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The volcanic islands of Samoa lie
halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand and just to the west of American
Samoa. The two major islands, Upolu and Savai'i, make up an area slightly
smaller than Rhode Island and constitute most of the dry land. Upolu is
cigar-shaped with the capital, Apia, sitting on its northern coast while
Savai'i (a few kilometres to the west of Upolu and slightly larger) looks
like a squashed cigar. The only other inhabited islands, Manono and
Apolima, are two small blobs in the Apolimo Strait which separates Upolu
and Savai'i. A number of tiny uninhabited islands and a few lonely atolls
make up the remainder of the country.
Samoa faces a major
environmental threat from deforestation. Agricultural change is the major
culprit although logging has played its part in disturbing the delicate
ecosystem. Marine resources are also under pressure from over-fishing, the
gung-ho practice of blowing fish out of the water with explosives, and a
deadly increase in the reef-wrecking crown-of-thorns starfish. Fortunately
there has been a concerted effort over the last few years to develop
eco-friendly industries and conserve the beauty and biological diversity
of the rain forests that cover much of the uplands.
These lush tropical
rainforests are not only a source of food but also a large out-of-doors
apothecary that contains mega-amounts of medicinal compounds. Because of
their remoteness the islands have been resistant to any form of
colonisation by animals and the only big game in these parts have gills
and fins. The wildlife is limited to some flying foxes, a couple of
Polynesian rats opting out of the rat race, and a lazy gecko or two.
Samoa is hot and humid most of the year although
the edge is taken off the sweatbox conditions by the southeasterly trade
winds blowing from April to October and intermittently (and welcomingly)
in between. The wet season (or summer) is between November and April, and
the dry season (or winter) between May and October. Independent Samoa lies
in the cyclone belt and is periodically buffeted and bruised by cyclones,
especially in the months between November and April. For
more general information
on Samoa, go to: |
