The most important city in Western Samoa. School encyclopedia

Samoa - Western and east island. About children's misconceptions about Polynesia after reading books by Stevenson and Jules Verne...

The plane, its turbines roaring and overcoming the gravity of the Earth, rose above the trees and while the threads of rain and strong side winds that accompanied our flight from Samoa danced a frenzied dance on the surfaces of the Boeing. While gray clouds in several layers entangled this place Pacific Ocean They didn’t hide the picture below (and they hid it so quickly that I didn’t even have time to get my iPhone ready to take photos), I captured the beautiful transitions from turquoise to aquamarine, as well as the white borders of sea foam and the lemon-cream contour of the sandy shores...

-Fuck! And where was all this? – an alarming thought flashed – Maybe I missed it somewhere?

But the passing blue outlines of the pool and still visible sun loungers around put everything in its place - this is a resort. This is not Samoa. This is an exception for honeymooners and the elderly - the main contingent of tourists coming here.
The rest The thing appeared for a second and immediately disappeared behind the thick gray cotton wool - a wild downpour began charging in the night, making a commercial break and then covering the space around with triple the energy of the flood.

The rest: whitish-turquoise water near the shore (knee-deep + sharp coral formations in the form of pumice with sharp teeth, on which I have already injured my knee and palm), a gray reef barrier and a blue ocean lazily dangling with large pussies of waves.
I deliberately left Samoa, having lost quite a lot of money on exchanging non-returnable tickets and abandoning the car, paid for for a week in advance, at the island’s airport.

I left 2 days after arriving.
Why so fast? Yes, because I no longer saw the point in masturbating in search of an awesome beach a la Boracay or Cuba…. Well, or at the end a la the Red Sea of Egypt... There are no such corners here. As well as special natural beauties that you could enjoy for days on end. All waterfalls are monotonous and washed out. Landscape in a crater with grazing cows...

Yes it's beautiful. But to repeat this day after day and sacrifice days of your life for this? Nope...
I didn’t find any adventures or activities other than a couple of scows with divers’ cylinders and a couple of boats with school holders with exorbitant prices for a trip in depth or in search of tuna or marlin.
Even with the natives it was not possible to agree on the rental of their Polynesian boats...

All that remains is a seal rest in the shallow waters in front of the resort with a price for a bungalow starting from 200 US dollars and lying on a sun lounger with a book... And this is a 5-hour flight from Australia (you still need to get to Australia). You wonder: is it worth such a waste of health and money. My answer: NOT WORTH IT.

You can blame me, as for example Borracho does now - like your eyes are blurry... you constantly go on trips and that’s why you got greedy.
But no. Not at all like that.
I didn’t get greedy, I just have the opportunity to compare and boldly make a choice, without trying to find diamonds in my ass.
I see absolutely no point in traveling around the islands of Oceania. Unless you have a goal to spend a lot of money by increasing your image conditional level and waste the time allotted from above. Everyone's business. I proceed from the principle: if I don’t like it, I don’t eat it. Someone may follow the axiom “soap is not soap - money paid - you need to eat”...

Here. My verdict: all the islands of Oceania, accessible to reach for reasonable money, are similar to each other based on their historical birth: volcanic - will be the same in the center, side and bottom. Coral formations, attols - similarly.
The theory is based on the practice of telling two coral formations: the Galapagos and Samoa, the practice of advertising marketing and human psychology - if you have visited, then you should praise the place, otherwise it turns out that you wasted your money...

I don’t consider atolls because I haven’t been to them and I’m generally in no hurry. It seemed to me a little that I would rather explore the islands in the Caribbean Sea.
More economical and practical.
What are your impressions of Samoa?

Quote from Sergei Vinsky, said by Borracho several times during yesterday: standing on a frozen slab of porous chocolate of solidified lava, lying in the sea at knee-deep depth in front of sharp pitfalls, sitting in a car on board a ferry under a furious downpour...

This is your Samoa...

I put a bold point on the islands of Polynesia, Macronesia, etc. and I won't go here again.
I wish the same for you...

Regarding the island of Savaii, which we arrived at yesterday morning by ferry and left safely today:
cost of transporting a car: 80 tala including driver
passenger transportation cost: 12 tala
Travel time 1.5 hours

Tickets for the car are sold at the Samoa Shipping Co office located in Apia
The pier from which ferries leave for Savaii is located 40 km from the city.
Ferries run 3 times a day, except Tuesday: only one ferry.
On the island of Savaii itself, ferry tickets are sold immediately at the pier.

There is a good quality asphalt road around the island. The island itself seemed more rural and wild. It’s not just that the fucking people are interesting, but the fact that tourism infrastructure not particularly visible.

But the volcanic origin of the island is very noticeable: black streams of solidified lava descending to the water and stunted vegetation on it.
Reminds me a lot Galapagos Islands, but only without birds and seals. But with people.

Beach nearby Cape Tapaga, Upolu
What caught my eye was the stripe that flashed after many kilometers of thickets and outright hackwork in the form of an obscene sea white sand.
Stopped right away. At some backpacker monastery: small palm bungalows on curia legs stand along the shore without amenities or electricity - fale are called here. Since my plans for Samoa coincided with Borracho’s plans: to live in normal conditions, on a normal beach for several days. Swim and acclimatize. Take leisurely drives from the beach around the area…. And this place did not meet the level of comfortable living... we decided to at least take a swim.
Bottom line: in shallow water near the shore you can lie in warm water (more than 30 Celsius). Further on (noticeable from the photo – the water is a different color, darker) are razor-sharp coral slabs and even smaller ones.
In addition, we were immediately asked to get out of the water and go to the manager. The manager was not found. They were very hungry, but they refused to feed us, sending us again to the elusive manager, from which I concluded that in order to swim here or eat in a restaurant, you need to buy a residence permit in a bungalow without water and electricity. Why is this necessary? About food in Samoa

In Samoa they don't know how to cook at all. I order meat. They answer that it’s local and not ice cream. From local cows. They bring something in jelly, I can’t even cut it with a knife.
Fish only tuna. In general, it’s already dry in structure, but here it’s baked on the grill... From shells, only imported kiwi from Zealand.

