Pacific Island Paradises

– 160 – www.paradises.com Virtually untouched by commercial development, the Solomon Islands are a natural paradise located south-east of Papua New Guinea and only three hours by air from Brisbane, Australia. The people of the Solomons still practise a traditional way of life, preferring to respect the old customs and traditions. They believe in maintaining and preserving their beautiful unspoiled environment. Capital and places to visit The Solomon Islands are geographically fragmented with six main islands and hundreds of smaller islands, including man-made atolls. The main islands are Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Santa Isabel, San Cristobal, Malaita and New Georgia and the capital is Honiara. The Western Province is perhaps the most visited region of the Solomons and its centerpiece is the largest, double barrier lagoon in the world, Marovo Lagoon, that has been nominated for World Heritage listing. Literally thousands of islands scatter the lagoon, from tiny coral islets on the fringing reef to massive 1600-metre volcanic islands. Some are still active and can be visited such as Simbo as well as the undersea volcanoes near Ngattokae. Inside the lagoon, the islands are surrounded by spectacular coral formations and white sand beach. All the facilities needed by modern visitors are available in the quiet, peaceful town of Gizo, the capital. There are banks, luxury hotels, guesthouses and backpacker accommodation, bars and restaurants. The province offers traditional villages, secluded beaches, superb snorkelling and scuba diving where you can explore the watery graves of undisturbed WWII relics. The people The islanders are smiling, warm, friendly people, mostly Melanesian (90 percent), with some Polynesian, Gilbertese, European and Asian. English is the official language, though there are more than 120 indigenous languages. History It is believed that the Austronesians discovered the Solomon Islands about five thousand years ago and Melanesian hunter and gatherer voyagers first settled in the larger islands. Polynesians known as the seafarers later arrived and settled in the smaller islands and atolls that border Solomon Islands' northern and eastern boundaries. The Spanish were the first Europeans to visit the islands, Alvaro de Mendana naming them the Solomons. Some of the fiercest fighting of W WII took place in and around Honiara and names such as Bloody Ridge, Red Beach, Skyline Ridge and Henderson Field will live long in the memories of both sides of the conf lict. Here in 1942, the bloodiest and longest campaign saw the loss of nearly 38,000 lives and the turning point of the war in the Pacific. There are many battle sites and relics of the war to be found not only here, but throughout the islands. The Solomon Islands became a fully independent nation in 1978 and today the country operates under a provincial government system of nine provinces. The national parliament adopted a Westminster system and has a democracy-style government. S O L O M O N I S L A N D S Buala SANTA ISABEL Kira Kira Santa Ana Honiara Auki Yandina New Georgia Islands BOUGAINVILLE STRAIT Kumbakale Papara Noho Sasamungga Gizo Vangunu SOLOMON SEA SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN MALAITA MAKIRA GUADALCANAL GUADALCANAL PROVINCE CENTRAL PROVINCE WESTERN PROVINCE

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