- published: 04 Jun 2009
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- author: MyNewCaledonia
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Adélie Land
Adélie Land is a claimed territory in the continent of Antarctica. It stretches from a coastline area along the Great Southern Ocean back to the South Pole. The territory is claimed by France as one of five districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, although not all nations have given it diplomatic recognition.
Adélie Land lies between 136° E (near Pourquoi Pas Point at 66°12′S 136°11′E / 66.2°S 136.183°E / -66.2; 136.183) and 142° E (near Point Alden at 66°48′S 142°02′E / 66.8°S 142.033°E / -66.8; 142.033), with a shore length of 350 kilometres (220 mi) and with its hinterland extending as a sector about 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) toward the South Pole. It borders on the Australian Antarctic Territory both West and East, namely on Clarie Land (part of Wilkes Land) in the West, and George V Land in the East. The total land area, mostly ice covered, is estimated at 432,000 square kilometres (167,000 sq mi).
The coast was discovered in 1840 by French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville (1790–1842) who named it after his wife, Adélie.
wn.com/Adélie_Land -
American Samoa
American Samoa (/əˈmɛrɨkən səˈmoʊ.ə/ (
listen); Samoan: Amerika Sāmoa, IPA: [aˈmɛɾika ˌsaːˈmoa]; also Amelika Sāmoa or Sāmoa Amelika) is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Independent State of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the Manuʻa Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory.
American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna group.
The 2010 census showed a total population of 55,519 people. The total land area is 76.1 square miles (197.1 km2), slightly more than Washington, D.C. American Samoa is the southernmost territory of the United States.
Contact with Europeans began in the early 18th century. Jacob Roggeveen (1659–1729), a Dutchman, was the first known European to sight the Samoan islands in 1722. This visit was followed by the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729–1811), who named them the Navigator Islands in 1768. Contact was limited before the 1830s which is when English missionaries and traders began arriving.
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Australia
Australia (
/əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent as well as the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
wn.com/Australia -
Bassas da India
Coordinates: 21°28′57″S 39°40′19″E / 21.4825°S 39.67194°E / -21.4825; 39.67194
Bassas da India (also called Basse de Judie) is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It is an uninhabited, roughly circular atoll about 10 km (6 mi) in diameter, which corresponds to a total size (including lagoon) of 80 km2 (31 sq mi). It is located in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half-way between Madagascar (which is 385 km (239 mi) to the east) and Mozambique, and 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Europa Island. It rises steeply from the seabed 3000 m below. The reef rim averages around 100 m across and completely encloses a shallow lagoon that has a maximum depth of 15 m. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 123,700 km2 (47,761 sq mi) is contiguous with that of Europa Island.
The atoll consists of ten barren rocky islets, with no vegetation, totalling 0.2 km² (.077 sq mi) in area. Those on the north and east sides are 2.1 to 3 m high, and those on the west and south sides 1.2 m The reef is completely covered by the sea from 3 hours before to 3 hours after high tide. The coastline of the reef measures 35.2 km (22 mi). The region is subject to cyclones. The atoll has long been a maritime hazard and is the site of numerous shipwrecks.
wn.com/Bassas_da_India -
Belep
Coordinates: 19°45′00″S 163°40′00″E / 19.75°S 163.6667°E / -19.75; 163.6667
Belep (sometimes unofficially spelled Bélep) is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
The commune's territory is made up of the Belep Islands (also known as the Belep Archipelago), which lie to the north of New Caledonia's mainland. The two principal islands in the Belep Archipelago are Art Island (aka Aar) and Pott Island (aka Phwoc), and the rest of the archipelago consists of the Northern Daos Islands, the Southern Daos Islands, and several very small islets.
The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Waala, on Art Island, the largest of the Belep Islands.
The Belep Islands were named after a Kanak chief who settled there in ancient times. A Catholic mission was founded in Belep in 1856. The islands were the site of a leper colony between 1892 and 1898.
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Bonin Islands
The Bonin Islands, known in Japan as the Ogasawara Group (小笠原群島, Ogasawara Guntō?) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands, some 1,000 kilometres (540 nmi; 620 mi) directly south of Tokyo, Japan. Administratively, they are part of Ogasawara Municipality (mura) of Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo. The total area of the islands is 73 square kilometres (28 sq mi), with a population of 2,440 (2000 on Chichi-jima, and 440 on Haha-jima).
The Ogasawara Islands were added to UNESCO's list of World Natural Heritage sites in July 2011 as animals and plants there have undergone unique evolutionary processes since these islands have never been connected with a continent, thus often dubbed as the "Galapagos of the Orient".
The only inhabited islands of the group are Chichi-jima (父島), the seat of the municipal government, and Haha-jima (母島) includes what is within Ogasawara Village.
In Japanese, the archipelago is called Ogasawara Group (小笠原群島, Ogasawara Guntō?). By contrast, the term Ogasawara Archipelago (小笠原諸島, Ogasawara shotō?), is a wider, collective term for all islands of Ogasawara Municipality, which also includes the Volcano Islands and a few isolated islands. The common English name for Ogasawara Guntō is Bonin Islands, from bunin, an archaic reading of 無人 (mujin), that means "no people" or "uninhabited." Rich of unique forms of life, the archipelago was nominated as a natural World Heritage Site on June 24, 2011.
wn.com/Bonin_Islands -
Bouloupari
Coordinates: 21°52′02″S 166°02′39″E / 21.8672°S 166.0442°E / -21.8672; 166.0442
Bouloupari (locally spelled Boulouparis, but this spelling is not recognized by French authorities) is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
wn.com/Bouloupari -
Bourail
Coordinates: 21°34′12″S 165°28′49″E / 21.5701°S 165.4804°E / -21.5701; 165.4804
Bourail is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
This is a rural town of Grande Terre (Bush). The municipality is located in both the mountains and along the sea beaches are tourist but remain wild, they are a place popular with surfers. The town lies at the confluence of several rivers, is the crossroads of many valleys Boghen, Bacouya, Nessadiou, Nera, Tene, La Pouéo ...
The territory of the municipality has various natural landscapes:
With a density of 6 inhabitants / km ², Bourail offers an ideal balance between rural and urban, between tradition and modernity.
Bourail means "lizard's tail."
This comes from Bu Rhaï in the language ajie, Bu meaning "tail" and Rhaï "the lizard".
The slogan of Bourail used for tourism is "Bourail, Earth emotions."
4900 inhabitants (2006)
This is a young city with half of the population is under 30 years.
Most people Bourail will continue their studies in Noumea. To avoid this decline in population, the town created more and more schools. There are about 2000 children attending schools up to high school, there is no university.
wn.com/Bourail -
Brunei
Brunei
i/bruːˈnaɪ/, officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: نڬارا بروني دارالسلام), is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and it is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang. It is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo, with the remainder of the island belonging to Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei's population was 401,890 in July 2011.
The official national history claims that Brunei can trace its beginnings to the 7th century, when it was a subject state of the Srivijayan empire under the name P'o-li. It later became a vassal state of Majapahit empire before converting to Islam in the 15th century. At the peak of its empire, the sultanate had control that extended over the coastal regions of modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, the Sulu archipelago, and the islands off the northwest tip of Borneo. The thalassocracy was visited by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and fought the Castille War in 1578 against Spain. Its empire began to decline with the forced ceding of Sarawak to James Brooke and the ceding of Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. After the loss of Limbang, Brunei finally became a British protectorate in 1888, receiving a resident in 1906. In the years after the Japanese wartime occupation during World War II, it formalised a constitution and fought an armed rebellion. Brunei regained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984. Economic growth during the 1970s and 1990s, averaging 56% from 1999 to 2008, has transformed Brunei Darussalam into a newly industrialised country.
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Burma
Burma
i/ˈbɜrmə/ BUR-mə, also known as Myanmar i/ˌmjɑːnˈmɑr/ MYAHN--MAR, is a country in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. One-third of Burma's total perimeter of 1,930 kilometres (1,200 mi) forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. At 676,578 km2 (261,227 sq mi), it is the 40th largest country in the world and the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Burma is also the 24th most populous country in the world with over 60.28 million people.
Burma is home to some of the early civilizations of Southeast Asia including the Pyu and the Mon. In the 9th century, the Burmans of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Empire in the 1050s, the Burmese language and culture slowly became dominant in the country. During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually became the predominant religion of the country. The Pagan Empire fell due to the Mongol invasions (1277–1301), and several warring states emerged. In the second half of the 16th century, the country was reunified by the Taungoo Dynasty which for a brief period was the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia. The early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Burma as well as Manipur and Assam. The country was colonized by Britain following three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–1885).
wn.com/Burma -
Cambodia
Cambodia (i/kæmˈboʊdiə/;Khmer: ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា, Kampuchea, IPA: [kɑmˈpuˈciə]), officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a total landmass of 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi), it is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
With a population of over 14.8 million, Cambodia is the 68th most populous country in the world. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced by around 95% of the Cambodian population. The country minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 various hill tribes. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh; the political, economic, and cultural center of Cambodia. The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council, as head of state. The head of government is Hun Sen, who is currently the longest serving leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years.
wn.com/Cambodia -
Canala
Coordinates: 21°31′13″S 165°57′11″E / 21.5203°S 165.9531°E / -21.5203; 165.9531
Canala is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
On 25 April 1995 about 47% of the territory of Canala was detached and became the commune of Kouaoua.
wn.com/Canala -
Caroline Islands
Coordinates: 06°03′N 147°05′E / 6.05°N 147.083°E / 6.05; 147.083
The Caroline Islands (Islas Carolinas in Spanish) are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end. Historically, this area was also called Nuevas Filipinas or New Philippines as they were part of the Spanish East Indies and governed from Manila in the Philippines.
The group consists of about 500 small coral islands, east of the Philippines, in the Pacific Ocean; the distance from Manila to Yap, one of the larger islands of the group, is 1,200 miles (1,900 km).
Most of the islands comprise low, flat coral atolls, but some rise high above sea level.
