarchy form of government based on the Westminster parliamentary system combined with local traditions and customs.

Legislature

The legislative body of the country is a unicameral parliament - the National Legislative Assembly (Fono Aoao Faitulafono). It consists of one representative each from 41 territorial constituencies, six additional members, as well as 2 deputies elected by people included in the special electoral rolls of citizens of non-Samoan origin. Only citizens of Samoa have the right to be elected to the Assembly. Deputies are elected on the basis of universal suffrage. The term of office of deputies is 5 years.

At the first sitting after the election, members of parliament elect a speaker from among themselves.

The Head of State of Samoa may, at any time, adjourn the work of the Parliament, as well as dissolve it after consultation with the Prime Minister of the country.

The Parliament of Samoa is vested with the power to legislate by passing bills. After the bill is approved by the parliament, it is sent to the head of state, who must sign or reject the bill on the recommendation of the prime minister.

executive branch

The executive power of Samoa is concentrated in the hands of the head of state.

The title of the head of state in Samoan is called O le Ao o le Malo (Samoan. O le Ao o le Malö), which can be translated as “leader of the government”: ao is the title of leaders, it means little “government”.

In 1962, when Samoa gained independence, the two paramount chiefs, Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tupua Tamasesa Meaola, were granted lifelong rights to hold the post of head of state. Tupua Tamasese Meaole died in 1963, Malietoa Tanumafili II died on May 11, 2007 at the age of 95. At that time, he was the oldest living monarch in the world. His successor Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi (Tupua Tamasese Meaole's eldest son) was elected head of state by the parliament, according to the constitution, for a term of five years on June 17, 2007.

According to the Constitution, the head of state (with the exception of the first two O le Ao o le Malo) is elected by the Legislative Assembly from among its members for 5 years and can be re-elected an unlimited number of times. The head of state has mainly representative functions, but has the right to veto decisions of parliament. In fact, only members of the Malietoa and Tupua families apply for this post.

The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for the general direction and control of the executive power of the country, and also bears collective responsibility to the Parliament. The Cabinet of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the head of state on the recommendation of Parliament. Also, the head of state, on the advice of the prime minister, appoints no less than eight and no more than twelve ministers of the country from among the deputies of the Legislative Assembly.

Judicial branch

The judicial system of Samoa is represented by the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, the Magistrates' Courts, the Village Fono and the Land and Titles Court.

The Supreme Court of Samoa is the court of first instance in criminal and civil cases. It consists of the President of the Supreme Court and several judges. The chairman is appointed by the head of state on the advice of the prime minister. Other judges of the Supreme Court can only be persons who have experience in practice as barristers in Samoa or another state provided for by the law of Samoa for at least 8 years. They are appointed by the head of state on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.

The Supreme Court also hears appeals from World Court decisions in claims worth $40 or more.

The Chief Justice and his other justices make up the Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from Supreme Court decisions in claims worth $400 or more.

The constitution also provides for the creation of a magistrates' court, or faamasino fesoasoani, which hears civil suits up to $40 in damages (in some cases up to $200), as well as criminal cases in damages up to $40 (in some cases up to $200). ..

The Magistrates' Court operates under the Magistrates' Court Act 1969. It handles civil lawsuits up to $1,000 and criminal cases up to $1,000 in damages.

Constituencies

The country is divided into 41 constituencies called faipule (Samoan faipule). They do not perform any administrative functions. Voting rights are granted to all citizens of Samoa who have reached the age of 21.

local government

At the local level, the matai govern the villages and districts. The village is inhabited by several aing (communities). The head of the most noble ainga is the matai of the entire village. He sits on the village council (Fono) along with the heads of other communities. Ten to twelve villages make up a district. AT guest house the most influential village gathers a district fono, in which the heads of all villages participate.

Foreign policy

Samoa is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies, the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific Islands Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization (as an observer) and other international organizations.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Western Samoa were established in 1976. However, there is no Russian embassy in Samoa. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in this country (concurrently) since July 28, 2004 is Lysenko Mikhail Nikolaevich, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Russian Federation in New Zealand.

