View source for Geography of the Solomon Islands

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{{Country geography 
|name = Solomon Islands
|map = Solomon Islands 1989.jpg
|continent = [[Pacific Ocean]]
|region = [[Oceania]]
|coordinates = {{Coord|8|00|S|159|00|E|type:country}}
|area ranking = 139th
|km area = 29,000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/solomon-islands/#geography |title=Solomon Islands: Geography |publisher=CIA Factbook |access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solomon Islands country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15896396 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=17 October 2023}}</ref>
|percent land = 96.8
|km coastline = 5,313 
|borders = None
|highest point = [[Mount Popomanaseu]]<br />{{convert|2,332|m|feet}}
|lowest point = [[Pacific Ocean]]<br />0 m 
|longest river = 
|largest lake = 
|exclusive economic zone = {{convert|1,589,477|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}

[[Solomon Islands]] is an [[island country]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific Ocean]], that lies [[east]] of [[Papua New Guinea]].

== Islands ==
{{Further|List of islands of Solomon Islands}}

The major part of the nation of Solomon Islands is the mountainous [[volcanic island]]s of the [[Solomon Islands (archipelago)]], which includes [[Choiseul island|Choiseul]], the [[Shortland Islands]], the [[New Georgia Islands]], [[Santa Isabel Island|Santa Isabel]], the [[Russell Islands]], the [[Florida Islands]], [[Tulagi]], [[Malaita]], [[South Malaita Island|Maramasike]], [[Ulawa Island|Ulawa]], [[Owaraha]] (Santa Ana), [[Makira]] (San Cristobal), and the main island of [[Guadalcanal]]. (The largest island in the archipelago is [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]], but it is politically an autonomous region of the neighbouring country of [[Papua New Guinea]].) Solomon Islands also includes isolated low-lying [[atoll]]s and volcanic islands such as [[Sikaiana]], [[Rennell Island]], [[Bellona Island]], the [[Santa Cruz Islands]] and the remote, tiny outliers, [[Tikopia]], [[Anuta]], and [[Fatutaka]].

The distance between the most western and most eastern islands is about {{convert|1500|km|-1|abbr=on}}. Especially the Santa Cruz Islands, north of [[Vanuatu]], are isolated at more than {{convert|200|km|-1|abbr=on}} from the other islands. The total land size is {{convert|29,000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/solomon-islands/#geography |title=Solomon Islands: Geography |publisher=CIA Factbook |access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solomon Islands country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15896396 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=17 October 2023}}</ref> It has the 22nd largest [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] of {{convert|1,589,477|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.

== Geology and ecology ==
{{Further|Solomon Islands rain forests}}
{{see also|Protected areas of Solomon Islands|Coral reefs of the Solomon Islands}}
[[File:Share_Of_Forest_Area_In_Total_Land_Area,_Top_Countries_(2021).svg|thumb|330x330px|Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). The Solomon Islands have the sixth highest percentage of forest cover in the world.]]
[[Volcano]]es with varying degrees of activity are situated on some of the larger islands, while many of the smaller islands are simply tiny [[atoll]]s covered in sand and [[palm tree]]s.

The baseline survey of marine biodiversity in the Solomon Islands that was carried out in 2004,<ref name="TE2006">{{cite report|author= Turak, E. with Green, A., P. Lokani, W. Atu, P. Ramohia, P. Thomas and J. Almany (eds.). |url= https://www.conservationgateway.org/Documents/SolomonIslandsMarineAssessmentReport-Full.pdf|title= Solomon Islands Marine Assessment: Technical report of survey conducted May 13 to June 17, 2004. TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No. 1/06 |publisher= DC: World Resources Institute |year= 2006|pages= 65–109|access-date= 31 March 2021}}</ref> found 474 species of corals in the Solomons as well as nine species which could be new to science. This is the second highest diversity of corals in the World, second only to the [[Raja Ampat Islands]] in eastern Indonesia.<ref>Doubilet, David (2007). Ultra Marine: In far eastern Indonesia, the Raja Ampat islands embrace a phenomenal coral wilderness. National Geographic, September 2007. Originally retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/indonesia/doubilet-text. Archived on 2008-04-09 at https://web.archive.org/web/20080409084522/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/09/indonesia/doubilet-text.</ref>

==Climate==
{{Further|Climate change in the Pacific Islands}}
The climate is [[tropical]], though temperatures are rarely extreme due to cooling winds blowing off the surrounding seas. Daytime temperatures are normally {{convert|25|to|32|C|F}}. From April to October (the dry season), the southeast trade winds blow, gusting at times up to {{convert|30|kn|km/h}} or more.

November to March is the wet season&mdash;the northwest [[monsoon]]&mdash;typically warmer and wetter. Cyclones arise in the Coral Sea and the area of the Solomon Islands, but they usually veer toward [[Vanuatu]] and [[New Caledonia]] or down the coast of [[Australia]].

===Climate data===
{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = [[Honiara]] (Köppen Af)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 33.9
|Feb record high C = 36.1
|Mar record high C = 33.9
|Apr record high C = 33.4
|May record high C = 33.6
|Jun record high C = 32.8
|Jul record high C = 33.3
|Aug record high C = 33.5
|Sep record high C = 33.4
|Oct record high C = 33.3
|Nov record high C = 33.4
|Dec record high C = 34.8
|year record high C = 34.8
|Jan high C = 30.7
|Feb high C = 30.5
|Mar high C = 30.2
|Apr high C = 30.5
|May high C = 30.7
|Jun high C = 30.4
|Jul high C = 30.1
|Aug high C = 30.4
|Sep high C = 30.6
|Oct high C = 30.7
|Nov high C = 30.7
|Dec high C = 30.5
|year high C = 30.5
|Jan mean C = 26.7
|Feb mean C = 26.6
|Mar mean C = 26.6
|Apr mean C = 26.5
|May mean C = 26.6
|Jun mean C = 26.4
|Jul mean C = 26.1
|Aug mean C = 26.2
|Sep mean C = 26.5
|Oct mean C = 26.5
|Nov mean C = 26.7
|Dec mean C = 26.8
|year mean C = 26.5
|Jan low C = 23.0
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 23.0
|Apr low C = 22.9
|May low C = 22.8
|Jun low C = 22.5
|Jul low C = 22.2
|Aug low C = 22.1
|Sep low C = 22.3
|Oct low C = 22.5
|Nov low C = 22.7
|Dec low C = 23.0
|year low C = 22.7
|Jan record low C = 20.2
|Feb record low C = 20.7
|Mar record low C = 20.7
|Apr record low C = 20.1
|May record low C = 20.5
|Jun record low C = 19.4
|Jul record low C = 18.7
|Aug record low C = 18.8
|Sep record low C = 18.3
|Oct record low C = 17.6
|Nov record low C = 17.8
|Dec record low C = 20.5
|year record low C = 17.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 277
|Feb precipitation mm = 287
|Mar precipitation mm = 362
|Apr precipitation mm = 214
|May precipitation mm = 141
|Jun precipitation mm = 97
|Jul precipitation mm = 100
|Aug precipitation mm = 92
|Sep precipitation mm = 95
|Oct precipitation mm = 154
|Nov precipitation mm = 141
|Dec precipitation mm = 217
|year precipitation mm = 2177
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 19
|Feb precipitation days = 19
|Mar precipitation days = 23
|Apr precipitation days = 18
|May precipitation days = 15
|Jun precipitation days = 13
|Jul precipitation days = 15
|Aug precipitation days = 13
|Sep precipitation days = 13
|Oct precipitation days = 16
|Nov precipitation days = 15
|Dec precipitation days = 18
|year precipitation days = 197
|Jan humidity = 80
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 81
|Apr humidity = 80
|May humidity = 80
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 75
|Aug humidity = 73
|Sep humidity = 73
|Oct humidity = 75
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 78
|Jan sun = 186.0
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 198.4
|Apr sun = 192.0
|May sun = 210.8
|Jun sun = 198.0
|Jul sun = 186.0
|Aug sun = 204.6
|Sep sun = 192.0
|Oct sun = 226.3
|Nov sun = 216.0
|Dec sun = 164.3
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 6.0
|Febd sun = 5.5
|Mard sun = 6.4
|Aprd sun = 6.4
|Mayd sun = 6.8
|Jund sun = 6.6
|Juld sun = 6.0
|Augd sun = 6.6
|Sepd sun = 6.4
|Octd sun = 7.3
|Novd sun = 7.2
|Decd sun = 5.3
|yeard sun = 6.4
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWDHoniara>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915170_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Honiara / Insel Guadalcanal / Salomonen
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 November 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190512102732/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915170_kt.pdf
| archive-date = 12 May 2019
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Yandina, Solomon Islands|Yandina]] (Köppen Af)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|width = auto 
|Jan high F = 88
|Feb high F = 88
|Mar high F = 87
|Apr high F = 88
|May high F = 87
|Jun high F = 86
|Jul high F = 86
|Aug high F =87
|Sep high F = 86
|Oct high F = 86
|Nov high F =87
|Dec high F = 88
|year high F = 87
|Jan low F = 75
|Feb low F = 75
|Mar low F = 74
|Apr low F = 74
|May low F = 73
|Jun low F = 75
|Jul low F = 74
|Aug low F = 75
|Sep low F = 75
|Oct low F = 74
|Nov low F = 75
|Dec low F = 75
|year low F = 75
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 11.4
|Feb precipitation inch =14.6
|Mar precipitation inch = 24.1
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.2
|May precipitation inch = 9
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.5
|Jul precipitation inch = 11
|Aug precipitation inch = 6
|Sep precipitation inch = 5.8
|Oct precipitation inch = 6.8
|Nov precipitation inch = 12.4
|Dec precipitation inch = 8.4
|year precipitation inch = 119.1
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=WeatherbaseYandina>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=101519&refer=wikipedia |title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Yandina, Solomon Islands
|publisher=Weatherbase
|year=2011
}}
Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
</ref>
|date=November 2011
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
| location = [[Gizo, Solomon Islands|Gizo]] (Köppen Af)
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| collapsed = Yes 
| Jan high C = 30.9
| Feb high C = 30.8
| Mar high C = 30.7
| Apr high C = 30.4
| May high C = 30.4
| Jun high C = 29.9
| Jul high C = 29.2
| Aug high C = 29.3
| Sep high C = 29.8
| Oct high C = 30.5
| Nov high C = 30.8
| Dec high C = 31.0

