Yearbook 2002
Solomon Islands. According to Countryaah website, national day of Solomon Islands is every July 7. The country was severely affected by unemployment, poverty and crime in the wake of the civil war. Despite the conclusion of the peace agreement at the end of 2000, large quantities of weapons were still in operation. The hard-pressed government requested financial assistance from Australia and New Zealand to, among other things, health care, schools and police, but was told that law and order must be established before money can be paid out.
However, advisers were sent to the police corps, which was characterized by near enough chaos and largely consisted of former militiamen. International peace observers who were to disarm militia groups were sometimes threatened with violence. Many people were killed in violent situations, including in the northwest that was the home of rebels from the previous civil war in neighboring Papua New Guinea. At the end of the year, some remote islands were severely devastated by Hurricane Zoe, but residents survived the disaster.
Geography and environment
There are eight larger volcanic and forest-covered islands in two parallel northwest-southeast directions and 992 smaller islands and atolls. The big islands are mountainous and earthquakes often occur. The highest point is Mount Popomanaseu on the Guadalcanal, 2335 meters above sea level.
Solomon Islands has tropical rainfall with an average temperature of 26.5 o C. July-August is the coolest period. It is most rainy from November to April and usually a cyclone annually. The annual rainfall is about 3050 milliliters, but south of Guadalcanal it measured 11,500 millimeters in one year.
The big islands have rainforests with, among other things, ferns, palm trees, ebony and fig trees. There are coconut trees and mangroves on the coasts. Where the rainforest is removed there is grassy landscape with grass.
There are 54 mammal species; many are endemic (native) such as several species of bats and tree-climbing nude rats. In the sea on the coast live dugong (sea cow) and several species of whales. About 235 species of birds are described; endemic ones include the owl, brown-tailed eagle and white-headed pigeon.
There are about 70 reptiles, including five species of sea turtles and delta crocodile. Several of the 20 snake species are poisonous.
Solomon Islands Country Overview
Visas and admission
Finnish citizen does not need a visa to travel to the Solomon Islands for less than 3 months. The passport must be valid for 6 months after leaving the country.
- According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, SLB stands for Solomon Islands.
Insurance
Every person participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.
Please pay attention to the special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well.
Many dive trips require more extensive insurance. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD). € 1 = about 9.15 SBD. Currency is not available from Finland.
Vaccinations
Check that your basic vaccinations are valid (tetanus, polio and diphtheria and MPR). Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for the trip. Antimalarial medication is recommended.
Always check the vaccination requirements at the health center or the Vaccination Advice of the Tourist Clinic
Time difference
9 hours
Electric current
The electric current is 220 V / / 50 Hz. Several different sockets.
Safety
Volcanic islands where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis are relatively common. There was also political unrest in the country.
We stay in safe areas during our trip, but general caution within common sense is desirable throughout the trip.
For more information on traveling in the country, see the English Foreign Office’s travel bulletin, for example.
