Apia (Upolu Island Samoa)

Apia is Samoa's capital, largest city and principal seaport. During 1900-1919, it was the capital of German Samoa. The city is situated on the central north coast of Upolu Island (Samoa's second-largest/after Savaii). Upolu was formed by a shield volcano rising from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. Upolu Island has length 47 mi (75 km) and total area approx 434 mi2 (1125 km2). By population (around 135,000), the Upolu is the most populated of the Samoan Islands.

Apia is Samoa's only "city" and falls within the Tuamasaga district. The City of Apia has total area approx 48 mi2 (124 km2) and population around 37,000. Apia Urban Area's geographic boundaries are from Letogo village to the industrialized region of Vaitele.

The city of Apia lies on a natural harbor at the mouth of Vaisigano River. It is located on a narrow coastal plain with the burial place of writer Robert Louis Stevenson, Mount Vaea (472 m/1,549 ft), directly to its south. Apia Harbour is Samoa's largest and busiest harbor. International shipping with LPG gas, fuels, and containers, all dock here. Ferries to American Samoa and Tokelau depart from here.

In August 2021 started works on the project to upgrade Port Apia (locode WSAPW). The redevelopment included building a Border & Customs facility (with an X-ray scanner for TEU-containers), purchasing new tugboats, and mainly - a new weather-resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme storms and climate changes (50-years of sea-level rise).

• The project was co-funded by ADB-Asian Development Bank, amounting USD 62,26 million (EUR 53,23M) ADB financing, and USD 12,77 million (EUR 10,92M) Samoa Government financing.
• For the project were contracted various companies from China, New Zealand, Holland.

Apia was originally a tiny village (its 1800 population was just 304 inhabitants), from which the capital of Samoa took its name. The village of Apia still exists within the bigger modern capital of Apia that has grown into an outstretched urban area with a lot of villages. Like every other country's settlement, the village of Apia has its matai chiefly leaders and faalupega (customary and genealogy greetings) according to faa Samoa.