Geography

The country is located in the western part of the Samoan archipelago between 171°20' and 172°50' W. and between 14°10’ and 13°20’ S The total land area is 2935 km² and includes two large islands - Savaii (1825 km²) and Upolu (1100 km²) - and six small ones, of which only Manono and Apolima are inhabited. Samoa owns 130,000 km² of the exclusive coastal economic zone and 23,100 reefs and lagoons (no more than 5 m deep). The country borders on the territorial waters of Tokelau in the north; American Samoa in the east; Tonga - in the south; the islands of Wallis and Futuna in the southwest and Tuvalu in the northwest.

Relief

The relief of the islands that make up Samoa is predominantly mountainous, since the islands are a continuation of the underwater ridge of volcanic origin. Most high points- Silisili (Savaii) (1857 m) and Fito (1115 m) (Upolu). Peaks on two large islands are cut deep gorges with wide valleys. The slopes facing the sea are mostly steep and precipitous. The coastline is narrow, indented with lagoons and coral reefs. It is in the low coastal strip between mountain ranges and the sea are concentrated the villages of the Samoans.

The Russian navigator O. E. Kotzebue, who visited Samoa in 1824, wrote about "the generosity of the local nature, dressing even the most steep cliffs in a green dress."

Climate

The climate of Western Samoa is humid tropical. Medium annual temperature 26.5 °C, annual amplitude does not exceed 2 °C.

According to the amount of precipitation, the year is divided into 2 seasons: wet (November - April), when the trade wind circulation is often disturbed by cyclones coming from the northwest, and drier (May - October), at this time southeast trade winds prevail on the islands. The plains receive 2000-3000 mm of precipitation per year; their number increases with height and reaches 5000-7000 mm. On the windward (southern and eastern) slopes, more rain falls than on the leeward (northern and western) slopes. The average relative humidity is 80%. Relative humidity averages 80% and the average annual number of hours of sunshine is 2500.

The prevailing wind direction is northeast, which accounts for 80% of the wet season and 50% of the dry season. Average wind speeds are about 20 km/h with gusts up to 48 km/h.

Samoa is periodically affected by tropical cyclones. In 1990 and 1991, the islands were hit by cyclones Ofa and Val, with wind speeds reaching 180 km/h. The most devastating for the country was the "hurricane of the century" that hit Western Samoa in January 1966. The wind speed reached 200 km/h.

Geological structure

Seismographs of the observatory in the city of Apia quite often register tremors, but these tremors have not yet caused destruction. Despite the fact that all the islands are of volcanic origin, only Savaii can be called volcanically active. The last major eruption dates back to 1700, the smaller ones - 1904-1906. Part of the territory of the island of Savaii, covered with young lavas, is almost devoid of vegetation. However, in other areas, erosion and weathering of older volcanic rocks produced fertile soils. There are especially many such lands on the island of Upolu.

No minerals have been found in the country.

Water resources

Samoa is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on all sides. The islands of Upolu and Savaii are separated by the Apolima Strait, in which the smaller islands of Manono and Apolima are located.

More than 3/4 of the country's population has access to piped water. However, a large amount of water is lost due to leaks due to poor infrastructure and poor maintenance of water pipelines.

Samoa's volcanic origins have had a major impact on the area, which is replete with shallow rivers and waterfalls, except for the western part of Upolu and most of Savaii. Traditional sources fresh water for the local population in these areas are groundwater and rainwater. On Savaii, rivers are used for these purposes, despite the fact that they are located closer to the coast. During the dry season, water bodies often dry up. In many areas, the amount of water supplied is insufficient to meet drinking and hygiene needs.

In Apia, the quantity and quality of the fresh water supply is declining due to the unsuitability of the aqueducts to the fast-flowing rivers, which are the main source of fresh water in the capital. Some areas of Savaii also experience acute water shortages throughout the year. locals satisfy needs by collecting rainwater in cisterns.

Despite heavy rainfall, almost all water evaporates and is also absorbed by the porous soil within 3-6 months after the end of the rainy season.

Soils

Most of the soils located in the mountainous regions of the islands are formed from volcanic ash. Most of it contains olivine basalt, while it is poor in potassium and phosphorus. However, frequent rainfall and favorable temperature conditions increase its fertility.

In Samoa, there are differences between the soils of mountains, uplands and lowlands. AT mountainous areas there is a tendency to increase the thickness of the soil layer with height, although, as a rule, the soils of these areas of Samoa are not used for agriculture.

