Introduction
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 has dissipated.
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Area
total: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Irrigated land
160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - international agreements
NA
Geography - note
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
Population
213,679 (July 2004 est.)