Borracho adds:

In general, the Samoan islands are the only ones I have been to where fish is present almost in the form of canned food.
I understand that people are God-fearing, terrible on the face, but kind inside. But for example, a Cuban you don’t like with a wretched inflatable tube from a wheel or a raft made from the remains of the foam thermal insulation of an old refrigerator, sailing somewhere a hundred meters from the Malecon in Havana, will catch more fish in a day than the entire catch on fish market in Apia. Or the 65-year-old father of my Cuban friend, with a homemade spearfishing gun, old fins held together from different parts with wire, and a bottle of fresh water on his belt from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m....

Dispute with lovers of “islands in the ocean” where they have never actually been

So, in order:
-in Samoa, affordable Internet (1.5 USD for 30 minutes of very slow Internet, which is only enough to check email. You can forget about surfing the Internet) costs 7 USD per hour
using WiFi in hotspots of expensive hotels. It is expensive.
-there is a tourist information center in the city center. There is one free card with marked points. The entire coastline is replete with the signatures Swimming, Snorkling, Diving... Which is not true.
I checked it specifically. Ticket offices operate on the principle: I represent the interests of this company, but I don’t know anything about others. The question is “where besides NZ and Australia can you fly from Samoa”
It's better not to ask. Is it logical to sell ferry tickets at the pier? Logical. Following this logic and without specifying, you risk getting on the ferry only by leaving your car on
shore - you have to buy a ticket for it in the city.

We drove around the island and decided to go back to Australia.
We stopped at the airport today. Changed tickets. And we are now flying back to Sydney.

I think we’ll rent a car there and take our time and head to the Fraser Coast. Past the Gold Coast, past Brisbane...
So, the island epic is over quickly and fearlessly: $1000 down the drain.

We arrived in Sydney. We changed our tickets and will be on the Fraser Coast on April 3 (Shamasha, we will meet you at the airport on the 5th), and now in the area Blue Mountains. You can't see the mountains because it's dark and it's raining. But we have a bottle of rum with us mobile connection(Beeline did not work in Samoa) and there is Internet (in Samoa there are problems with it, and 20 tala per hour is not very budget-friendly).
Tala rate 2.85 per US dollar

5 /5 (3 )

» » Samoa - capital Apia

Apia! Capital of Western Samoa crossword puzzle 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 capital, the country's only real McDonald's is advertised in tourist brochures with the slogan Taste a bit of home in paradise. In the background: outdoor advertising of Polynesian Blue, an airline of one aircraft, one of the companies of the group 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, when in fact, this part of the arm is called, naturally, shoulder, A forearm- part of the arm between the elbow and 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 oceanic capital is a cool, cheerful city with a lot of colonial architecture. The reality of what is in Apia is disappointing: little has been preserved from the best times.

Apia, like Moscow, grew, 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 everyone phono, matai, aliyah, pulenuu And tulafale(). However, Apia is unique in that part of the land here is traded on the free market, so Apia is a kind of Samoan Skolkovo, where Western-style businesses are developing.

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

Samoa is a rare example of a Polynesian country where there are TWO mobile 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-digit:

The cars, as in Moscow, are decorated with hair and plush gambling dice:

Samoa is a rare example of a country these days (2009) that has switched from driving on the right (like ours) to driving on the left (like in England): to make it more convenient to use used cars from New Zealand. Therefore, all lanes are neatly marked with arrows in the direction of travel, and the drivers themselves still seem to be a little confused: at least outside the city, it is customary to drive not in your own lane, but in the center lane. 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 one day, and from GMT-11 will become GMT+13 (or GMT+14?), in order to move from yesterday, where, to tomorrow, where.

Speed limits are written directly in mph and km/h: so that if a used car is imported from the USA, it will 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 is

The islands are of volcanic origin, mostly mountainous (up to 1858 m high). The climate is tropical, hot and humid, with frequent hurricane winds. Average annual temperature 26°C, precipitation averages 3000 mm per year. The slopes of the mountains are covered with tropical rainforests, among which there are valuable species with very hard wood, large-leaved myrtles with fragrant flowers, gigantic banyans, the crown of which reaches 100 m in diameter. At the peaks the most high mountains lush forests give way to the so-called misty small forests and mountain bushes, and on the flat coasts they are dominated by cultural landscapes with plantations of coconut palms, bananas, cocoa and other crops.

Most of the islanders live in traditional huts called fale, which have an oval shape. There are no walls and the roof, made from coconut palm leaves or a ramp, rests on wooden pillars. The only city and main port of Western Samoa is the capital of the state of Apia (33 thousand inhabitants), located on the island of Upolu. The center of Apia is built up with single-storey and two-story houses European type, above which church bell towers rise powerfully. The city has an observatory, three hotels, small businesses, offices of foreign companies, as well as government offices. On the outskirts of Apia is the estate of the famous English writer R. L. Stevenson.

Nature and climate

The islands of Western Samoa are the peaks of an underwater ridge of volcanic origin. On the island of Savaii there is active volcano Matawan, recent eruptions which occurred in 1902 (strong) and 1911. The relief of the islands is mountainous. The most high peaks– Mount Silisili (1858 m) on Savaii Island and Fito (1100 m) on Upolu Island. The surface of these islands decreases from the central, most elevated areas to the periphery and in some places turns into coastal lowlands. The islands have many fast mountain rivers with significant hydroelectric potential. The shores are mostly rocky and rugged. total length coastline OK. 400 km. Coral reefs fringe Savaii Island from the northeast and east, and Upolu on all sides except the northeastern part.

