Mauga
Encyclopedia
Mauga is a village in Savai'i
island in Samoa
. The word mauga means mountain in the Samoan language
. The settlement is built around the crater of a small volcano.Mauga is in the Gaga'emauga
political district near the central north coast of the island. The large meeting houses of the village are situated in a circle facing each other around the rim of the crater which can be seen in high altitude photography.
The main island road passes by the village which is situated about a 40-minute drive north west from Salelologa
township and ferry terminal.
To the southeast is Samalae'ulu
village and to the west Saleaula
where the main road cuts through large areas of black lava fields.
Mauga falls into Gaga'emauga I District, a sub-division of the larger constituency. Gaga'emauga I includes the neighbouring villages Samalae'ulu and Patamea
on Savai'i island as well as Le'auva'a
which was relocated to Upolu
island following volcanic eruptions of Mount Matavanu (1905 - 1911).The physical setting of Gaga'emauga I district contains no development along its 10km coastline, unlike the rest of the island, due to the barren lava cliffs by the sea. Lava from the island's interior flowed in a pathway between Mauga and Samalae'ulu to the ocean, filling the lagoon. The lava fields resulted in the settlement moving inland.There are ruins of a historic Catholic
mission site on the coast.
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
island in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. The word mauga means mountain in the Samoan language
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
. The settlement is built around the crater of a small volcano.Mauga is in the Gaga'emauga
Gaga'emauga
Gaga'emauga is an electoral district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of ...
political district near the central north coast of the island. The large meeting houses of the village are situated in a circle facing each other around the rim of the crater which can be seen in high altitude photography.
The main island road passes by the village which is situated about a 40-minute drive north west from Salelologa
Salelologa
Salelologa is a village district at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i...
township and ferry terminal.
To the southeast is Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu is a village on the northeast side of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga I which includes the neighbouring villages of Patamea and the smaller settlement of Mauga which is built around a volcanic crater.The population of Samalae'ulu is...
village and to the west Saleaula
Saleaula
Sale'aula is a village on the central north coast of Savai'i island in Samoa and is the traditional center of the Gaga'emauga political district...
where the main road cuts through large areas of black lava fields.
Mauga falls into Gaga'emauga I District, a sub-division of the larger constituency. Gaga'emauga I includes the neighbouring villages Samalae'ulu and Patamea
Patamea
Patamea is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. While most villages on Savai'i are situated near the sea, Patamea is situated inland, away from the coast...
on Savai'i island as well as Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a
Le'auva'a is a village on the island of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 3,041. Although the village is geographically located on Upolu, the village is politically part of the political district of Gaga'emauga on the island of Savai'i.The settlement was relocated to Upolu in the early...
which was relocated to Upolu
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
island following volcanic eruptions of Mount Matavanu (1905 - 1911).The physical setting of Gaga'emauga I district contains no development along its 10km coastline, unlike the rest of the island, due to the barren lava cliffs by the sea. Lava from the island's interior flowed in a pathway between Mauga and Samalae'ulu to the ocean, filling the lagoon. The lava fields resulted in the settlement moving inland.There are ruins of a historic Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
mission site on the coast.