New Caledonia, French archipelago in South Pacific Ocean.
Description
New Caledonia is a French overseas territory in the southwest Pacific, made up of several islands located roughly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) east of the Australian coast. The main island Grande Terre stretches about 500 kilometers (310 miles) in length and is accompanied by the Loyalty Islands to the east and the Isle of Pines to the south.
History
Melanesian seafarers reached the islands around 3,000 years ago and established communities that continue to this day. France took possession of the territory in the 19th century and initially used it as a penal colony before it became the overseas territory it is now.
Culture
Melanesian culture appears in traditional round huts, wood carvings and communal ceremonies that travelers can witness during visits to Kanak villages. Daily life across the islands combines Polynesian traditions with French influence, visible in markets, restaurants and local celebrations.
Practical
The warmer season runs from November to March with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), while the cooler phase from April to October feels milder. Most visitors arrive through the international airport near the capital Noum a, from where ferries and domestic flights connect the other islands.
Did you know?
The island group holds the second largest coral reef system on the planet, stretching roughly 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) and enclosing a lagoon of approximately 24,000 square kilometers (9,266 square miles). This reef protects the coastlines and provides habitats for countless marine species visible to divers and snorkelers.
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New Caledonia is a South Pacific territory known for its lagoons, islands, and varied landscapes. Visitors find beaches with turquoise water, islands with their own character and history, and nature worth exploring. The region blends European and Melanesian cultures in interesting ways. The...
Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre
147.8 km
New Caledonia Barrier Reef
137.9 km
Cœur de Voh
95.3 km
Amédée lighthouse
165.4 km
Mont Panié
109 km
Nouméa Cathedral
146.5 km
Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery
35.9 km
Vanuatu Cultural Centre
494.8 km
Blue River Provincial Park
150.9 km
Korman Stadium
497.1 kmPindai Caves
55.9 km
Chief Roi Mata’s Domain
494.3 km
Île aux Canards
149.2 km
Mount Humboldt
116.2 kmLapita
74.9 km
Gouaro Deva
35.4 km
Parc zoologique et forestier Michel-Corbasson
146.1 km
Château Hagen
147.4 kmCentre hospitalier spécialisé Albert-Bousquet
142.7 km
Aquarium des lagons
148.5 km
Baie des Tortues
34.1 kmBibliothèque Bernheim
146.5 km
Fort Teremba
53 kmGrotte de Hnanawae
172.3 km
Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur, Port Vila
495.6 kmPort Moselle
146.4 km
New Caledonia Museum
146.7 kmThéâtre de lîle
142.6 km
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