The Solomon Islands are made up of over 900 islands, around half of which still remain uninhabited. There are 6 major islands: San Cristobal (also known as Makira), Choiseul, Malaita, New Georgia, Santa Isabel and Guadalcanal. The last of the islands listed is also home to the country’s capital city, Honiara.
The discovery of the Solomon Islands happened in 1568, Spaniard Ìlvaro de Menda̱a chose the name Islas SalomÌ_n (“Solomon Islands”) after the biblical King Solomon. He believed at the time, like the king, that the islands were in possession of a hearty wealth of gold and riches.
Did you know that you can dive into the largest saltwater lagoon in the world in the Solomon Islands? At around 700 square kilometres, Marovo Lagoon is bordered by the New Georgia, Vangunu and Gatakae Islands along with a double barrier reef system. Within the lagoon, there are also hundreds of smaller islands.
As of 2017, the population of the Solomon Islands was 611,343, ranking the islands as the 168th most populous country in the world.
One of the islands in the group of Solomon Islands is named after the former U.S. president, John. F. Kennedy. Kennedy Island was given its name after an incident involving the then serving lieutenant naval officer. His crew at the time swam onto the island after their ship had been rammed and wrecked by a Japanese vessel during World War II.
The Island’s official language is English. However, only 1-2% of the population are able to speak this language fluently. That’s because the Solomon Islands are home to 74 local languages. Of these languages, four are classed as extinct, while the other 70 are made up of a wide-ranging mix of influences such as English and languages from the surrounding countries.
Much of the land in the Solomon Island is heavily forested and boasts mountainous topography. The highest peak in the country is Mount Popomanaseu, a volcanic mountain that sits 2,335 meters above sea level (7,661 feet).
During the second World War, Guadalcanal was the site of a major Allied offensive against the Japanese, who were in the process of constructing an air base on the island. During the conflict, in which the allies would eventually triumph, losses were significant on both sides, including a number of warships and smaller vessels sank. While many of these were lost to depths beyond divable limits, some remain within reach and can be seen and enjoyed during a trip to the islands.
The Solomon Islands’ coastline totals an impressive 5,313 kilometres in length. The majority is beautiful, sandy beaches, tropical trees and crystal clear waters filled with pristine coral reefs.
The Solomon Islands’ underwater landscape includes one of the world’s most active submarine volcanoes. Named after the sea god of the New Georgia Group islanders, Karachi can be found just south of Vangunu Island. Since its first recorded eruption in 1939, the underwater volcano has continued to break the water’s surface only to be eroded back by the sea numerous times.
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