Piula Cave Pool
Encyclopedia
Piula Cave Pool is a natural freshwater pool by the sea beneath the historic Methodist Chapel at Piula on the north coast of Upolu
island in Samoa
. It is situated at Lufilufi
in the political district of Atua
, 26km east from the capital Apia, along the scenic coastal road. Entry is by the main road through the painted stone wall of Piula Theological College
with steps leading down to the pool.
A popular swimming hole for locals and visitors, the pool is formed by a natural spring flowing out of a cave
and out to sea. Inside the main cave opening on the north side is a short submerged tunnel leading to a smaller cave opening on the east side of the pool. It is open Mondays to Saturdays and there are small fale
and changing rooms for visitors. The monastery charges a small visitor's fee.
Freshwater pools are fairly common around the coastlines of Savai'i
and Upolu
islands which were formed from volcanic activity. Cooling lava flows from volcanic eruptions resulted in lava-tunnels
that have become conduits for water.
of the biblical name Beulah.
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 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...
. It is situated at Lufilufi
Lufilufi
Lufilufi is a historical village situated on the north coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency Anoamaa East which is within the larger political district of Atua....
in the political district of Atua
Atua
Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian peoples such as the Māori. The Polynesian word literally means power or strength and so the concept is similar to that of mana...
, 26km east from the capital Apia, along the scenic coastal road. Entry is by the main road through the painted stone wall of Piula Theological College
Piula Theological College
Piula Theological College is a Methodist training institution in Samoa. It was established in 1868 in Lufilufi on the north coast of Upolu island after its initial beginnings in 1859 at Satupa'itea on the south coast of Savai'i island. The Methodist Mission in Samoa purchased the land at the...
with steps leading down to the pool.
A popular swimming hole for locals and visitors, the pool is formed by a natural spring flowing out of a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
and out to sea. Inside the main cave opening on the north side is a short submerged tunnel leading to a smaller cave opening on the east side of the pool. It is open Mondays to Saturdays and there are small fale
Architecture of Samoa
The architecture of Samoa is characterised by openness, with the design mirroring the culture and life of the Samoan people who inhabit the Samoa Islands. Architectural concepts are incorporated into Samoan proverbs, oratory and metaphors, as well as linking to other art forms in Samoa, such as...
and changing rooms for visitors. The monastery charges a small visitor's fee.
Freshwater pools are fairly common around the coastlines of Savai'i
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...
and 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...
islands which were formed from volcanic activity. Cooling lava flows from volcanic eruptions resulted in lava-tunnels
Lava tube
Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow, expelled by a volcano during an eruption. They can be actively draining lava from a source, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like...
that have become conduits for water.
History
The Methodist Mission in Samoa purchased the land for a training institution at Lufilufi in 1868 and named it Piula Theological College. The name Piula is a transliterationTransliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
of the biblical name Beulah.