Samoa:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Samoa:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition 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.

Location	Definition Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates	Definition 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references	Definition Oceania
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 2,944 sq km land: 2,934 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 403 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain	Definition two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m
Natural resources	Definition hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 21.13% permanent crops: 24.3% other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Natural hazards	Definition occasional typhoons; active volcanism
Environment - current issues	Definition soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements	Definition 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	Definition occupies an almost central position within Polynesia