Sights of the Solomon Islands. Attractions of the Solomon Islands Rennell and Bellona Provinces

A country in the Pacific Ocean on the archipelago of the same name - Solomon islands!

Solomon Islands is the name of an archipelago and state located in the Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. The Solomon Islands consist of 6 large and 992 small islands, atolls and reefs, and extends over almost 30 thousand square kilometers. It occupies an important position, being at the crossroads of shipping routes between the South Pacific Ocean, Solomon and Coral Seas.

Tours to Solomon Islands

The state of Solomon Islands is a British protectorate and occupies most of the archipelago. The most high point located on the island of Guadalcanal. This is Mount Makarakombu with a height of 2447 meters. One of the most isolated islands - Santa Cruz - is located north of Vanuatu, and 200 km from other islands.

Rent a Car in the Solomon Islands

There is a version that about ten thousand years ago the Solomon Islands were inhabited by Melanesian tribes. The first European to set foot on these lands in 1568 was the Spanish explorer Alavaro Mendaña de Neira. He decided that he had found the mythical country of Ophir, where, according to legend, the treasures of the Jewish king Solomon were hidden. This is where the name Solomon Islands comes from.

The capital and largest city of the Solomon Islands is Honiara. It is located on the island of Guadalcanal. About 54 thousand people live here, and the population of the islands as a whole is about five hundred thousand inhabitants. By the way, it’s easy to rent a car in the Solomon Islands directly on our website, and also buy tours to the Solomon Islands, especially since they are very inexpensive!

It is believed that the first people appeared on the territory of the Solomon Islands approximately 30 thousand years ago, but the first organized agricultural settlements here date back to the fourth millennium BC. From that time until the 17th century AD, numerous Polynesian tribes rolled through this land in waves, going east into the vast expanses of the Great Ocean. Some of them settled in the Solomon Islands, forming an amazing culture in which various Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian traditions were mixed. In 1568, the Spanish navigator Don Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira (or Mendana de Neira), after a three-month voyage across the Pacific Ocean, discovered big Island, named by him in honor of the patron saint of his expedition, Santa Isabel, and then moved along the numerous islands of the land he discovered, charting them and giving them Spanish names. Mendaña named this archipelago Western Isles, or Isla de Solomon, in honor of the biblical King Solomon, and the largest of the discovered islands was named in honor of the native village of one of the crew members - Guadalcanal (Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira himself died from illnesses on Santa Cruz in 1595 during his second expedition to the islands).

Due to little knowledge of the archipelago region and its complex hydrography, Europeans could not discover the islands found by Mendaña for a long time, and only in August 1767 did the British captain Philip Carteret map Bougainville, and D'Entrecasteaux surveyed the central part of the archipelago and finally identified Guadalcanal with the island , described almost two centuries ago. Then for another hundred years everyone forgets about the islands except missionaries and slave traders, but both the first and second receive a cruel rebuff here. local residents. The islanders quickly realized the danger posed by the white man and began to kill any European who came into their sight, which earned the islands a reputation as the most inhospitable land in the Pacific Ocean.

In 1893, Great Britain announced its protectorate over the archipelago, prohibited the slave trade and established a capital on Tulagi Island (Florida), on which a court was laid out, and a hospital, trade mission and club were built. And for another fifty years everyone forgot about the Solomon Islands - until the Second World War, only Tulagi remained evidence of some kind of European presence. But during the war in the Pacific, the word “Guadalcanal” entered all the languages of the world - the islands became the scene of fierce battles between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the US Navy - from August 1942 to December 1943, 14 major naval battles took place here, and the bloody battles for Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Tulagi are included in all textbooks.

After the war, the nationalist (and pro-American) Malaita independence movement opposed British rule. Mass repressions of 1947-1948 somewhat reduced the intensity of passions, but could not stop the struggle against colonial rule, and in the early 50s of the 20th century, a gradual transition of the Solomon Islands to independence began. In the early to mid-1960s, the UK legitimized local governments, then regional assemblies were founded and finally, in 1970, a governing council was elected from local residents. Independence of the Solomon Islands was granted on July 7, 1978.

Like neighboring Vanuatu, this land, still almost isolated from the outside world, is an example of amazing natural contrasts and endless opportunities for various adventures, where almost impenetrable jungles, high mountain peaks, mighty volcanoes, countless atolls, pure mountain rivers with waterfalls coexist and blue lagoons. It is believed that no other Pacific archipelago has a more diverse nature with such a complex combination of geology and climatic conditions. The archipelago is practically untouched by tourism, since there are few people on Earth who want to visit this poor and isolated country. But many are drawn here by the genuine naturalness of everything they see or visit. There is practically nothing artificial or created specifically to please tourists, and the nature of the islands, called extraordinary without unnecessary exaggeration, gives them a reputation as perhaps one of the last places on the planet that seems to be specially designed for extreme species recreation. There are truly unique conditions for diving, snorkeling, studying the history of the Second World War, ethnography, sailing and sport fishing.

Guadalcanal

The island of Guadalcanal, or Guadalcanal, is the largest piece of land in the Solomon Islands group (area 5302 sq. km). Rising from the depths of the ocean like some kind of prehistoric lizard, the mountainous and inhospitable island is almost entirely occupied by the slopes and peaks of ancient volcanoes (Mount Gallego, or Mount Gallego, Popomanaso, Makarakomburu, Tatuve, Kaichui - all of them have a height of 2 km or more) and is covered with a dense cover of tropical vegetation. Its mountainous terrain leaves no place for human habitation other than a very narrow coastal strip surrounding the entire island, only in the north, in the area of Henderson Field (Henderson) and Honiara, which turns into a small plain. South coast it is rocky and bears the semi-official name Weser Coast ("Weather Coast"), since people's lives here depend entirely on weather conditions. Swampy shores and a hot and humid climate make life on Guadalcanal extremely difficult, but it is here that about 40% of the country's population lives, the capital of the archipelago and its main administrative institutions are located.

Honiara

The capital of the islands is located on the northern shore of Guadalcanal, in a vast bay between the peninsulas of Cape Esperance and Lunga Point, in the very place that de Mendaña called Puento Cruz in his time. Small and quite picturesque sea port Honiara traces its origins to a tiny fishing village, whose name Naho-ni-Ara can be translated as “the place where the east and southeast winds collide” (such “flowery” names are generally very typical of local dialects). The city is very young - most of its modern buildings were built immediately after the end of World War II, when it was necessary to find a place for the new capital of the archipelago (Tulagi was badly damaged during the fighting, and the place was not chosen for it). In 1952, Honiara officially became the capital of the Solomon Islands.

Honiara is perhaps the only more or less large populated area of the archipelago - besides fifty thousand local population, concentrated on an area of barely 1.5 square meters. km, residents of other islands constantly come here to shop, work and relax. Almost all of his life is in full swing along the Cookum Highway, connecting the Henderson Field area in the east with the White River town in the west. Along this route and continuing it main street city - Mendana Avenue (Mendana - this is how the islanders pronounce the name of the discoverer of their islands) almost all the main infrastructure of the capital has been rebuilt - the National Hospital, a complex of port facilities, a market and Chinatown, which was recently heavily damaged as a result of the riots.

The National Parliament Building, opened in 1993, stands out from the surrounding buildings with its conical shape and is considered the center of Honiara. The restored old Government House is now turned into a complex National Museum with an extensive collection on the history and culture of the country, and its park serves popular place spending an afternoon rest. Opposite stands the original building of the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, and between it and the yacht club is located Tourist office countries. Nearby are the National Archives (the most extensive collection of historical materials about the country, open to the public from 9.00-10.00 to 16.00-17.00) and the Public Library behind the Public Works Department office.

