The Apolima Strait is about 13 km wide and separates the two largest islands of Samoa, the island of Savai'i to the northwest, and Upolu to the southeast.
Three small islands lie in the strait, Manono and Apolima, which have small village settlements and tiny uninhabited islet Nu'ulopa.
Manono is about 3 miles off the west coast of Upolu and Apolima lies approximately near the middle of the strait. Nu'ulopa is a tiny rocky outcrop with palm trees and surrounded by a natural turtle habitat.
The main means of transport between the two large 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.
Read more about Apolima Strait: Gallery
Famous quotes containing the word strait:
“We approached the Indian Island through the narrow strait called “Cook.” He said, “I ‘xpect we take in some water there, river so high,—never see it so high at this season. Very rough water there, but short; swamp steamboat once. Don’t paddle till I tell you, then you paddle right along.” It was a very short rapid. When we were in the midst of it he shouted “paddle,” and we shot through without taking in a drop.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)