The climate is tropical, hot and humid. Average daily temperature approx. 26°C, temperature fluctuations are small (average temperature in summer – 27°C, in winter – 25°C). Average annual precipitation ranges from 2500–3000 mm in the northwest of both major islands to 5000–7000 mm in the central highlands. The dry season lasts from May to October, and the rainy season from November to April. Tropical hurricanes recur frequently.

Volcanic soils are very fertile, especially on Upolu Island. Soil and climatic conditions are favorable for the development of agriculture, however, due to the dissected relief, only a quarter of the territory is used.

The flora of Samoa includes ca. 600 species, about a quarter of which are endemic. Forests cover 47% of the country's territory. A strip of mangrove forests stretches along the coasts. In many places they have been replaced by coconut palm plantations. The mountain slopes are covered with tropical rain forest. The lower parts of the slopes are dominated by trees up to 20 m high, in the ground layer there are ferns, the trees are entwined with vines and various epiphytes. At an absolute altitude of 500–600 m, the tree layer reaches 25–29 m; tree ferns appear even higher in the mountains. In the central part of the islands the forests are wetter. Western Samoa has many valuable tree species, the wood of which is used by the population to build houses and boats. Banyan, nutmeg, bamboo, pandanus, and orchids are very common.

The fauna is extremely poor in mammals. The most common rats were brought by Europeans on ships. Chiropterans are characteristic. The avifauna includes 53 species, of which 16 are very rare (including the endemic Tooth-billed Pigeon). Reptiles include snakes and turtles. There are centipedes, scorpions and spiders. The insect fauna is richest, and the eastern part of the range of three groups of insects (mayflies, caddis flies and termites), widespread in Australia and New Guinea, is confined to these islands. The adjacent water area abounds in fish, crabs, octopuses, and more deep waters There are sharks, tuna, bonito, mackerel, etc.

Attractions

Western Samoa is a beautiful corner of the Earth that has not yet been greatly affected by civilization. For this reason, the country's main treasures are its mountains, forests, beaches and picturesque villages. If we talk about man-made attractions, then the largest number of them are concentrated in the capital of Apia on the island of Upolu. For example, in its western part there is the old ceremonial capital Mulinuu. The most interesting buildings in this area are the old observatory and the House of Parliament. In the central part of Apia, the most interesting is the memorial Clock Tower. Also scattered throughout the city are old colonial buildings, among which the most colorful is the courthouse, within the walls of which is located Historical Museum. In addition, many churches were built in the capital and its suburbs: the Catholic Church, the Apia Samoa Temple complex, the Congregationalist Church, etc. Just 4 km from the center of the capital, on the outskirts of Vailima, is the estate of the writer R.L. Stevenson, and next to her is his tombstone.

There are others on the island of Upolu interesting places. Thus, in its northern part there are the picturesque Falefa waterfalls, the Uafato forest reserve and Lake Lanotoo, next to which stands the Bahai Temple. On the southeast coast, the most interesting cascade of five-meter waterfalls is Papassea Sliding Rock. Well, the main attractions south coast are national park O Le Poupou Pouet and Paradise Beach.

The island of Savaii is a virtually untouched place. Its main attractions are the Peapea and Paia Dwarfs lava caves, the ritual mound near Cape Mulinuu, the Alofaaga volcanic cavern, the Tia Seu mound, the ancient village of Fagaloa, the Falealupo lava tubes and Satiuatua beach with a colorful church. Also worth mentioning separately is the island of Manono, the main historical monuments which are the “Star Mound” and the “Tomb of 99 Stones” mound.

Nutrition

The national cuisine of Samoa is distinguished by not too spicy dishes, consisting of individual components, which are served separately and mixed directly during the meal. Here you can also try dishes that are cooked in umu earthen ovens. Some of the most important components of the local menu are coconut, sweet potato, vegetables and root vegetables, grains, fresh fruits and seafood. Among fish dishes, the main place is occupied by oka, which is finely chopped and specially marinated fish, which is then heat-treated or eaten raw. Similar recipes are used to prepare faiai-eleni (herring in coconut milk), faiai-fee (octopus in coconut milk) and other seafood (clams, shark meat, crustaceans, sea snakes, etc.).

In restaurants, some of the most popular dishes include palusami (pickled taro leaves used to wrap fillings), taisi-moa (fried chicken in banana leaves), supoesi (coconut milk and papaya soup), fia-fia (a mixture of meat and vegetables , umu-roasted), lupe-tunuwiliwili (roasted pigeon) and puaa-tunuwiliwili (umu-roasted pork). All dishes are served with soy sauce, tapa and breadfruit.

As a dessert local restaurants They offer fruits, fausi (a dish made from coconut milk and baked pumpkin), coco arasa (cocoa with rice) and a variety of flour products.

The most common drinks include nui (the juice of the green coconut fruit), kawa (an unusual drink made from the yangona root) and strong cocoa, as well as local sodas. Alcoholic drinks in the country are mainly imported, and Vailima beer is the most popular among locals.

Accommodation

Today, tourism in Western Samoa is just developing, so the choice of hotels here is not yet very large. At the same time, Samoa is one of the cheapest countries in the South Pacific region. For this reason, the cost of living in high-level hotels here starts from $130–150 per night. In mid-price establishments you can count on $50 per day, and in motels and small private boarding houses - $35–40. In addition, many rural communities offer home rentals with full meals. In case of such accommodation, the cost of living will be only $20 per day.

Most of the hotels are located on the island of Upolu; on the island of Savaii their choice is much lower.

Entertainment and relaxation

Samoa's rich nature makes it a great place to active rest and traveling on foot. The best way to explore the islands is by boat or canoe. Bicycle rides are also quite popular among tourists, especially around the territory picturesque island Savaii. There are many on the islands beautiful shores, which are suitable for both simple beach holiday, and for snorkeling, and in some places for exploration underwater world. Best places dive sites are located near the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve and Maninoa Beach (Upolu Island).