The native inhabitants speak a variety of Micronesian languages including Yapese, Pohnpeian, Chuukese, Carolinian and Kosraean, as well as the Western Malayo-Polynesian language Palauan. Other significant populations include Filipinos and Japanese.
wn.com/Caroline_Islands -
Chesterfield Islands
Chesterfield Islands (îles Chesterfield in French) is a French archipelago of New Caledonia located in the Coral Sea, 550 km northwest of Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. Chesterfield Islands are a 120 km long and 70 km broad structure composed with 11 islets and many reefs. The land area of the islands is less than 10 km² [1].
Bellona Reef, 60 km southeast of Chesterfied is geologically separarated from the Chesterfield archipelago but commonly included.
The Chesterfield Reefs or Islands, and sometimes Group, are the most important of a number of uninhabited coral sand cays, some still awash and liable to shift with the wind and others stabilized by the growth of grass, creepers and low trees, lying on a series of reefs comprising the Chesterfield Reefs and extending from 19˚ to 22˚S between 158–160˚E in the southern Coral Sea halfway between Australia and New Caledonia. The Chesterfield Reefs are now part of the territory of New Caledonia while the islands farther west are now part of the Australian Coral Sea Islands Territory.
wn.com/Chesterfield_Islands -
Chile
Chile (i/ˈtʃɪliː/ or /ˈtʃɪleɪ/), officially the Republic of Chile (Spanish: República de Chile [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈtʃile] ( listen)), is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Along with Ecuador, it is one of two countries in South America that do not border Brazil. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas and Easter Island. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
Chile's distinctive shape—4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) long and on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide—makes it the longest country in the world, north to south, with the fifth lengthiest coastline at over 78 thousand kilometers. The diverse climate of Chile ranges from the world's driest desert in the north—the Atacama—through a Mediterranean climate in the centre, humid subtropical in Easter Island, to an Oceanic climate, including alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south. The northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands, and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.
wn.com/Chile -
Christmas Island
Coordinates: 10°29′S 105°38′E / 10.483°S 105.633°E / -10.483; 105.633 The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, 360 km (220 mi) south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, 975 km (606 mi) ENE of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and 2,748 km (1,708 mi) west of the Territorian city of Darwin.
Christmas Island has a population of 1,403 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite.
The island’s geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of significant interest to scientists and naturalists. 63% of its 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi) is an Australian national park. There exist large areas of primary monsoonal forest.
Phosphate, deposited originally as dead marine organisms (not guano as often thought), has been mined on the island for many years.
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Comoros
The Comorosi/ˈkɒməroʊz/ (Arabic: جزر القمر, Ǧuzur al-Qumur/Qamar), officially the Union of the Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori, French: Union des Comores, Arabic: الاتحاد القمري al-Ittiḥād al-Qumurī/Qamarī) is a sovereign, archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. Other countries near to the Comoros are Tanzania to the northwest and the Seychelles to the northeast. The capital is Moroni on Grande Comore.
At 1,862 km2 (719 sq mi) (excluding Mayotte), the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. The population (excluding Mayotte) is estimated at 798,000. Its name derives from the Arabic word قمر qamar ("moon"). The archipelago is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. It is the southernmost member state of the Arab League. Though in the contested island of Mayotte the sole official language is French, the "Union of the Comoros" has three official languages: Comorian, Arabic, and French.
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Cook Islands
The Cook Islands (i/ˈkʊk ˈaɪləndz/; Cook Islands Māori: Kūki 'Āirani) is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi), but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean.
The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 in 2006), where there is an international airport. There is a much larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. In the 2006 census, 58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Island Māori descent.
With about 100,000 visitors travelling to the islands in the 2010-11 financial year,tourism is the country's main industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, and marine and fruit exports.
Defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens.
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Coral Sea
Coordinates: 18°S 158°E / 18°S 158°E / -18; 158
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides) and by New Caledonia, and in the northeast approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands. In the northwest, it reaches to the south coast of eastern New Guinea, thereby including the Gulf of Papua. It merges with the Tasman Sea in the south, with the Solomon Sea in the north and with the Pacific Ocean in the east. On the west, it is bounded by the mainland coast of Queensland, and in the northwest, it connects with the Arafura Sea through the Torres Strait.
The sea is characterised by its warm and stable climate, with frequent rains and tropical cyclones. It contains numerous islands and reefs, as well as the world's largest reef system, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. All previous oil exploration projects were terminated at the GBR in 1975, and fishing is restricted in many areas. The reefs and islands of the Coral Sea are particularly rich in birds and aquatic life and are a popular tourist destination, both nationally and internationally.
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Coral Sea Islands
The Coral Sea Islands Territory includes a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia. The only inhabited island is Willis Island. The territory covers 780,000 km2, extending east and south from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, and including Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group, and fifteen other reef/island groups.
The Coral Sea Islands were first charted in 1803; in the 1870 and 1880s the islands were mined for guano but the absence of a permanent supply of fresh water prevented long-term habitation. The territory was created in 1969 by the Coral Sea Islands Act (before, the area was considered part of Queensland) and extended in 1997 to include Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs nearly 800 km further South, already in the Tasman Sea.
The two latter reefs are much closer to Lord Howe Island, New South Wales (about 150 km) than to the southernmost island of the rest of the territory, Cato Island. The islands, cays and reefs of the Great Barrier Reef are not part of the territory, belonging to Queensland instead. The outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef is the boundary between Queensland and the Coral Sea Islands Territory.
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Crozet Islands
The Crozet Islands (French: Îles Crozet; or, officially, Archipel Crozet) are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean. They form one of the five administrative districts of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Not including minor islets or rock reefs etc., the Crozet group consists of six islands. From east to west:
(1)group of two major islands (Grand Île - Big Island, and Petite Île - Little Island) and about 20 pinnacle rocks.
The Eastern and Western Groups are 94.5 kilometres (58.7 mi) apart (from Île des Pingouins to Île de la Possession)
The Crozet Islands are uninhabited, except for the research station Alfred Faure (Port Alfred) on the East side of Île de la Possession, which has been continuously manned since 1963. Previous scientific stations included La Grande Manchotière and La Petite Manchotière.
Analysis of magnetic anomalies on the sea floor indicates that the Crozet Plateau formed some 50 million years ago. The islands are of volcanic origin, and basalt. Rock samples indicate volcanic origins going back to at least 8.8 million years.
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Diahot River
Diahot is the longest river of New Caledonia, flowing for some 60 miles (100 kilometres). It has a catchment area of 620 square kilometres and opens north-westward into the Baie d'Harcourt, flowing towards the northern point of the island along the western escarpment of the Mont Panié. The village of Ouégoa lies on the river, not far from the mouth. The Diahot flows into the sea between the villages of Bwalayet and Pam, just south of Ile de Pam. It carries a substantial load of fine-grained sediment, which has increased over time due to felling and burning of forest and woodland vegetation and the introduction of grazing, creating soil erosion in the river system.
Coordinates: 20°19′28″S 164°19′40″E / 20.32444°S 164.32778°E / -20.32444; 164.32778
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Dumbéa
Coordinates: 22°09′S 166°27′E / 22.15°S 166.45°E / -22.15; 166.45
Dumbéa (French pronunciation: [dœ̃bea], Ndrumbea: [ɳɖùmbea]) is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië; Indonesian: Hindia-Belanda) was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Dutch government in 1800.
During the 19th century, Dutch possessions and hegemony were expanded, reaching their greatest territorial extent in the early 20th century. This colony which later formed modern-day Indonesia was one of the most valuable European colonies under Dutch Empire's rule, and contributed to Dutch global prominence in spice and cash crop trade in 19th to early 20th century. The colonial social order was based on rigid racial and social structures with a Dutch elite living separate but linked to their native subjects.
Japan's World War II occupation dismantled much of the Dutch colonial state and economy. Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Indonesian nationalists declared independence which they fought to secure during the subsequent Indonesian National Revolution. The Netherlands formally recognized Indonesian sovereignty at the 1949 Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference with the exception of the Netherlands New Guinea (Western New Guinea), which was ceded to Indonesia in 1963 under the provisions of the New York Agreement.
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East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (tiˈmɔr ˈlɛʃteɪ), commonly known as East Timori/ˌiːst ˈtiːmɔr/ (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e, Portuguese: Timor-Leste), is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor. The small country of 15,410 km² (5,400 sq mi) is located about 640 km (400 mi) northwest of Darwin, Australia.
East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal's decolonization of the country. In late 1975, East Timor declared its independence, but later that year was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002. East Timor is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines.
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Easter Island
Coordinates: 27°7′S 109°22′W / 27.117°S 109.367°W / -27.117; -109.367
Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui, Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people. It is a World Heritage Site (as determined by UNESCO) with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park. In recent times the island has served as a warning of the cultural and environmental dangers of overexploitation. Ethnographers and archaeologists also blame diseases carried by European colonizers and slave raiding of the 1860s for devastating the local peoples.
Easter Island is claimed to be the most remote inhabited island in the world.
The name "Easter Island" was given by the island's first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who encountered it on Easter Sunday 1722, while searching for Davis or David's island. Roggeveen named it Paasch-Eyland (18th century Dutch for "Easter Island"). The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, also means "Easter Island".
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Europa Island
Europa Island (French: Île Europa) is a 28 km² low-lying tropical island in the Mozambique Channel, about a third of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique. The island has been a possession of France since 1897, but is also claimed by Madagascar. The island, garrisoned by a detachment from Réunion, has a weather station and is visited by scientists. Though uninhabited, it is part of the "Scattered Islands" of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands administrative region.
Europa has 22.2 kilometres of coastline, but no ports or harbours. Anchorage is possible offshore. Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), contiguous with that of Bassas da India, is 127,300 km². The airstrip is 1,500 metres long. It is surrounded by coral beaches and a fringing reef and encloses a mangrove lagoon of around 9 km². The island is a nature reserve. Its vegetation consists of dry forest, scrub, euphorbia and the remains of a sisal plantation. It is one of the world's largest nesting sites for green sea turtles. It is also home to goats introduced by settlers in the late 18th century.