The large modern building of the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands has an original historical exhibition telling, as you might guess, the peculiarities of the local monetary system - traditional money for the countries of the region in the form of bunches of red feathers or cowrie shells is exhibited here, as well as a small exhibition of works by local wood carvers .

Just down Mendana Avenue, between the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) office and Grove Prison, Botanical gardens Honiara, famous for its collection of local plants (the area of the gardens is quite small, and the collection looks modest at first glance, but to appreciate its significance, it is enough to imagine how much effort it would take to see all these orchids and vines in natural local conditions). Here, on Mendana Avenue, in a small park located almost opposite the Central Bank building, there is a Melanesian cultural village with its typical local buildings made of palm leaves and wicker mats. This colorful mini-museum specializes in demonstrating the traditions, rituals and crafts of various areas of the Solomon Islands.

Bustling and colorful markets selling vegetables, all kinds of tropical fruits, fish, betel nut, shells and handicrafts can be found throughout the week around the town pier, as well as in Grove and Kukuma (suburbs of Honiara). An excellent fish market is also located in Fisherman Village, or Lau, a small fishing village 5 km from the city, inhabited mainly by people from the province of Malaita. Even if you don't like any of the products, these places are worth visiting just to watch the everyday life islanders, their colorful culture and language, because traders from the most remote villages of the archipelago gather here. And the commercial heart of the city is considered to be Chinatown, or Chinatown, located almost in the city center, near the Matanikau Bridge. Heavily damaged during the recent riots, it still remains a fairly picturesque area of warehouses, shops and numerous mini-mansions built in the traditional "colonial style" with wooden verandas and iron roofs.

Many tourists note that the first impression of Honiara is quite disappointing - quite dusty and unprecedented quiet city practically does not have any outstanding historical or cultural monuments. One day is enough to explore all the sights of the capital, as well as visit most local markets and craft shops. However, the capital is the only place, from where you can go on an excursion around the island, and where, most likely, you will have to return, since there are no more or less decent accommodation facilities outside its borders. However, many people also remember it as one of the most isolated places on earth, where you can sit in a restaurant or bar with a clear predominance of traditional seafood dishes, wander along the shore or fish right from the canopy of the surrounding palm trees or private house. And a little to the west of the coastline, near the town of Poha, there is a good Bonigi beach and the Experimental Station for the Study of Giant Clams (ICLARM) - a kind of farm of these relict marine inhabitants, always valued by local residents for their taste and therefore on the verge of extinction.

Around the capital

To the east of Honiara is the Beticama Church School complex, widely known for its handicraft workshops (pottery, metal and woodwork, most of which can be bought on site) and a small museum of relics from the Second World War. Nearby lies the village of Tenaru, near which a sixty-meter waterfall of the same name roars. 7 km east of the capital lies the village of Mavasere, considered the center of the Moro movement. A small museum is worth visiting here, designed to preserve the historical and spiritual values of traditional local life. Even further east, between Guadalcanal and the tiny island of Tavanipupu, lie the waters of Marau Sound with its huge coral reefs, which abound in various marine life.

10 km from the capital lie the most beautiful “double-sided” Mataniko waterfalls. The waters of the river of the same name here fall from a high cliff directly into a cave filled with graceful stalactites and stalagmites, and then disappear somewhere in the bowels of the island. Around you can find many fairly large and, importantly, clean bodies of water suitable for swimming, and the cave itself is home to a large population of swallows and bats. During the Second World War, this cave served as a shelter for the last soldiers of the Japanese garrison of Guadalcanal, and its surroundings became the scene of fierce battles (according to various estimates, from 400 to 600 soldiers of the imperial army found their death in the cave itself, resisting literally to the last bullet).

The battlefields of World War II in general are one of the main attractions of Guadalcanal in general and the surrounding area of Honiara in particular. It was in these places that the most fierce battles raged between the Japanese garrison of the island and the US Marines, who outnumbered them several dozen times. Henderson Field International Airport itself (Henderson Field, named after a US Marine major who died during the Battle of Midway) traces its origins to a runway that the Japanese began to build and was completed by the Americans. It was for this piece of land that stubborn battles unfolded, during which both sides suffered the most significant losses (according to various estimates, from 24 to 38 thousand people on land alone). Therefore, it is not surprising that traces of that war are still found in abundance around the capital and the airport, and the nearby waters are literally littered with debris from various military equipment. Interestingly, one of the straits leading to Guadalcanal is still quite official name Iron Bottom (“Iron Bottom”), and for clearing it from the wreckage of ships and planes, the government of the Solomon Islands was even going to present an invoice to the United States and Japan, until it assessed the profit that could be made from visiting these places by tourists, as well as amateurs military history and divers from these countries.

On the Skyline Ridge and Mount Austin stands the American Memorial Park, detailing the battles for the island, as well as the Japanese Peace Memorial with its four white monoliths. From here they are carried out organized tours to places whose names speak for themselves - to the shores of Iron Bottom Sound, on the ridge of Bloody Ridge, Alligator Creek and Red Beach, to the Japanese memorial at Poha River and its Vilu Village Museum (also dedicated to the history of the battles for Guadalcanal), Lunga Point and Tetere Bay.

The southern coast (Weser Coast) is quite deserted and underdeveloped. Of all its attractions, only the town of Tulagi can be noted (not to be confused with the old capital of the archipelago on the island of Florida) with its handicrafts and good conditions for sea fishing, as well as the village of Komuvaulu - another center of the Moro movement with colorful local architecture and a tiny museum. And deep in the heart tropical forest Guadalcanal, on the slopes of the Lhamas (Lamas) mountain range, roars with the luxurious Vihona (Viona) waterfalls, which, unfortunately, are only accessible by helicopter.

Central region

Occupying an area of about 1000 square meters. km The central region lies around Guadalcanal and includes the islands of Savo, Russells, Nggela and the Florida group. Having once served as the center of the archipelago (the old capital of the Solomon Islands, the town of Tulagi, is located on the island of Florida), after World War II it practically lost its importance, since many infrastructure facilities were destroyed during the battles, and those that were built by the fighting armies were clearly temporary and quickly fell into disrepair. Therefore, most of the region’s modern attractions are associated either with traces of those battles, or with the sea and good local shores.

Permanently shrouded in clouds, the volcanic Savo Island, which lies in Iron Bottom Sound, is a paradise for divers and other species enthusiasts. active rest. The almost complete lack of infrastructure is compensated by the abundance of sunken ships (it was here that the famous Battle of Savo Island took place), the constantly smoking crater of the volcano and many practically boiling mineral springs, several ancient cult sites - megapodes, as well as a vibrant bird community and magnificent crystal clear waters. On Florida Island you can see the old headquarters of the British colonial administration with its hospital and headquarters, as well as the old Port Parvis, which served first as a base for the British Navy and then for the Imperial Japanese Navy. And the island of Anukha is widely known for its white sandy shores.

Malaita Region

Eastern Province, named after the largest island in the group, is the second largest and most densely populated of the Solomon Islands, although many of its inhabitants do not live in major cities, like Honiara or Gizo, and in villages and towns lost in the jungle and islands. The large islands of Malaita are inhabited by Melanesians (about 96 thousand people), and on the atolls of Ontong Java (Lord Howe), Roncador, Cucumana and Sikaiana live Polynesian tribes (about 2 thousand people). It was these islands that made the maximum contribution to the reputation of Solomon as inhospitable islands, and for the same reason, it was here that ancient folk traditions and rituals were preserved to the greatest extent.