Surfing in Samoa is quite a difficult task, since many suitable places are replete with unstable currents and reefs. However, there are now resorts on the islands that specialize in wave play (Maninoa Beach, Ananoa Beach, Salouafata Harbor and Samoana). Fishing in Samoa is quite accessible, but expensive. The point is that often local residents view sports fishermen as their direct competitors. For this reason, tribal leaders charge tourists quite large sums for harmless fishing.

An interesting way to spend time could be to participate in one of the local holidays and festivals. Among them, the largest is the week-long Teuila festival, which takes place in early September. The event includes competitions of dance groups and choirs, traditional dances, kirikiti competitions, fautasi boat races and a Flower Parade. Among other events, the most interesting are:

International fishing tournament
Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival,
South Pacific Games (rowing),
Birthday of Tanumafili II Malietoa,
International rugby competitions and a celebration in honor of the Palolo turtles.

Purchases

Samoa's largest shopping establishments are located in Apia - this is the large Flea Market and two supermarkets (Frankie and Farmer Joe). You can find almost any product on the market - from cheap electronics to jewelry. In supermarkets, the choice of goods is slightly smaller, but their quality is better. In general, almost every city and town in the country has its own market, where you can find very interesting souvenirs and simply make useful purchases. The most common items tourists purchase are bags and baskets made from ramp fibers, exquisite fabrics made from paper mulberry bark, wooden weapons, model canoes, wooden bowls, avocado oil and local honey. Local crafts, such as wicker fans, small figurines, vases, etc., are in particular demand. Women are advised to pay attention to original jewelry made from coconut shells, as well as amazing precious shells. The rugs woven by local craftsmen are also amazing. Their amazing pictures and bizarre ornaments conceal a piece of Samoan culture.

Most retail establishments are open from 08:00 to 16:30, and on Saturdays until 12:30, although many private shops have their own opening hours. On Sundays all shops are closed.

Transport

Apia is home to the country's largest port, through which Samoa maintains regular maritime connections with New Zealand, Great Britain and Fiji. Less significant ports are located at Asau, Saleologa and Mulifanua. There are regular ferry services between the islands of Savai'i and Upolu, as well as with the island of Pago Pago, which belongs to American Samoa. The international airport is located in Faleolo, 34 km from the capital.

Samoa has more than two thousand kilometers of roads, mostly rural. The main mode of intercity and urban transport is old buses with wooden seats. In addition, they run extremely irregularly. For example, if the driver feels tired or decides to play rugby with friends, then the bus will no longer operate. Stopping points are missing. In order for the driver to stop, you need to vote. Well, in order to get out, it is customary here to knock loudly on the roof. It must be borne in mind that Samoan buses have their own seating order for passengers. According to it, unmarried girls must sit together, and foreigners and elderly people must sit at the beginning of the bus. If the bus is full, locals sit on each other's laps.

Taxis are available in the capital and major towns; car rental is only available to people over 25 years of age.

Connection

The islands have a completely modern telephone system, which is developing rapidly. Pay phones are installed in all major settlements. They work using prepaid cards, which are sold in stores, post offices and kiosks. You can also make a call from most hotels, although the cost will be 15–20% more expensive.

Mobile communications in Samoa have an analogue system (TDMA): only phones that support this standard can be used here. If necessary, such a phone can be rented at the offices of cellular companies. The coverage area mainly covers the capital, as well as nearby areas. On this moment A system of repeaters is being built, which allows for high-quality communication between all points of the country.

Network services on the islands are developing rapidly, so there are Internet cafes in the capital and other localities of the country. Local mobile operators support WAP and GPRS.

Safety

Samoa is considered one of the most peaceful places in this region. The crime rate on these islands is extremely low, so there are no problems with personal safety will not arise here. Still, it is not recommended to neglect simple precautions. Women traveling alone should be prepared for increased attention from local men. As a rule, it is expressed in various verbal comments, but some caution obviously does not hurt.

Tap water in populated areas is chlorinated and therefore safe for consumption. Although during the first week of your stay, we recommend using bottled or boiled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.

Before traveling to Samoa, vaccination against hepatitis B, cholera, typhoid, polio and Japanese encephalitis is recommended. In addition, outbreaks of tropical fever, carried by mosquitoes, sometimes occur on the islands. For this reason, it is worth bringing insect repellents with you.

Business climate

Samoa's financial system is almost completely integrated into the world economy, and the country's stable financial, economic and political structure attracts investors here, and their activities are encouraged by the government. In general, government policy is aimed at turning Samoa into a powerful offshore center in the Pacific region. Today, light industry is very developed here. A promising industry is certainly hotel business and the tourism sector in general.

On the islands, most of the land, including the coast, is communal property, the rights to which belong to families or villages. Rural communities view their shores as a protected area and therefore monitor them very jealously. This means that you will need to pay $1–3 for swimming on a stretch of coastline you like. There is no point in bargaining and sparing this money, as it goes towards the needs of medicine or community education. Additionally, some communities prohibit sailing on Sundays and charge surfers and windsurfers a small daily fee ($1-$1.50). The money goes to support the local school education program.

Visa information

A Samoan visa is issued directly upon crossing the border. To obtain it, you will need tickets and a passport, which is valid for 6 months after departure from Samoa. Sometimes customs officials ask you to show evidence of sufficient finances for the duration of your stay in a given country.

A visa is issued at the border for 30 days, but if necessary it can be extended for 60 days. To do this, you must contact the Immigration Office in Apia and present your passport, tickets, proof of sufficient financial resources, reasons for extending your stay, hotel reservation or confirmation of another method of accommodation, and pay a fee (about $45).

Culture

The traditional Samoan way of life (called faa Samoa) remains an important component of Samoan life and politics. Having been exposed to European influence for centuries, the Samoans nevertheless maintained their historical traditions, preserved their social and political structure, and their language.

