Solomons Islands (GEOGRAPHY)

The archipelago comprises six main islands and more than 950 smaller ones, an area of around 27,500 square kilometres (11,600 square miles) of generally rugged mountain terrain but also some low-lying coral atolls.Its population of a little over 500,000 is overwhelmingly Christian and ethnic Melanesian. English is the official language, but most people speak one of the more than 100 local dialectsIts main island Guadalcanal was a strategic military prize, notably because of its airstrip, and after months of bitter combat US and allied troops drove off the Japanese forces.The Solomons Islands gained independence in 1978. Although Britain's Queen Elizabeth II remains its head of state the country is run by a prime minister who is elected by parliament.Recent years have seen bloody ethnic strife however. Fighting broke out in 1998 and led to a coup two years later. The unrest continued despite a peace agreement and has crippled the country economically.In mid-2003 Australia led in an armed intervention force that has restored some stability. It is still involved although Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has been seeking to reduce Canberra's leading role.Most people rely on agriculture, fishing and forestry for their livelihoods, although there are undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel and gold. The major exports are timber, fish and palm oil.
China is the Solomons' biggest export market while Australia and Singapore supply much of its imports. In 2005, economic growth was 4.7 per cent and gross domestic product per person was just $600.The Solomons' early history indicates hunter-gatherers living on the large islands as early as 1,000 BC. Some islanders are descendants of peoples who migrated from Southeast Asia.The European discoverer of the islands was a Spanish explorer in the 16th century .