The Solomon Islands is a nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea and is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It consists of more than 990 islands, which together cover a land mass of 28,000 square kilometres. The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ...

(adopted November 18, 1977) (Full size)
National motto: To Lead is to Serve
Official language	English
Capital	Honiara
Queen	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir Nathaniel Waena
Prime Minister	Sir Allan Kemakeza
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 140th 28,450 km² 3.2%
Population  - Total 2004 (est based on 1999 census)  - Density	Ranked 160th 470,000 17/km²
Independence  - Date	From the UK July 7, 1978
Currency	Solomon Islands dollar
Time zone	UTC +11
National anthem	God Save Our Solomon Islands
Internet TLD	.sb
Calling Code	677

Large flag of the Solomon Islands Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Solomon Coat of arms (detailed) This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... FIAV usage code 56 See Vexillological symbols for its meaning File links The following pages link to this file: Flag of France Flag of Luxembourg Flag of Nepal Flag of Burkina Faso Flag of Poland Flag of the Vatican City Flag of Australia Solomon Islands Flag of Chad Flag of... Jump to: navigation, search November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search This page lists state and national mottos for the worlds independent states and their subdivisions. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Honiara, population 30,413 (1986), is the capital of the Solomon Islands. ... A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state, whose titles and ascent are often inherited, not earned, and who represents a larger monarchical system which has established rules and customs regarding succession, duties, and powers. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926) is the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda... The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands is the defacto Head of State of the Solomon Islands, representing Queen Elizabeth II, who is styled Queen of the Solomon Islands. ... Sir Nathaniel Waena Rt Hon. ... Jump to: navigation, search A prime minister may be either: chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the civil service and... Sir Allan Kemakeza (born 1951) is the current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... Jump to: navigation, search This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Jump to: navigation, search Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, estimated for the year 2005. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Solomon Islands Dollar was introduced in 1975 to replace the Australian Dollar after independence. ... Jump to: navigation, search Time zones are areas of the Earth that have adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time or Z, is an atomic realization of Universal Time (UT) or Greenwich Mean Time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a countrys government as their states official national song. ... God Save Our Solomon Islands is the national anthem of the Solomon Islands. ... A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of an Internet domain name. ... .sb is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Solomon Islands. ... Jump to: navigation, search // At a glance In depth Zone 1 – North American Numbering Plan Area nanpa. ...

History

Main article: History of the Solomon Islands // Early history The Islands first inhabitants likely arrived about 30,000 B.C.; later -- about 4,000 B.C. -- other Polynesian settlers brought agriculture, sailing, and other technologies. ...

The United Kingdom established a protectorate over Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most intense fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence was granted on July 7, 1978. Current issues include corruption, land relations, government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control. For the rule of Oliver Cromwell, see The Protectorate. ... Jump to: navigation, search World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that... Jump to: navigation, search 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search == Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest. ... Jump to: navigation, search Red blood cell infected with Malaria (Italian: bad air; formerly called ague or marsh fever in English) is an infectious disease which in humans causes about 350-500 million infections and approximately 1. ...

Continuing civil unrest led to an almost complete breakdown in normal activity: civil servants remained unpaid for months at a time, and cabinet meetings had to be held in secret to prevent local warlords from interfering. The security forces were unable to reassert control, largely because many police and security personnel are associated with one or another of the rival gangs. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

In July 2003 the Governor General of the Solomon Islands issued an official request for international help, which was subsequently endorsed by the government. A sizable international security contingent of 2,200 police and troops, led by Australia and New Zealand, and with representatives from about 20 other Pacific nations began arriving the next month under Operation Helpem Fren, the Australian contribution is known as Operation Anode. Jump to: navigation, search 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Governor-General (or Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... Jump to: navigation, search Map of the Solomon Islands Operation Helpem Fren, also known as the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), was created in response to a request for international aid by the Governor General of the Solomon Islands. ... Operation Helpem Fren, also known as the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), was created in response to a request for international aid by the Governor General of the Solomon Islands. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Solomon Islands The Queen of the Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth, with a unicameral Parliament and a ministerial system of government. ...

The Solomon Islands is a Constitutional Monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom recognised as the head of the State of Solomon Islands, a Commonwealth Realm. The Queen is represented by the governor general, chosen by the Parliament for a 5-year term. The government is a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral Parliament and a ministerial system of government and is represented by a national Parliament of 50 members, elected for 4-year terms. However, Parliament may be dissolved by majority vote of its members before the completion of its term. Parliamentary representation is based on single-member constituencies. Suffrage is universal for citizens over age 18. The prime minister, elected by Parliament, chooses the other members of the cabinet. Each ministry is headed by a cabinet member, who is assisted by a permanent secretary, a career public servant, who directs the staff of the ministry. An aerial view of Parliament of India at New Delhi. ... Jump to: navigation, search A prime minister may be either: chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the civil service and...