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

Most Samoans live in traditional oval huts (fales). The roof is made from pandanus or coconut palm leaves and rests on wooden pillars. There are no walls, but at night and in bad weather, the openings between the pillars are covered with mats, which are rolled up and stored under the roof (along its perimeter). The floor is laid out with smooth large pebbles. Nowadays there are fales with an iron roof.

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

Like many other Polynesian islands, 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 a sogaimichi. Samoan girls (teine) are given a mala that extends from just below the knees to the top of the thighs.

Traditional female Samoan dance - 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 rows of dancers perform quick synchronized movements to the beat of drums or rolled mats. Its name is translated from Samoan as “slap” because it involves slapping different parts of the body.

Story

According to archaeological data, the settlement of Samoa occurred more than 2,500 years ago. The first European to visit Samoa was the Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen in 1722. In 1768, the expedition of the French navigator L.A. Bougainville visited the coast of Samoa, and in 1787 the expedition of J.F. La Perouse, who determined the coordinates of many islands of the archipelago. Close connections with the outside world were established with the arrival of English missionaries on the islands in 1830. In 1839, an American expedition led by Charles Wilkes worked in Samoa, which included detailed description flora and fauna of the islands. From the second half of the 19th century. The confrontation between the USA, Germany and Great Britain for dominance over Samoa intensified. The contradictions were resolved in 1900, when at the conference of the three powers in Berlin the archipelago was divided along 171° W. into two parts. The US annexed Eastern Samoa, and Germany annexed Western Samoa. On August 29, 1914, New Zealand occupied German possessions, and on May 1, 1929 received a League of Nations mandate to administer them.

The activities of the New Zealand administration were aimed at developing export sectors of the economy, improving healthcare and education systems. After World War II, Western Samoa became first a mandate territory of New Zealand, and from 1946 a UN trust territory under the administration of New Zealand. The Legislative Assembly was established in 1947, and a draft constitution was adopted in 1959. At the same time, a government (cabinet of ministers) was created, headed by a Samoan. On January 1, 1962, Western Samoa became the first independent state in Oceania.

Since July 1997, the country received a new name - the Independent State of Samoa. Samoa is part of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain.

The last parliamentary elections took place on March 4, 2001. 23 deputies from the Human Rights Party, 13 from the National Development Party of Samoa, and 13 independent deputies were elected to the Legislative Assembly.

The country has a national Broadcasting Service and a Television Corporation. The monthly government publication Savali (founded in 1904) and the Samoa Observer newspaper are published in Samoan and English, as well as in English language– the daily newspaper Samoa News and the weekly Samoa Weekly.

Policy

The country has a constitution that came into force on January 1, 1962 (when the independence of Western Samoa was proclaimed), as amended in July 1997. Initially, the country was led by two leaders - representatives of large family communities, who had previously held supreme power on the islands for a long time. After the death of one of them, Tupua Tumasese, Malietoa Tanumafili II became head of state for life from April 5, 1963 (according to the updated constitution, after his death the head of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of five years). Executive power in the country is exercised by the government headed by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the head of state and approved by the Legislative Assembly (Fono). It consists of 49 deputies, who have been elected by universal suffrage since 1991. All residents of the country who have reached the age of 21 have the right to vote.

The judicial system consists of magistrates' courts, which hear civil and criminal cases, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Courts. These courts operate in accordance with British law and taking into account Samoan customs. Minor offenses are under the jurisdiction of chiefs and family communities based on customary law.

In 1970 Western Samoa joined the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain. Since 1976 – member of the UN. Traditionally, close ties are maintained with New Zealand. Since July 1997 the country has been called Samoa.

Economy

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

The country's gross domestic product (GDP) (at purchasing power parity) 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 services sector (30.2%), agriculture (11.4%). Samoa's working population is estimated at 90,000.

65% of the amateur population is employed in agriculture, 30% in the service sector, and 5% in industry. The main crops are coconut palm, cocoa tree, taro, yam, breadfruit and bananas. Livestock farming plays a supporting role. Cattle, pigs and poultry are raised to meet domestic needs. Most crops are grown on communal lands, but some produce (especially copra and cocoa beans) is supplied by large plantation farms.

Industrial production is reduced mainly to the processing of agricultural raw materials and fish, the production of clothing, shoes, souvenirs, tobacco products, food products, and beer. There is a wood processing plant and a soap factory. Hydroelectric power plants and diesel power plants produce approx. 65 million kW of electricity, which meets internal needs.

The value of imports significantly exceeds exports. Samoa imports mainly cotton clothing, cars, equipment, and food. In the structure of exports, agricultural products account for approx. 90%. The main exports - copra, coconut oil, cocoa beans, bananas, fish - are sent mainly to New Zealand, Australia, USA and Germany. Imports come from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Fiji and the USA.

Tourism is developing in the country. In 1996, it was visited by more than 70 thousand foreign tourists.

Regular maritime connections are maintained between Apia ( largest port countries) and New Zealand, Fiji and the UK. Less significant port facilities were built in Asau, Mulifanua, Saleologa. Total length highways– 790 km, of which paved – approx. 330 km. In the vicinity of Apia there is a international Airport Faleolo, there are two airports for domestic traffic.

Since 1967, the official currency is the tala (Samoan dollar), equal to 100 sene.

The first human settlements on Samoa dated by archaeologists to 1500 BC. This date is based on pottery finds found throughout the island. The first oral mentions appeared only after 1000 AD. Modern historians cannot explain what happened on the island in the period from 1500 BC to 1000 AD, but most likely there was a Great Migration at this time.

Before the arrival of Europeans in the early 1700s, the natives mixed with some tribes from Fiji And Kingdoms of Tonga. According to ancient legend, the people of the island have one ancestor in common with the Polynesians Tagaloa. Oral traditions record numerous battles between Samoans and neighboring inhabited islands, as well as intermarriages between Samoan women and Fiji and Tongan men. The close blood relations between these island states have survived to this day. At special holidays and cultural events, this kinship is specially emphasized.