| Jan mean C = 27.4
| Feb mean C = 27.3
| Mar mean C = 27.2
| Apr mean C = 27.0
| May mean C = 27.1
| Jun mean C = 26.7
| Jul mean C = 26.3
| Aug mean C = 26.2
| Sep mean C = 26.6
| Oct mean C = 27.0
| Nov mean C = 27.2
| Dec mean C = 27.4
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 23.9
| Feb low C = 23.8
| Mar low C = 23.8
| Apr low C = 23.7
| May low C = 23.8
| Jun low C = 23.5
| Jul low C = 23.4
| Aug low C = 23.2
| Sep low C = 23.4
| Oct low C = 23.5
| Nov low C = 23.7
| Dec low C = 23.8
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm=413
|Feb precipitation mm=353
|Mar precipitation mm=385
|Apr precipitation mm=292
|May precipitation mm=272
|Jun precipitation mm=258
|Jul precipitation mm=367
|Aug precipitation mm=285
|Sep precipitation mm=267
|Oct precipitation mm=247
|Nov precipitation mm=246
|Dec precipitation mm=284
|source 1 = Climate-Data.org<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/766065/
|title = Climate: Ghizo
|publisher=Climate-Data.org
|accessdate = 21 October 2020}}</ref>
}}

== Statistics ==
[[Image:Solomon Islands and Oceania.jpg|thumb|450px|Solomon Islands in relation to the rest of Oceania.]]

'''[[Geographic coordinate system|Geographic coordinates]]:''' {{coord|8|00|S|159|00|E|type:country}}

'''Area:'''
<br>''total:''
{{convert|29,000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/solomon-islands/#geography |title=Solomon Islands: Geography |publisher=CIA Factbook |access-date=25 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solomon Islands country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15896396 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=17 October 2023}}</ref>
<br>''land:''
{{convert|27,986|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
<br>''water:''
{{convert|1,014|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

'''Coastline:''' 5,313&nbsp;km

'''Maritime claims:'''
<br>Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
<br>''continental shelf:'' &nbsp;
{{convert|200|nmi|mi km|-1|abbr=on}}
<br>''exclusive economic zone:'' &nbsp;
{{convert|1,589,477|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} (200 nmi)
<br>''territorial sea:'' &nbsp; {{convert|12|nmi|mi km|0|abbr=on}}

'''Terrain:''' Mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

'''Elevation extremes:'''
<br>''lowest point:''
Pacific Ocean 0&nbsp;m
<br>''highest point:''
[[Mount Popomanaseu]] {{convert|2,332|m|ft|abbr=on}} (not [[Mount Makarakomburu]])

'''Natural resources:''' [[fish]], [[forest]]s, [[gold]], [[bauxite]], [[phosphate]]s, [[lead]], [[zinc]], [[nickel]]

'''Land use:'''
<br>''arable land:''
0.62%
<br>''permanent crops:''
2.04%
<br>''other:''
97.34% (2005)

'''Irrigated land:''' NA

'''Natural hazards:''' [[Tropical cyclone]]s, [[Heavy rain (meteorology)|heavy rain]], [[flood]]s, [[tsunami]]s; [[earthquake]]s; [[volcano|volcanic]] activity

'''Environment – current issues:''' [[Deforestation]]; [[soil erosion]]; much of the surrounding [[coral reef]]s are dead or dying

'''Environment – international agreements:'''
<br>''party to:'' [[Biodiversity]], [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]], Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]], [[Desertification]], [[Environmental Modification]], [[Law of the Sea]], [[Marine Dumping]], [[Marine Life Conservation]], [[Ozone Layer Protection]], [[Whaling]]

==Extreme points==
This is a list of the extreme points of [[Solomon Islands]], the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

* Northernmost point – [[Ontong Java Atoll]], [[Malaita Province]]
* Easternmost point – [[Fatutaka]], [[Santa Cruz Islands]], [[Temotu Province]]
* Southernmost point – South Reef, [[Indispensable Reef]], [[Rennell and Bellona Province]]
* Westernmost point – [[Mono Island]], [[Treasury Islands]], [[Western Province, Solomon Islands|Western Province]]

==See also==
* [[List of mammals of the Solomon Islands archipelago]]
* [[Provinces of Solomon Islands]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Solomon Islands topics}}
{{Geography of Oceania}}
{{CIA World Factbook}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of The Solomon Islands}}
[[Category:Geography of the Solomon Islands| ]]