7 Attention-grabbing Info about Samoa

The independent state of Samoa is a little-known country in the middle of the Pacific.

The capital of Samoa is Alia. It is the only city in the state and has about 35,000 residents. The country is on nine islands, the largest of which are Sawaya and Upolu. The east coast of the archipelago is American owned. For a long time the state was under the control of Germany and New Zealand. There are other interesting facts about Samoa.

Until colonization, the area of ​​Samoa was inhabited by different tribes who constantly fought among themselves. The locals were so aggressive that Americans and Europeans feared them. Nowadays Samoans are peaceful and free of conflict. The mentality is based on respect for the community, the elders, the parents and oneself. The atmosphere here is relaxed and comfortable. We have compiled the most amazing and unusual facts about Samoa for you.

7 facts about Samoa

  1. Before the European missionaries invaded Samoa, there was no written language. It was artificially created in 1834. The Latin alphabet is at the center of writing. Today 99% of the population read and write. This is a high rate for this region.
  2. The country has two official languages ​​- English and Samoan. In fact, few people speak English.
  3. In 1918-1919 the country had a Spanish epidemic. Almost everyone in this country fell ill. One in five of them died.
  4. There are often hurricane winds. It rains from October to May. On average there is around 3,000 ml of precipitation per year.
  5. Tattoos are very popular with locals. Men put them on parts of the body from the waist to the knee, and women from the knee to the thigh.
  6. There are no snakes, predators or lizards in the area of ​​the archipelago. Again, you won’t find a stray cat or dog. The native inhabitants of the islands are fruit bats. There are also many insects and singing birds.
  7. Traditional clothing is still worn here – lava-lava skirts. This is part of a female and male national costume. There is even this element of clothing in a policeman’s uniform.

Top 3 of the best things to do in Samoa

  1. To-Sua Lake is a reservoir of volcanic origin. It is in a failure caused by volcanic activity. The depth of the failure reached 30 meters. The water is so clean and transparent that it is easy to observe the local fauna.
  2. Lanutoo Lake used to be the most popular resort for Europeans. Today the water in this lake is an unusual green color. There are also countless goldfish who come to the shore for handouts. In addition, none of the divers could reach the bottom of this reservoir.
  3. Savai’i Island is a protected area of ​​Polynesian culture, with nature unaffected by modern civilization. There are many places to relax, but all are in pristine condition with virtually no facilities. Weak and injured turtles congregate on the beaches. The local women’s committee takes care of them and then releases them.

Strange laws and customs in Samoa

In this state there are people of the middle or third sex. These are boys raised as girls from childhood. Most often they are the youngest sons helping their mother with household chores. Your name is Faafine. They are not considered transvestites. You are respected in society. The connection between such a person and an ordinary man in Samoan society is not considered homosexual. This phenomenon is common in some other countries.

What is forbidden in Samoa

  • Forgetting your wife’s birthday is one of the strangest laws in the world.
  • Snacking on the go is considered a horse of indecency;
  • Bargaining in the markets – the prices are very low here, so the trade is not understandable for locals and therefore inappropriate;
  • Sitting with your feet towards those present is perceived as disrespect for others.
  • Making noise on Sundays between 5pm and 6pm is a time of prayer.
  • Abuse Nui is a local drink that is a delicious but very powerful sedative.
  • Scuba Diving – There are many reefs near the coast and strong currents. So diving ends badly for beginners.

Traditional Samoan houses have no walls. They are an oval platform with a canopy. The walls replace hand-made mats made of natural materials or a grid that protects the “house” from mosquitoes. The awning or roof is made of straw. There is even space for cars in such structures.

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