Samoa Second National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Abstract

Samoa is a small island country in the southwest Pacific, comprised of four main inhabited islands and six smaller, uninhabited islands. Samoa has a total land area of roughly 2,900 km2. The capital, Apia, is in the northern part of Upolu. Samoaís main islands are characterised by a rugged and mountainous topography. Samoa is of volcanic origin, mainly from the Samoa-Uvea hotspot, and the movement of continental plates over a thin, hot spot in the crust. On Upolu, the central mountain range runs along the length of the island with some peaks rising more than 1,000 metres above sea level with the highest peak being Mt Fito at a height of 1,100 metres. Savaiíi contains a central core of volcanic peaks reaching the highest point, Mt Silisili, at 1,858 metres.