SOLOMON ISLANDS

Capital: Honiara

Flag: the flag consists of two triangles, top blue, lower green, divided by a diagonal gold strip; on a blue triangle five white, five-pointed stars.

Slogan: God will save the queen.

MONETARY BLOCK: The Solomon Islands dollar ($ si), paper currency in 100 cents, was entered in 1977, having replaced Australian dollar and became the only lawful means of payment in 1978. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 US dollar and also marks of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 dollars. si of $1 = us of $0.13361 (or us of $1 = si of $7.4847) as of 2004.

WEIGHT AND MEASURES: The metric system works.

HOLIDAYS: New year, on January 1; The Birthday of the queen celebrated in June as a moveable feast; Independence Day, on July 7; Christmas, on December 25; Day of gifts, on December 26. Moveable religious feasts include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Uitmondeyl.

TIME: 11th evenings = midday of GMT.

ARRANGEMENT, SIZE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Solomon Islands consist of a chain of six large and numerous small islands located in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, about 1900 km (1200 miles) from Australia and about 485 km (300 miles) from Papua New Guinea. Expanding 1,688 km (1,049 miles) of ese-wnw and 468 km (291 miles) of nne-ssw, the Solomon Islands have the area of 28 450 sq.km (10 985 quarter. Miles). Rather, the space occupied by the Solomon Islands is a little less, than the State of Maryland. The biggest island - Guadalcanal covering 5,302 sq.km (2 047 quarter. Miles); other large islands are Makira (the former Malayta), San Cristobal, Lavell's Wella, Choiseul, Rennell, New Georgia and the Santa Cruz group. The general coastline of the Solomon Islands makes 5 311 km (3,301 miles).
The capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal.

TOPOGRAPHY

The relief varies from volcanic tops of Guadalcanal to the low-lying coral atolls. Densely forest ridges are crossed by steep, narrow valleys. The highest peak - Mt. To Makarakombur, at the height of 2 447 m (8 127 feet), on the island of Guadalcanal which also contains the most extensive alluvial plains. The rivers narrow and impassable, except for a canoe. The coast of the island is surrounded by extensive coral reeves and lagoons.

The Solomon Islands are located in seismically active area. However, though recent earthquakes were measured in ranges which are considered as strong in relation to large, the death toll and injuries and damages was minimum. On January 20, 2003 the earthquake in 7,3 points occurred in the place located approximately in 80 miles (130 km) to the west from Kira of Cyrus. On October 8, 2004 the earthquake measuring 6,8 points occurred approximately in 95 miles (155 km) to the southeast from Kira of Cyrus. One more earthquake in 6,9 points occurred around the same region on November 9, 2004 then on November 11 there was an earthquake in 6.7.