A distinctive feature of the island of Malaita is the huge number artificial islands, which since ancient times were built by local residents directly on atolls or rocky islets of lagoons. The lack of land suitable not only for cultivation, but simply for housing, forced the Malaitans from century to century to pour artificial shores from crushed coral or crushed stone between piles driven into the bottom, which the sea very quickly turned into a fairly strong monolith. Today, on these man-made islands, especially common in the lagoons of Langa Langa and Lau, about 12 thousand islanders from 15 tribal groups are concentrated, and in mountainous areas The Malaitas are home to one of the last relict tribes on the planet - the Kwaio (Kuaio) group. It is in these places that the ancient cult of shark worship has been preserved, which, according to local beliefs, is inhabited by the souls of ancestors. Local residents treat sharks with respect, and many of these ancient cartilaginous fish serve as totemic signs of tribes and clans.

Sharks are worshiped in many areas of the Solomon Islands, but not on any island more rituals and festivities dedicated to this marine predator than on the islands of Laulasi and Busu in the Langa Langa Lagoon, which lie 16 km from the capital of the island of Malaita. From Auki you can take a boat to the artificial islands of the lagoons and here witness the ancient ritual of the practice of “calling a shark” or a rather dangerous method of catching it, when a diver, armed only with a rag and a spear (or knife), enters into a one-on-one confrontation with this formidable sea predator. Although more often tourists are shown an equally shocking spectacle of communication with a shark. Many locals tame sharks, from the smallest nurse sharks to the largest and most fearsome of them all. The practice of "summoning a shark" is an ancient art of luring a predator, and somehow local sorcerers manage to put the shark to sleep right in the water and then manually raise them to the surface!! Knocking on stones in certain places underwater lures sharks to a depth of 30 cm, where a small boy (of course!!) gives the predator, who can bite him in half in the blink of an eye, a piece of pork, thanking her for the visit. The shark then continues to swim in circles around the lagoon, as if accepting a gift. This ritual was banned in the 1970s as extremely dangerous, but parts of this amazing custom are still practiced in many places. Since the pig meat used is black, black and red (the color of blood) colors are taboo on Laulasi and Busu (and many other islands in the area too), and visitors should take this into account when choosing clothing and jewelry for their trip.

The small town of Auqui (population about 4 thousand) has been the capital of the Malaita region since 1920. Until the 20s of the 20th century, the city had an impressive defensive wall along its entire perimeter, capable of holding off attacks from hostile local residents or even well-armed Europeans for quite a long time, which predetermined its choice as the capital. Today's Auki is perhaps the most photogenic city in the country and can boast a fairly decent selection of shops, hotels and restaurants for these places, plus good, even by local standards, cuisine. From here you can get to the village of Lilisana in the Langa Langa lagoon (it is believed that the inhabitants of this particular settlement invented the technology for making pile buildings and artificial islands), to beautiful beaches the lagoon itself, to the picturesque cultural villages of Alite, Anoano, Aofia, Aumea, Maeaena, Manaafe and Uru (pre-arrangement of a visit is required), as well as to the already mentioned cultural village of Busu, which, in addition to rituals with sharks, can offer many other interesting rituals .

Western region

The Western Province is considered the recognized leader of the country in terms of the beauty of its shores and wealth underwater world. The largest among the provinces of the archipelago, it occupies 8,573 square kilometers (the islands of Vella Lavella, New Georgia and about fifty small islets and reefs), and only 19% of the population lives here. Often referred to simply as West (“West”), it attracts many extreme sports enthusiasts and aquatic species recreation, it is also, perhaps, the most developed region of the country in terms of recreation infrastructure - about 16 quite modern resorts have been built here, clearly focused on diving, including one of the best in the country, Uepi Island Resort in the famous Marovo Lagoon.

The largest salt lagoon in the world (measuring approximately 150 by 96 km), Marovo is located on the island of New Georgia north of Wangunu Island (essentially a strait between these two islands, transformed by the growth of coral reefs into an intermittent ring of land surrounding the central lagoon). This huge expanse of water, with a narrow strip of coral beaches along its entire perimeter and amazingly blue water, is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Literally thousands of islands line the Marovo Lagoon, from tiny coral reefs to massive volcanic cliffs up to 1,600 meters high, with many still showing signs of active volcanic activity but quite accessible to visit. Marovo Lagoon - the best place for relaxation by the sea, it is a unique combination of the scenic beauty of wildlife and the rich traditions of the local people (the shores of the lagoon are inhabited by two separate tribes - the Marovo and the Roviana). Noteworthy are the Matikuri Resort, Rogosakena Eco Resort and Uepi Island Resort, as well as the World Heritage Village site, considered the best tourist village in the country. Logging is limited here in order to preserve the unique composition of flora and fauna inherent in this area, excellent conditions for sea fishing have been created (the lagoon is connected with open sea with almost a hundred passages in the reefs, so the species composition of its inhabitants is more than impressive), and the traditional crafts of local residents made of wood and shells are widely known far beyond the country’s borders.

The second largest city in the archipelago, Gizo, is located on the island of the same name (approximately 370 km from Honiara), on the shores of the Wona Wona lagoon, and is considered the capital of the Western Region and one of the most popular resort areas in the country. Its snow-white isolated shores and beaches, numerous coral islands and atolls literally rising from the depths of the ocean, traditional villages and excellent conditions for sea fishing, snorkeling and diving have created considerable fame among fans of outdoor activities. At the same time, the island itself is not very different in its level of development from what the fighting parties saw during the Battle of Guadalcanal. In Gizo, you can rent a private boat and explore the magnificent coral reefs of the Wona Wona or New Georgia lagoon, dive to numerous ships and aircraft lost in these waters during the last war, climb the Kolombangara volcano (1770 m), and see the megapod - an ancient shrine of local tribes, a crocodile farm, the pile village of Nusambaruku or attend a dance festival in Mbangopingo.

A favorite, albeit rather unsophisticated, point of attraction for most tourists is Plum Pudding Island, or Kennedy Island, which gained its fame after the sinking of the torpedo boat PT-109 in August 1943, commanded by the future US President John F. Kennedy - he and his team escaped on this tiny piece of land (now the annual JFK Swimming Championships are held in his honor). You can also take an excursion to the small fishing village of Malaita, inhabited by people from other regions of Oceania - this is an excellent opportunity to observe different cultures that have coexisted peacefully for many centuries just minutes away from each other. However, most of the local villages here can only be reached by boat or along narrow, often almost impassable roads under the canopy of dense forest.

Choiseul region

The island of Choiseul, or Lauroux, was only recently (1995) separated from the Western Province into a separate administrative region. Its population is also heterogeneous, as in other parts of the country - about 16 thousand Melanesians live in the western half of the main island, and immigrants from the Gilbert Islands (about 2 thousand people) live in the east and north. Most of The coast of Choiseul is an extremely narrow strip, bounded on the land by mountain ranges and jungles, and on the sea by large shallow swamps and literally a wall of moisture-loving vegetation. Therefore, it is quite difficult to explore, and all excursions are carried out either along the Bay of Choiseul, the Sui River with its waterfalls and the tiny capital Kumbakale, near which the shores are more favorable for movement, or by sea - in the form of a week-long cruise along the shores of the island with visits to local villages and diving under water (however, apart from good reefs, there is nothing remarkable here - the fighting of World War II took place much to the southeast of this region).

