New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, to the south of Vanuatu, about 1,210 km east of Australia and 20,000 km from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea. Locals refer to Grande Terre as Le Caillou ("the pebble").
New Caledonia has a land area of 18,576 square kilometers (7,172 sq mi), making it the third-largest island in the Pacific, after Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The capital of the territory is Nouméa.
History[edit | edit source]
The earliest traces of human presence in New Caledonia date back to the Lapita period. The islands were later discovered by British explorer James Cook in 1774. It was annexed by France in 1853, and became an overseas territory of France in 1946.
Geography[edit | edit source]
New Caledonia is made up of a main island, the Grande Terre, and several smaller islands, the Belep Islands, the Loyalty Islands, the Isle of Pines, and the Chesterfield Islands in the Coral Sea. The Grande Terre is by far the largest of the islands, and the only mountainous island.
Economy[edit | edit source]
New Caledonia has one of the largest economies in the South Pacific, with a GDP of $9.89 billion in 2011. The economy is largely dependent on mining and metallurgy, particularly of nickel, which is exported to Japan, France, and the United States.
Demographics[edit | edit source]
The majority of the population in New Caledonia is of mixed Melanesian and European descent. The indigenous Melanesian community, known as the Kanak people, make up 44.1% of the population.
Culture[edit | edit source]
The culture of New Caledonia is a blend of Melanesian, Polynesian, Asian, and European cultures. The Kanak culture is the most predominant, and the Kaneka is a form of local music, inspired by reggae and traditional Melanesian music.
See also[edit | edit source]
- List of islands of New Caledonia
- Politics of New Caledonia
- Economy of New Caledonia
- Demographics of New Caledonia
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