Contact with Europeans began in 1722, when a Dutch navigator landed on the island. Jacob Roggeveen. But the relationship was very limited. Traders and missionaries paid attention to Samoa only 100 years after the discovery of the island. The first missionaries became convinced of the belligerence of the local residents. There were frequent armed skirmishes with the major naval powers of the time.

By the end of the 19th century. 3 countries began to lay claim to Samoa: Germany, Great Britain and the USA. Between 1881 and 1889, each colonialist used his own political and military methods to seize power over the island. The confrontation escalated into military clashes, but large-scale hostilities were avoided thanks to a strong storm that destroyed most of the US and German navy, which was already preparing for battle.

In the end, Samoa was divided into two parts - the eastern region went to the United States, and the western region to Germany. Britain ceded the island in exchange for other South Pacific territories.

Started First World War“untied” the hands of New Zealand, which occupied the German-owned part of the island. Defeated Germany was forced to renounce its claims to Samoa, and the island was under New Zealand rule until 1962, when the western part of the archipelago gained independence.

Geography and climate

Samoa consists of two big islands Upolu And Savaii, which account for 99% of the total area of the state, and 8 small ones. The total area of the territory is 2,934 km2. The islands are of volcanic origin, so the terrain is mountainous with wide valleys surrounded by high gorges. The source that gave birth to all the islands of Samoa is the so-called " Samoa point", formed from a magnetic plume (hot mantle flow).

The most high point is located on the island of Savaii and is 1,857 m above sea level. This island is the only one that is volcanically active. The shores are predominantly flat; the main settlements local residents. The coast is indented with a large number of picturesque lagoons and coral reefs.

average temperature The air temperature in Samoa is +26 C. Rain prevails here from November to April. The rest of the year the weather is dry. Strong winds occur all the time on the islands of the state, with wind speeds of 20-30 km/h with gusts of up to 50 km/h. Periodically occurring tropical cyclones can bring even more destructive winds at speeds of 150-180 km/h. Notorious " hurricane of the century"was here in 1966 and brought to the island destructive hurricane when the wind speed exceeded 200 km/h.

Seismic activity in Samoa is not very high, despite the volcanic nature of the islands. Tremors are recorded constantly, but destructive earthquakes have not been observed for at least 300 years. True, the state often finds itself under the blows of destructive tsunamis and typhoons. The last strong tsunami hit the islands in 2009. It was caused by an earthquake that occurred in a subduction zone Kermadeca-Tonga. The tremors reached magnitude 8.1, and the height of the rising wave was 14 m. The total number of deaths exceeded 180 people, and the earthquake itself was recognized as the strongest in 2009.

Fauna and flora of Samoa

About 30% of all animals in Samoa are endemic (not found anywhere else in the world). Most richly represented vegetable world islands. A large number of rare ferns, orchids, and shrubs grow in tropical rainforests.

There are not many local animals. With the arrival of Europeans on the islands, rats arrived here, which quickly filled the entire island in the absence of natural enemies. Traders brought cattle to Samoa, which are now the main mammal on the island.

The beaches of Samoa are home to fish that not only live in coastal waters, but also lay eggs in the sand. In general, coastal waters are extremely rich in fish and crabs. Among the fish there are also valuable commercial species - tuna, sharks, eels, swordfish, etc. Coral reefs are rich in rare exotic fish and shellfish.

Holidays in Samoa

Samoa is amazingly famous beautiful nature. Traveler from Russia Otto Kotzebue, who visited the islands in 1824, spoke with delight about the generosity of local nature, which clothed even the steepest slopes in greenery. Samoa has some of the most picturesque beaches. There are many of them here for every taste. Much of the coastline of Samoa's two major islands features long beaches of clean sand. Lush tropical vegetation reaches almost to the very edge of the water. Palm trees hang just above the surf, creating a “classic” look of a tropical paradise.

But Samoa is not only beaches, but also high waterfalls wondrous beauty. They are located in the interior of the islands. Getting to them is not easy, but the time spent will be more than repaid by the stunning views. Walking around the islands on foot is not dangerous; of the animals potentially dangerous to humans, you may only encounter a local snake (in total, 1 species of snake lives here).

Another attraction of Samoa - lava caves, which are gaps in the earth's crust filled with fresh water. Some especially large caves have impressive depth. Since they are popular among tourists, local residents took care to make an easy approach to them, so that it would be convenient not only to go down into them, but also to get out.

About 100 thousand tourists arrive in Samoa every year. This figure is ridiculously small compared to other major Pacific resorts. One tourism industry occupies 25% of the state's GDP. The infrastructure here is well developed, but the lack of great demand has set vacation prices much lower than other resorts. In Samoa there are no crowds of tourists and vacationers; the beaches are always half empty. Is there any wild beaches, where you can spend the whole day in absolute solitude. Currently, Samoa is an ideal option for those who are looking for a calm, quiet holiday, and who do not care how luxurious the hotel is in which to stay.

Details Category: Countries of Australia and Oceania Published 08/10/2013 07:31 Views: 3639

The famous Scottish writer and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the famous adventure novel “Treasure Island” and other historical and adventure works, lived, worked and died here.

Stevenson’s ballad “Heather Honey” is widely known in Russia, which is studied at school in S. Marshak’s translation.
Stevenson was a passionate traveler, although he suffered from a severe form of tuberculosis since childhood. He settled on the Samoan Islands in 1890, in the village of Vailima (4 km from the capital of Samoa, Alia), his villa is currently the Stevenson Museum.

Independent State of Samoa occupies the western part of the Samoan archipelago. The state is located on two large islands(Savai and Upolu) and eight small ones, of which only two are inhabited: Manono And Apolima. Samoa is washed on all sides by the Pacific Ocean. The islands of Upolu and Savaii are separated by the Apolima Strait, in which they are located small islands Manono and Apolima, which are home to only 1% of the country's population.

