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Solomon Sea

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The Solomon Sea is a large body of water. It sits inside the Pacific Ocean. This sea lies between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Many islands sit around its edges. These include Bougainville and Malaita. It also sits near the Bismarck Sea. The sea is a very important part of Oceania.

This sea is very deep in many places. It sits above a tectonic plate. This is a large piece of the Earth's crust. The sea includes the New Britain Trench. This trench is part of a subduction zone. One spot is called Planet Deep. It is the deepest point in the sea. It reaches 29,988 feet below the sea level. That is 9,140 meters down.

History tells us about the name of this sea. It is named after the Solomon Islands. A Spanish navigator named Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira found them. He led a voyage in 1568. He named the islands "Islas Salomón." He did this because of an old legend. The legend was about the land of Ophir. People thought it was the source of wealth for King Solomon.

Maps show the exact limits of the sea. To the north is New Ireland and Buka Island. The sea touches the coasts of many islands. These are Choiseul, Ysabel, Malaita, and San Cristobal. To the south, it meets the Coral Sea. It also sits near Gado-Gadoa Island. The southern edge goes past the Louisiade Archipelago. It reaches all the way to Rossel Island.

The Solomon Sea has seen many big events. Many major battles were fought there. This happened during World War II. The area is a mix of deep water and many islands. It is a special place in the Pacific Ocean. Scientists study the plates and trenches here. These features make the sea very unique.

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