Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands, located on the historic island of Guadalcanal. Unlike most ancient Pacific settlements, Honiara did not exist before World War II; it was built on the site of a U.S. military base after the war to replace the former capital, Tulagi, which had been destroyed. The Battle of Guadalcanal was a turning point in the Pacific Theater, and the waters around the capital are so full of sunken warships and planes that the area is known as 'Ironbottom Sound.' Today, Honiara is a center for Melanesian culture and art. The country consists of nearly 1,000 islands and is one of the few nations that still recognizes the British Monarch as its ceremonial Head of State. Its economy is largely based on the export of timber, fish, and palm oil, though the 'Ironbottom Sound' attracts divers from all over the world.