<p><img src="images/Flag_of_the_Solomon_Islands.svg.jpg" alt="" width="134" height="67" /></p>
<p>Solomon Islands is located in the Oceania continent lying to the east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu. The country lies between latitudes 5 degrees and 13 degrees; and longitudes 155 degrees and 169 degrees. The country has a land area of 28,400 square kilometres and has been inhabited for thousands of years.</p>
<p>Honiara is the capital, located on the island of Guadalcanal.  There are 552,438 people living in Solomon Islands. The thickly forested, mountainous country is made up of 922 islands with only 347 of them inhabited. The six main islands are Choiseul, Isabel, Malaita, New Georgia, Guadalcanal and Makira.  Though official language is English; only about 2% of the country speaks the language. The main language is <em>Solomons Pijin </em>with 74 other languages in the country, 4 of which are extinct.</p>
<p>Solomon Islands gained independence from the United Kingdom on 7<sup>th</sup> July 1978. At that time Solomon Islands was officially known as “<em>the British Solomon Islands Protectorate”</em> which changed to its current name in 1975.</p>
<p><strong><em>CLIMATE AND LANDSCAPE</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>                                                           <img src="images/Solomon_Isleslandscape.jpg" alt="" width="403" height="262" /></em></strong></p>
<p>Solomon Islands are prone to earthquakes, having been affected twice in the last decade. One of which triggered a large tsunami, badly affecting the smaller islands. The country’s climate is extremely humid all year long, due to its ocean-equatorial climate. Exceptional cooler periods are from June to August and wetter seasons from November to April.</p>
<p>Solomon Islands contain several of both active and dormant volcanoes. Hence soil quality ranges from extremely rich to relatively infertile limestone. Most parts of the islands are part of the Solomon Islands rain forests eco-region, thus the island having a variety of plants and tropical flowers.</p>
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<p><strong><em>ECONOMY</em></strong></p>
<p>Solomon Islands is one the least developed nations in the pacific. 75% of its total labor force is dependent on fishing and subsistence. Import products into the country mainly include manufactured goods and petroleum. Timber was a main export product; hence forests in the island were heavily overexploited. Other exported products include copra and palm oil.</p>
<p>Undeveloped minerals are in rich quantity on the island namely; lead, zinc, nickel and gold.</p>
<p>Tourism is also an upcoming commodity for the country but lack of infrastructure and limitations of transport are major setbacks.</p>
<p>                     <img src="images/farmingsolomonislands.jpg" alt="" width="385" height="245" />   <img src="images/Solomons-02farminginsolomons.jpg" alt="" width="382" height="224" /></p>
<p><strong><em>RELIGION</em></strong></p>
<p>Christianity is the main religion, with about 92% of the population are followers. Major denominations include the Anglican church of Melanesia, Roman Catholic and South Sea Evangelical Church. Other religions in the country are Islam with 350 followers, and the Baha’i Faith.</p>
<p>                                                                   <img src="images/Churchsolomonisland.jpg" alt="" width="419" height="286" /></p>
<p><strong><em>EDUCATION</em></strong></p>
<p>Education is not compulsory in the country, thus only 60% of the children have accessibility. There are plans made by the government to expand education awareness in the country. Males dominate the education system as compared to females.</p>
<p>                                <img src="images/solomonislandsschool.jpg" alt="" width="303" height="111" />        <img src="images/09Teaching-kindergartens-and-primary-schools.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="217" /></p>
<p><strong><em>CULTURE</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>            <img src="images/panpipers2.jpg" alt="" width="399" height="267" />        <img src="images/Solomon-Islands-Culture.jpg" alt="" width="381" height="218" /></em></strong></p>
<p>Traditional norms and practices are handed down from the previous generations to the next. </p>
<p>Traditional music is varied with both group and solo vocals. Moreover, Solomon Islands is well-known in the pacific region of its writers including novelists and poets.</p>
<p><strong><em>SPORT</em></strong></p>
<p>Rugby Union is the national sport in the Solomon Islands. Other sports played in the country are football relatively beach soccer and futsal.</p>
<p>                                                 <img src="images/solomonislandssports.jpg" alt="" width="505" height="269" /></p>