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Farino
Coordinates: 21°40′06″S 165°45′55″E / 21.6682°S 165.7653°E / -21.6682; 165.7653
Farino is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Fiji
Fijii/ˈfiːdʒiː/ (Fijian: Viti; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी), officially the Republic of Fiji (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी गणराज्यFijī Gaṇarājya), is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, France's New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas, France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north.
The majority of Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity started around 150 million years ago. Today, some geothermal activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Fiji has been inhabited since the second millennium BC. The country comprises an archipelago of more than 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of circa 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 850,000. The former contains Suva, the capital and largest city. Most of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centres. Viti Levu's interior is sparsely inhabited due to its terrain.
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France
France (Englishi/ˈfræns/ FRANSS or /ˈfrɑːns/ FRAHNSS; French: [fʁɑ̃s] ( listen)), officially the French Republic (French: République française [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is the largest western European country and it possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world, covering 11,035,000 km2 (4,260,000 sq mi), just behind that of the United States (11,351,000 km2 / 4,383,000 sq mi).
Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe and around the world. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America and Southeast Asia; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest colonial empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
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French Guiana
French Guiana (French: Guyane française; French pronunciation: [ɡɥijan fʁɑ̃sɛz]; officially just Guyane) is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations: Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west. Its 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi) have a very low population density of less than 3 /km2 (7.8 /sq mi), with almost half of its 229,000 people in 2009 living in the urban area of Cayenne, its capital.
The addition of the adjective "French" in English comes from colonial times when five such colonies existed (The Guianas), namely from west to east: Spanish Guiana (now Guayana Region in Venezuela), British Guiana (now Guyana), Dutch Guiana (now Suriname), French Guiana, and Portuguese Guiana (now Amapá, a state in far northern Brazil). French Guiana and the two larger countries to the north and west, Guyana and Suriname, are still often collectively referred to as the Guianas and comprise one large shield landmass.
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French Polynesia
French Polynesia (i/ˈfrɛntʃ pɒlɨˈniːʒə/; French: Polynésie française, pronounced: [pɔlinezi fʁɑ̃sɛz]; Tahitian: Pōrīnetia Farāni) is an overseas country of the French Republic (pays d'outre-mer). It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory (Papeetē). Although not an integral part of its territory, Clipperton Island was administered from French Polynesia until 2007.
The island groups that make up French Polynesia were not officially united until the establishment of the French protectorate in 1889. The first of these islands to be settled by indigenous Polynesians were the Marquesas Islands in AD 300 and the Society Islands in AD 800. The Polynesians were organized in loose chieftainships.
European communication began in 1521 when the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sighted Pukapuka in the Tuāmotu-Gambier Archipelago. Dutchman Jakob Roggeveen came across Bora Bora in the Society Islands in 1722, and the British explorer Samuel Wallis visited Tahiti in 1767. The French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville visited Tahiti in 1768, while the British explorer James Cook visited in 1769. Christian missions began with Spanish priests who stayed in Tahiti for a year from 1774; Protestants from the London Missionary Society settled permanently in Polynesia in 1797.
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Glorioso Islands
The Glorieuses or Glorioso Islands (French: Îles Glorieuses or officially also Archipel des Glorieuses) are a group of French islands and rocks totalling 5 square kilometres (1,200 acres), at 11°33′S 47°20′E / 11.55°S 47.333°E / -11.55; 47.333Coordinates: 11°33′S 47°20′E / 11.55°S 47.333°E / -11.55; 47.333, in the northern Mozambique channel, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northwest of Madagascar. The Glorieuses have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 48,350 square kilometres (18,670 sq mi). There are anchorages offshore, and Grande Glorieuse has a 1,300-metre (4,300 ft) long airstrip.
The archipelago consists of two islands, Grande Glorieuse (11°34′46.549″S 47°17′54.146″E / 11.57959694°S 47.29837389°E / -11.57959694; 47.29837389 (Grande Glorieuse)) and Île du Lys, as well as eight rock islets (Roches Vertes): Wreck Rock (11°30′45.194″S 47°22′54.178″E / 11.51255389°S 47.38171611°E / -11.51255389; 47.38171611 (Wreck Rock)), South Rock (11°35′43.760″S 47°18′6.6600″E / 11.5954889°S 47.30185°E / -11.5954889; 47.30185 (South Rock)) and Verte Rocks (11°34′15.636″S 47°19′54.188″E / 11.57101°S 47.33171889°E / -11.57101; 47.33171889 (Verte Rocks)) and three others that are unnamed. They form part of a coral reef and lagoon. Grande Glorieuses is roughly circular and measures about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) across. It is thickly vegetated, mainly by the remains of a coconut plantation and casuarina trees.
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Guadeloupe
Coordinates: 16°15′N 61°35′W / 16.25°N 61.583°W / 16.25; -61.583
Guadeloupe ( /ɡwɑːdəˈluːp/; French pronunciation: [ɡwadəlup]; Antillean Creole: Gwadloup) is a Caribbean island located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629 sq. mi) and a population of 400,000. It is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. Its departmental code is "971". As the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also an integral part of the Republic. Besides Guadeloupe island, the smaller islands of Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the Îles des Saintes are included in Guadeloupe.
As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union and the Eurozone; hence, as for all Eurozone countries, its currency is the euro. However, Guadeloupe is not part of the Schengen Area. The prefecture and the capital of Guadeloupe is Basse-Terre. Christopher Columbus named the island Santa María de Guadalupe in 1493 after the Virgin Mary, venerated in the Spanish town of Guadalupe, in Extremadura.
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Guam
Guam (i/ˈɡwɑːm/; Chamorro: Guåhån) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of sixteen Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations. The island's capital is Hagåtña (formerly Agaña). Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands.
The Chamorros, Guam's indigenous people, first populated the island approximately 4,000 years ago. The island has a long history of European colonialism. Discovered by Ferdinand Magellan during a Spanish expedition on March 6, 1521, the first colony was established in 1668 by Spain with the arrival of settlers including Padre San Vitores, a Catholic missionary. For more than two centuries Guam was an important stopover for the Spanish Manila Galleons that crossed the Pacific annually. The island was controlled by Spain until 1898, when it was surrendered to the United States during the Spanish-American War and later formally ceded as part of the Treaty of Paris.
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Hainan
Coordinates: 19°12′N 109°42′E / 19.2°N 109.7°E / 19.2; 109.7
Hainan (Chinese: 海南; Mandarin Pinyin: Hǎinán (help·info); Jyutping: Hoi² Naam4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hái-lâm; literally "South of the Sea [Qiongzhou Strait]") is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The name "Hainan" also refers to Hainan Island (海南岛, Hǎinán Dǎo), the main island of the province. Hainan is located in the South China Sea, separated from Guangdong's Leizhou Peninsula to the north by the shallow and narrow Qiongzhou Strait.
For centuries Hainan Island was part of Guangdong Province, but in 1988 this resource-rich tropical island became part of the newly created Hainan Province (海南省, Hǎinán Shěng).
The province has an area of 33,920 square kilometres (13,100 sq mi) and is China's southernmost province. Although it comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, 32,900 square kilometres (12,700 sq mi) (97%) of its land mass is Hainan Island, from which the province takes its name. The PRC government claims territories of the province extend to the southern Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, and other disputed marine territory.
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Hawaii
Coordinates: 21°18′41″N 157°47′47″W / 21.31139°N 157.79639°W / 21.31139; -157.79639
Hawaii (i/həˈwaɪ.iː/ or /həˈwaɪʔiː/; Hawaiian: Hawaiʻi Hawaiian pronunciation: [hɐˈvɐiʔi]) is the most recent of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean.
Hawaii’s diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches and oceanic surrounding, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.
The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast) Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and the island of Hawaiʻi. The last is by far the largest and is often called "The Big Island" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
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Hienghène
Coordinates: 20°41′39″S 164°55′20″E / 20.6941°S 164.9222°E / -20.6941; 164.9222
Hienghène is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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History of Australia
The History of Australia refers to the history of the area and people of the Commonwealth of Australia and its preceding Indigenous and colonial societies. Aboriginal Australians are believed to have first arrived on the Australian mainland by boat from the Indonesian archipelago between 40,000 to 60,000 years ago. They established among the longest surviving artistic, musical and spiritual traditions known on Earth.
The first uncontested landing in Australia by Europeans was by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. Other European explorers followed intermittently until, in 1770, James Cook charted the East Coast of Australia for Britain and returned with accounts favouring colonisation at Botany Bay (now in Sydney), New South Wales. A First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony. Other colonies were established by Britain around the continent and European explorers went deep into the interior throughout the 19th century. Introduced disease and conflict with the British colonists greatly weakened Indigenous Australians throughout the period.
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Houaïlou
Coordinates: 21°17′27″S 165°37′18″E / 21.2909°S 165.6217°E / -21.2909; 165.6217
Houaïlou is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Indonesia
Indonesia (i/ˌɪndəˈniːʒə/ IN-də-NEE-zhə or /ˌɪndoʊˈniːziə/ IN-doh-NEE-zee-ə), officially the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia Indonesian pronunciation: [rɛpʊblɪk ɪndɔnɛsɪa]), is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 17,508 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies. The Indonesian economy is the world's 17th largest economy by nominal GDP.
The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the 7th century, when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and European powers brought Christianity and fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.
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Japan
Japani/dʒəˈpæn/ (Japanese: 日本 Nihon or Nippon; formally 日本国 
Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku, literally the State of Japan) is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".
Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area. Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
Archaeological research indicates that people lived in Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st century AD. Influence from other nations followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan's history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and World War I allowed Japan to expand its empire during a period of increasing militarism. The Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937 expanded into part of World War II in 1941, which came to an end in 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since adopting its revised constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament called the Diet.
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Juan de Nova Island
Juan de Nova Island (French: locally Île Juan de Nova or officially Île Juan da Nova), also known as Saint-Christophe, is a 4.4 square kilometres (1.7 sq mi) low, flat, tropical island in the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique. Anchorage is possible off the northeast of the island which also has a 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) airstrip. Administratively, the island is one of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean, a district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 61,050 square kilometres (23,570 sq mi), it is claimed by Madagascar. The island is garrisoned by French troops from Réunion and has a weather station.