Flora and fauna

The flora of Samoa is diverse (there are about 775 plant species, of which 30% are endemic to the archipelago). Among plants there are lat. Atuna racemosa, lat. Bischofia javanica, lat. Canarium harveyi, lat. Glochidion ramiflorum, lat. Gnetum gnemon, lat. Hoya australis, lat. Macaranga harveyana. Two-thirds of the surface of the islands is occupied by tropical rainforests, which are characterized by an abundance of tree ferns. There are valuable species with very hard wood. Large-leaved myrtle and orchids are widespread. Forests are located mainly on mountain slopes, while cultivated plantations dominate on the coast. On the tops of the highest mountains, forests give way to small forests and shrubs. 150 species of Samoan plants are used for medicinal purposes.

The fauna of Samoa, like other islands of Polynesia, is relatively poor. Before the appearance of humans on the islands of mammals, bats lived on land, and dolphins lived in coastal waters. Ancient Polynesian sailors brought dogs and pigs here, and Europeans brought cattle and horses. Also, with ships, rats penetrated the islands, settling throughout the archipelago.

Birds are represented much more diversely (honey plants, weed chickens, pigeons, small parrots, etc.). In total, 43 species of birds live permanently on the island, of which 8 are endemic, for example, the scalloped pigeon. The Polynesians brought chickens here, and the Europeans brought other poultry. Reptiles include lizards (7 species) and snakes (1 species). Many insects, especially butterflies (21 species). Turtles and crabs are found on the coast.

Ocean waters abound with fish, including valuable commercial species. Sharks, tuna, mackerel, swordfish are found far from the coast, in shallow waters - mullet, conger eels. Numerous mollusks live on coral reefs.

Administrative device

The territory of Samoa is divided into 11 itumalos (districts), which were formed even before the appearance of Europeans on the islands. Each district has its own constitutional arrangement (faavae) based on the traditional order of seniority of titles in each district's faalupeg (traditional greeting).

The village, which is the administrative center of the district, conducts the affairs of the district, coordinating its decisions with the centers of other districts. For example, the seat of Aana County is Leulumoega. The High Chief of Aana bears the title of TuiAana. The council of chiefs that bestows this title, Faleiva (House of Nine), sits at Leulumoeg. Similar cases are being conducted in other districts. Thus, for example, in the district of Tuamasaga, the title of paramount chief is called Malietoa and is assigned by the council of chiefs of Fale Tuamasaga, sitting in Aphega.

Population

According to the 1986 census, 157 thousand people lived in the country. By 2004, the population increased to 177.7 thousand. According to estimates for July 2007, the population of Samoa was 214,265 people, of which 92.6% were Samoans, 7% were descendants from marriages of Europeans with Polynesians, 0.4% were Europeans. More than 70% of the country's population lives on Upolu, although this island is one and a half times smaller than Savaii, where 28% of Samoans live. The islands of Manono and Apolima account for about 1% of the population. The remaining small islands are uninhabited. The vast majority of the inhabitants are concentrated on the coasts; the hinterland of both large islands is very sparsely populated. The most densely populated northwestern coast of Upolu and the area of the capital - Apia.

28.3% of the population belongs to the age group under 15 years old, 65.5% - to the group from 15 to 65 years old and 6.3% - over 65 years old. The birth rate is estimated at 15.69 per 1,000 inhabitants, the death rate is 6.47 per 1,000, emigration is 11.59 per 1,000. Infant mortality is 28.72 per 1,000 newborns. In recent years, the downward trend in the population of Samoa has continued (this is due to the fact that young people go abroad in search of work, mainly to New Zealand).

Mass emigration from Samoa is due to the backwardness of the local economy. Young people leave the country in search of work or for higher wages, as well as out of dissatisfaction with the traditional ways, which, in their opinion, do not correspond to the realities of the modern world. The main flow of migration is directed to New Zealand. Some of the emigrants, having saved money or finished their studies, return to their homeland, while others write to their families and leave Samoa forever.

Religion

98% of Samoans are Christians. Congregationalists 35.5%, Catholics 19.6%, Methodists 15%, Latter Day Saints 12.7%, Assemblies of God 6.6%, Seventh-day Adventists 3.5%.

The head of state until 2007, Malietoa Tanumafili II, was an adherent of the Baha'i religion. Samoa is home to one of the seven Houses of Worship of the Baha'i religion, founded in 1984. It is located in Tiapapate, 8 km from Apia.

Languages

The official languages are Samoan and English. The Samoan language belongs to the Polynesian languages included in the Oceanian zone of the Austronesian language family.

Samoan writing is based on the Latin alphabet. The Samoan script was created by missionaries as early as 1834. Primarily textbooks, religious literature, as well as laws and regulations of the authorities are published in Samoan. The country publishes a government newsletter in Samoan and two private weeklies with articles in English and Samoan. Both of these languages are used in their programs by local radio and television.

Economy

Taro, an agricultural root crop, has traditionally been Samoa's main export, accounting for over 50% of exports in 1993. However, due to the destruction of fields as a result of a fungal disease, since 1994, taro has accounted for less than 1% of exports.

Benefits: The growth of light industry attracts foreign firms, mostly Japanese. Rapid growth thanks to improved infrastructure for tourism and the start of offshore services. Agriculture in tropical conditions allows exports mainly of taro, coconut oil and milk, cocoa and copra.

Weaknesses: Cyclones hinder development. Unstable international markets copra and cocoa. bad transport system. Dependence on foreign aid and remittances from citizens living abroad.

Samoa's economy has traditionally been dependent on humanitarian aid, private transfers from foreign countries, and agricultural exports. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the country's labor force and produces 90% of the country's exports, including coconut cream, coconut oil, noni (noni fruit juice), bananas, copra, and others.

The gross domestic product (GDP) (at purchasing power parity) of the country in 2006 was US$1.218 billion. According to 2004 data, the manufacturing sector is the main component of GDP (58.4%), followed by the service sector (30.2%), agriculture (11.4%). Samoa's working-age population is estimated at 90,000.

Industry and Energy

In 1967, a large American company built a timber processing complex on the island of Savaii and began harvesting valuable timber. However, her predatory actions angered the Samoan government. In 1977, it terminated the agreement with this company, acquired all the company's property and took control of the logging operations. Most of the timber produced is exported.

In addition to the timber industry complex, the country's industry consists of several small enterprises. These are a soap and brewery, a clothing factory, a factory for the production of furniture, coconut oil, cookies, ice cream and Coca-Cola. The authorities encourage the development of folk art crafts. The export of products of folk craftsmen is handled by a special government organization.

35% of the required electricity is generated by hydroelectric power plants; the remaining electricity needs are met by imported fossil fuels.

Tourism

Tourism is a growing sector that currently accounts for 25% of GDP. The number of tourists has increased from 70,000 in 1996 to 100,000 in 2005. The Samoan government has announced a reduction in the role of the state in regulating the financial sector and encouraging investment. Observers note that the flexibility of the labor market is the basis for economic growth opportunities. The development of the tourism sector was greatly facilitated by investment in the construction of hotel infrastructure, political instability in neighboring countries and the government's agreement with Virgin Airlines to launch regular passenger flights.

Among the main objects visited by tourists:

Apia - among the attractions of the capital of Samoa is a memorial tower dedicated to the victims of World War II, a flea market and many churches;
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum - the home of the writer, located four kilometers from Apia;
South coast of Upolu - beaches of Samoa: Matareva, Salamuma and Aganoa, coral reefs of Aleipat;
Rock Papasea - a five-meter descent from the waterfall into a small forest lake;
Savaii - Tafua and Falealupo reserves, Olemoe waterfalls, Taga geysers.

Agriculture and fishing

Samoa is an agricultural country, and 77% of its population lives in rural areas. Favorable climatic conditions allow growing a large number of tropical and subtropical fruits. During the period of German colonization, the country produced mainly copra. German traders and settlers actively expanded plantations and introduced new crops, in particular cocoa and rubber, importing workers from China and Melanesia to care for them. When natural rubber prices plummeted at the end of World War II, the New Zealand government began to encourage the cultivation of bananas to satisfy its own market.

Today, Samoa's main products are copra, cocoa and bananas. Export of agricultural products in 2001 was estimated at 5.1 million US dollars. The cocoa produced is of high quality and is used in New Zealand chocolate production. Despite good conditions for growing coffee, stable production is not established. Rubber has been produced in the country for many years, but its exports have little impact on the country's economy.

Samoa also has great fish wealth. However, fishing is predominantly consumer in nature and is carried out, as a rule, from traditional two-hull boats - catamarans. Due to the lack of sea fishing vessels, modern freezing equipment and fish canning enterprises, the country not only cannot export fish, but is even forced to import fish products from abroad. Therefore, the government considers the creation of its own fishing industry as one of the urgent tasks.