State symbols of Samoa

Flag– is a red panel with an aspect ratio of 1:2 with the upper left quarter of blue color, which depicts the white stars of the Southern Cross constellation. The flag was adopted on February 24, 1949.

Coat of arms– the foreground of the coat of arms is a stylized image of the Southern Cross constellation. The shield, which has a silver base, depicts green and white sea waves, a silver sky and a coconut tree with golden coconuts. The side of the shield is dark blue and white. The background of the shield features radial patterns connected by red concentric circles, flanked by olive tree branches. Above the shield is a dark blue and red and white Latin cross with red rays. At the bottom of the coat of arms is the motto: “FA"AVAE I LE ATUA SAMOA” (translated from Samoan: “God is the foundation of Samoa”). The coat of arms was approved in 1962.

Government of Samoa

Form of government- parliamentary republic.
Head of State– O le Ao O le Malo (chief), elected for 5 years. In fact, his position is presidential.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Legislature- unicameral parliament.

Territory– 2832 km².
Population– 188,540 people. 92.6% are Samoans and only 0.4% are Europeans. More than 70% of the population lives on the island of Upolu, 28% on the island of Savaii. The country is experiencing mass emigration, mainly to New Zealand, because... Young people have virtually no opportunities for self-realization.

Religion– 98% of Samoans are Christians.
official languages– Samoan and English. The Samoan script is based on the Latin alphabet.
Economy. Industry: forestry, light industry, food industry is developing. Agriculture: Cultivation and export of taro, coconut oil and milk, cocoa, bananas and copra. Only 35% of electricity is generated in the country.
Tourism is actively developing.

Currency– tala.
Education– literacy of the population is 98.6%. There are primary public and private church schools in the country, created by missionaries back in the 20th century, in which 3/4 of children aged 7-12 years study. Compulsory education. Teaching is conducted in Samoan, but English is intensively studied.

There are secondary schools (optional).
Special education is available at the College of Tropical Agriculture, the College of Commerce, and several trade and trade schools. Many people get higher education overseas, mainly in New Zealand.
Higher education in the country is available at the National University of Samoa, the University of the South Pacific, the Samoa Polytechnic University and the Ocean Medical University.
Sport– The most popular sports in Samoa are rugby and Samoan cricket. Professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and sumo are also popular. The country has competed at every Summer Olympics since 1984.

Famous people of Samoa

We have already mentioned the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson.

Malietoa Tanumafili II Susuga (1913-2007)

Chief, head of state of Samoa. In 2007, Malietoa Tanumafili II was the oldest head of state in the world. He led Samoa for 68 years.

David Tua (b. 1972)

Samoan professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category. Bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Mark Hunt (b.1974)

New Zealand mixed martial artist and former kickboxer of Samoan descent. He is famous for his outstanding physical strength, knockout blow and “iron chin” - the ability to withstand the hardest blows to the head.

Nature of Samoa

The islands that make up Samoa are of volcanic origin, but only the island of Savai'i is volcanically active. The coastline is all indented by lagoons and coastal reefs.
Climate– humid tropical. The country is periodically affected by tropical cyclones. The most terrible and destructive for the country was the “hurricane of the century” in January 1966, when wind speeds reached 200 km/h.
The country has a water supply system, but due to poorly maintained water pipes, a lot of water is lost. There are many small rivers and waterfalls, except in the western part of Upolu and most of Savaii. Here, the main sources of fresh water are groundwater and rainwater, although during the dry season the reservoirs often dry up. In many areas, the amount of water supplied is insufficient.

Flora Samoa is quite diverse and has about 775 plant species. Two-thirds of the islands' surface is wet rainforests: abundance of tree ferns, valuable species with very hard wood. Large-leaved myrtaceae (myrtle, cloves, guava, feijoa, tea tree and eucalyptus) and orchids are common.

Forests are located mainly on mountain slopes, while cultivated plantations predominate 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.

Fauna of Samoa relatively poor. Before humans appeared on the islands, bats lived on land and dolphins lived in coastal waters. Dogs and pigs were brought here by Polynesian sailors, and cattle and horses were brought here by Europeans. Well, the rats, of course, entered here with ships and settled throughout the archipelago.
Birds in Samoa are much more numerous: honeycreepers, weed chickens, pigeons, small parrots - in total, 43 species of birds live on the island, of which 8 are endemic, for example, the jagged-billed pigeon.

Poultry was introduced by Polynesians and Europeans.
There are especially many butterflies: 21 species. There are turtles and crabs.
There are a lot of fish in ocean waters, including valuable commercial fish (mullet, conger eels). And further from the shores there are sharks, tuna, mackerel, and swordfish. Coral reefs are rich in shellfish.

Sights of Samoa

Apia city

It is the capital and only city and port of the Independent State of Samoa. The city is located on the northern coast of the island of Upolu at the foot of Mount Apia. It is located along the shores of a bay, separated from open sea wall of coral reefs. The center of Apia is built up with European-style houses: with loggias, verandas, and shaded windows.
There are many churches in the city.

The largest church in Apia, the Catholic one, was built in the coastal area. Its height is 90 m.
Slightly smaller in size are the Anglican Church with beautiful stained glass windows and the Congregational Christian Church, where the relics of Reverend John Williams, one of the first missionaries on the island, rest.

The clock tower in the center of Apia is a memorial to the soldiers who died in World War II.

The government building was built in accordance with European standards.

National Museum of Samoa

Collected here large collection Aboriginal trade and household items: fishing boats and nets, ceramic dishes, stone hatchets and knives, various decorative items, mats, clothing and other samples cultural heritage Samoans.

Of particular interest are Aboriginal tattoos, which are still popular among the local population.

Samoan culture

The majority of the country's population lives in traditional oval huts (phale) - a roof made of pandanus or coconut palm leaves on wooden poles. There are no walls, but the openings between the pillars, if necessary, are covered with mats, which are rolled up and stored under the roof.

