Global - Technology - Review

In its short history, the nation, consisting of nearly a thousand islands spread over more than nine hundred miles of the south west Pacific, has suffered from political instability, civil war, and ethnic violence. When we add the problems caused by the 2007 earthquake and tsunami, it is no surprise that the country remains underdeveloped, and that tourism is hindered by poor infrastructure and access. The region’s coral reefs have potential as a major scuba diving destination. There are also mineral resources to be exploited, but most people depend on subsistence agriculture. The climate is tropical and many of the islands are forested, though in some places the forests have been overexploited. The culture is based on tradition values and beliefs, said to be passed down from ancestral spirits, however the overwhelming majority belong to Christian churches. Musical traditions, based on panpipes and drums, are shared with other Melanesian nations. The capital, Honiara, is situated on Guadalcanal, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. Other prominent islands are Choiseul, Santa Isabel, Makira, and Malaita, which has the largest population. However the biggest of the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, belongs to Papua New Guinea.