Transport and communications

The country has 2,100 km of roads, mostly rural. There is a ferry service between the islands of Upolu and Savaii, as well as with Pago Pago (American Samoa). Faleolo International Airport (34 km from Apia) can receive aircraft up to heavy Boeing 747. Provision with cell phones - 130 pcs. per thousand population (2003-2004).

Currency

Samoa's currency is the tala, which consists of 100 sene ("tala" and "sene" are the equivalents of the words "dollar" and "cent"). The tala was introduced in 1967 and replaced the Samoan pound at the rate of 2 tala = 1 pound (equivalent to the New Zealand dollar). The tala remained equal to the New Zealand dollar until 1975. The symbol WS$ is commonly used to represent the currency, but the symbols SAT, ST, and T are also used.

Foreign economic relations

The main exports are traditionally fish, clothing, coconut oil, coconut cream, beer and copra. The main imports are bicycles, equipment, building materials and consumer goods. The main partners are export: Australia (63%), USA, import: New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, USA and Japan.

Member of the International Organization of the Nations of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP).

culture

Lifestyle

The traditional Samoan way of life (called Faa Samoa) remains an important part of Samoan life and politics. Subjected to European influence for centuries, the Samoans nevertheless maintained their historical traditions, preserved their social and political structure, your language.

Samoan culture is based on the principle of valealoai - a specific system of relations between people. These relationships are based on respect (faaaloalo). When Christianity was brought to Samoa by missionaries, most of the population accepted it. Currently, 98% of the population identify themselves as Christians. The remaining 2% either identify themselves as non-religious or belong to other faiths.

Most Samoans live in traditional oval huts (fale). The roof made of pandanus or coconut palm leaves rests on wooden pillars. There are no walls, but at night and in bad weather, the openings between the pillars are hung with mats, which are stored rolled up under the roof (along its perimeter). The floor is paved with even large pebbles. Now there are halyards with an iron roof.

The main socio-economic unit of Samoan society is the community (ainga), which consists of three to four generations of the closest male relatives, women who came to the community by marriage, and persons included in it as a result of adoption or adoption. The members of the ainga (on average 40-50 people) jointly own the land and jointly perform all labor-intensive work.

Art

Like many other Polynesian islands, the Samoans have two types of tattoos for different genders. Tattoos for men are called tatau and consist of complex geometric designs placed from the knees to the ribs. A man with such a tattoo is called sogaimichi. For Samoan girls (teine) they make mala, which extend from just below the knees to the top of the thighs.

music and dancing

The traditional female Samoan dance is the siwa. This dance is similar to the Hawaiian hula - the dancers “tell” their “story” with smooth movements of their arms and legs to the beat of the music. Male Samoan dances are more aggressive and energetic. Sasa is a male Samoan dance in which ranks of dancers perform rapid synchronized movements to the beat of drums or rolled mats. Its name is translated from the Samoan language as "slap", because it is accompanied by slaps on different parts of the body.

Museums

The Robert Lewis Stevenson Museum (Vailima, 4 km from Apia) is the house where Stevenson spent the last years of his life (1890-1894). Nearby is the grave of the writer. The writer's house and the entire estate have been declared a nature reserve. It houses the official residence of the head of state.

AT National Museum(Apia) in three halls are stored a variety of exhibits telling about the history of the country. Some of the exhibits are kept in museums and private collections in New Zealand, USA, Australia and Germany. For example, tapas - traditional printed fabrics made from sun-dried vegetable paste and therefore very fragile - are exhibited at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. All foreign museums and galleries are obliged to return the exhibits after creating the appropriate conditions for their storage. All museum exhibits can be divided into two categories: archaeological artifacts and handicraft items. The age of the most ancient items is more than 1000 years BC: these are mainly stone axes and chisels.

Education

Spending on education (2002-2004) amounted to 4.3% of GDP. Samoa is characterized by high literacy of the population - 98.6% (2005). The proportion of the illiterate population aged 15 to 24 is 0.5%. This is explained by the fact that there is a wide network of primary state and private church schools in the country, in which 3/4 of children aged 7-12 study. Compulsory education includes ten-year schools that admit children as young as five years old. Teaching is conducted in Samoan, but English is intensively studied. Schools were founded at the beginning of the 20th century by missionaries.

