SAVAI'I

westernmost and largest island of Western Samoa, South Pacific Ocean. It is separated from Upolu by the Apolima Strait. Savai'i is about 50 miles (80 km) long and 25 miles (40 km) across at its widest point and has an area of 659 square miles (1,707 square km). The island is extremely mountainous, reaching its highest point at Mount Silisili (6,099 feet ). Volcanic eruptions in the early 1900s brought ruin to many plantations on Savai'i, but since 1911 lava has ceased to flow and the volcanoes have become quiescent. The island's products include copra, bananas, cocoa, taros, and coffee. Some cattle are raised and wild pigs are plentiful. In 1970 a government-sponsored timber program began at Asau in the northwest. The chief settlement is Tuasivi on the east coast. Pop. (1981 prelim.) 43,150.