page_title: Reef Islands
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Reef Islands / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the Reef Islands, in Temotu Province of the Solomon Islands.
context_page_description: The Reef Islands are a loose collection of 16 islands in the northwestern part of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. These islands have historically also been known by the names of Swallow Islands and Matema Islands.
context_section_description: The islands lie about 80 km (50 mi) north of Nendo, the largest of the Santa Cruz Islands.  The center of the group is at approximately 10°12'36" S lat., 166°10'12" E. long. The islands are raised some five metres on the east and tilted west. The islands are subject to tidal surges caused by cyclones and volcanic activity from nearby Tinakula volcano. The island soils are shallow yet fertile.
  The islands or atolls of the group are:
  Lomlom
  Nifiloli
  Fenualoa
  Ngalo
  Ngawa
  Ngandeli
  Nibanga Temau
  Nibanga Nendi
  Matema Island
  Ngatendo
  Pigeon Island.
  Numa Miombilou or "Great Reef" is one continuous shoal, extending about 25 km (16 mi) west of Nifiloli. About 10 km (6.2 mi) to the south of this shoal are 4 small coral reefs:
  Malani
  Malim
  Manuwa
  Matumbi.
  Separated from these groups are what are called the "outer islands":
  Nalongo and Nupani at 10°6'36" S. lat., 165°19'12" E. long., located at about 75 km (45 mi.) northwest of the main group
  Nukapu located about 35 km (21 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
  Makalom about 17 km (10 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
  Pileni about 9 km (5.5 mi.) to the northwest of the main group
  Patteson Shoal about 100 km (60 mi.) away from the main group
caption: Map of the Reef Islands. Nukapu and Nupani are not shown, being further north-west of the main group.
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