Some children (66% - 2004) study at secondary schools, and can also receive special education at the College of Tropical Agriculture, the College of Commerce, as well as several trade and trade schools. Hundreds of Samoans have received higher education abroad, mostly in New Zealand.

Higher education in the country is represented by the National University of Samoa, the University of the South Pacific, the Samoa Polytechnic University and the Ocean Medical University.

Samoa is a founding member of the University of the South Pacific, with its main campus in Suva, Fiji and Samoan in Alafua. The National University was founded in 1984. Approximately 10% (2005) of the population of the corresponding age receive higher education.

healthcare

Health institutes are represented by the national hospital in Apia, four district hospitals and health centers. Most of the medical staff has a higher education from the Fiji School of Medicine. Vaccination coverage is 95%, and 85% of Samoans have access to clean drinking water.

Periodicals published in Samoan and English: newspapers Samoa Observer and Samoa Times (daily), Savali (4 times a week) and Talamua Magazine (monthly). Radio (Magik FM, K-Lite FM, Talofa FM, Samoa Broadcasting Corporation) and TV (Samoa Broadcasting Corporation, O Lau TV, TV3, Vaiala Beach Television) are broadcast.

The number of radio receivers in the population is more than 175 thousand (1997), televisions - 8.5 thousand (1999). In the archipelago, 2 providers provide their services for 10 thousand Internet users (2007).

Sport

The most popular sports in Samoa are rugby and Samoan cricket. The Samoa national rugby team, named Manu Samoa by the supporters, constantly opposes rivals from other countries. Samoa has competed in every Rugby World Cup since 1991. In 1991 and 1995, the team reached the quarter-finals, in 1999 - in the second round, in 2000 - reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup.

They also won the Rugby League Cup in Wellington and the Rugby Sevens Tournament in Hong Kong in 2007 - in honor of this victory, the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also the chairman of the national rugby union, declared a national holiday. Samoa also competes in the Pacific Cup of Nations. The sport is governed by the Samoan Rugby Union, which is affiliated to the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and also promotes the Pacific Islands national team. The club level hosts the local national championship and the Pacific Cup. The most famous Samoan players are Pat Lam and Brian Lima. Many Samoans also play for the New Zealand national team, British Super League clubs and the British National Leagues.

The Samoans also had success in American professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and sumo, where Musashimaru Koyo reached the rank of yokozuna.

The Samoa Football Federation has been a member of FIFA since 1986, but the national team has not achieved significant results even in Oceania-scale tournaments.

The country has competed at every Summer Olympics since 1984. There are no Olympic medals. A native of Apia, David Tua, playing for the New Zealand team, won a bronze Olympic medal at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. It is noteworthy that in the same year, Markus Stephen, who in December 2007 became president of Nauru, played for the Samoa Olympic weightlifting team.

Western Samoa is an almost untouched and very amazing corner of our planet. It was here that the famous film-drama "Return to Paradise" was filmed, it was in this paradise place that the great writer R. L. Stevenson decided to retire from civilization and spend his last years.

With coastlines, volcanic landscapes and rainforests, Western Samoa has become a great place to active rest and hiking.

To explore the island, you can use a boat or canoe, sometimes this is the only way to get to some uninhabited islands and atolls.

Another equally accessible way of transportation is a bicycle. You can have a good time cycling around the island of Savaii. Fishing is a good form of recreation, but this pleasure is not cheap, since the exclusive rights to fish in local waters belong to the inhabitants of coastal villages.

The official name of this state since 1997 is the Independent State of Samoa, before that it was simply called Western Samoa. The fact is that the group of islands of Samoa is divided in two, an independent state is located on the western islands, and an American trust territory, the so-called American Samoa, is located on the eastern islands. This division was associated with civil war, which split the Samoan society into two parts at the end of the 19th century. The western part - the islands of Upolu and Savaii - was captured by Germany, and the eastern part - Tutuila and Manua - by the United States. During the First World War that unfolded in Europe, the German part of the archipelago, without any resistance from the Germans, was captured by New Zealand, which was subsequently forced to provide the Samoans with limited self-government, and then independence. By the way, Samoa is the first state in the Pacific Ocean, not counting New Zealand, which gained independence. Eastern Samoa remains American to this day, and it is unlikely that it will ever reunite with its western part. There are several weighty reasons for this, the main of which is the reluctance of the Eastern Samoans themselves to leave the custody of the United States. Although American Samoa is not included in the United States, Eastern Samoans have an excellent opportunity to go to the United States and obtain full-fledged American citizenship there. If they join the independent Samoa, then they will lose such a privilege.