Isabel Region

Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira discovered the island of Santa Isabel in February 1568 and set foot in what is now Estrella Bay. Almost 75% of the local population, mostly Melanesians belonging to six tribal groups, live in the southeastern part of the island. The longest island of the archipelago, Santa Isabel is still quite unexplored, which is greatly facilitated by the almost complete absence of roads (the only section worthy of the name of a road stretches from the capital of the island, Buala, to the village of Kaevanga on south coast), so all movements between settlements The islands are led by the sea. There is also a center for excursion activities, the most popular site of which is the island of Arnavon (Amavon), also known as “Turtle Island”, since it is here that the natural breeding area of hawksbill turtles, the rarest sea turtles, is located. None of the almost one hundred islands and reefs of the Arnavon group, stretching between Santa Isabel and Rob Roy Island, is permanently inhabited, many are only a couple of tens of centimeters above sea level, so this area also boasts unrivaled fishing. In 1991, the Arnavon Marine Nature Reserve was created here, whose zone stretches from the coast of Santa Isabel to Choiseul. When visiting the park, visitors are accompanied by a whole staff of specially trained guides from among residents of local villages (2 people from each community), monitoring only the behavior of tourists and monitoring the life of turtles - the local population is so vulnerable and has not yet fully recovered after many years of extermination of these unique animals, that such behavior of staff is simply necessary.

Also worthy of attention are the pile village of Chia in the north of the island, all movement around which is carried out by canoe, and the southwestern island of San Jorge (San Jorge is known in local mythology as the habitat of the spirits of the dead - various strange phenomena are indeed not uncommon here). Most local villages have good mini-hotels with excellent service by local standards and level of income, and the main souvenir from these places is fabric made from tapa bark (paper mulberry), dyed blue with the juice of local orchids.

Makira Region

The southeasternmost region of Solomon includes the islands of Makira (San Cristobal), Ulawa, Uki-Ni-Masi, Owaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina) and a dozen other small patches of land stretching towards Vanuatu . A fairly compact island group (all islands are located at a distance of about 35-38 km from each other, with the exception of Ulav, which lies 75 km south of San Cristobal) covers an area of about 3188 square meters. km and is populated by 30 thousand people (two thirds of them live on the northern coast of San Cristobal). The mountainous (up to 1040 m on San Cristobal) and heavily swampy islands are literally dissected by rivers and streams (almost every 2-5 km a watercourse flows into the sea), considered the “wettest” in the country. Since the islands long time were isolated from the outside world, many relict forms of plants and animals have been preserved here, the same applies to people - the Bauro tribal group is considered by scientists to be one of the most isolated and conservative ethnic groups in the region.

The main fame of the islands came from local masters of folk dances - almost every village here has its own troupes, widely known far beyond the Solomon Islands. The most colorful dance performances with almost complete preservation of ancient traditions can be seen in Star Harbor, in the village of Natangera, on the islands of Ovaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina), Three Sisters and Ulava. Here you can also purchase handicrafts and crafts. And in the mountainous regions of San Cristobal, replete with caves and extremely inaccessible, according to local residents, the “dwarves of the Pacific Ocean” still live - a short race of “cacamoras”, to which all sorts of mythical properties are attributed.

Temotu Region

Formerly called the Eastern Outer Islands, the Temotu region covers an area of 926 square kilometers. km (islands) and 150 thousand sq. km of ocean in the easternmost part of the Solomon Islands. This vast archipelago of widely scattered islands is separated from the main group of the country by the Torres Basin with depths of up to 600 m. The three groups of volcanic islands included in the region (Santa Cruz, Tinakula and Utupua) are surrounded by low coral atolls of the nearby Reef Islands and located on the very east isolated extinct volcanoes Duff, Tikopia and Anua Islands. This area is virtually untouched by modern civilization, and the islanders who inhabit it differ in origin from the inhabitants of the rest of the Solomon Islands. The only attractions here are the active volcanoes of the island of Tinakula, the colorful rituals of local tribes (characteristically, bunches of red feathers of tropical birds are still used as a currency here - one of the most unusual currencies on the planet), the village of Bola on Santa Cruz with its unusual a population in whose veins flows the blood of Spanish sailors from the ships of Alvaro de Mendaña (it is here that the navigator himself and 47 members of his crew are buried), as well as the beautiful Graciosa Bay.

Rennell and Bellona region (Renbel)

It is believed that the first people appeared on the territory of the Solomon Islands approximately 30 thousand years ago, but the first organized agricultural settlements here date back to the fourth millennium BC. From that time until the 17th century AD, numerous Polynesian tribes rolled through this land in waves, going east into the vast expanses of the Great Ocean. Some of them settled in the Solomon Islands, forming an amazing culture in which various Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian traditions were mixed. In 1568, the Spanish navigator Don Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira (or Mendana de Neira), after a three-month voyage in the Pacific Ocean, discovered a large island, which he named after the patron saint of his expedition, Santa Isabel, and then moved along the numerous islands of the land he discovered, causing them on the map and naming them with Spanish names. Mendaña named this archipelago the Western Islands, or Isla de Solomon, in honor of the biblical King Solomon, and the largest of the discovered islands was named after the native village of one of the crew members - Guadalcanal (Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira himself died of illness in 1595 on Santa Cruz during his second expedition to the islands).

Due to little knowledge of the archipelago region and its complex hydrography, Europeans could not discover the islands found by Mendaña for a long time, and only in August 1767 did the British captain Philip Carteret map Bougainville, and D'Entrecasteaux surveyed the central part of the archipelago and finally identified Guadalcanal with the island , described almost two centuries ago. Then, for more than a hundred years, everyone except the missionaries and slave traders forgot about the islands, but both the former and the latter received brutal rebuff from the local residents. The islanders quickly realized the danger posed by the white man and began to kill anyone. Europeans who came into their sight, which earned the islands a reputation as the most inhospitable land in the Pacific Ocean.

Like neighboring Vanuatu, this land, still almost isolated from the outside world, is an example of amazing natural contrasts and endless opportunities for various adventures, where almost impenetrable jungles, high mountain peaks, mighty volcanoes, countless atolls, pure mountain rivers with waterfalls coexist and blue lagoons. It is believed that no other Pacific archipelago has a more diverse nature with such a complex combination of geology and climatic conditions. The archipelago is practically untouched by tourism, since there are few people on Earth who want to visit this poor and isolated country. But many are drawn here by the genuine naturalness of everything they see or visit. There is practically nothing artificial or created specifically to please tourists, and the nature of the islands, called extraordinary without unnecessary exaggeration, gives them a reputation as perhaps one of the last places on the planet, as if specially designed for extreme types of recreation. There are truly unique conditions for diving, snorkeling, studying the history of the Second World War, ethnography, sailing and sport fishing.

Guadalcanal

The island of Guadalcanal, or Guadalcanal, is the largest piece of land in the Solomon Islands group (area 5302 sq. km). Rising from the depths of the ocean like some kind of prehistoric lizard, the mountainous and inhospitable island is almost entirely occupied by the slopes and peaks of ancient volcanoes (Mount Gallego, or Mount Gallego, Popomanaso, Makarakomburu, Tatuve, Kaichui - all of them have a height of 2 km or more) and is covered with a dense cover of tropical vegetation. Its mountainous terrain leaves no place for human habitation other than a very narrow coastal strip surrounding the entire island, only in the north, in the area of Henderson Field (Henderson) and Honiara, which turns into a small plain. The southern coast is rocky and bears the semi-official name Weser Coast ("Weather Coast"), since people's lives here are entirely dependent on weather conditions. Swampy shores and a hot and humid climate make life on Guadalcanal extremely difficult, but it is here that about 40% of the country's population lives, the capital of the archipelago and its main administrative institutions are located.

Honiara

The capital of the islands is located on the northern shore of Guadalcanal, in a vast bay between the peninsulas of Cape Esperance and Lunga Point, in the very place that de Mendaña called Puento Cruz in his time. The small and quite picturesque seaport of Honiara traces its origins to a tiny fishing village, whose name Naho-ni-Ara can be translated as “the place where the east and southeast winds collide” (such “flowery” names are generally very typical for local dialects) . The city is very young - most of its modern buildings were built immediately after the end of World War II, when it was necessary to find a place for the new capital of the archipelago (Tulagi was badly damaged during the fighting, and the place was not chosen for it). In 1952, Honiara officially became the capital of the Solomon Islands.

Honiara is perhaps the only more or less large populated area of the archipelago - besides the fifty thousand local population concentrated on an area of barely 1.5 square meters. km, residents of other islands constantly come here to shop, work and relax. Almost all of his life is in full swing along the Cookum Highway, connecting the Henderson Field area in the east with the White River town in the west. Along this route and the main street of the city, Mendana Avenue, which continues it (Mendana - this is how the islanders pronounce the name of the discoverer of their islands), almost all the main infrastructure facilities of the capital were built - the National Hospital, a complex of port facilities, a market and Chinatown, which was recently heavily damaged as a result of the riots.

The National Parliament Building, opened in 1993, stands out from the surrounding buildings with its conical shape and is considered the center of Honiara. The restored old Government House is now home to the National Museum complex, with an extensive collection of the country's history and culture, and its park serves as a popular afternoon spot. Opposite stands the original building of the Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel, and between it and the yacht club is the country's Tourist Office. Nearby are the National Archives (the most extensive collection of historical materials about the country, open to the public from 9.00-10.00 to 16.00-17.00) and the Public Library behind the Public Works Department office.

A little further down Mendana Avenue, between the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) office and Rove Prison, the Honiara Botanic Gardens begin, famous for their collection of local plants (the gardens are quite small in size, and the collection looks modest at first glance, but to appreciate its significance , just imagine how much effort it would take to see all these orchids and vines in natural local conditions). Here, on Mendana Avenue, in a small park located almost opposite the Central Bank building, there is a Melanesian cultural village with its typical local buildings made of palm leaves and wicker mats. This colorful mini-museum specializes in demonstrating the traditions, rituals and crafts of various areas of the Solomon Islands.

Bustling and colorful markets selling vegetables, all kinds of tropical fruits, fish, betel nut, shells and handicrafts can be found throughout the week around the town pier, as well as in Grove and Kukuma (suburbs of Honiara). An excellent fish market is also located in Fisherman Village, or Lau, a small fishing village 5 km from the city, inhabited mainly by people from the province of Malaita. Even if you don’t like any of the goods, these places are worth visiting just to observe the daily life of the islanders, their colorful culture and language, because traders from the most remote villages of the archipelago gather here. And the commercial heart of the city is considered to be Chinatown, or Chinatown, located almost in the city center, near the Matanikau Bridge. Heavily damaged during the recent riots, it still remains a fairly picturesque area of warehouses, shops and numerous mini-mansions built in the traditional "colonial style" with wooden verandas and iron roofs.

Many tourists note that the first impression of Honiara is quite disappointing - the rather dusty and unprecedentedly quiet city has practically no outstanding historical or cultural monuments. One day is enough to explore all the sights of the capital, as well as visit most of the local markets and craft shops. However, the capital is the only place from where you can go on a tour of the island, and where you will most likely have to return, since there are no more or less decent accommodation facilities outside of it. However, many people also remember it as one of the most isolated places on earth, where you can sit in a restaurant or bar with a clear predominance of traditional seafood dishes, wander along the shore or fish right from the canopy of the surrounding palm trees or private house. And a little to the west of the coastline, near the town of Poha, there is a good Bonigi beach and the Experimental Station for the Study of Giant Clams (ICLARM) - a kind of farm of these relict marine inhabitants, always valued by local residents for their taste and therefore on the verge of extinction.

Around the capital

East of Honiara there is a church school complex Beticama, widely known for its artisanal workshops (pottery, metal and woodwork, most of which can be purchased on site) and a small museum of World War II relics. There is a village nearby Tenaru, near which a sixty-meter waterfall of the same name roars. A village is located 7 km east of the capital Mavasere, considered the center of the Moro movement. A small museum is worth visiting here, designed to preserve the historical and spiritual values of traditional local life. Even further east, between Guadalcanal and the tiny island of Tavanipupu, there are waters Marau Sound with their huge coral reefs, which are teeming with various marine life.

10 km from the capital lie the most beautiful "double-sided" Mataniko waterfalls. The waters of the river of the same name here fall from a high cliff directly into a cave filled with graceful stalactites and stalagmites, and then disappear somewhere in the bowels of the island. Around you can find many fairly large and, importantly, clean bodies of water suitable for swimming, and the cave itself is home to a large population of swallows and bats. During the Second World War, this cave served as a shelter for the last soldiers of the Japanese garrison of Guadalcanal, and its surroundings became the scene of fierce battles (according to various estimates, from 400 to 600 soldiers of the imperial army found their death in the cave itself, resisting literally to the last bullet).

The battlefields of World War II in general are one of the main attractions of Guadalcanal in general and the surrounding area of Honiara in particular. It was in these places that the most fierce battles raged between the Japanese garrison of the island and the US Marines, who outnumbered them several dozen times. Henderson Field International Airport itself (Henderson Field, named after a US Marine major who died during the Battle of Midway) traces its origins to a runway that the Japanese began to build and was completed by the Americans. It was for this piece of land that stubborn battles unfolded, during which both sides suffered the most significant losses (according to various estimates, from 24 to 38 thousand people on land alone). Therefore, it is not surprising that traces of that war are still found in abundance around the capital and the airport, and the nearby waters are literally littered with the wreckage of various military equipment. It is interesting that one of the straits leading to Guadalcanal still bears the quite official name of Iron Bottom (“Iron Bottom”), and the government of the Solomon Islands was even going to present an invoice to the United States and Japan for clearing it from the wreckage of ships and aircraft, until assessed the profits that can be made from visiting these places by tourists, as well as military history buffs and divers from these countries.

On the Skyline Ridge and Mount Austin stands the American Memorial Park, detailing the battles for the island, as well as the Japanese Peace Memorial with its four white monoliths. From here there are organized tours to places whose names speak for themselves - the shores of Iron Bottom Sound, Bloody Ridge, Alligator Creek and Red Beach, the Poha River Japanese Memorial and its Vilu Village Museum (also dedicated to the history of the battles for Guadalcanal), Lunga Point and Tetere Bay.

The southern coast (Weser Coast) is quite deserted and underdeveloped. Of all its attractions, only the town can be noted Tulagi(not to be confused with the old capital of the archipelago on the island of Florida) with its handicrafts and good conditions for sea fishing, as well as the village Komuvaulu- another center of the Moro movement with colorful local architecture and a tiny museum. And deep in the heart of the rainforest of Guadalcanal, on the slopes of the Lhamas (Lamas) mountain range, the luxurious Vikhona waterfalls(Viona), unfortunately accessible only by helicopter.

Central region

Permanently cloud-shrouded volcanic island Savo, lying in the Iron Bottom Sound, is a paradise for divers and fans of other outdoor activities. The almost complete lack of infrastructure is compensated by an abundance of sunken ships (it was here that the famous Battle of Savo Island took place), a constantly smoking volcano crater and many practically boiling mineral springs, several ancient cult sites - megapodes, as well as a vibrant bird community and magnificent crystal clear waters. On the island Florida You can see the old headquarters of the British colonial administration with its hospital and headquarters, as well as old Port Parvis, which served first as a base for the British Navy and then for the Japanese Imperial Navy. And the island Anukha widely known for its white sandy beaches.

