The Solomon Islands is a double chain of islands located 1860 kilometres to the north east of Australia. Shaped by earthquakes and volcanic activity thousands of years ago, the 922 individual islands, of which 350 are uninhabited, are divided into nine provinces.
The six main islands of Choiseul, Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal, Malatia, Makira and New Georgia make up most of the 28,000 square kilometre land mass. Hundreds of smaller islands and atolls are scattered throughout the group.
The Solomon Islands are a uniquely, beautiful environment, wild and untamed. The landscape is mountainous with 80% of the islands covered in dense rainforest.
Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are several active volcanoes and numerous uplifted atolls and coral islands.
The nation is largely untouched by tourism. Most of the population live in small villages and follow traditional cultures and lifestyles with hunting, fishing, carvings, handcrafts and subsistence farming being their main activities. The Solomon Islanders are a friendly, warm and generous people who make visitors to their Islands feel most welcome.
During World War II the Solomons became the key turning point in the desperate struggle by the allied forces to repel the Japanese advancement in the South Pacific. Most of the heavy fighting was concentrated in the Guadalcanal area with one of the fiercest encounters in naval history taking place on 13th November 1942. The “Battle of Guadalcanal” extracted heavy losses on both sides. Hundreds of ships and aircraft litter the ocean floor, providing divers with a wide range of wrecks to explore. The machines and relics of destruction now form spectacular, artificial reefs that attract masses of fish and an incredible variety of coral life.
Note: All wrecks in the Solomons are National Heritage and the pilfering of these wrecks is not permitted.
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