Geography of Samoa

Location: 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

Area: total: 2,831 sq km; land: 2,821 sq km; water: 10 sq km

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, 6,096 ft), 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.