|
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: 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
|
