Page 153 - Pacific Paradises 2019

— Solomon Islands —

BOUGAINVILLE
STRAIT Kumbakale
Papara
Sasamungga

WESTERN PROVINCE SANTA ISABEL SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Noho Buala
Gizo

Vangunu CENTRAL PROVINCE Auki
MALAITA
New Georgia Islands
Yandina
SOLOMON SEA GUADALCANAL PROVINCE
Honiara
GUADALCANAL

MAKIRA
Kira Kira
Santa Ana

SOLOMON ISLANDS

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

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