The Vaisigano River is a river on
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long and in area, making it the second largest of the Samoan Islands by area. With approximate ...
, one of the two main islands of
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); ...
. It is one of several rivers and streams which flow through the nation's capital,
Apia
Apia () is the capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of Tuamasaga.
...
. The river has three main branches, all of which have their sources in the central volcanic ridge which runs the length of the island. The main (central) branch of the river rises on the northern slopes of
Mount Le Pu'e, and joins with the eastern branch 4 km south of central Apia. The western branch joins one kilometre further north.
The main cross-island road, which runs from Apia to
Si'umu, runs along a ridge overlooking the western branch's valley for part of its length; the settlements of
Leaoa,
Tiapapata,
Letava, and
Vaoala, which lie along the highway, are all therefore close to the river's course, as is
Avele College, one of Samoa's main educational institutes. The waters of the river are used by the
Alaoa Water Treatment Plant and power station, which supplies both water and electricity to Apia.
References
Apia
Tuamasaga
Rivers of Samoa
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