Apolima Strait

Strait in Western Samoa
View of Apolima island (left) and the tip of Savai'i (right) from the ferry crossing the strait.

The Apolima Strait is about 13 km[1] wide and separates the two largest islands of Samoa: Savai'i to the northwest, and Upolu to the southeast.

Three small islands lie in the strait. Two of them, Manono and Apolima, have small village settlements. Manono is about 3 miles off the west coast of Upolu. Apolima lies near the middle of the strait. The third, Nu'ulopa is a tiny, uninhabited, rocky outcrop with palm trees, which is surrounded by a natural turtle habitat islet.[2]

The main means of transportation between the two larger islands - passenger and vehicle ferries operated by the Samoa government - run through the strait between Mulifanua wharf on Upolu and Salelologa wharf on Savai'i.

The ferry crossing takes about 90 minutes.

Gallery

  • Apolima Strait
  • Apolima Strait with Savai'i (top) and the tip of Upolu below.
    Apolima Strait with Savai'i (top) and the tip of Upolu below.
  • Apolima island.
    Apolima island.
  • Heading by boat towards uninhabited Nu'ulopa island (left) with Apolima island (right)
    Heading by boat towards uninhabited Nu'ulopa island (left) with Apolima island (right)
  • Map of Samoa showing Apolima Strait between Upolu (right) and Savai'i (left).
    Map of Samoa showing Apolima Strait between Upolu (right) and Savai'i (left).

See also

  • Samoan Islands
  • Geography of Samoa

References

  1. ^ "Apolima". Oceandots. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  2. ^ Rottman, Gordon L (2002). World War 2 Pacific island guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 88. ISBN 0-313-31395-4. Retrieved 27 January 2010.

13°49′08″S 172°10′19″W / 13.819°S 172.172°W / -13.819; -172.172

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