Apolima Strait



The Apolima Strait is about 13 km wide and separates the two largest islands of Samoa: Savai'i to the northwest, and Upolu to the southeast.

Three small islands lie in the strait. Two of them, Manono and Apolima, have small village settlements. Manono is about 3 miles off the west coast of Upolu. Apolima lies near the middle of the strait. The third, Nu'ulopa is a tiny, uninhabited, rocky outcrop with palm trees, which is surrounded by a natural turtle habitat islet. The main means of transportation between the two larger islands - passenger and vehicle ferries operated by the Samoa government - run through the strait between Mulifanua wharf on Upolu and Salelologa wharf on Savai'i.

The ferry crossing takes about 90 minutes.