Juan de Nova, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) long and 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) at its widest, is a nature reserve surrounded by reefs which enclose an area (not a true lagoon like in an atoll) of roughly 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi). Forests, mainly of Casuarinaceae, cover about half the island. Sea turtles nest on the beaches around the island.
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Kagu
The Kagu or Cagou (Rhynochetos jubatus) is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rhynochetos and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record. Measuring 55 cm (22 in) in length, it has pale grey plumage and bright red legs. Its 'nasal corns' are a unique feature not shared with any other bird. Almost flightless, it a spends its time on or near the ground, where it hunts its invertebrate prey, and builds a nest of sticks on the forest floor. Both parents share incubation of single egg, as well as rearing the chick. It has proved vulnerable to introduced predators, and is threatened with extinction.
The Kagu's affinities are not too well resolved. It was long one of the most enigmatic birds and in more recent times usually affiliated with the Gruiformes. It was initially classed as a member of the clade Ardeidae because of the presence of powder down, similarities in plumage coloration and internal anatomy, the coloration of the chicks and eggs, an the change in the coloration as it grows.
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Kava
Kava or kava-kava (Piper methysticum) (Piper: Latin for 'pepper', methysticum: (Latinized) Greek for 'intoxicating') is a crop of the western Pacific.
The name kava(-kava) is from Tongan and Marquesan; other names for kava include ʻawa (Hawaiʻi), ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei).
The roots of the plant are used to produce a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties. Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia, including Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia. Kava is sedating and is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. Its active ingredients are called kavalactones. A Cochrane Collaboration systematic review of its evidence concluded it was likely to be more effective than placebo at treating short-term social anxiety. Safety concerns have been raised over liver toxicity, largely due to the use of stems and leaves by supplement makers, as opposed to solely the root of the plant as dictated by traditional uses. However, based on a retrospective study of retained P. methysticum drug materials in Germany, the alkaloid pipermethystine, occurring to about 0.2% in the leaves, is an unlikely cause for the observed hepatotoxicity. Whether kava hepatotoxicity may be due to contamination with aflatoxins or other mould hepatotoxins, requires further studies. Heavy use of kava with comorbid alcohol consumption or an existing liver condition appears to lead to malnutrition, weight loss, liver damage (causing elevated serum γ -glutamyl transferase and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels), renal dysfunction, rashes, pulmonary hypertension, macrocytosis of red cells, lymphocytopenia, and decreasing platelet volumes.
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Kerguelen Islands
The Kerguelen Islands ( /ˈkɜrɡəlɛn/ or /ˈkɜrɡələn/; in French commonly Îles Kerguelen or Archipel de Kerguelen but officially Archipel des Kerguelen or Archipel Kerguelen, pronounced: [kɛʁɡeˈlɛn]), also known as the Desolation Islands, are a group of islands in the southern Indian Ocean constituting one of the two emerged parts of the mostly submerged Kerguelen Plateau. The islands, along with Adélie Land, the Crozet Islands and the Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and are administered as a separate district. There are no indigenous inhabitants, but France maintains a permanent presence of 50 to 100 scientists, engineers and researchers.
The main island, Grande Terre, is 6,675 km2 (2,577 sq mi) in area and is surrounded by a further 300 smaller islands and islets, forming an archipelago of 7,215 km2 (2,786 sq mi). The climate is raw and chilly with frequent high winds throughout the year. While the surrounding seas are generally rough, they remain ice-free year-round. There is no airport on the islands, so all travel and transport from the outside world is conducted by ship.
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Kiribati
Kiribati ([kɪribas] KIRR-i-bas or ˌkɪrəˈbɑdi;Gilbertese: [ˈkiɾibas]), officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population is just over 100,000 (2011), and the island nation is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, (1,351,000 square miles) straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point.
The name Kiribati is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts", derived from the main island chain, the Gilbert Islands. The capital of South Tarawa consists of a number of islets connected through a series of causeways, located in the Tarawa archipelago. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999.
Kiribati was named in French by captains Krusenstern and Louis Isidore Duperrey "îles Gilbert", Gilbert Islands, after the British Captain Thomas Gilbert, who sighted the islands in 1788. The current name, Kiribati, is an adaptation of "Gilberts", from the former European name the "Gilbert Islands". Although the indigenous Gilbertese language name for the Gilbert Islands proper is Tungaru, the new state chose the name "Kiribati", the Gilbertese rendition of "Gilberts", as an equivalent of the former colony to acknowledge the inclusion of islands which were never considered part of the Gilberts chain.
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Kouaoua
Coordinates: 21°23′53″S 165°49′05″E / 21.398°S 165.818°E / -21.398; 165.818
Kouaoua is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Nickel mining is operated in Kouaoua.
The commune of Kouaoua was created on 25 April 1995 by detaching its territory from the commune of Canala.
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Koumac
Coordinates: 20°33′44″S 164°15′43″E / 20.5621°S 164.2619°E / -20.5621; 164.2619
Koumac is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
On 5 January 1977 about 46% of the territory of Koumac was detached and became the commune of Poum. Residents are famous for their technological contribution to the wmirchi.com social network, primarily of India.
Athlete Arnjolt Beer was born here.
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La Foa
Coordinates: 21°42′41″S 165°49′06″E / 21.7115°S 165.8182°E / -21.7115; 165.8182
La Foa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
Although the provincial seat of the South Province is in Nouméa, La Foa was made the chief town of the administrative subdivision of the South in order to counterbalance the overwhelming weight of Nouméa in New Caledonia. Both entities share an almost identical territory, but their status and role is quite different: the South Province, with its provincial assembly in Nouméa, is a full political division, whereas the administrative subdivision of the South is only an administrative division of the French central state, akin to an arrondissement of Metropolitan France, with a Deputy Commissioner of the Republic (commissaire délégué de la République), akin to a subprefect of metropolitan France, in residence in La Foa.
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Lau Islands
The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited. The Lau Group covers a land area of 188 square miles (487 square km), and had a population of 10,683 at the most recent census in 2007. While most of the northern Lau Group are high islands of volcanic origin, those of the south are mostly carbonate low islands.
Administratively the islands belong to Lau Province.
The British explorer James Cook reached Vatoa in 1774. By the time of the discovery of the Ono Group in 1820, the Lau archipelago was the most mapped area of Fiji.
Political unity came late to the Lau Islands. Historically, they comprised three territories: the Northern Lau Islands, the Southern Lau Islands, and the Moala Islands. Around 1855, the renegade Tongan prince Enele Ma'afu conquered the region and established a unified administration. Calling himself the Tui Lau, or King of Lau, he promulgated a constitution and encouraged the establishment of Christian missions. The first missionaries had arrived at Lakeba in 1830, but had been expelled. The Tui Nayau, who had been the nominal overlord of the Lau Islands, became subject to Ma'afu.
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Lifou
Coordinates: 20°58′00″S 167°14′00″E / 20.9667°S 167.2333°E / -20.9667; 167.2333
Lifou [lifu] is a commune (an overseas territory of France) in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.
Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two. All these islands lie among the Loyalty Islands, 190 km (120 mi) to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. At 1,146 km2 (442 sq mi), Lifou Island is the largest atoll in the world.
The town of Wé, on Lifou Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Lifou as well as the provincial seat of the Islands Province.
Like Maré and Ouvéa, the other Loyalty islands, Lifou is made of fossil coral. Lifou is a makatea (raised coral atoll), an ancient lagoon slowly raised by geological processes. Due to the uplift, Lifou consists of a wide, flat center surrounded by cliffs which correspond to the ancient recifal cliffs. The coral rock exhibits high porosity and hence, neither Lifou nor any of the other Loyalty Islands have surface water. It does, however, have a large freshwater reservoir which can be accessed through caves. These caves were used in the past when searching for fresh water, and are very important to the island's mythology.
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Lifou Airport
Coordinates: 20°46′30″S 167°14′25″E / 20.775°S 167.24028°E / -20.775; 167.24028
Lifou Airport is an airport in Lifou, New Caledonia (IATA: LIF, ICAO: NWWL).
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Luganville
Luganville, called "Santo" by people from Vanuatu's northern islands who use Luganville as their big city, and called "Kanal" (from the French Segond Canal) by rural residents of the large island of Espiritu Santo, is the second largest city in Vanuatu. The population is 13,167.
Luganville is one of Vanuatu's busiest ports, especially as a transshipment point for copra and cacao. Segond Channel, the body of water off the coast of Luganville behind Aore Island, provides the town with an excellent sheltered harbour.
The main street that runs through Luganville contains most of the commercial businesses and is very wide as a result of the American base commander insisting that 4 trucks could be driven along the road. Small side streets and outlying roads cater for the residential zones. The main street contains the port at one end, and the markets and municipal council building at the other end. In the centre there are two main types of stores; tourist boutiques, and all-in-one stores, best described as a cross between a supermarket and a hardware store.
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Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara [republiˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥], French: République de Madagascar) is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing plants and animals on the island to evolve in complete isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot in which over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by human settlement.
Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred from 350 BCE and 550 CE by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo who were later joined around 1000 CE by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.
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Malaysia
Malaysia (i/məˈleɪʒə/ mə-LAY-zhə or i/məˈleɪsiə/ mə-LAY-see-ə) is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. In 2010 the population exceeded 27.5 million, with over 20 million living on the Peninsula.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with si being added to give the new country the name Malaysia. However, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.
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Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ), is an island country located in the northern Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia, with the population of around 68,000 people spread out over 34 low-lying coral atolls, comprising 1,156 individual islands and islets. The islands share maritime boundaries with the Federated States of Micronesia to the west, Wake Island to the north,Kiribati to the south-east, and Nauru to the south. The most populous atoll is Majuro, which also acts as the capital.
