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WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
Solomon Islands
MAP 12b
The
Solomon Islands consist of over 900 islands
widely distributed in the Western Pacific. The bulk
of the land area comprises seven large volcanic
islands which form a double chain running from northwest
to southeast and converging on the island of Makira (San
Cristobal). The Santa Cruz Islands are a second group of
three larger volcanic islands lying to the east; Ndeno,
Utupua and Vanikolo together with smaller islands,
including the Reef Islands and the Duff Islands. In
addition to these there are several more remote islands and
reefs. Ontong Java is a large atoll of some 1 500 square
kilometers lying over 250 kilometers north of Santa
Isabel, while nearby there is a smaller atoll, Roncador
Reef, which has no associated islands. About 200
kilometers northeast of Malaita is Sikaiana Atoll (Stewart
Islands), with a number of small islands around a nearatoll (there is a 45 meter high remnant of the volcano). To
the south of the main island chain are two raised atolls,
Bellona and Rennell, with fringing reefs around their
perimeter. South of these are three large atoll structures
with no associated islands - the Indispensable Reefs. The
far eastern borders of this island nation are determined by
the three small islands of Anuta, Fatutaka and Tikopia.
The Solomon Islands lie on the western margin of the
Pacific plate and all are of volcanic origin. There is still
volcanic activity in a number of locations, notably on
Tinakula in the Santa Cruz Islands and on the submarine
volcano of Kavachi, south of New Georgia. The latter is
one of the most active volcanoes in the region and has
created several new islands in the last century, most
recently in May 2000.
Coral reefs are widespread throughout the country.
A number of atolls have already been mentioned, and
fringing reefs are numerous around most of the islands.
Even where they are not marked on maps, such as around
Guadalcanal, there are narrow, steeply shelving fringing
structures. Barrier reefs are less developed, although there
are barrier complexes with associated islands around New
Georgia and northeast Choiseul and around Utupua. A
complex system occurs around the Reef Islands, including
the 25 kilometer Great Reef extending westwards from the
main island group. Other shallow platform reefs are found
north of the Reef Islands.
Very little is currently known about biodiversity on
the reefs of the Solomon Islands, however given their
location and the relatively low levels of human impact in
many areas, they are likely to include highly diverse and
important reef communities. A recent survey of the fish
Left: A sunset wrasse Thalassoma lutescens takes shelter under a plate Acropora. Right: A feather star with a
massive coral.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
Solomon Islands
MAP 12b
The
Solomon Islands consist of over 900 islands
widely distributed in the Western Pacific. The bulk
of the land area comprises seven large volcanic
islands which form a double chain running from northwest
to southeast and converging on the island of Makira (San
Cristobal). The Santa Cruz Islands are a second group of
three larger volcanic islands lying to the east; Ndeno,
Utupua and Vanikolo together with smaller islands,
including the Reef Islands and the Duff Islands. In
addition to these there are several more remote islands and
reefs. Ontong Java is a large atoll of some 1 500 square
kilometers lying over 250 kilometers north of Santa
Isabel, while nearby there is a smaller atoll, Roncador
Reef, which has no associated islands. About 200
kilometers northeast of Malaita is Sikaiana Atoll (Stewart
Islands), with a number of small islands around a nearatoll (there is a 45 meter high remnant of the volcano). To
the south of the main island chain are two raised atolls,
Bellona and Rennell, with fringing reefs around their
perimeter. South of these are three large atoll structures
with no associated islands - the Indispensable Reefs. The
far eastern borders of this island nation are determined by
the three small islands of Anuta, Fatutaka and Tikopia.
The Solomon Islands lie on the western margin of the
Pacific plate and all are of volcanic origin. There is still
volcanic activity in a number of locations, notably on
Tinakula in the Santa Cruz Islands and on the submarine
volcano of Kavachi, south of New Georgia. The latter is
one of the most active volcanoes in the region and has
created several new islands in the last century, most
recently in May 2000.
Coral reefs are widespread throughout the country.
A number of atolls have already been mentioned, and
fringing reefs are numerous around most of the islands.
Even where they are not marked on maps, such as around
Guadalcanal, there are narrow, steeply shelving fringing
structures. Barrier reefs are less developed, although there
are barrier complexes with associated islands around New
Georgia and northeast Choiseul and around Utupua. A
complex system occurs around the Reef Islands, including
the 25 kilometer Great Reef extending westwards from the
main island group. Other shallow platform reefs are found
north of the Reef Islands.
Very little is currently known about biodiversity on
the reefs of the Solomon Islands, however given their
location and the relatively low levels of human impact in
many areas, they are likely to include highly diverse and
important reef communities. A recent survey of the fish
Left: A sunset wrasse Thalassoma lutescens takes shelter under a plate Acropora. Right: A feather star with a
massive coral.