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GeographyLocation
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand Geographic coordinates
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references
Oceania
Area World Ranking: 178
Total 2,831 sq km
Land 2,821 sq km Water 10 sq km Area - comparative
Slightly smaller than Rhode Island Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
403 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 24 nm Exclusive economic zone 200 nm Climate
Tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October) Terrain
Two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior Elevation extremes
Lowest point Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point Mount Silisili 1,857 m Natural resources
Hardwood forests, fish, hydropower Land use
Arable land 21.13%
Permanent crops 24.3% Other 54.57% (2005) Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
Occasional typhoons; active volcanism Volcanism Savai'I Island (elev. 1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active Environment - current issues
Soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing Environment - international agreements
Party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Signed, but not ratified None of the selected agreements Geography - note
Occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
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Samoa (Apia):
 
GPS points from Samoa (Apia)
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New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.