Micronesian colonists gradually settled the Marshall Islands during the 2nd millennium BC, with inter-island navigation made possible using traditional stick charts. Islands in the archipelago were first explored by Europeans in the 1520s, with Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar sighting an atoll in August 1526. Other expeditions by Spanish and English ships followed, with the islands' current name stemming from British explorer John Marshall. Recognised as part of the Spanish East Indies in 1874, the islands were sold to Germany in 1884, and became of German New Guinea in 1885. The Empire of Japan occupied the Marshall Islands in World War I, which were later joined with other former German territories in 1919 by the League of Nations to form the South Pacific Mandate. In World War II, the islands were conquered by the United States in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. Along with other Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands were then consolidated into the United-States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Self-government was achieved in 1979, and full sovereignty in 1986, under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
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Martinique
Martinique (French pronunciation: [maʁtinik]) is an island in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of 1,128 km2 (436 sq mi). Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is one of the twenty-seven regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. The first European to encounter the island was Christopher Columbus in 1502.
As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the Euro. Its official language is French, although many of its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais).
The island was occupied first by Arawaks, then by Caribs. It was charted by Columbus in 1493, but Spain had little interest in the territory. It was claimed by France in 1635 and, despite several interludes of British occupation, once during the Seven Years' War and twice during the Napoleonic Wars, has remained a French possession. In 1946, the French National Assembly voted unanimously to transform the colony into an overseas department.
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Maré
Coordinates: 21°31′00″S 167°59′00″E / 21.5167°S 167.9833°E / -21.5167; 167.9833
Maré is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
The commune of Maré is made up of Maré Island and the much smaller Dudun Island, which lie among the Loyalty Islands, to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. The settlement of Tadin, on Maré Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Maré.
Media related to Maré at Wikimedia Commons
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Mauritius
Coordinates: 20°12′S 57°30′E / 20.2°S 57.5°E / -20.2; 57.5
Mauritiusi/məˈrɪʃəs/ (Mauritian Creole: Moris; French: Maurice, pronounced: [mɔˈʁis]), officially the Republic of Mauritius (Mauritian Creole: Republik Moris; French: République de Maurice) is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 870 kilometres (540 mi) east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues, Tromelin and the Agalega Islands. Mauritius Island is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 170 km (110 mi) to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues 570 km (350 mi) to the east. The area of Mauritius is 2040 km2; its capital city is Port Louis.
The United Kingdom took control of the islands in 1810, from France during the Napoleonic Wars, and Mauritius became independent from the UK in 1968. It is a parliamentary republic and is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Union, La Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations.
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Mayotte
Mayotte (French: Mayotte, pronounced: [majɔt]; Shimaore: Maore, IPA: [maˈore]; Malagasy: Mahori) is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre (or Mahoré), a smaller island, Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. Mayotte's area is 374 square kilometres (144 sq mi), and with its estimated 194,000 people is very densely populated (520 /km2 or 1,300 /sq mi). Its biggest city and prefecture is Mamoudzou. The territory is geographically part of the Comoro Islands, but has been politically separate since a 1974 referendum in which it elected to remain under French rule. The territory is also known as Mahoré, the native name of its main island, especially by advocates of its inclusion in the Union of Comoros. In a 2009 referendum, the population overwhelmingly approved accession to status of department (95.2% voted in favour of departmental status). On March 31, 2011, Mayotte became an overseas department.
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Metropolitan France
Metropolitan France (French: France métropolitaine or la Métropole, or colloquially l'Hexagone) is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica. By contrast, Overseas France (la France d'outre-mer, or l'Outre-mer, or colloquially les DOM-TOM) is the collective name for the French overseas departments (départements d'outre-mer or DOM),territories (territoires d'outre-mer or TOM), collectivities (collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) and the sui generis collectivity (collectivité sui generis) of New Caledonia.
Metropolitan France and Overseas France together form what is officially called the French Republic. Metropolitan France accounts for 81.8% of the territory and 95.9% of the population of the French Republic.
The five overseas departments—Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, French Guiana, and Mayotte—have the same political status as metropolitan France's departments. Metropolitan France and these five overseas departments together are sometimes called France entière ("entire France") by the French administration, especially by INSEE, although in reality this France entière does not include the French overseas collectivities and territories which have more autonomy than the overseas departments (read the Origin of the name section below).
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Moindou
Coordinates: 21°41′52″S 165°40′42″E / 21.6979°S 165.6782°E / -21.6979; 165.6782
Moindou is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Nauru
Coordinates: 0°31′38″S 166°56′12″E / 0.527288°S 166.936724°E / -0.527288; 166.936724
Nauru (Englishi/nɑːˈuːruː/ nah-OO-roo), officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, 300 kilometres (186 mi) to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi). With just over 9,322 residents, it is the second least-populated country after Vatican City.
Settled by Micronesian and Polynesian people, Nauru was annexed and claimed as a colony by the German Empire in the late 19th century. After World War I, Nauru became a League of Nations mandate administered by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. During World War II, Nauru was occupied by Japanese troops, who were bypassed by the Allied advance across the Pacific. After the war ended, it entered into trusteeship again. Nauru gained its independence in 1968.
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Nauru was a "rentier state". Nauru is a phosphate rock island, with rich deposits close to the surface, which allow for simple strip mining operations; moreover, it has some phosphate reserves which are presently (as of 2011) not economically viable for extraction. Nevertheless, this island was a major exporter of phosphate starting in 1907, when the Pacific Phosphate Company began mining there, through the formation of the British Phosphate Commission in 1919, and continuing after independence. This returned to Nauru full control of its minerals under the Nauru Phosphate Corporation, until the deposits ran out during the 1980s. For this reason, Nauru briefly boasted the highest per-capita income enjoyed by any sovereign state in the world during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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New Caledonia
Coordinates: 21°15′S 165°18′E / 21.25°S 165.30°E / -21.25; 165.30
New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) east of Australia and about 20,000 kilometres (12,000 mi) from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands in the Coral Sea are also part of New Caledonia. Locals refer to Grande Terre as "Le Caillou", the rock.
New Caledonia has a land area of 18,576 square kilometres (7,172 sq mi). The population (2011 estimate) is 256,275. The capital of the territory is Nouméa.
The earliest traces of human presence in New Caledonia date back to the Lapita period. The Lapita were highly skilled navigators and agriculturists with influence over a large area of the Pacific.
The British first sighted New Caledonia on September 4, 1774, during the second voyage of Captain James Cook. He named the territory New Caledonia, as the north-east of the island reminded him of Scotland. The west coast of Grande Terre was approached by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse in 1788, shortly before his disappearance, and the Loyalty Islands were first visited in 1796. From then until 1840, only a few sporadic contacts with the archipelago were recorded. Contacts became more frequent after 1840, because of the interest in sandalwood from New Caledonia.
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New Zealand
New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa) is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses ‒ that of the North and South Islands ‒ as well as numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans.
During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of both animal and plant life. Most notable are the large number of unique bird species, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and introduced mammals. With a mild maritime climate, the land was mostly covered in forest. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions caused by the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates clashing beneath the earth's surface.
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Niue
Niue ( /ˈnjuːeɪ/ NEW-ay; Niuean: Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to the southeast. The land area is 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi) with about 1,400 people who are predominantly Polynesian.
Though self-governing, Niue is in free association with New Zealand, and lacks full sovereignty. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens and Queen Elizabeth II is Niue's head of state in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand. Most diplomatic relations are conducted by New Zealand on Niue's behalf. 90-95% of Niuean people live in New Zealand, along with about 70% of the speakers of the Niuean language.[citation needed]
In 2003, Niue became the world's first "WiFi nation", in which free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country by The Internet Users Society-Niue.
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Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island (i/ˈnɔrfək ˈaɪlənd/; Norfuk: Norfuk Ailen) is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, 1,412 kilometres (877 mi) directly east of mainland Evans Head, and about 600 kilometres (370 mi) from Lord Howe Island. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance. Together with two neighbouring islands, it forms one of Australia's external territories.
Originally colonised by East Polynesians, Norfolk Island was colonised by Britain as part of its settlement in Australia in 1788. It then served as a convict penal settlement until 1794, when it was abandoned until 1856, when permanent residence on the island for civilians began. In 1901, the island became a part of the Commonwealth of Australia which it has remained until this day.
The evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island and thus pictured on its flag (see illustration). Native to the island, the pine is a key export industry for Norfolk Island, being a popular ornamental tree on mainland Australia, where two related species grow, and also in Europe.
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Nouméa
Coordinates: 22°16′33″S 166°27′29″E / 22.2758°S 166.4580°E / -22.2758; 166.4580
Nouméa (French pronunciation: [numeˈa]) is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian (Wallisians, Futunians, Tahitians), Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians, Ni-Vanuatu and Kanaks that work in one of the South Pacific's most industrialised cities. The city lies on a protected deepwater harbour which serves as the chief port for New Caledonia.
The population of the city (commune) at the 2009 census was 97,579 inhabitants (up from 76,293 inhabitants at the 1996 census). Including the suburbs of Nouméa, the population of the Greater Nouméa metropolitan area (French: agglomération du Grand Nouméa) at the 2009 census was 163,723 inhabitants (up from 118,823 inhabitants in 1996, equating to a 2.4% population increase per year). 66.7% of the population of New Caledonia live in Greater Nouméa, which covers the communes of Nouméa, Le Mont-Dore, Dumbéa and Païta.
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Orchid Island
Coordinates: 22°03′N 121°32′E / 22.05°N 121.533°E / 22.05; 121.533
Orchid Island (Yami language: Ponso no Tao or Pongso no Tao; Chinese: 蘭嶼; pinyin: Lán Yǔ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lân-sū) is a 45 km² volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan Island and separated from the Batanes of the Philippines by the Bashi Channel of the Luzon Strait. It is governed as Lanyu Township of Taitung County.
The island is home to the Tao, an ethnic minority group who migrated to the island from the Batan Archipelago 800 years ago. The island is known to them as Ponso no Tao or Pongso no Tawo (island of the people) or Irala. Out of a total current population of 4,000, approximately 2,400 belong to the aboriginal Tao community and the remaining 1,600 are mainly Han Chinese. In neighboring Philippines the island is referred to as Botel Tobago.
