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INTRODUCTIONSamoa is a country in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of two islands. Its capital is Apia, in the north of the island of Upolu. The other island is called Savai'i. Samoa has an area of less than 3,000 Km², and a population of around 180,000 inhabitants. It has a medium HDI (0.785, in the 77th position). |
HISTORYThe first Samoans arrived around 1500 B.C., but the islands were discovered by Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutchman, in 1722. In the 19th century there was an eight-year civil war. The United States, Germany and Great Britain helped different groups of people and sent warships, but an enourmous storm destroyed the ships and the war ended. At the beginning of the 20th century Samoa was divided into American Samoa and German Samoa. After the First World War, New Zealand controlled Samoa. In 1918 the influenza pandemic killed 20% of Samoans. In 1962 Western Samoa gained independence. Samoa was the first country in the Pacific to become independent. |
ECONOMYTwo thirds of all the people work on agriculture, and 90% of exports are agricultural products: coconut, noni (a fruit juice), cocoa and bananas. The rhinoceros beetle is a problem for the coconut trees. Tourism is growing: more than 100,000 tourists visited the islands in 2005. Tourism now provides 25% of the gross domestic product (GDP). |
INTERESTING FACTSThe Samoan houses haven't got any walls! In the centre of each island there is a very high mountain: Mount Fito (1113 metres high) on the island of Upolu, and Mount Silisili (1858 metres high) on the island of Savai'i. All the islands are of volcanic origin, but there are active volcanoes only in Savai'i. The climate is tropical, with an average annual temperature of 26.5°C (79.7°F), and a rainy season from November to April. There is a famous Samoan legend that tells the story of the first coconut tree. This story is called Sina and the eel. |
