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Solomon Islands:
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Other pages in this profile of the Solomon Islands:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions. |
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Location |
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea |
Geographic coordinates |
8 00 S, 159 00 E |
Map references |
Oceania |
Area |
total: 28,450 sq km land: 27,540 sq km water: 910 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly smaller than Maryland |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
5,313 km |
Maritime claims |
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm |
Climate |
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather |
Terrain |
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m |
Natural resources |
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel |
Land use |
arable land: 0.62% permanent crops: 2.04% other: 97.34% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
NA |
Natural hazards |
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis |
Environment - current issues |
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara, the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |