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New Caledonia

New Caledonia is located in the region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific, approximately 1200 kilometres east of Australia and 1500 kilometres northwest of New Zealand. It comprises a main island Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands (consist of four inhabited raised coral atolls - Lifou, Mare, Ouvea and Tiga) and several smaller islands (The Isle of Pines, the Chesterfield Islands, Belep and Bellona Reefs). New Caledonia has the 2nd biggest coral reef in the world (after Australia) stretching 1600 km, and encircling the mainland island is the world's largest lagoon. The capital and largest city of the territory is Noumea and the highest point is Mont Panié at 1628 meters elevation.

The climate of the islands is tropical, and rainfall is highly seasonal, brought by trade winds that usually come from the east. There are two main seasons - a dry season, and a warm and wet season. The dry cooler months are from April to November with daily temperature ranges from 17-27 °C. During the wet season (December to March) the temperature can get as hot as 32 °C.

The biodiversity of New Caledonia is considered to be one of the most important in the world. The island supports high levels of endemism, with many unique plants, insects, reptiles and birds. The island has no native mammals except for bats, and no native amphibians. The Caledonian reef system has great species diversity, is home to endangered dugongs (Dugong dugong), and is an important nesting site for the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The Nautilus is a living-fossil species, once common during the age of the dinosaurs, and survives today in the waters surrounding New Caledonia.

New Caledonia has the world's second biggest coral reef. The diving and snorkelling are spectacular. In summer the water may not be as clear with wet season runoff from the land, but on calm, windless winter's days underwater visibility can reach 50 m.

	A	Abore Reefs
	B	Bay of Prony, Belep, Bellona Reefs
	C	Chesterfield Islands
	D
	E
	F
	G	Grande Terre
	H	Hienghene
	I
	J
	K
	L	L'Amedee Lighthouse, Lifou
	M	Mare, Mont Panié
	N	Noumea
	O	Ouvea
	P
	Q
	R
	S
	T	Tenia, The Isle of Pines, Tiga
	U
	V
	W
	X
	Y
	Z

	New Caledonia is located in the region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific, approximately 1200 kilometres east of Australia and 1500 kilometres northwest of New Zealand. It comprises a main island Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands (consist of four inhabited raised coral atolls - Lifou, Mare, Ouvea and Tiga) and several smaller islands (The Isle of Pines, the Chesterfield Islands, Belep and Bellona Reefs). New Caledonia has the 2nd biggest coral reef in the world (after Australia) stretching 1600 km, and encircling the mainland island is the world's largest lagoon. The capital and largest city of the territory is Noumea and the highest point is Mont Panié at 1628 meters elevation.

	The climate of the islands is tropical, and rainfall is highly seasonal, brought by trade winds that usually come from the east. There are two main seasons - a dry season, and a warm and wet season. The dry cooler months are from April to November with daily temperature ranges from 17-27 °C. During the wet season (December to March) the temperature can get as hot as 32 °C.

	The biodiversity of New Caledonia is considered to be one of the most important in the world. The island supports high levels of endemism, with many unique plants, insects, reptiles and birds. The island has no native mammals except for bats, and no native amphibians. The Caledonian reef system has great species diversity, is home to endangered dugongs (Dugong dugong), and is an important nesting site for the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). The Nautilus is a living-fossil species, once common during the age of the dinosaurs, and survives today in the waters surrounding New Caledonia.

	New Caledonia has the world's second biggest coral reef. The diving and snorkelling are spectacular. In summer the water may not be as clear with wet season runoff from the land, but on calm, windless winter's days underwater visibility can reach 50 m.