Physical Characteristics
All throughout the islands of Samoa there is an abundance of vegetation and the waterfalls offer a beautiful view as they are surrounded by green forests.
http://www.laybacktravel.com/photos/photos-samoa/
http://www.laybacktravel.com/photos/photos-samoa/
One of the beauties of the landscape of the Samoan islands are the views of the ocean. Surfers have the opportunity to surf year round because of the climate of the area.
http://www.laybacktravel.com/photos/photos-samoa/
http://www.laybacktravel.com/photos/photos-samoa/
The image to the right is an aerial view of the third largest Polynesian island called Savai'i. This islands gives many chances to explore the outdoors and take in the landscapes of Samoa.
http://www.sheratonsamoaresort.com/savaii-island |
One of the more well known animals of the Samoan islands is the flying fox, or the fruit bat. The fruit bats can be found on the Tonga. Their purpose is to pollinate and help to keep the forests alive.
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=EE407690-155D-4519-3EBCD6903FA6E056
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=EE407690-155D-4519-3EBCD6903FA6E056
Overtime cocoa was imported into Samoa, and today it has become a part of the landscape and plants of the islands. It is because of new settlers and people emigrating into Samoa that cocoa beans came about.
http://users.on.net/~mkfenn/page7.htm
http://users.on.net/~mkfenn/page7.htm
Human Characteristics
This map is a wonderful example of how the cultures are spread out across Samoa and the surroundings areas. Majority of the area is Polynesia, and that covers the islands of Samoa.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia
https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia
The people of Samoa are still very cultural and they still follow most customs, and this is a picture of the funeral ceremony of King Taufa'ahua Tupou IV in Nuku'alofa Tonga.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia#ref276576
https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia#ref276576
In areas more populated and exposed to tourists there will be people who speak better English. But, in areas or villages that are farther from exposure to outside visitors still speak the traditional language.
https://samoanculture.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/b20.jpg
https://samoanculture.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/b20.jpg
In Samoan culture the whole entire family unit is the 'aiga.' The aiga is not just immediate family, but it also includes members that are the same clan, or those that are under the protection of that clan or family.
http://pixshark.com/samoan-culture-family.htm
http://pixshark.com/samoan-culture-family.htm
In the 1830's Samoans demanded for a new religion, and something that they starter was known as 'beach bombers.' These beach bombers combined what they remembered of the Old Testament and their own cultic expectations and created something of their own to worship.
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/sailor-cults-samoa-001642
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/sailor-cults-samoa-001642
Physical Region Maps
The map shown on the shows the boundary line that separates Samoa from American Samoa. There are also the arrows that show the distances that other countries and islands are from Samoa.
http://images.nationmaster.com/images/motw/australia/samoa_islands_2002.gif
http://images.nationmaster.com/images/motw/australia/samoa_islands_2002.gif
Looking at the map on the left it is easy to see the different landscape that there is and get an idea of the elevation of the area. The keys allows you to see which areas are low, and which areas are covered with mountains.
https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/oceania/lgcolor/wscolor.htm
https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/oceania/lgcolor/wscolor.htm
Political Borders of Samoa
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This map names all the major regions and how they have been divided up to show administrative regions. The different colors show the highest level administration and the other color variations show the sub-regions. http://www.maphill.com/samoa/simple-maps/political-shades-map/ |