Solomon Islands governments are characterized by weak political parties and highly unstable parliamentary coalitions. They are subject to frequent votes of no confidence, and government leadership changes frequently as a result. Cabinet changes are common.

Provinces

Map of the Solomon Islands

Main article: Provinces of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands map (modified from PCL map collection Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. ... Solomon Islands map (modified from PCL map collection Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. ... The Solomon Islands are divided into 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*: Central Choiseul (Lauru) Guadalcanal Honiara* Isabel Makira Malaita Rennell and Bellona Temotu Western Categories: Oceania geography stubs ...

The Solomon Islands are divided into 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*: This article is about political regions. ...

• Central
• Choiseul (Lauru)
• Guadalcanal
• Honiara*
• Isabel
• Makira
• Malaita
• Rennell and Bellona
• Temotu
• Western

The Central Province is one of the provinces of the Solomon Islands. ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... Honiara, population 30,413 (1986), is the capital of the Solomon Islands. ... The Island of Makira (formerly San Cristobal) in the Solomon Islands is the largest island of Makira/Ulawa Province. ... Malaita Province is one of the largest provinces of the Solomon Islands. ... Rennell and Bellona is a province of the Solomon Islands comprised of two atolls, Rennell and Bellona, or Mu Nggava and Mu Ngiki respectively in Polynesian. ... Temotu is the easternmost province of the Solomon Islands. ... The Western Province of the Solomon Islands is really the jewel of the country, containing many small lagoons and most of the countries tourist trade (outside of Honiara). ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Solomon Islands Location The Solomon Islands are a wide island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, that lies East of Papua New Guinea and consists of many islands: Choiseul, the Shortland Islands, the New Georgia Islands, Santa Isabel, the Russel Islands, the Florida Islands, Malaita, Guadalcanal, Sikaiana, Maramasike, Ulawa, Uki, San Cristobal...

The Solomon Islands are a wide island nation that lies East of Papua New Guinea and consists of many islands: Choiseul, the Shortland Islands; the New Georgia Islands; Santa Isabel; the Russell Islands; the Florida Islands; Malaita; Guadalcanal; Sikaiana; Maramasike; Ulawa; Uki; San Cristobal; Santa Ana; Rennell and Bellona; and the Santa Cruz Islands. New Georgia Islands The New Georgia Islands are part of Western Province of the Solomon Islands. ... Santa Isabel may be: Santa Isabel Island, an island in the Solomon Islands Santa Isabel, Brazil, a town in Brazil Santa Isabel (volcano), a volcano in Colombia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Russell Islands are two important small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the central Solomon Islands. ... The Florida Islands are a small island group in Solomon Islands, a nation in the Pacific Ocean. ... Malaita Province is one of the largest provinces of the Solomon Islands. ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... Uki can mean: Uki, New South Wales an Australian town Uki in Solomon Islands This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Island of Makira (formerly San Cristobal) in the Solomon Islands is the largest island of Makira Province. ... Rennell and Bellona is a province of the Solomon Islands comprised of two atolls, Rennell and Bellona, or Mu Nggava and Mu Ngiki respectively in Polynesian. ... The Santa Cruz Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of the nation of the Solomon Islands. ...

The distance between the most western and most eastern islands is about 1500 km. Especially the Santa Cruz Islands, north of Vanuatu, (of which Tikopia is part) are isolated at more than 200 km from the other islands. 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. Tikopia is the southernmost of the Santa Cruz Islands, located in the province of Temotu. ... Jump to: navigation, search A volcano is a geological landform (usually a mountain) where magma (rock of the Earths interior made molten or liquid by extremely high temperatures along with a reduction in pressure and/or the introduction of water or other volatiles) erupts through the surface of the... Fanning Atoll (Tabuaeran) is a typical, small to moderate-sized atoll located in the central Pacific Ocean. ... Genera Many; see list of Arecaceae genera Arecaceae (also known as Palmae or Palmaceae), the palm family, is a family of flowering plants, belonging to the monocot order Arecales. ...

Ecology

The Solomon Islands are part of two distinct terrestrial ecoregions. Most of the islands are part of the Solomon Islands rain forests ecoregion, which also includes the islands of Bougainville and Buka, which are part of Papua New Guinea. The Santa Cruz Islands, which are east of the main group of the Solomons, are part of the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion, together with the neighboring archipelago of Vanuatu. Both ecoregions are part of the Australasia ecozone, which also includes neighboring New Caledonia, the Bismarck Archipelago, and New Guinea, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Ecoregions are defined by World Wildlife Fund as relatively large units of land or water containing a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species, with boundaries that approximate the original extent of natural communities prior to major land-use change. Terrestrial ecoregions are land ecoregions, as distinct from freshwater ecoregions... The Solomon Islands rain forests are a terrestrial ecoregion which includes most of the Solomon Islands (except the Santa Cruz Islands) and the islands of Bougainville and Buka, which are part of Papua New Guinea. ... This article is about the island; Bougainville is also the name of a commune in the Somme département of France. ... The Santa Cruz Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of the nation of the Solomon Islands. ... The Vanuatu rain forests are a terrestrial ecoregion that includes the islands of Vanuatu, as well as the Santa Cruz Islands group of the neighboring Solomon Islands. ... The Australasian ecozone includes Australia, the island of New Guinea (including Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian province of Papua), and the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago, including the island of Sulawesi, the Moluccan islands (the Indonesian provinces of Maluku and North Maluku) and islands of Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba... The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, named in honour of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck and belonging to Papua New Guinea. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Solomon Islands A per capita GDP of $340 ranks Solomon Islands as a lesser developed nation. ...

