Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is the largest island in the Solomon Islands, forming the heart of Guadalcanal Province. It covers roughly 5,000 square kilometers and features tropical rainforest, rugged hills, and numerous rivers. The northern coast hosts the Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara.

During World War II, Guadalcanal was the focus of a major campaign between Allied forces and Japan. In August 1942, United States Marines landed on the island in Operation Watchtower to seize the airfield under construction at Lunga Point, which became Henderson Field. The ensuing Guadalcanal Campaign lasted until February 1943, with intense land battles and naval engagements in Iron Bottom Sound. The Allied victory halted Japanese expansion in the region and provided a strategic foothold for further operations in the Pacific.

After the war, Guadalcanal became part of the independent Solomon Islands in 1978. The island remains inhabited and strategically important within the country, with its economy supported by forestry, agriculture, and growing tourism, in addition to administrative functions centered in Honiara.