Malaita Region

The Eastern Province, named after the group's largest island, is the second largest and most densely populated of the Solomon Islands, although many of its inhabitants live not in large cities like Honiara or Gizo, but in villages and towns hidden in the jungle and on the islands. The large islands of Malaita are inhabited by Melanesians (about 96 thousand people), and on the atolls of Ontong Java (Lord Howe), Roncador, Cucumana and Sikaiana live Polynesian tribes (about 2 thousand people). It was these islands that made the maximum contribution to the reputation of Solomon as inhospitable islands, and for the same reason, it was here that ancient folk traditions and rituals were preserved to the greatest extent.

Distinctive feature of the island Malaita- a huge number of artificial islands, which since ancient times were built by local residents directly on atolls or rocky islets of lagoons. The lack of land suitable not only for cultivation, but simply for housing, forced the Malaitans from century to century to pour artificial shores from crushed coral or crushed stone between piles driven into the bottom, which the sea very quickly turned into a fairly strong monolith. Today, on these man-made islands, especially common in the lagoons of Langa Langa and Lau, about 12 thousand islanders from 15 tribal groups are concentrated, and in the mountainous regions of Malaita lives one of the last relict tribes of the planet - the Kwaio group. It is in these places that the ancient cult of shark worship has been preserved, which, according to local beliefs, is inhabited by the souls of ancestors. Local residents treat sharks with respect, and many of these ancient cartilaginous fish serve as totemic signs of tribes and clans.

Sharks are worshiped in many areas of the Solomon Islands, but no island has more rituals and celebrations dedicated to this sea predator than the islands Laulasi And Busu in the Langa Langa lagoon, which lie 16 km from the capital of the island of Malaita. From Auki you can take a boat to the artificial islands of the lagoons and here witness the ancient ritual of the practice of “calling a shark” or a rather dangerous method of catching it, when a diver, armed only with a rag and a spear (or knife), enters into a one-on-one confrontation with this formidable sea predator. Although more often tourists are shown an equally shocking spectacle of communication with a shark. Many locals tame sharks, from the smallest nurse sharks to the largest and most fearsome of them all. The practice of "summoning a shark" is an ancient art of luring a predator, and somehow local sorcerers manage to put the shark to sleep right in the water and then manually raise them to the surface!! Knocking on stones in certain places underwater lures sharks to a depth of 30 cm, where a small boy (of course!!) gives the predator, who can bite him in half in the blink of an eye, a piece of pork, thanking her for the visit. The shark then continues to swim in circles around the lagoon, as if accepting a gift. This ritual was banned in the 1970s as extremely dangerous, but parts of this amazing custom are still practiced in many places. Since the pig meat used is black, black and red (the color of blood) colors are taboo on Laulasi and Busu (and many other islands in the area too), and visitors should take this into account when choosing clothing and jewelry for their trip.

Small town Auki(population about 4 thousand people) has been the capital of the Malaita region since 1920. Until the 20s of the 20th century, the city had an impressive defensive wall along its entire perimeter, capable of holding off attacks from hostile local residents or even well-armed Europeans for quite a long time, which predetermined its choice as the capital. Today's Auki is perhaps the most photogenic city in the country and can boast a fairly decent selection of shops, hotels and restaurants for these places, plus good, even by local standards, cuisine. From here you can get to the village Lilisana in the Langa Langa lagoon (it is believed that the inhabitants of this particular settlement invented the technology for making pile buildings and artificial islands), to the beautiful beaches of the lagoon itself, to picturesque cultural villages Alite, Anoano, Aofia, Aumea, Maeaena, Manaafe And Uru(prior appointment for a visit is required), as well as to the already mentioned cultural village of Busu, which, in addition to rituals with sharks, can offer many other interesting rituals.

Western region

The Western province is considered the country's recognized leader in the beauty of its shores and the richness of the underwater world. The largest among the provinces of the archipelago, it occupies 8,573 square kilometers (the islands of Vella Lavella, New Georgia and about fifty small islets and reefs), and only 19% of the population lives here. Often called simply West (“West”) in conversations, it attracts many lovers of extreme sports and water sports; it is also, perhaps, the most developed region of the country in terms of recreation infrastructure - about 16 completely modern resorts have been built here, clearly focused on diving, including one of the best in the country, Uepi Island Resort in the famous Marovo lagoon.

The largest salt lagoon in the world (its dimensions are approximately 150 by 96 km), Marovo is located on the island of New Georgia, north of Vangunu Island (essentially a strait between these two islands, transformed by the growth of coral reefs into an intermittent ring of land surrounding a central lagoon). This huge expanse of water, with a narrow strip of coral beaches along its entire perimeter and amazingly blue water, is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Literally thousands of islands line the Marovo Lagoon, from tiny coral reefs to massive volcanic cliffs up to 1,600 meters high, with many still showing signs of active volcanic activity but quite accessible to visit. Marovo Lagoon, the best place to relax by the sea, is a unique combination of the scenic beauty of wildlife and the rich traditions of the local people (the shores of the lagoon are inhabited by two separate tribes - the Marovo and Roviana). Noteworthy resorts are Matikuri Resort, Rogosakena Eco Resort and Uepi Island Resort, as well as a site of a traditional village World Heritage, considered the best tourist village in the country. Logging is limited here in order to preserve the unique composition of flora and fauna inherent in this area, excellent conditions have been created for sea fishing (the lagoon is connected to the open sea by almost a hundred passages in the reefs, so the species composition of its inhabitants is more than impressive), and traditional crafts of local residents made from wood and shells are widely known far beyond the country's borders.

The second largest city in the archipelago is Guizot located on the island of the same name (approximately 370 km from Honiara), on the shores of the Vona Vona lagoon, and is considered the capital of the Western Region and one of the most popular resort areas in the country. Its snow-white isolated shores and beaches, numerous coral islands and atolls literally rising from the depths of the ocean, traditional villages and excellent conditions for sea fishing, snorkeling and diving have created considerable fame among fans of outdoor activities. At the same time, the island itself is not very different in its level of development from what the fighting parties saw during the Battle of Guadalcanal. In Gizo, you can rent a private boat and explore the magnificent coral reefs Vona Vona lagoons or New Georgia, dive to numerous ships and aircraft that were lost in these waters during the last war, climb Kolombangara volcano(1770 m), and also see the megapod - an ancient shrine of local tribes, a crocodile farm, a pile village Nusambaruku or attend a dance festival in Mbangopingo.

A favorite, albeit rather unsophisticated, point of attraction for most tourists is the island Plum Pudding, or Kennedy Island, which became famous after the sinking of the torpedo boat PT-109 in August 1943, commanded by the future US President John F. Kennedy - he and his crew escaped on this tiny piece of land (now annual competitions are held in his honor swimmers for the JFK Trophy). You can also take a tour to a small fishing village Malaita, inhabited by people from other regions of Oceania, is an excellent opportunity to observe different cultures that have coexisted peacefully for many centuries just minutes away from each other. However, most of the local villages here can only be reached by boat or along narrow, often almost impassable roads under the canopy of dense forest.

Choiseul region

The island of Choiseul, or Lauroux, was only recently (1995) separated from the Western Province into a separate administrative region. Its population is also heterogeneous, as in other parts of the country - about 16 thousand Melanesians live in the western half of the main island, and immigrants from the Gilbert Islands (about 2 thousand people) live in the east and north. Most of the coast of Choiseul is an extremely narrow strip, bounded on the land by mountain ranges and jungle, and on the sea by large shallow swamps and literally a wall of moisture-loving vegetation. Therefore, it is quite difficult to explore it, and all excursions are conducted either along the Bay of Choiseul, the Sui River with its waterfalls and the tiny capital Kumbakale, near which the shores are more favorable for movement, or by sea - in the form of a week-long cruise along the shores of the island with visits to local villages and diving (however, apart from good reefs, there is nothing remarkable here - the fighting of World War II took place much to the southeast of this region ).

