Location Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates 21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references Oceania

Area
total: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 2,254 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain coastal plains with interior mountains

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

Land use
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 160 sq km (1991)

Natural hazards cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues erosion caused by mining exploitation 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

NOTE: The information regarding New Caledonia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of New Caledonia Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about New Caledonia Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.