Atua

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Political division of Samoa, 1924.

Atua is located on the island of Upolu and is the oldest political district (itūmālō) of the island state of Samoa . It covers an area of ​​413 km² and in 2016 had 22,769 inhabitants.

geography

Map of Samoa with the Atua district

The current district includes the eastern part of Upolu Island and the small offshore islands, including Nu'usafe'e Island , Albatross Island , Nu'utele Island , Fanuatapu Island , Namu'a Island , as well as Nu'utele Island and Nu'ulua Island as an extension of Cape Tapaga ( ⊙ ) on the southeastern tip of the island. The district encloses the district in the northeast Va'a-o-FonotT and is bordered to the west by Tuamasaga . The main town is Aleipata at Saleaaumua to the east and Lufilufi is the traditional center and seat of the historic Tui Atua (King of Atua). The eponymous place Atua is located in the northwest of the district, south of Itu Anoamaa . Other places are Falealili and Lepa . In the center of the district, the chain of volcanic mountains and craters extends from southeast to west: Cape Tapaga , Mount Latalua ( ⊙ 225  m ), Mount Lanotai ( ⊙ 316  m ), Mount Olomauga ( ⊙ 505  m ), Lake Lanoto ( ⊙ 418  m ), Lake Olomaga ( ⊙ 459  m ), Mount Tiatala ( ⊙ 484  m ), Mount Savaiʻi ( ⊙ 426  m ), Mount Seuga ( ⊙ 435  m ), Mount Fogalepulu ( ⊙ 387  m ), Mount Mauga Se ( ⊙ 229  m ) , Mount Fealofani ( ⊙ 406  m ). Further north are the mountains Mount Fito ( ⊙ 1028  m ) with the lake Lake Fito and Mount Fao ( ⊙ 229  m ). Connecting roads run on the south coast and in the north a little further inland the Richardson Road . There is a north-south connection from Vaipu over the Le Mafa Pass to Lotofaga or Vailoa in the south.

history

In ancient times, the district even included Tutuila (today: American Samoa ) and all of Upolu and Savaiʻi . During this period it was also the seat of the highest chief, the Tui Atua. The society was administered by the elders of the Faleono (House of Six) who had the privilege of voting for the Tui Atua.

The Tui Atua dynasty goes back to Leifi Ao o Atua ("highest head"), who gave his younger cousin Tui Atua Polailevao responsibility for his malae of Lalogafuafua , Lufilufi , around 1300 . Since then, Lalogafuafua has been the meeting place where the titles of the Tui Atua were given.

This dynasty in Samoa is only surpassed in age by the Tui Manuʻa . The Tui Atua are considered direct descendants of the Tagaloalagi . Other clans that can be traced back to this are the Tui Manuʻa and the Tui Aʻana .

The current Tui Atua is the Tama Aiga , former Prime Minister and Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Taisi Tufuga Efi .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ General, geography, etc. citypopulation.de.
  2. ↑ geonames.org .

Coordinates: 13 ° 57 ′  S , 171 ° 38 ′  W