Isabel Region

Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendaña da Neira discovered the island of Santa Isabel in February 1568 and set foot in what is now Estrella Bay. Almost 75% of the local population, mostly Melanesians belonging to six tribal groups, live in the southeastern part of the island. The longest island of the archipelago, Santa Isabel is still quite unexplored, which is greatly facilitated by the almost complete absence of roads (the only section worthy of the name of a road stretches from the island's capital Buala to the village of Kaevanga on the southern coast), so all movements between settlements on the island are carried out by sea. There is also a center for excursion activities, the most popular object of which is the island Arnavon(Amavon), also known as "Turtle Island" because it is the natural breeding area for the hawksbill sea turtle, the rarest of sea turtles. None of the almost one hundred islands and reefs of the Arnavon group, stretching between Santa Isabel and Rob Roy Island, is permanently inhabited, many are only a couple of tens of centimeters above sea level, so this area also boasts unrivaled fishing. In 1991, it was created here Arnavon Marine Nature Reserve, whose zone stretches from the coast of Santa Isabel to Choiseul. When visiting the park, visitors are accompanied by a whole staff of specially trained guides from among residents of local villages (2 people from each community), monitoring only the behavior of tourists and monitoring the life of turtles - the local population is so vulnerable and has not yet fully recovered after many years of extermination of these unique animals, that such behavior of staff is simply necessary.

Also noteworthy is the pile village Kia in the north of the island, all movement on which is by canoe, and the southwestern island San Jorge(San Jorge is known in local mythology as the habitat of the spirits of the dead - various strange phenomena are indeed not uncommon here). Most local villages have good mini-hotels with excellent service by local standards and level of income, and the main souvenir from these places is fabric made from tapa bark (paper mulberry), dyed blue with the juice of local orchids.

Makira Region

The southeasternmost region of Solomon includes the islands of Makira (San Cristobal), Ulawa, Uki-Ni-Masi, Owaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina) and a dozen other small patches of land stretching towards Vanuatu . A fairly compact island group (all islands are located at a distance of about 35-38 km from each other, with the exception of Ulav, which lies 75 km south of San Cristobal) covers an area of about 3188 square meters. km and is populated by 30 thousand people (two thirds of them live on the northern coast of San Cristobal). The mountainous (up to 1040 m on San Cristobal) and heavily swampy islands are literally dissected by rivers and streams (almost every 2-5 km a watercourse flows into the sea), considered the “wettest” in the country. Since the islands were isolated from the outside world for a long time, many relict forms of plants and animals have been preserved here, the same applies to people - the Bauro tribal group is considered by scientists to be one of the most isolated and conservative ethnic groups in the region.

The main fame of the islands came from local masters of folk dances - almost every village here has its own troupes, widely known far beyond the Solomon Islands. The most colorful dance performances with almost complete preservation of ancient traditions can be seen in Star Harbor, in the village Natangera, on islands Owaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina), Tri-Sister And Ulava. Here you can also purchase handicrafts and crafts. And in the mountainous regions of San Cristobal, replete with caves and extremely inaccessible, according to local residents, the “dwarves of the Pacific Ocean” still live - a short race of “cacamoras”, to which all sorts of mythical properties are attributed.

Temotu Region

Formerly called the Eastern Outer Islands, the Temotu region covers an area of 926 square kilometers. km (islands) and 150 thousand sq. km of ocean in the easternmost part of the Solomon Islands. This vast archipelago of widely scattered islands is separated from the main group of the country by the Torres Basin with depths of up to 600 m. The three groups of volcanic islands included in the region (Santa Cruz, Tinakula and Utupua) are surrounded by low coral atolls of the nearby Reef Islands and located on the very in the east by the isolated extinct volcanoes of the islands of Duff, Tikopia and Anua. This area is virtually untouched by modern civilization, and the islanders who inhabit it differ in origin from the inhabitants of the rest of the Solomon Islands. The only attractions here are the island's active volcanoes Tinakula, colorful rituals of local tribes (it is typical that bunches of red feathers of tropical birds are still used here as a currency - one of the most unusual currencies on the planet), village Bola on Santa Cruz with its unusual population, in whose veins flows the blood of Spanish sailors from the ships of Alvaro de Mendaña (it is here that the navigator himself and 47 members of his crew are buried), as well as a beautiful bay Graciosa.

Rennell and Bellona region (Renbel)

The southernmost island group, designated as an independent region in 1995, Rennell and Bellona lies south of Guadalcanal and southwest of Makira. These remote atolls were discovered by merchant captain Matthew Boyd in 1793. Now this area, covering an area of 671 square meters. km and inhabited by only 2.5 thousand people, is one of the natural reserves of nature and Polynesian traditions. The capital of the region is a town Tigoa lies on the island of Rennell, or Mu-Nggawa, as the islanders themselves call it, and Bellona, or Mu-Ngiki, is widely known as the land of excellent carpenters and woodcarvers.

Island Rennell is considered the largest elevated atoll on the planet (86x15 km), but the main feature of its uniqueness is the elongated Lake Tengano, the largest freshwater lake in the South Pacific Ocean (now its area is about 15.5 thousand hectares), on which there was room for 200 islands, and for large bird colonies, and for many rare species of flora, primarily orchids. It is not difficult to guess that during the era of the formation of the island, the lake was a vast lagoon, which, as the surrounding land rose above the water, gradually became desalinated, although the water still remains slightly brackish. Therefore, now here you can find completely unique species of once marine fish, transformed by nature itself into freshwater (the only analogue is Lake Titicaca in the South American Andes). Because of its unique natural conditions and specific ecology, the eastern part of the island, together with Lake Tengano, was declared a National Wildlife Park (area 37 thousand hectares), subsequently included in the UNESCO World Wildlife Heritage List.

Noticeably smaller and quieter Bellona(Mu-Ngiki) lies north-west of Rennell and has rich phosphate deposits, as well as many habitable caves of the region's earliest inhabitants, the legendary Hiti people. Here you can also see a specific folk form of wrestling - hetakai, which has existed on the islands for at least the last 600 years.

The island of Guadalcanal, or Guadalcanal, is the largest in the Solomon Islands group (area 5,302 sq. km). The mountainous and inhospitable island is almost entirely occupied by the slopes and peaks of ancient volcanoes (Mount Gallego, or Mount Gallego, Popomanaso, Makarakomburu, Tatuwe, Kaichui - all of them have a height of 2 km or more) and is covered with a dense cover of tropical vegetation.

Honiara

Central region

Occupying an area of about 1000 square meters. km The central region lies around Guadalcanal and includes the islands of Savo, Russells, Nggela and the Florida group.

Savo

Permanently shrouded in clouds, the volcanic Savo Island, located in Iron Bottom Sound, is a haven for divers and other outdoor activities.

The almost complete lack of “civilization” is compensated by an abundance of sunken ships (the famous Battle of Savo Island took place here), a constantly smoking volcano crater and many practically boiling mineral springs, several ancient cult sites - megapodes, as well as a lively bird community and magnificent crystal clear waters.

Florida

On Florida Island you can see the old headquarters of the British colonial administration with its hospital and headquarters, as well as the old Port Parvis, which served first as a base for the British Navy and then for the Imperial Japanese Navy. And the island of Anukha is widely known for its white sandy shores.

Malaita Region

Malaita Island

A distinctive feature of the island of Malaita is the huge number of artificial islands, which since ancient times were built by local residents right on the atolls or rocky islets of lagoons.