The bulk of the population depend on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Economic troubles in Southeast Asia led to a steep downturn in the timber industry, and economic output declined by about 10% in 1998. The government instituted public service pay cuts and other retrenchments. The economy partially recovered in 1999 on the strength of rising international gold prices and the first full year of the Gold Ridge mining operation. However, the closure of the country's major palm oil plantation in mid-year cast a shadow over future prospects. This article is about minerals in the geologic sense; for nutrient minerals see dietary mineral; for the band see Mineral (band). ... Lead - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 4, d Appearance lustrous, metallic Atomic mass 58. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... Palm oil is a form of edible vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the Oil palm tree. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Solomon Islands Age-old customs are handed down from one generation to the next, allegedly from the ancestral spirits themselves, to form the cultural values to Solomon Islands. ...

See also: Music of the Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands have been independent from the United Kingdom since 1978, and the culture, Melanesian in origin, has received international attention since before that time. ...

Religion

The religion of the Solomon Islands is about 96% Christian (Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United 12%, Baptist 10%, Seventh Day Adventist 7%, Other Christian 4%) and about 4% indigenous religious beliefs. Jump to: navigation, search As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ...

National flag

The national flag of Solomon Islands is divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner representing the sun; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue representing the blue sky with five white five-pointed stars in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green representing the greeny patch of lands. The width exceeds the height of the flag by a ratio of 2:1.

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in the Solomon Islands
• Demographics of the Solomon Islands
• Foreign relations of the Solomon Islands
• List of Solomon Islanders
• List of Solomon Islands-related topics
• Military of the Solomon Islands
• Solomons Baptist Association
• Public holidays in the Solomon Islands
• Transportation in the Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use: 7,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 230 (1995) Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2002). ... The Solomon Islanders comprise diverse cultures, languages, and customs. ... Countries with diplomatic missions in the Solomon Islands are Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Japan. ... This is a list of Solomon Islanders, who are in any way notable. ... The Solomon Islands have regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP). ... The Solomons Baptist Association is a regional/national association of churches affiliated with and cooperating in the American Baptist Association. ... July 7: Independence Day Categories: Solomon Islands ... Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est. ...

External links

Wikinews has news related to:

Solomon Islands

• Finding Solomon Islands
• Government of the Solomon Islands
• Jane's Solomon Islands Home Page
• Map of the Solomon Islands
• The People First Network, PFnet

Wikinews logo. ... Wikinews is a free content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ...

Countries in Oceania
	Australia
	Melanesia : Fiji · Papua New Guinea · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu
	Micronesia : Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Federated States of Micronesia · Nauru · Palau
	Polynesia : New Zealand · Samoa · Tonga · Tuvalu · United States1
Dependencies: American Samoa (U.S.) · Baker Island (U.S.) · Cook Islands (New Zealand) · French Polynesia (France) · Guam (U.S.) · Howland Island (U.S.) · Jarvis Island (U.S.) · Johnston Atoll (U.S.) · Kingman Reef (U.S.) · Midway Atoll (U.S.) · New Caledonia (France) · Niue (New Zealand) · Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.) · Palmyra Atoll (U.S.) · Pitcairn (UK) · Tokelau (New Zealand) · Wake Island U.S.) · Wallis and Futuna (France) A country, a land, is a geographical area that connotes an independent political entity, with its own government, administration, laws, often a constitution, police, military, tax rules, and population, who are one anothers countrymen. ... Map of Oceania. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Australia. ... Copyright 2004 Affordable Solutions Pty Ltd Aust. ... Melanesia (from Greek black islands) is a region extending from the west Pacific to the Arafura Sea, north and north-east of Australia. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Micronesia. ... Jump to: navigation, search Image File history File links Polynesia. ... Polynesia is generally defined as the islands within the triangle Polynesia (from Greek, poly = many and nesos = island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Dependent areas are territories that for some reason do not enjoy full independence or sovereignty as states. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Jump to: navigation, search The flag of the US is used on the Midway Islands Orthographic projection centred over midway Midway Atoll (also known as Midway Island or Midway Islands, Hawaiian: Pihemanu) is a 6. ... ... ... ... ... 1 Mostly North American A transcontinental nation is a country belonging to more than one continent, by not only geographical but also other definitions – divisions can arise for several reasons, be they political, social or geographical. ... Jump to: navigation, search World map showing North America (geographically) A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and...