Mauga

Mauga
Village
Mauga
Coordinates: 13°28′32″S 172°18′56″W / 13.47556°S 172.31556°WCoordinates: 13°28′32″S 172°18′56″W / 13.47556°S 172.31556°W
Country	Samoa
District	Gaga'emauga
Population (2006)
• Total	179
Time zone	-11

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.^[1] 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).^[2] The physical setting of Gaga'emauga I district contains no development along its 10 km 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.^[2] There are ruins of a historic Catholic mission site on the coast.^[2]

References

1. "15th Pacific History Association Conference". University of the South Pacific. 13 December 2002. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
2. "Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan, Gagaemauga I District" (PDF). Government of Samoa, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment. February 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2009.