Western region

New Georgia Island

Gizo Island

Plum Pudding Island

Choiseul region

Isabel Region

Makira Region

Temotu Region

Rennell and Bellona region (Renbel)

Rennell Island

Rennell Island is considered the largest elevated atoll on the planet (86 km x 15 km), but its main attraction is the vast Lake Tengano, which occupies almost the entire southern part - the largest freshwater lake in the South Pacific (now its area is about 15.5 thousand hectares) , on which there was room for 200 islands, and for large bird colonies, and for many rare species of flora, primarily orchids.

The official name is Solomon Islands.

Located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Area 28,450 km2, population 509 thousand people. (2003). Official language- English. The capital is Honiara (55 thousand people, 2003). Public holiday - Independence Day July 7 (1978). The currency is the Solomon Islands dollar.

Member of the UN (since 1978), IMF (1979), WTO (since 1994), Forum Pacific Islands(formerly UTF).

Located between latitudes 5°10 and 12°45 south and longitudes 155°30 and 170°30 east in the Solomon Islands archipelago (excluding the islands of Bougainville and Buka, part of Papua New Guinea), the Santa Cruz island group, other groups and individual islands (922 islands in total). The largest are: Guadalcanal (5.6 thousand km2), Makira (San Cristobal) and Santa Isabel (4.7 thousand km2 each). The length of the archipelago is approx. 1500 km. Length coastline- 5313 km.

To the northwest and west of the archipelago is Papua New Guinea, to the southeast is Vanuatu.

Sights of the Solomon Islands

In the west, the archipelago is washed by the Solomon Sea, in the southwest by the Coral Sea.

The Solomon Islands are composed of volcanic, high (mostly) and coral, low islands. On the high islands there are extinct and active volcanoes, hot springs, frequent earthquakes. Mountain ranges occupy almost their entire surface (the highest point is the city of Makarakomburu, 2294 m, Guadalcanal). Between the mountains there are deep narrow valleys. Narrow lowlands stretch along the coast. Many volcanic islands surrounded by coral reefs. On large islands There are many mountain rivers suitable for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. There are few lakes, but Lake Tinggoa (Rennell coral island) is the largest in Oceania. The high islands are covered with dense forests of valuable tropical species. The fauna is not rich: opossum, wood mouse, large gopher (found only here). Crocodiles live in mangrove swamps. Over 150 species of birds (especially many parrots). There are a lot of fish, sea turtles, snakes, and shellfish in the surrounding waters.

Minerals: The 200-mile economic zone (1.63 million km2) has one of the world's largest concentrations of tuna. There are reserves of lead, zinc, nickel and gold.

The climate is tropical. Hot and humid season: November-March (showers, hurricanes). The average annual temperature is +23-27°C. The average annual precipitation is 2000-3000 mm (in some places - up to 8000 mm).

The population growth rate is up to 3% per year. Population composition: Melanesians (93%), Polynesians (4%), Micronesians (1.5%), there are Europeans (0.8%), Chinese (0.3%), etc. The main language of interethnic communication is pidgin (Anglo-Melanesian variant). English is spoken by no more than 2% of residents. The indigenous population speaks approximately 120 languages and dialects. Very strong community, clan and family ties remain. 90% of the inhabitants live in small villages and are engaged in subsistence or semi-subsistence agriculture. 65% of the adult population is literate. Life expectancy for men is 70, for women - 75 years. Infant mortality 23 people. per 1000 newborns.

Among believers, Christians predominate, mostly Protestants (78%), incl. Anglicans - 45%. Catholics - 18%, adherents of traditional beliefs - 4%.

The first European to visit the archipelago was the Spaniard A. de Mendaña (1568). Assuming I found it fairyland biblical King Solomon, he named the archipelago the Solomon Islands. Only 200 years later other European navigators began to study them. Bloody clashes between slave traders and indigenous inhabitants served as a reason for Great Britain to establish a protectorate over the archipelago and nearby islands in 1893-1900 (part of them was ceded to Germany in 1900). Unrest among the indigenous population continued until World War II, when the Solomon Islands were occupied by the Japanese. In 1942 - 43, the islands were the site of fierce battles (especially Guadalcanal) between American troops and their allies and Japanese troops. After the war, under the pressure of the indigenous people's struggle for independence, the development of self-government began. In 1974, the first elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Solomon Islands were held. In 1976 they received the status of internal self-government, and in 1978 - independence. Due to periodic outbreaks of inter-ethnic clashes, the internal political situation remains extremely unstable. So, in the end. 1998, another unrest broke out on the island of Guadalcanal, caused by dissatisfaction of local residents (isatabu) with the flow of immigrants from other islands of the archipelago (primarily from the neighboring, most populated island of Malaita) and the associated seizure of land, increased crime, etc. More than 20 thousand Malayans were expelled from Guadalcanal. In response, Malayan paramilitaries forced the then prime minister to resign in June 2000 and seized control of the capital. Despite the fact that In 2000, a peace agreement was reached, and in December 2001 new elections were held; lawlessness continued to reign in the country. The new government authorities have repeatedly called for the introduction of UN peacekeeping forces or the Pacific Islands Forum into the country. Finally, on July 24, 2003, an advance detachment of Australian troops landed on Guadalcanal as part of the joint forces of the Forum (which also included parts of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand) to restore law and order in the archipelago.

Solomon Islands is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly British). The head of state is the Queen of England (at the same time the Queen of the Solomon Islands). It appoints the governor-general on the recommendation of the local parliament, whose 50 deputies are elected by popular vote for 4-year terms (the next election is in 2005). Executive power is vested in the Prime Minister (A. Kemakeza), who is approved by Parliament together with his deputy and ministers (all members of Parliament).

Administratively, the country is divided into 9 districts (provinces) and the city of Honiara.

Main political parties: People's Alliance Party (leader A. Kemakeza, 16 seats in parliament), Solomon Islands Union for Coalition of Change (13), Progressive People's Party (2), Solomon Islands Labor Party (1), etc.

There are no regular armed forces, there are only police and intelligence.

The Solomon Islands do not have diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation.

GDP per capita is 1.7 thousand US dollars (according to purchasing power parity, 2001). The domestic political chaos of recent years has hit the economy hard. If in 1984-93 the average annual growth rate of GDP was 3.5%, and in 1994-96 - even 7.7%, then in 1997-2002 the volume of GDP decreased by almost 20%. Over 70% of the economically active population is engaged in semi-subsistence agriculture. Cocoa beans, coconut palms, rice, potatoes, vegetables and fruits, etc. are grown. The population raises pigs and poultry, and cattle are raised on farms. In the commodity sector of the economy, agriculture, forestry and fishing account for 24% of employment, industry - 13%, and the service sector (trade, finance, government, etc.) - more than 60%.

There are enterprises producing canned fish, clothing, furniture, souvenirs, and woodworking.

Of the more than 1,360 km of roads, only 34 km are paved, and 800 km are roads inside private plantations. Coastal boats ply between the islands. The main seaport is Honiara. There are several ports and harbors. Of the 32 airfields, 2 have paved runways. international Airport- in the area of Honiara. Internet users - 8.4 thousand people. (2002).

The potential opportunities of tourism are poorly used; there are only 10-11 thousand foreign tourists per year. In addition to the underdevelopment of transport and other infrastructure, the main obstacle to expanding the flow of tourists is the unstable internal political situation.

Copra, palm oil, fish, timber, and cocoa are exported. Food and fuel, finished products, machinery and equipment are imported. Foreign economic partners: Japan, Australia, South Korea, countries South-East Asia etc.

Foreign financial assistance plays a major role (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China).

Schooling is still not compulsory. Of more than 500 secondary schools, only 21. The College of Higher Education trains teachers, accountants, paramedics, and fisheries specialists. But actually higher education residents receive in Fiji, in Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. The Marine Resources Institute of the University of the South Pacific (Fiji) is located in Honiara.