Geographically, the Samoa Islands are located in the very center of Polynesia, practically at the crossroads of trade routes from America to Australia and New Zealand. The islands are very mountainous and have a pronounced volcanic origin. There is an active volcano on the island of Savaii, although the last time it erupted a hundred years ago, however, it did not fall asleep, and at any moment you can expect another eruption. However, this volcano is small, and its eruptions did not bring any noticeable damage to the local economy. The climate in Samoa is tropical, the islands are often hit by cyclones, in which wind speeds often reach 150-200 km / h. Despite the fact that Samoa is very far from all the continents - Asia, Australia and America - a very large number of various plants grow on the islands, more than a third of which are endemic, that is, they cannot be found anywhere else. In contrast to the flora, the fauna in Samoa is very poor - only 8 species of endemic birds are found on the islands, and 35 are introduced by Europeans, or came to Samoa from Australia and Asia in other ways. And although there are a lot of insects - mostly butterflies, but there is only one species of snakes and 7 species of lizards - that's all that Samoa can boast of in this regard. But the marine fauna around the islands is very rich. Turtles, crabs, shellfish and fish are found in abundance in Samoa.

On Upolu, which is the main island of the archipelago, you can visit the wonderful museum of the English writer Robert Louis Stevenson, the center of traditional Polynesian art, the Samoan village museum and, of course, Paradise Beach. Those who wish can enjoy the beauty of the ocean, scuba diving, take part in fishing or delve into the nature of the interior of the island. The only city Western Samoa, which is also the capital, is Apia. Despite banks, offices and eateries, which should have given it a modern touch, the city has retained its national charm. Landmarks for walking around the city can serve as a clock tower and a memorial erected in honor of those killed in World War II. To the west of the tower is Flea Market - a market where you can find very diverse and even interesting goods. Here you can find electronics, clothes, and sipao - local fabrics that are traditionally dyed with leaf juice and bark, and, of course, coconuts and precious shells. There are many churches scattered around Apia, the largest of them is the Catholic Church, which is located on the city shore. The smaller Anglican Church is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, and the relics of the missionary, the Reverend John Williams, who was one of the first to come to these islands, rest in the Concretionalist Christian Church. Apia has three hotels, an observatory, small businesses and government offices. From the center to the west stretched the villages of the coastal region.

Stevenson's estate is located on the outskirts of the capital. Here is the tombstone of the English writer. When Stevenson died, the islanders worked around the clock to cut a path to the top of the hill. They wanted to bury their beloved "tusitala" - which means "storyteller" - the next day with full honors.

On the south coast Upolu, on the coast lined with palm trees, is a great place to rest and relax, enjoying the tranquility of these places. The best beaches are considered "Return to Paradise", named after the film of the same name, the Matareva beach complex and a number of other wonderful and well-equipped for a full-fledged beach holiday places. They abound with quiet coves and small water bodies, which seem to be created specifically for snorkeling. To the east of Apia there are wonderful beaches with ideal places for swimming. Continuing along the coast, you can get to the eastern edge of the island and see the unforgettable reefs of the Aleipata region.

Another one of the places noteworthy- this is Lake Lanoto’o Lake, it is also called Goldfish Lake, today it is not very well known, but during the German occupation, the lake was a popular vacation spot, officers with their ladies liked to relax here. Today, flocks of goldfish swim in the strange green water of the lake, swimming up to the shores in search of food. No one has yet managed to reach the bottom of Lanoto’o, although many attempts have been made. It is so deep that without special diving equipment it is dangerous to sink to its bottom.

Sawaii, one of the largest Polynesian islands, and at the same time - the most sparsely populated, partly due to the fact that the unpredictable volcano Matawanu dormant on it, and a large part of the island is covered with solidified magma, on which nothing grows. The island has largely retained its original charm, and is almost untouched by Western civilization, and the lifestyle of the inhabitants has undergone fewer changes than even on Upolu. And of course there are a lot amazing places for recreation and diving. "Tafua Rainforest", a wonderful rainforest reserve, it is located on a stretch of coastline with caves, grottoes and lava fields. The lava fields were formed during the 1902-1911 Mathawanu eruption and today are a spectacular landscape. Those who wish can take an unforgettable walk around the crater.