The Lanyu nuclear waste storage facility was built in 1982. The plant receives nuclear waste from Taiwan's three nuclear power plants operated by state utility Taiwan Power Company (Taipower). About 100,000 barrels of nuclear waste from the nation’s three operational nuclear power plants have been stored at the Lanyu complex. In 2002 and 2012, there were major protests from local residents, calling on Taipower to remove the nuclear waste from the island.
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Ouvéa
Coordinates: 20°39′08″S 166°33′43″E / 20.6522°S 166.5619°E / -20.6522; 166.5619
Ouvéa (local pronunciation: [uˈve.a]) is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The settlement of Fayaoué [faˈjawe], on Ouvéa Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Ouvéa.
Ouvéa is made up of Ouvéa Island, the smaller Mouli Island and Faiava Island, and several islets around these three islands. All these lie among the Loyalty Islands, to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland.
In April 1988, a bloody hostage taking took place on Ouvéa. Four gendarmes were killed and twenty-seven were held hostage in a cave by supporters of FLNKS. Twelve of the captured gendarmes were released after a while, but six members of a French anti-terrorist squad were also taken hostage. When negotiations to release those taken hostage did not succeed, French security forces besieged the cave and freed the hostages. Eighteen Kanaks and two gendarmes were left dead, and in the aftermath, it was alleged that three Kanaks had been executed or left to die after being arrested.
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Ouégoa
Coordinates: 20°21′02″S 164°25′57″E / 20.3506°S 164.4326°E / -20.3506; 164.4326
Ouégoa is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.
At 165.2 million square kilometres (64.1 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World Ocean – and, in turn, the hydrosphere – covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about one-third of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The equator subdivides it into the North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, with two exceptions: the Galápagos and Gilbert Islands, while straddling the equator, are deemed wholly within the South Pacific. The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft).
The eastern Pacific Ocean was first sighted by Europeans early in the 16th century. Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and named it Mar del Sur (South Sea). The ocean's current name was given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation in 1521, who encountered favourable winds as he reached the ocean and called it Mar Pacifico in Portuguese, meaning "peaceful sea".
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Palau
Palau (i/pəˈlaʊ/, sometimes spelled Belau or Pelew), officially the Republic of Palau (Palauan: Beluu ęr a Belau), is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. Geographically part of the larger island group of Micronesia, with the country's population of around 21,000 people spread out over 250 islands forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands. The islands share maritime boundaries with Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The most populous island in the group is Koror, with the capital city, Ngerulmud, located on nearby Babeldaob.
The country were originally settled around 3000 years ago by migrants from the Philippines, with a Negrito population sustained until around 900 years ago. The islands were first visited by Europeans in the 18th century, and were made part of the Spanish East Indies in 1885. Following Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War in 1898, the islands were sold to Imperial Germany in 1899 under the terms of the German–Spanish Treaty, where they were administered as part of German New Guinea. The Imperial Japanese Navy conquered Palau during World War I, and the islands were later made a part of the Japanese-ruled South Pacific Mandate by the League of Nations. During World War II, skirmishes, including the major Battle of Peleliu, were fought between American and Japanese troops as part of the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign. Along with other Pacific Islands, Palau was made a part of the United States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947. Having voted against joining the newly-independent Federated States of Micronesia in 1979, the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
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Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (PNG; Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region defined since the early 19th century as Melanesia. The capital is Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. According to recent data, 841 different languages are listed for the country, although 11 of these have no known living speakers. . (A detailed series of language maps of Papua New Guinea may be found at Ethnologue) There may be at least as many traditional societies,out of a population of about 6.2 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centres. The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of Papua New Guinea.
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Païta
Coordinates: 22°08′01″S 166°21′02″E / 22.1337°S 166.3505°E / -22.1337; 166.3505
Païta (French pronunciation: [pajta]) is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport, is located there.
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Philippines
The Philippinesi/ˈfɪlɨpiːnz/ FI-lə-peenz (Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas) is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.
With an estimated population of about 98 million people, the Philippines is the 7th most populated Asian country and the 12th most populated country in the world. An additional 12.5 million Filipinos live overseas. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences which remain to this day.
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Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands ( /ˈpɪtkɛərn/;Pitkern: Pitkern Ailen), officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory. The four islands—named Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno—are spread over several hundred miles of ocean and have a total land area of about 18 square miles (47 km2). Only Pitcairn, the second largest and measuring about 2 miles (3.2 km) across, is inhabited.
The islands are best known as home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and the Tahitians (or Polynesians) who accompanied them, an event retold in numerous books and films. This history is still apparent in the surnames of many of the islanders. With only about 48 inhabitants (currently from four main families: Christian, Warren, Young, and Brown), Pitcairn is the least populous jurisdiction in the world. The United Nations Committee on Decolonisation includes the Pitcairn Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
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Poindimié
Coordinates: 20°56′59″S 165°19′45″E / 20.9496°S 165.3293°E / -20.9496; 165.3293
Poindimié is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Ponérihouen
Coordinates: 21°04′38″S 165°23′46″E / 21.0772°S 165.396°E / -21.0772; 165.396
Ponérihouen is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Port Vila
Port Vila /ˌpɔərt ˈviːlə/ is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last census (1999) was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result (1989). This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's population. Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of Vanuatu.
The area occupied by Port Vila has been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. In 1606, the first Europeans arrived at the island, led by Pedro Fernández de Quirós and Luis Váez de Torres. In the 19th century, French settlers established the municipality of Franceville, which declared independence in 1889 and became the first self-governing nation to practice universal suffrage without distinction of sex or race. Although the population at the time consisted of about 500 native islanders and less than 50 whites, only the latter were permitted to hold office. One of the elected presidents was a U.S. citizen by birth, R.D. Polk.
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Pouembout
Coordinates: 21°07′40″S 164°53′18″E / 21.1279°S 164.8883°E / -21.1279; 164.8883
Pouembout is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Poum
Coordinates: 20°14′29″S 164°01′01″E / 20.2415°S 164.0169°E / -20.2415; 164.0169
Poum is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The town of Poum is located in the far northwest, located on the southern part of Banare Bay, with Mouac Island just offshore.
Poum sits within the world's largest lagoon and is rich in Kanak culture. This region offers a choice of four white beaches and aqua waters.
"It feels a little like the back of beyond - you're truly in the far North of Grande Terre here, with pink-hued mountains and white sandy beaches. The region around Poum offers great landscapes to visitors. A really special light lends nature amazing colours - there is an opportunity for you to take wonderful early morning photos."
The commune of Poum was created on 5 January 1977 by detaching its territory from the commune of Koumac.
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Pouébo
Coordinates: 20°23′51″S 164°34′08″E / 20.3975°S 164.5689°E / -20.3975; 164.5689
Pouébo is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Réunion
Réunion (French: La Réunion, IPA: [la 'ʁeynjɔ̃] ( listen); previously Île Bourbon) is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.
Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France. Like the other overseas departments, Réunion is also one of the 27 regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic with the same status as those situated on the European mainland.
Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, is part of the Eurozone.
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in the early sixteenth century, there is little to Réunion's recorded history. Arab traders were familiar with it by the name Dina Morgabin,. The island possibly features on a map from 1153 AD by Al Sharif el-Edrisi. The island may also have been visited by Swahili or Malay sailors.
The first European discovery of the area was made around 1507 by Portuguese explorers, but the specifics are unclear. The uninhabited island may have been first sighted by the expedition led by Don Pedro Mascarenhas, who gave his name to the island group around Réunion, the Mascarenes. Réunion itself was dubbed Santa Apolonia after a favorite saint, which suggests that the date of the Portuguese discovery may have been February 9, her saint day. Diego Lopes de Sequeira is claimed to have landed on the island in 1509.
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Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy (French: Saint-Barthélemy, French pronunciation: [sɛ̃baʁtelemi]), officially the Territorial collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French: Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy), is an overseas collectivity of France. Often abbreviated to Saint-Barth in French, or St. Barts (also, St. Barth's) in English, the indigenous people called the island Ouanalao. The collectivity is one of four territories among the Leeward Islands in the northeastern Caribbean that comprise the French West Indies, along with Guadeloupe (200 km southeast), Martinique and Saint Martin. St. Barts lies c. 35 km southeast of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, and north of St Kitts. Puerto Rico is 240 km to its west in the Lesser Antilles.
Saint Barthélemy, a volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, has an area of 21 km² and a population of 8,823 (census 2008). Its capital is Gustavia, which also contains the main harbour to the island. It is the only Caribbean island which was a Swedish colony for any significant length of time; Guadeloupe was under Swedish rule only briefly, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Symbolism from the Swedish national arms, the Three Crowns, still appears in the island's coat of arms. The language, cuisine and culture, however, are distinctly French. The island is a popular tourist destination during the winter holiday season, especially the rich and famous during the Christmas and New Year period.
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Samoa
Samoa (i/səˈmoʊ.ə/; Samoan: Sāmoa, IPA: [ˌsaːˈmoa]), officially the Independent State of Samoa (Samoan: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Sāmoa), formerly known as Western Samoa, is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in Polynesia, Savai'i. The capital city, Apia, and Faleolo International Airport are situated on the island of Upolu.
Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976. The entire island group, inclusive of American Samoa, was called Navigators Islands by European explorers before the 20th century because of the Samoans' seafaring skills.
The oldest date so far from pre-historic remains in Samoa has been calculated by New Zealand scientists to a likely true age of circa 3,000 years ago from a Lapita site at Mulifanua during the 1970s.
The origins of the Samoans is closely linked to modern research about Polynesia in various scientific disciplines such as genetics, linguistics and anthropology. Scientific research is ongoing although a number of different theories exist; including one proposing that the Samoans originated from Austronesian predecessors during the terminal eastward Lapita expansion period from Southeast Asia and Melanesia between 2,500 and 1,500 BCE. The Samoan origins are currently being reassessed due to new scientific evidence and carbon dating findings from 2003 and onwards.
