New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie; popular names: Kanaky, Le caillou) is a "sui generis collectivity" (in practice an overseas territory of France) made up of a main island (Grande-Terre de la Nouvelle-Calédonie) and several smaller islands. It is located in the region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific. It has a land area of 18,575.5 km² (7,172 sq. miles). The population at the 2004 census was 230,789 inhabitants. It has an Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of .nc. The capital and largest city of the territory is Nouméa. The currency is the CFP franc.
Since 1986 the United Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, a highly political list that is disputed by France, Morocco, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which all have territories on the list. The list is partial and controversial because it does not cover all peoples and territorial entities in the world which are neither sovereign countries nor part of any sovereign country.
New Caledonia will decide whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum sometime after 2014.
Its capital Nouméa is the seat of the regional organisation the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (formerly the South Pacific Commission).
New Caledonia is made up of a main island, the Grande Terre, and several smaller islands, the Belep archipelago to the north of the Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands to the east of the Grande Terre, the Île des Pins to the south of the Grande Terre, and the Chesterfield Islands and Bellona Reefs further to the west.
The Grande Terre is by far the largest of the islands, and the only mountainous island. It has an area of 16,372 km² (6,321 sq. miles), and is enlongated northwest-southeast, 350 km in length and 50 to 70 km wide. A mountain range runs the length of the island, with five peaks over 1500 meters. The highest point is Mont Panié at 1,628 meters elevation (5,341 ft).
New Caledonia contains about one-quarter of the world's nickel resources.
Things you should know when travelling to New Caledonia
There are no serious safety or security concerns. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings and passports are secure. Petty crime is prevalent.
