Pacific Island Paradises

BOUGAINVILLE STRAIT Kumbakale Papara Sasamungga WESTERN PROVINCE Gizo Noho Vangunu New Georgia Islands Yandina SOLOMON SEA GUADALCANAL GUADALCANAL PROVINCE Honiara SANTA ISABEL Buala CENTRAL PROVINCE Auki SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN MALAITA MAKIRA Kira Kira Santa Ana Unspoiled island 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 unspoilt environment. The islands are covered in tropical rainforest and their steep hilly slopes are interspersed with swift flowing creeks, waterfalls and peaceful lagoons. Capital and major centres 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. Volcanoes with varying degrees of activity are situated on some of the larger islands, while many of the smaller islands are simply tiny atolls covered in sand and palm trees. 220 www.paradisesonline.com 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, including pidgin English, spoken throughout the island group history The Solomon Islands were probably discovered about five thousand years ago by the Austronesians. Melanesian hunter and gatherer voyagers settled in the larger Solomons first. 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. He also named the islands of Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal and San Cristobal. The Solomons became a fully independent nation in 1978 and today the country operates under a provincial government

• Cover