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General Information
Area: 27,556 sq km (10,639 sq miles).
Population: 417,000 (1998).
Population Density: 15.1 per sq km.
Capital: Honiara. Population: 35,288 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY: The Solomon Islands Archipelago is scattered in the southwestern Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea. The group comprises most of the Solomon Islands (those in the northwest are part of Papua New Guinea), the Ontong Java Islands, Rennell Island and the Santa Cruz Islands, which lie further to the east. The larger of the islands are 145-193km (90-120 miles) in length, while the smallest are no more than coral outcrops. The terrain is generally quite rugged, with foothills that rise gently to a peak and then fall away steeply to the sea on the other side. The capital Honiara is situated on Guadalcanal Island, which also has the highest mountain, Mount Makarakombu, at 2447m (8028ft). There are a number of dormant volcanoes scattered throughout the archipelago.
Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1978. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir John Ini Lapli since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware since 2001.
Language: English is the official language. Pidgin English and over 80 different local dialects are also spoken.
Religion: More than 95 per cent of the population are Christian; the rest mostly hold traditional beliefs.
Time: GMT + 11.
Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-type flat three-pin plugs are in use.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 677. Outgoing international code: 00. There are no area codes. There are often technical problems with line connections.
Mobile telephone
Analogue network (AMPS) is provided by Solomon Telekom Company (website: www.solomon.com.sb). Visitors can hire mobile phones on the islands, although payment is preferred in cash (US/AUS/NZ currencies are accepted).
Fax
Solomon Telekom provides services at its offices in Honiara (PO Box 148, Honiara; tel: 21576; fax: 23110) and some hotels have facilities.
Internet
Main ISP is Solomon Telekom (website: www.solomon.com.sb). Public e-mail facilities are available in Honiara and Gizo.
Telegram
Services available 24 hours a day administered by Solomon Telekom (see address above).
Post
Airmail to Europe takes approximately seven days. The main post office in Honiara opens Mon-Fri 0900-1630, Sat 0900-1100. Other post office opening hours are Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0800-1200.
Press
The main newspapers are the daily English-language Solomon Star and Solomons Voice.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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