Samoa | |
Capital city | Apia |
Surface | 2,831 km² |
Population | 198,000 |
Road network length | 350 km |
Length of highway network | 0 km |
First highway | N/A |
Motorway name | N/A |
Traffic drives | Left |
License plate code | WS |
Samoa is an island nation in Oceania, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The country is the size of a Dutch province and has 198,000 inhabitants. See Samoa population density. The capital is Apia.
According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER, Samoa consists of two larger islands, Savaii and Upolu. The capital Apia is located on the smaller island of Upolu. The two islands are located about 20 kilometers apart and are the largest islands in the area. American Samoa is about 70 kilometers to the southeast, Tonga is 800 kilometers to the south, and Fiji is 850 kilometers to the southwest. The French islands of Wallis and Futuna lie to the west. Hawaii is located 4,100 kilometers to the northeast. Both islands are mountainous, Mount Silisili on Savaii is the highest point of Samoa at 1,858 meters. The islands are very green due to the abundant rainfall of 3,100 mm per year.
Around 1900, the islands of Samoa were divided into an American part and a western German part, which includes present-day Samoa. In World War I, the German islands were occupied by New Zealand. The country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962 and was called West Samoa until 1997, to distinguish it from American Samoa. The islands are moderately developed with a per capita income of $5,800. The main sector is agriculture, with coconuts being an important export product. Tourism is an increasingly important sector.
Road Network
The road network in Samoa comprises just under 900 kilometers, of which 350 kilometers are paved. On the island of Savaii there is only a ring road, this island is also less densely populated and more mountainous than Upolu. The ring road leads through spectacular landscapes. A ring road also runs across the island of Upolu, but there are also two mountain roads through the interior. There are no highways on Samoa, and people drive on the left. The road network of the capital Apia is not particularly developed, with some main roads being single carriageway. Road markings are usually not present. There are some traffic lights in the center of Apia.
Road numbering
There is no road numbering in Samoa.
Signage
Little is known about the signage. Since Samoa gained independence from New Zealand in the early 1960s, it is doubtful whether the signage resembles the New Zealand one.