The floor is laid out with smooth large pebbles. Nowadays there are fales with an iron roof.
The main socio-economic unit of Samoan society is the community ( ainga), which consists of three to four generations of immediate male relatives and women who came to the community by marriage (on average 40-50 people). Members of the ainga jointly own the land and jointly perform all labor-intensive work.
Tattoos- a cultural phenomenon of the country. They differ: for men – tatau, they consist of complex geometric patterns placed from the knees to the ribs; for women - Malu, they are located from the top of the hips to just below the knees.

Traditional female Samoan dance - Siva. It is similar to Hawaiian hula: the dancers “tell” their “story” with smooth movements of their arms and legs to the beat of the music.

is a male Samoan dance in which rows of dancers perform quick synchronized movements to the beat of drums or rolled mats. Its name is translated from Samoan as “slap” because it involves slapping different parts of the body.

History of Samoa

Ancient objects found in Samoa archipelago Lapita cultures. This culture is considered by many archaeologists to be the progenitor of several cultures in Polynesia, Micronesia and several coastal areas of Melanesia. Currently, more than 2 thousand excavation sites have been discovered over more than 4000 km from the coasts and islands of Melanesia to Fiji and Tonga, the easternmost area is located in Samoa.
The Lapita culture is characterized by pottery - flat-bottomed or round-bottomed open bowls or goblets. Some of them had an ornament in the form of rectangular meanders, ribbons, connecting broken lines, triangles, and crescents. The ornament was applied using stamps that have not yet been found. There were also images of eyes, concentric circles, moldings of clay lumps, ribbons, and notches on the rims. The firing temperature of ceramic products was less than 850 °C.
The main type of economy was sea fishing and shellfish collection.
At the end of the 1st millennium BC. e. and in the 1st millennium AD. e. from Samoa the islands of Wallis, Futuna, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Pukapuka and other Polynesian islands were inhabited. There is an assumption that Samoa could have been Hawaiians- the legendary ancestral home of the Polynesians. The end of this culture is considered to be between 200-400 BC. AD, after which the non-ceramic period began.

This period is characterized by the absence of compact settlements; they arose during the period of contact with Europeans. The buildings consisted of residential houses, public buildings (large communal houses (fale tele) on platforms, open ceremonial grounds (malae) and houses of the gods (fale aitu). Residential and public buildings had rounded corners or were round. No burial mounds have been found in Samoa and open churches.
At the turn of the 1st and 2nd millennia AD. e. between Samoa and the surrounding islands were established active contacts. The ruling elite of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji entered into mixed marriages.
In the middle of the 17th century. Samoans traded in the region with Polynesians and Europeans.

Europeans in Samoa

The European discoverer of the islands was a Dutch traveler in 1722.

In 1768, a French navigator visited the archipelago Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who called it the Navigator Islands.

Jean-Pierre Franke "Portrait of Bougainville"
In August 1830 he began missionary work in Samoa John Williams. The Samoans were then considered a wild and warlike people; they had frequent clashes with Europeans, who until the end of the 19th century. used Samoa as a refueling station for shipping.
Germany, the USA, and Britain began to take an interest in the islands. In 1881, these three countries agreed to recognize the paramount leader Malietoa Laupepa as the Samoan king, but the local residents did not put up with colonial oppression. King Laupepa entered into open conflict with the Germans in 1885; in 1887 they overthrew him and sent him into exile, and proclaimed Tamasese king. The Samoans were heavily taxed. He stood at the head of the dissatisfied Chief Mataafa, which was very popular on the islands. The German consul ordered an attack from the sea on the villages of Mataafa's supporters.

The result was an 8-year civil war, in which Samoans, Germany, Britain and the United States defended their interests. The Berlin Treaty of 1899 divided the Samoan Islands into two parts: the eastern group, now known as American Samoa, became a US territory; western islands received the name "German Samoa", and Britain ceased to claim the islands in exchange for the return of Fiji and some other Melanesian territories.

Samoa in the 20th century

On August 29, 1914, the New Zealand military took control of the islands, and from the end of the First World War until 1962, Samoa was administered by New Zealand.
In the early 1920s. The patriotic organization Mau (Opinion) was founded with the slogan “Samoa for Samoans”, against the mistreatment of the Samoan people by the New Zealand administration. The organization was led Olaf Frederick Nelson, is of half Samoan descent. They used the following forms of protest: non-payment of taxes, cessation of work on plantations, failure to comply with decisions of the colonial court, the creation of their own governing bodies, etc. Nelson was expelled from the country during 1920-1930, but continued to support the organization financially and politically.
December 28, 1929 was called “Black Saturday” because... new elected leader of the movement Tupua Tamasese Lealofi led the Mau to a peaceful demonstration in Apia, which was shot by New Zealand police. Tamasese was also killed. But the movement grew.
After World War II, Western Samoa was converted from a mandate to a trust territory of New Zealand, and reforms began. In 1961, a referendum was held - the residents of Western Samoa spoke in favor of independence. By agreement with New Zealand, she took upon herself the defense of Western Samoa and its representation in relations with foreign states. On January 1, 1962, Western Samoa became the first Pacific island state who gained independence.
In July 1997, according to the country's constitution, the state from “Western Samoa” was renamed “Samoa”. American Samoa protested the renaming and still uses the terms "Western Samoa" and "Western Samoan" to refer to Samoa and its people.
Thus, the two Samoans belong to the same nation and have the same language, but there are cultural differences between them. Eastern Samoans are more likely to emigrate to Hawaii and the mainland United States, adopting some American customs such as American football and baseball. Western Samoans are more likely to emigrate to New Zealand, where rugby and cricket are more popular.

Reference

American Samoa(formerly Eastern Samoa) is an unincorporated unorganized territory not included in the United States in the South Pacific. The main island of Tutuila is part of the Samoan archipelago. American Samoa has a population of approximately 65,519 people. Area – 199 km².