Samoa offers visitors the chance to experience Polynesia at its most authentic. The capital,
Apia, lies on the beautiful north coast of Upolu, the largest and most populous of the country’s nine islands.
In the Aleipata district,
waterfalls and
white-sand beaches dominate the landscape. A 65km (40 mile) drive from Apia leads to the Falefa Falls, Mafa Pass and the Fuipisia Falls.
The Scottish poet and novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson, spent his final five years living on the island - his tomb on
Mount Vaea is visible from the lawn of his house,
now a museum.
The
fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way) is arguably the most
vibrant living culture in Polynesia, with a heritage that dates back for 2,000 years.
GeographySamoa consists of nine islands. The largest of these is Savai’i, which covers 1,610 sq km (622 sq miles); fertile Upolu, the second largest (1,120 sq km/433 sq miles), lies 13km (8 miles) to the southeast across the Apolima Strait. The islands are quiescent volcanoes and reach heights of up to 1,858m (6,097ft) on Savai’i and 1,100m (3,608ft) on Upolu. Volcanic activity has not occurred since 1911. The main city, Apia, is located in the north of Upolu.
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