Geography of Solomons

This truly beautiful archipelago is comprised of a scattered double chain of islands stretching for more then 1500 km in an east direction from Papua New Guinea and northeast from Australia. The Solomons is the third largest archipelago in the South Pacific, comprising 992 islands.

The country is largely covered by tropical rainforest. Many plants and trees are valued by islanders as sources of traditional building materials, food, medicine and clothing.

The Solomon Islands has a population of just over 400,000. Spread across an area of 29,000 sq. km. The country is located between 5 - 12 degrees south latitude and 150 - 170 degrees East longitude, with an estimate sea area of 1.3 million sq. km in the exclusive economic zone. The capital, Honiara, approx. 50,000 inhabitants, is situated on Guadalcanal, a name known to the world over as the site for some of the bloodiest battles of World War II.

Charapoana giants	Extinct volcano

The Solomon Islands nation scatered over nearly 1000 Islands and atolls with its people speaking eighty seven (87) different dialects. The eighty three (83) distinct cultural groups, though so diverse, are united by many similarities. The oral culture provides the most important cultural heritage. Solomon Islands is one of the Melanesian countries, the name Melanesia means the dark Islands (Melas - Black: nesia - Islands) is the name for the islands of South West Pacific Ocean encircling Australia's north eastern and eastern seaboards.

Rugged jungle	Village in jungle