Between Savaii and Upolu, right in the strait, is the island of Manono. This is a very quiet place where residents of the noisy capital like to spend their holidays. The government is making a lot of efforts to preserve the fragile ecosystem here. West of Manono, the island of Apolima is lost. It is made up of petrified lava flows. And the only village, with a population of only about 150 people, can only be reached by one tiny passage from the sea. To travel to Apolima, you will need an invitation from one of the residents, and a chartered yacht or boat. Those who, having overcome all difficulties, visited this island, claim that they have never experienced greater isolation from the world in their lives.

In September, Western Samoa hosts the biggest holiday, the Tehuila Festival, which affects almost all the islands. His program includes choral singing, fire dances, traditional siwa dance, and of course fautasi boat races. The Diving Festival takes place a month earlier, this is a very interesting holiday, giving those who wish to try their hand at the best sites, where pearl shells can be found. From mid to late February, the Argungu Cultural Festival and Fisherman's Festival takes place on the Sokoto River. It is dedicated to fishing, but its program also includes duck hunting and other types of water competitions. In August, during the Patega Regatta, a celebration takes place, which, perhaps, can be considered the most grandiose. The highlight of this festival is the long canoe competition, in which all the males of the clan often participate, which turns the competition into a fight between clans, and gives the race a special poignancy.

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The Independent State of Samoa is an island state in the South Pacific Ocean, occupying the western part of the archipelago of the same name. It consists of two large islands - Savaii and Upolu, two small ones - Manono and Apolima and five uninhabited islets.

The islands of the archipelago are the peaks of an underwater ridge of volcanic origin. The relief of the islands is mountainous. On about. Savaii has an active volcano Matavanu. The highest peaks are Mount Silisili (1858 m) on about. Savaii and Fito (1100 m) on about. Upolu. The surface of these islands decreases from the central most elevated regions to the periphery and in some places passes into the coastal lowlands. There are many fast mountain streams on the islands. The shores are mostly rocky and indented.

Samoa airport

Apia Faleolo International Airport

Hotels Samoa 1 - 5 stars

Samoa weather

The climate is tropical, hot and humid. Average daily temperature approx. 26°С, temperature fluctuations are small (average temperature in summer - 27°С, in winter - 25°С).

The average annual rainfall ranges from 2500–3000 mm in the northwest of both large islands to 5000–7000 mm in the central mountainous regions. The dry season lasts from May to October, and the rainy season from November to April. Tropical hurricanes often recur.

Samoan language

Official language: Samoan, English

The Samoan language belongs to the East Austronesian group of the Austronesian language family. Samoan writing is based on the Latin alphabet.

Currency of Samoa

International name: WST

The tala is made up of 100 sene. In circulation there are coins in denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 sene and 1 tala, banknotes in denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 tala.

You can exchange currency at any branch of ANZ Bank Samoa Ltd, National Bank of Samoa, Samoa Commercial Bank or Westpac, as well as at specialized exchange offices and hotels.

Most hotels accept credit cards of the world's leading payment systems, in other places it is somewhat difficult to use them - everywhere outside the capital, preference is given to cash. There are very few ATMs. Traveler's checks can be cashed at most major hotels, banks and travel agencies.

Customs restrictions

The transit of currency is free. Jewelry is declared.

It is not allowed to import products from coral, sea turtle shell, feathers and skins of tropical birds and animals, items found at the bottom of the sea, artistically and culturally valuable, non-canned meat products - without special permission. It is forbidden to import and export: drugs and drug-containing medicines, weapons and pesticides.

Mains voltage

Tips

Purchases

Normal shop hours are Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 16.30, Saturdays 08.00 to 12.30, however many private shops operate on their own schedule.

A single government tax (VAGST, 12.5%) is imposed on the price of hotel rooms, many types of food or drink, and is usually included in the price of a good or service.

Office Hours

Security

Women traveling alone should expect increased attention from local men. Usually this is expressed in various oral comments and rarely turns into threatening forms.

Country code: +685

First level geographic domain name:.ws

The medicine

Emergency Phones