The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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Malaita is an island in the Solomons located northeast of
Guadalcanal, across
Indispensable Strait. It is separated from Maramasike to the southeast
by a very narrow strait, barely visible in the map above. It is about
100 miles (160 km) long and 20 miles (30 km) wide. Like the other
Solomons, it is mountainous and
volcanic, although it is unique in having an
exposed sedimentary basement complex.
It probably had the largest population
of any of the Solomons in 1942, at over 40,000 persons. However, it was
lacking in natural harbors or
suitable airfield sites.
References
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2010 by Kent G. Budge. Index
