Marovo Lagoon Cultural Sites

The Marovo Lagoon Cultural Sites are located within the world's largest saltwater lagoon, a region celebrated for its remarkable biodiversity and profound historical significance. The lagoon is home to numerous monuments and sacred sites that provide evidence of continuous human habitation dating back thousands of years. These sites include ancient stone shrines, traditional burial mounds of ancestral chiefs, and specific areas dedicated to the production of 'Bakia' or shell money. The construction of these cultural landmarks typically utilizes local coral stone and timber, reflecting a spiritual and practical harmony with the natural environment. Geographically, the lagoon covers nearly 700 square kilometers and is shielded from the open ocean by a rare double barrier reef system. Marovo is currently on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, recognized for its unique blend of environmental conservation and traditional ecological knowledge. The monuments scattered throughout the lagoon remain central to the identity of the Marovo people, serving as physical anchors for the oral histories and genealogical records passed down through the centuries.

Nearby cities

Point Cruz Business District

This district in Honiara is the commercial heart of the country.

Honiara

The capital of the Solomon Islands is located on the north coast of Guadalcanal.

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Kokumbona

A former village west of Honiara that served as the headquarters for the Japanese 17th Army during the Guadalcanal campaign.

Gizo

Gizo is the administrative center of the Western Province and is known for its tourism importance.

Gizo Town

The administrative center of the Western Province.

Maru

Maru is a coastal community near Gizo, known for its traditional fishing practices.

Buala

Buala is the capital of Isabel Province, located on the Maringe Lagoon.

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Munda Logistics Center

Munda on New Georgia Island serves as a strategic logistics hub.

Munda

Munda is the largest settlement on the island of New Georgia.

Lambeti

A village near Munda that was the scene of heavy fighting as Allied forces advanced toward the Munda airstrip in 1943.

Marovo Lagoon

The world's largest saltwater lagoon, a UNESCO candidate featuring hundreds of islands and world-class biodiversity.

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Batuna

Batuna is a Seventh-day Adventist mission station in the Marovo Lagoon, known for its vocational training.

Uepi

Uepi is a small island settlement on the edge of the Marovo Lagoon, known for world-class diving tourism.

Nggatokae Island

A pristine volcanic island in the southeastern New Georgia Islands, a paradise for divers and nature enthusiasts.

Seghe

Seghe is an important transport hub located at the southern tip of New Georgia Island in the Western Province.

History & landmarks

Honiara City Council

The city council's administrative building is the hub of Honiara's local government.

Marovo Lagoon

The world's largest saltwater lagoon.

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Kavachi Submarine Volcano

Kavachi is one of the most active submarine volcanoes in the Pacific.

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Skull Island

This small island in the Vona Vona Lagoon houses a shrine with skulls of former chiefs and warriors.

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Vona Vona Lagoon Monuments

The lagoon is rich in historical sites, including war wrecks and traditional graves.

Nature

Uepi Island

This small barrier reef island in Marovo Lagoon offers access to deep oceanic trenches and vibrant coral gardens.

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Mount Vangunu

Mount Vangunu is the central volcanic cone of the island with the same name in the New Georgia group.

Zaira Conservation Area

The Zaira Conservation Area on Vangunu is known for its pristine coral reefs and leatherback turtle nesting sites.

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Kavachi Volcano

This submarine volcano in the New Georgia Islands is one of the most active in the Southwest Pacific.

Tetepare Island

Tetepare is the largest uninhabited tropical island in the South Pacific and a major conservation area.

Roviana Lagoon

Roviana Lagoon features extensive coral reefs and is a center of Melanesian culture.

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Mount Rendova

Mount Rendova dominates the silhouette of Rendova Island in the Western Province.

More places

Noro

Noro is a major industrial town in the Western Province known for its deep-water port.

Wickham Anchorage

An anchorage on Vangunu Island captured in 1943 to intercept Japanese supply lines to the New Georgia islands.

Seghe Airstrip

An airfield at the southern tip of New Georgia, captured by Allied forces in 1943 to support the offensive on Munda.

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Viru Harbour

Viru Harbour is a natural deep-water port on New Georgia Island, playing an important role in the local economy.

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Viru Timber Port

Viru Harbour is a major export port for the timber industry in Western Province.

Viru Harbor

A deep natural harbor on New Georgia captured by US Marines in July 1943 during a difficult overland march.

Blanche Channel

A channel between New Georgia and Rendova.

Rendova Island

An island across from Munda captured by US forces in June 1943 to position heavy artillery for the assault on Munda Airstrip.