Solomon Islands

Overview

The Solomon Islands are a South Pacific archipelago east of Papua New Guinea . They sit in the sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea. There are six major islands and over 900 smaller islands. The Solomons offer all the great attractions of Melanesia. Idyllic island scenery with perfect sandy beaches and splendid nature —in their rainforest, lagoons and waterfalls. For those who like to dive, underwater life is as stunning as that above. There's an abundance of wildlife to discover and amazing, colourful cultural traditions to see.

The Solomon Islands are believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. It is believed that Papuan-speaking settlers began to arrive around 30,000 BC. Austronesian speakers arrived circa 4,000 BC, bringing cultural elements such as the outrigger canoe. It is between 1,200 and 800 BC that the ancestors of the Polynesians, the Lapita people, arrived from the Bismarck Archipelago with their characteristic ceramics.

The first European to visit the islands was the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, coming from Peru in 1568. The people of Solomon Islands were notorious for headhunting and cannibalism before the arrival of the Europeans. Missionaries began visiting the Solomons in the mid-19th century. They made little progress at first, because "blackbirding" (the recruitment of labourers through coercion, deception, or kidnapping for plantations in Queensland or Fiji, where they were paid poorly, if at all) led to a series of reprisals and massacres. The evils of the labour trade prompted the United Kingdom to declare a protectorate over the southern Solomons in June 1893.

Sights and landscapes

Even more famous is the Langa Langa Lagoon , whose waters are brown rather than bright blue, life here is slow and peaceful, with locals working on their traditional handicrafts and classic canoes making their silent way through the water.

It's also one of the places where you can see the artificial islands this country is known for. Some date back to the 16th century, but new ones are created even now, using stones and coral materials.

Follow the slightly challenging but beautiful path to the bubbling mud of the Reoka hot springs or, for serious hikers, consider a 2-day hike to the top of the volcano Kolombangara . Easier but more beautiful is the path to the Mataniko Falls , with underlying caves that served as a hide-out for soldiers in World War II, and the Tenaru Falls . They are close to Honiara , the country's capital, and also home to the National Museum and Culture Centre .

Skull Island is a tiny islet is accessible from Lola Island, which is one of the most sacred areas in the Solomon Islands. It is visited by tourists, and offers an insight into the history of headhunting. It also has a shrine which houses the skulls of vanquished Rendovan chiefs.

The Solomon Islands were used as a battleground between Japanese and American forces during the Pacific War . Most of its war relics can still be seen on land and underwater, including tanks, plane wrecks, shipwrecks and guns.

Solomon Islands is an island nation that lies east of Papua New Guinea and consists of six major islands and 992 smaller islands . The major part of the nation of Solomon Islands covers many of the mountainous volcanic islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago , which includes Choiseul , the Shortland Islands , the New Georgia Islands , Santa Isabel , the Russell Islands , the Nggela Islands , Tulagi , Malaita , Maramasike , Ulawa , Owaraha (Santa Ana), Makira (San Cristobal), and the main island of Guadalcanal . Solomon Islands also includes smaller, isolated low atolls and volcanic islands such as Sikaiana , Rennell Island , Bellona Island , the Santa Cruz Islands and tiny outliers such as Tikopia , Anuta , and Fatutaka . Although Bougainville is the largest island in the Solomon Islands archipelago it is politically an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea and does not form part of the nation of Solomon Islands.

The country's islands lie between latitudes 5° and 13°S , and longitudes 155° and 169°E . The distance between the westernmost and easternmost islands is 1,448 kilometres (900 mi). The Santa Cruz Islands (of which Tikopia is part) are situated north of Vanuatu and are especially isolated at more than 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the other islands.

The Solomon Islands archipelago was formed in tectonic processes and major phases of volcanic activity that formed the islands occurred between the Eocene and Middle Miocene but is quite varied. Volcanic reactivation occurred no earlier than around 8 million years ago, and ongoing activity continues to the present day with several volcanoes, including Kavachi and Savo Island .

Culture and food

The archipelago's food differs little from that of other South Pacific islands. There's poi, fermented taro and the usual tropical fruit mix. An important source of starch is cassava. The tuna caught here, also an important export product, is often served with chillies and pasta or rice. Especially in the shops in the country you often only find canned spam or tuna.

Travel guide text compiled and adapted from Wikivoyage article (contributors) and Wikipedia article (contributors). Sections were selected and reordered for this guide. Text is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Check current arrangements with your travel consultant.