Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,575 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 18,275 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 300 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
156
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
More Climate Details
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
agricultural land: 10.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 9.8%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 45.9%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 43.7%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
100 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
Environment - current issues:
preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
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
