The larger islands are mountainous and covered in rain forest.
The main islands are New Georgia, Vella Lavella, Kolombangara (a dormant volcano), Ghizo, Vangunu, Rendova and Tetepare.
They are surrounded by coral reefs and include the Marovo Lagoon.
Another famous location is Kennedy Island where the future United States president, John F. Kennedy, spent three days stranded during World War II.
One of the smaller New Georgia islands, Ranongga, was lifted three metres (10 ft.) out of the Pacific Ocean by the 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake, causing an expansion of its shoreline by up to 70 metres all around.