|
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 |
|
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: 0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (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
|
