Shortland Islands

An archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean and Solomon Sea, the Shortland Islands are found in the western part of SOLOMON ISLANDS (a country in Oceania). John Shortland, a Royal Navy officer that served for Great Britain centuries ago, discovered the island group and named it in the late 1700s. Shortland Island is the largest island, and other islands include Asie, Ballalae, Benana, Fauro, Illina, Magusaiai, Masamasa, Nielai, Nusakova, Ovau, Piru, and Rohae. Another country, Papua New Guinea, is very close to the Shortland Islands. Papua New Guinea's Bougainville island, which is much larger than the Shortland Islands, is less than 5 miles northwest of the closest island (Ovau). The Treasury Islands, another archipelago in the western Solomon Islands, are located south of the Shortland Islands.