Samoa

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Samoa (Western Samoa until 1997, German Samoa from 1900 to 1914) is a country comprising a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

Samoa

Image:Samoa_flag_medium.png Image:westasmarms22.PNG

(In Detail) (Full size)

National motto: Xxxxx

image:LocationSamoa.png

Official languages Samoan, English

Capital Apia

Capital's coordinates 13ÃÂÃÂ° 35' S, 172ÃÂÃÂ° 20' W

Chief Malietoa Tanumafili II

Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi

Area
- Total
- % water Ranked 165th
2,944 km²
0.3%

Population
- Total (2003)
- Density Ranked 173rd
178,173
60/km²

Independence
- date from New Zealand
January 1, 1962

Currency tala (WST)

Time zone UTC -11

National anthem The Banner of Freedom

Internet TLD .ws

Calling Code 685

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 (Subdivisions)
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Culture
9 Miscellaneous topics
10 External Links

History

Main article: History of Samoa

Settled as early as 1000 BC, Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, in August 1914, New Zealand sent an expeditionary force to seize and occupy German Samoa. This was to stop German Samoa being used a naval refueling base in the Pacific. The German forces on the islands did not surrender, nor did they put up a fight.

German Samoa was renamed Western Samoa, New Zealand continued the occupation of Western Samoa throughout World War I. In 1919, under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany dropped its claims to the islands and they were granted to New Zealand as a mandate.

New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a United Nations trusteeship until the country received its independence on January 1, 1962 as Western Samoa, making it the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century.

Music of Samoa

Culture

Main article: Culture of Samoa

Miscellaneous topics

External Links

Pacific Islands

Other political units

Commonwealth of Nations