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Sarraméa
Coordinates: 21°38′28″S 165°50′46″E / 21.6412°S 165.846°E / -21.6412; 165.846
Sarraméa is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Scotland
Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba ([ˈalˠ̪apə] listen (help·info))) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland constitutes over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres. Edinburgh was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which transformed Scotland into one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, was once one of the world's leading industrial cities and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This has given Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland, the title of Europe's oil capital.
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Seychelles
Seychelles (i/seɪˈʃɛlz/ say-SHELZ; French: [sɛʃɛl]), officially the Republic of Seychelles (French: République des Seychelles; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar.
Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega and Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state. It also has the highest Human Development Index in Africa.
Scholars assume that Austronesian seafarers, and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. Remains of Maldivian mariner presence from the 12th century were found in Silhouette Island. The earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502 by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed through the Amirantes and named them after himself (islands of the Admiral).
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Singapore
Singapore (i/ˈsɪŋəpɔər/ SI-ngə-pohr), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. Singapore is highly urbanised but almost half of the country is covered by greenery. More land is being created for development through land reclamation.
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Solomon Islands
Solomon Islandsi/ˈsɒləmən ˈaɪləndz/ is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal. The nation of the Solomon Islands is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The Solomon Islands are believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for many thousands of years. Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to arrive in Solomon Islands in 1568 and named them Islas Salomón. The United Kingdom established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in 1893. In the Second World War there was fierce fighting between the Americans and the Japanese in the Solomon Islands campaign of 1942–45, including the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the Solomon Islands, at present Elizabeth II, as the head of state. Gordon Lilo Darcy is the eleventh and current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (i/ʃriː ˈlɑːŋkə/, /sriːˈlɑːŋkə/, or /sriːˈlæŋkə/;Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකාව, Tamil: இலங்கை), is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia. Known until 1972 as Ceylon ( /sɨˈlɒn/, /seɪˈlɒn/, or /siːˈlɒn/), Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the Maldives.
As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. It was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. Sri Lanka has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times, being the nation where the Buddhist teachings were first written down as well as the oldest continually Buddhist country. Sri Lanka boasts a diverse range of cultures, languages and religions. The Sinhalese people form the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the aboriginal Vedda people.
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Suriname
Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: Republiek Suriname, Dutch pronunciation: [ˌrepyˈblik ˌsyriˈnaːmə]), is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. Suriname was first colonized by the British, and captured by the Dutch in 1667, who governed it as the colony of Suriname until 1954. The country of Suriname achieved independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in which Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Netherlands itself cooperated on a basis of equality since 1954, on 25 November 1975.
At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi) Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America (French Guiana comprises less territory, but is French territory). It has an estimated population of approximately 560,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.
The name Suriname may derive from a Taino (Arawak-speaking) group called "Surinen" who first inhabited the region prior to European arrival.
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Taiwan
Taiwan (i/ˌtaɪˈwɑːn/ TY-WAHN; Chinese: 臺灣 or 台灣; pinyin: Táiwān; see below), officially the Republic of China (ROC; Chinese: 中華民國; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó), is a state in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China now governs the island of Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa), which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taipei is the capital city and economic and cultural centre of the country, and New Taipei is the most populous city.
The earliest evidence of inhabitation of Taiwan dates back to the late Paleolithic era. The island of Taiwan was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before being colonized in the 17th century by the Dutch and the Spanish Empire. The first Han Chinese polity on Taiwan began when Koxinga's troops defeated Dutch forces and established the Kingdom of Tungning. The island was subsequently ruled by the Qing Dynasty after the kingdom's defeat in the Battle of Penghu in 1683, a period that lasted for over 200 years. Following Japan's victory over the Qing Dynasty in the first Sino-Japanese war, Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
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Thailand
Thailand ( /ˈtaɪlænd/ TY-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/;Thai: ประเทศไทย, RTGS: Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย, RTGS: Ratcha Anachak Thai; IPA: [râːt.tɕʰā ʔāːnāːtɕàk tʰāj] (
listen)), formerly known as Siam (Thai: สยาม; RTGS: Sayam), is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The country is a constitutional monarchy, headed by King Rama IX, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who, having reigned since 1946, is the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. The king of Thailand is titled Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths.
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Tokelau
Tokelau ( /ˈtoʊkəlaʊ/) is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400. The atolls lie north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the more distant Line Islands (both island groups belonging to Kiribati) and northwest of the Cook Islands.
The United Nations General Assembly designated Tokelau a Non-Self-Governing Territory. Until 1976 the official name was Tokelau Islands. Tokelau is sometimes referred to by the older, colonial name of The Union Islands.
The name Tokelau is a Polynesian word meaning "North Wind". The islands were named the Union Islands and Union Group by European explorers at an unknown time. Tokelau Islands was adopted as the name in 1946, and was contracted to Tokelau on 9 December 1976.
The change from Tokelau Islands to Tokelau marked a slight shift in emphasis, with consequences in regional diplomacy, in that the term Tokelau Islands clearly and substantially referred to a geographical expression, that is, a range of islands, whatever else it may connote. It is not necessarily controversial to refer by name to a range of islands, even though they may come under two or more political jurisdictions. Tokelau, on the other hand, can be taken to refer more immediately to some concept of nationhood, arguably infusing increased meaning to the draft 2006 independence constitution of Tokelau (which somewhat controversially claims Tokelauan inhabited Olohega (or Swains Island), currently part of American Samoa, as part of its national territory).[citation needed]
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Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a sovereign state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of ocean in the South Pacific. Fifty-two of the islands are inhabited.
The Kingdom stretches over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 mi) in a north-south line located at about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.
Tonga also became known as the Friendly Islands because of the friendly reception accorded to Captain James Cook on his first visit there in 1773. He happened to arrive at the time of the ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga, the islands' paramount chief, and received an invitation to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but could not agree on a plan.
Tonga is also the only island nation in the region to have avoided formal colonisation. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step towards becoming a fully functioning constitutional monarchy after legislative reforms paved the way for its first ever fully representative elections which resulted in the election of Noble Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō as its first democratically elected Prime Minister.
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Touho
Coordinates: 20°47′S 165°14′E / 20.79°S 165.23°E / -20.79; 165.23
Touho is a municipality (commune) in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Touho lies on the east coast of the main island (Grande Terre) and is served by a road and an airfield.
The vocational school, Lycée Professionnel Augustin Ty was officially opened in 1994. It is located directly opposite the airport.
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Tromelin Island
Coordinates: 15°53′32″S 54°31′29″E / 15.89222°S 54.52472°E / -15.89222; 54.52472
Tromelin Island ( /ˌtroʊmlɪn ˈaɪlənd/; French: Île Tromelin, pronounced: [il tʁɔmlɛ̃]) is a low, flat, island in the Indian Ocean, about 350 kilometres (220 mi) east of Madagascar (geographic coordinates: 15°53′32″S 54°31′29″E / 15.89222°S 54.52472°E / -15.89222; 54.52472). It is administered as a French overseas territory, as the result of an agreement with the United Kingdom in 1954, but sovereignty is disputed with ownership claimed by both Mauritius and the Seychelles. It has a weather station and is a nesting site for boobies and green sea turtles.
Very much like a large sandbank and only 7 metres (23 ft) high at its highest point, Tromelin is about 1,700 metres (1.1 mi) long and 700 metres (0.43 mi) wide, with an area of 80 ha (200 acres), covered in scrub dominated by Octopus Bush and surrounded by coral reefs. There are no harbours or anchorages, so that access by sea is difficult and a 1,200-metre (3,900 ft) airstrip provides the island's link with the outside world.
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Tuvalu
Tuvalu (i/tuːˈvɑːluː/ too-VAH-loo or /ˈtuːvəluː/ TOO-və-loo), formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls spread out from 6° to 10° south. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. Its population of 10,544 makes it the third-least populous sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City at 0.44 km2 (0.17 sq mi), Monaco at 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi) and Nauru at 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi).
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. In 1568 Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña sailed through the islands and is understood to have sighted Nui during his expedition in search of Terra Australis. In 1819 the island of Funafuti was named Ellice's Island; the name Ellice was applied to all nine islands after the work of English hydrographer Alexander George Findlay (1812–1876). The islands came under Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century, when the Ellice Islands were declared a British protectorate by Captain Gibson, R. N. of HMS Curaçao between 9th and 16 October 1892. The Ellice Islands were administered as British protectorate by a Resident Commissioner from 1892 to 1916 as part of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT), and later as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from 1916 to 1974.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.
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United States
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.
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Vanuatu
Vanuatu (Englishi/ˌvɑːnuːˈɑːtuː/ vah-noo-AH-too or /vænˈwɑːtuː/ van-WAH-too; Bislama IPA: [vanuaˈtu]), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres (310 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.
Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people. The first Europeans to visit the islands were the members of a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós who arrived in Espiritu Santo in 1605. In the 1880s France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country, and in 1906 they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New Hebrides through a British–French Condominium. An independence movement arose in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980.
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Vichy France
Vichy France,Vichy Regime, Vichy Government, or simply Vichy are common terms used to describe the government of France which collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944, during the Second World War. It officially called itself the French State (État Français) and was headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain, who proclaimed the government following the 1940 allied defeat against Axis Powers.
The Vichy regime maintained some legal authority in the northern zone of France (the Zone occupée), which was occupied by the German Wehrmacht, but was most powerful in the unoccupied southern "free zone", where its administrative centre of Vichy was located. In November 1942 the southern zone was also occupied and fully subjected to German rule.
Pétain collaborated with the German occupying forces in exchange for an agreement to not divide France between the Axis Powers. Vichy authorities aided in the rounding-up of Jews and other "undesirables", and at times, Vichy French military forces actively opposed the Allies. Much of the French public initially supported the new government despite its pro-Nazi policies, seeing it as necessary to maintain a degree of French autonomy and territorial integrity.
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Vietnam
Vietnam ( listen), formally the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam; listen), is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With an estimated 91.5 million inhabitants as of 2012, it is the world's 13th-most-populous country, and the eighth-most-populous Asian country. The name Vietnam translates as "South Viet", and was officially adopted in 1945. The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east.
