Western Province (Solomon Islands)

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Western Province
Statistics
Capital: Gizo
Area: 5,475 km²
Ranked 1st
Inhabitants: 62,739 (1999)
Ranked 2nd
Pop. density: 11.5 inh./km²
Ranked 4th
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Map
Map of the Solomon Islands highlighting Western Province


Western Province is one of the provinces of the Solomon Islands. It contains many small lagoons and most of the country's tourist trade (outside of Honiara).

The provincial capital is Gizo, a town of around 3000. Most of the troubles that affect the country have had minimal impact in the Western Province, which saw no major violence during the revolution.

Tourism is discouraged throughout the Solomon Islands, but the west is by far the most accommodating area, including multiple hotels and resorts, dive shops, restaurants, and boat tours.

Munda, the largest town on New Georgia island, has a landing strip built during WWII by the US and is listed as an emergency landing runway, capable of handling even jumbo jets.

The diving in the Western Province is pristine as tourists tend to visit nearby Fiji for diving rather than visiting the less developed Solomon Islands. Also, malaria is a concern in the Solomons, which keeps many tourists away. The result is spectacular dive conditions with untouched coral reefs.


Provinces of the Solomon Islands Flag of the Solomon Islands
Central | Choiseul | Guadalcanal | Isabel | Makira-Ulawa | Malaita | Rennell and Bellona | Temotu | Western
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