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Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific
Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and
weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates,
lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography
The Solomon Islands Archipelago is scattered in the southwestern
Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea. The group comprises most of the
Solomon Islands (those in the northwest are part of Papua New Guinea),
the Ontong Java Islands, Rennell Island and the Santa Cruz Islands,
which lie further to the east.
The capital Honiara is situated on Guadalcanal Island, which also
has the highest mountain, Mount Makarakombu, at 2447m. The Solomon
Islands are a remote and unspoilt travel destination, with a slowly
developing tourist industry. The total area is 27,556 sq km (10,639
sq mi).
Climate
The climate is semi-tropical, mainly hot and humid, with little
annual variation in temperature. The wet season during November
to April can bring severe tropical storms.
Background:
In 1893, Britain made the southern Solomon Islands a protectorate.
Other islands were added to the group, including some ceded to Britain
by Germany. The Solomon Islands were occupied by the Japanese during
World War II.
Following the war, internal self-government was established in 1976,
and independence from the UK came two years later. Current issues
include government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the
1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on
these islands.
Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years
later. Current issues include government deficits, deforestation,
and malaria control.
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