The Alofaaga Blowholes, also known as the Taga Blowholes, are a natural feature located in the district of
Palauli
Palauli is a districts of Samoa, district and village of Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 9,300. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i. The capital is Vailoa which is also referred to as Vailoa i Palauli (Vailoa in P ...
, south west of
Salelologa
Salelologa is a village district at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i. It also serves as the main township for shopping and public amenities with a market s ...
wharf
A wharf, quay (, also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more berths (mooring locatio ...
on the island of
Savai'i in
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...
. The entrance to the blowholes is in the village of
Taga.
In this area,
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
flows have created a series of
tubes
Tube or tubes may refer to:
* ''Tube'' (2003 film), a 2003 Korean film
* ''The Tube'' (TV series), a music related TV series by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom
* "Tubes" (Peter Dale), performer on the Soccer AM television show
* Tube (band), a ...
connecting a flat clifftop of lava rock with the ocean below. Waves breaking against the lower end of the
lava tubes send water at high pressure up through the tubes, creating fountains that spray every few seconds.
As most of the land in Samoa is under customary ownership, the village charges a small admission for entry to view the blowholes. The area is unfenced and surrounded by wet, slippery rocks which can be dangerous. Falling into one of the blowholes would be almost certainly fatal. A track along the coast can be followed west to the ancient village of
Fagaloa
Afagaloa is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is situated on the south coast of the island in the electoral constituency (''faipule district'') of Palauli West which is part of the larger political district of Palauli
Palauli is a ...
.
[
]
Gallery
File:Blowholes Savai'i 2009.jpg
File:Samoa Blowholes.JPG
See also
* Piula Cave Pool
Piula Cave Pool (also known as Fatumea 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, 26 ...
* Mata o le Alelo Pool
* Falemauga Caves
The Falemauga Caves are large natural caverns in a series of lava-tunnels situated in the Tuamasaga district along the central ridge of Upolu island in Samoa. The caves have been studied by archaeologists in Samoa with evidence of human occupat ...
References
External links
Samoan New Zealander hip hop artist King Kapisi music video filmed at the blowholes
Blowholes
Landforms of Samoa
Lava tubes
Palauli
Savai'i
{{Samoa-geo-stub