Travel Information >> New Caledonia
>> Introduction of New Caledonia.
>> New Coledinia s'Geography
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New Coledinia s'Geography
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Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated.
Geography of New Caledonia
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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 S, 165 30 E |
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Area:
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total: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New
Jersey |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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2,254 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; modified by
southeast trade winds; hot, humid |
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Terrain:
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coastal plains with
interior mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m |
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Natural resources:
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nickel, chrome, iron,
cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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160 sq km (1991) |
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones, most frequent
from November to March |
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Environment - current issues:
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erosion caused by mining
exploitation and forest fires |
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Geography - note:
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consists of the main island
of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the
archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated
islands and atolls
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