NOUVELLE CALÉDONIE (NEW CALEDONIA, NUOVA CALEDONIA)
NOUMEA, WEST COAST OF GRANDE TERRE
Grande Terre is by far the largest of the islands that formed New
Caledonia, and the only mountainous island. It has an area of 16,372 sq km, and is
enlongated northwest-southeast, 350 km in length and from 50-70 km wide. A mountain range
runs the length of the island, with five peaks over 1500 meters. The highest point is Mont
Panie at 1,628 meters elevation.
NOUMEA
Nouméa, or
Noumea, is the capital city of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south
of Grand Terre.
The first European to set up
a settlement nearby was a British trader, James Paddon, in 1851. The French, established a
settlement there three years later in 1854, moving from the north of the island (where
they had settled in the settlement of Balade). The area served first as a penal colony,
later as a centre for the exploitation of the nickel and gold that was mined nearby.
Noumea, the city, is the most "westernised" in
the Pacific Islands region, and is a complete contrast to the rest of New Caledonia's wide
open spaces, bare jagged hills, and largely indigenous population. Although Noumea
probably has the "best" climate in the South Pacific, with more sunshine days
than any other Pacific Island capital, and some excellent beaches not far from the city
centre, it is not currently a major tourist destination. The cost of living is high, and
there is no cheap air-travel from the Pacific Rim. Noumea's international airport is at
Tontouta, 50 kilometres north from the city, although there is an airport within the city,
Magenta, which services local routes. Noumea is currently one of the most rapidly-growing
cities in the Pacific.
ISS007-E-14867 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Anse Vata, Noumea.
Place des Cocotier, Noumea.
Centre
Culturel Jean-Marie Tjibaou, Noumea.
WEST COAST
La Roche Percée (Bonhomme), Bourail.
Landscape in northern Grande Terre.
Landscape in northern Grande Terre.
Landscape in northern Grande Terre.
La Roche Percée (Bonhomme), Bourail.
Fort Teremba, La Foa.
Roche Percée beach, Bourail.
Baie des Tortues, Bourail.
La Roche Perceé (Bonhomme), Bourail.
The mountains of Grande Terre.
La Roche Perceé (Bonhomme), Bourail.
Poe Beach, Bourail.
Passerelle Marguerite, La Foa. The
Passerelle Marguerite is at the entrance of La Foa, on arriving from Noumea. Passerelle
Marguerite is an historical metal suspension bridge recently restored.
A pasture landscape in northern Grande
Terre.
Grande Terre seen from the Space Shuttle.
Hienghene is on the right, on the left is the coast between Koné and Koumac
STS033-73-62 "Image
courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center":
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