The Vietnamese became independent from Imperial China in 938 AD, following the Battle of Bạch Đằng River. Successive Vietnamese royal dynasties flourished as the nation expanded geographically and politically into Southeast Asia, until the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century. The First Indochina War eventually led to the expulsion of the French in 1954, leaving Vietnam divided politically into two states, North and South Vietnam. Conflict between the two sides intensified, with heavy foreign intervention, during the Vietnam War, which ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.
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Voh
Coordinates: 20°57′33″S 164°41′17″E / 20.9593°S 164.688°E / -20.9593; 164.688
Voh is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
It has become famous for the aerial photography known as The Heart of Voh, a large formation of vegetation that resembles a heart seen from above. Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand contributed to its popularity by using a photograph of the 'heart' as the cover to his books The Earth from the Air and Earth from Above.
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Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (French: Wallis et Futuna or Territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna, Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: Uvea mo Futuna), is a Polynesian French island territory in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Rotuma of Fiji to the west, the main part of Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, the New Zealand-associated state of Tokelau to the northeast and to a more distant north the Phoenix Islands (Kiribati). (However, Wallis and Futuna is not part of, nor even contiguous with, French Polynesia. Wallis and Futuna is located at the very opposite western end of Polynesia.)
Its land area is 264 km2 with a population of about 15,000. Mata-Utu is the capital and biggest city. The territory is made up of three main volcanic tropical islands along with a number of tiny islets, and is split into two island groups that lie about 260 km apart, namely Wallis Islands (Uvea) in the northeast, and Hoorn Islands (also called the Futuna Islands) in the southwest, including Futuna Island proper and the mostly uninhabited Alofi Island.
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Wé
Coordinates: 20°55′0″S 167°15′55″E / 20.916667°S 167.26528°E / -20.916667; 167.26528
Wé (French pronunciation: [we]) is a small town in the commune of Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands Province, New Caledonia. It is located on the east coast of Lifou Island. Wé is the administrative centre of the commune of Lifou as well as the location of the provincial assembly of the Loyalty Islands.
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Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four continental islands (hence the alternative name of the Yap Islands). The four are very close together and joined within a common coral reef and entirely formed from an uplift of the Philippine Sea Plate. The land is mostly rolling hills densely covered with vegetation. Mangrove swamps line much of the shore. An outer barrier reef surrounds the islands, enclosing a lagoon between the fringing barrier reef.
Colonia is the capital of the State of Yap. It administers both Yap proper and fourteen atolls reaching to the east and south for some 800 km (500 mi), namely Eauripik, Elato, Fais, Faraulep, Gaferut, Ifalik, Lamotrek, Ngulu, Olimarao, Piagailoe (West Fayu), Pikelot, Sorol, Ulithi, and Woleai Atolls, as well as the island of Satawal (municipalities in bold).
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Yaté
Coordinates: 22°10′03″S 166°55′36″E / 22.1676°S 166.9266°E / -22.1676; 166.9266
Yaté is a commune in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.
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Île Amsterdam
Île Amsterdam (French pronunciation: [ilamstəʁˈdam], also known as Amsterdam Island, New Amsterdam, or Nouvelle Amsterdam, is an island named after the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It lies in the southern Indian Ocean. It is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and, together with neighbouring Île Saint-Paul 85 km/53 mi to the south, forms one of the five districts of the territory. Its base, the Martin-de-Viviès research station, first called Camp Heurtin, then La Roche Godon, and the only settlement on the island, is the capital of the territory and is home to about 30 (non-permanent) inhabitants involved in biological, meteorological and geomagnetic studies.
Île Amsterdam is one of only three land antipodes of the continental United States. It corresponds to an area about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Lamar, Colorado (the other two land antipodes of the US are île Saint-Paul and the Kerguelen Islands).
The island was discovered by the Basque Spanish explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano on 18 March 1522, in the course of his voyage of global circumnavigation. However, he did not name the island. Having found the island unnamed, Dutch captain Anthonie van Diemen named it Nieuw Amsterdam after his ship on 17 June 1633. The first recorded landing was made in December 1696 by Dutchman Willem de Vlamingh.
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Albert Dupuy
Albert Dupuy (born February 1, 1947 in Alicante, Spain) is a French civil servant.
He was prefect of the French overseas territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon, from January 2005 to August 2006.
From December 2008 to July 2010, he was prefect of Isère.
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Bruno Van Peteghem
Bruno Van Peteghem (New Caledonia) was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2001, for his campaign to place the island's coral reef (among the world's largest and most unusual) on UNESCO's World Heritage List in order to protect the reef against destruction from nickel mining industries.
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Caldoche
Caldoche is the name given to European inhabitants of the French territory of New Caledonia, mostly native-born French settlers. The formal name to refer to this particular population is Calédoniens, short for the very formal Néo-Calédoniens, however this self-appellation technically includes all inhabitants of the New Caledonian archipelago, not just the Caldoche. Another "white" demographic element (although they may well be Frenchmen of different ethnic backgrounds) in the territory is expatriates from metropolitan France who live there temporarily as civil servants. Caldoches are keen to differentiate themselves from these inhabitants, underlining their position as the permanent locals, referring to them as métros, short for métropolitains or as zoreilles and more informally zozos in the local jargon.
New Caledonia was used as a penal colony from 1854 to 1922 by France. From this period and on, many Europeans (particularly of French and, to some extent, German origin) settled in the territory and they intermingled with Asian and Polynesian settlers. Code de l'indigénat, introduced in 1887, provided the free settler population with an advantegous status over the indigenous Melanesian peoples, known collectively as Kanak. Caldoches settled and gained property on the dry west coast of the main island Grande Terre where the capital Nouméa is also located, pushing the Kanaks onto small reservations in the north and east. With the superior position, they constituted the ruling class of the colony and they were the ones who widened the usage of the word Canaque as a pejorative.
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Chamorro people
The Chamorro people, or Chamoru people, are the indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands, which include the United States territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. Today, significant Chamoru populations also exist in several U.S. states including Hawaii, California, Washington, Texas and Nevada. According to the 2000 Census, approximately 65,000 people of Chamoru ancestry live on Guam and another 19,000 live in the Northern Marianas. Another 93,000 live outside the Marianas in Hawaii and the West/Pacific coast of the United States. The Chamoru are primarily of Austronesian stock.
Most Chamorros are Roman Catholic and few in the Marianas still maintain some customs and beliefs from the time before the first European conquests; some residents of the Marianas will still ask permission from ancestral spirits before entering parts of jungles. Traditional healers called suruhanas are still greatly respected for their knowledge of herbal treatments and spirits. Before Spanish colonization, Chamoru life centered on one's clan. Chamorro culture is strongly influenced by Spanish, Filipino, Japanese, and American customs; in addition, Chamorro food is also influenced by the various groups mentioned previously. Today, large extended families remain central to life in the Marianas.
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Christian Karembeu
Christian Karembeu (born 3 December 1970 in Lifou, New Caledonia) is a retired French international footballer and current scout for Arsenal Football Club. He is also part of a Paris-based consortium to expand the A-League with a Pacific Island team.
During his career Karembeu played for Nantes (1990–95), Sampdoria (1995–97), Real Madrid (1997–2000), Middlesbrough (2000–01), Olympiakos (2001–04), Servette Genève (2004–05), Bastia (2005). With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000, starting in the former but remaining on the bench for the latter. He last played midfield for Bastia in the French Ligue 1. He announced his retirement on 13 October 2006, although he added that he would "be having a kickabout from time to time". The France legend also took part in a friendly competition for Kettering Town FC with Gianfranco Zola, Les Ferdinand and Gus Poyet.
Born in the French territory of New Caledonia, he was a vital player in the French team that won the 1998 World Cup. In Euro 2000, he was on the squad as well but played only one game. He compiled 53 caps in his career, earning his first one on 14 November 1992 against Finland in a 2–1 victory.
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Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown. Later they would move onward to other surrounding islands including Rotuma,as well as blending with other (Polynesian) settlers on Tonga and Samoa. They are indigenous to all parts of Fiji except the island of Rotuma. The original settlers are now called "Lapita people" after a distinctive pottery produced locally. Lapita pottery was found in the area from 800 BC onward.
As of 2005, Fijians constituted slightly more than half of the Fijian population. Indigenous Fijians are predominantly of Melanesian extraction, with some Polynesian admixture. Other ethnic groups in Fiji include Indo-Fijians, the Rotuman people, and minority communities, which include Caucasians, Chinese, and other Pacific Islanders.
New Zealand has a large Fijian population, according to the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. In 2001, Fijian people were the fifth largest Pacific ethnic group living in New Zealand. There was a decrease of 8 percent between 1996 and 2001. The estimated Pacific Islander population size is 231,800 in 2001 Fijians comprising about 7,000 of that.
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François Hollande
François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa ɔlɑ̃d]; born 12 August 1954) is the 24th President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He previously served as the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008 and as a Deputy of the National Assembly of France for Corrèze's 1st Constituency from 1988 to 1993 and then again from 1997 to 2012. He also served as the Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008 and the President of the General Council of Corrèze from 2008 to 2012.
He was elected President of France on 6 May 2012, defeating the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, and was inaugurated on 15 May. He is the second Socialist President of the Fifth French Republic, after François Mitterrand who served from 1981 to 1995.
Hollande was born in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Upper Normandy, to a middle-class family. His mother, Nicole Frédérique Marguerite Tribert (1927–2009), was a social worker, and his father, Georges Gustave Hollande, an ear, nose, and throat doctor who "had once run for the extreme right in local politics." The surname "Hollande" is "believed to come from Calvinist ancestors who escaped Holland (the Netherlands) in the 16th century and took the name of their old country." Hollande was raised Catholic but quietly rebelled against the strict religious brothers chosen by his father to educate him. The family moved to Neuilly, a suburb of Paris, when Hollande was 13.
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Henry Kamm
Henry Kamm (born June 3, 1925, in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland) was a correspondent for The New York Times. He reported for the Times from Southeast Asia (based in Bangkok), Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In 1969, Kamm won the George Polk Award for Foreign Reporting.
Kamm won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1978 for his coverage of the plight of refugees from Indochina.[citation needed]
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Jacques Lafleur
Jacques Lafleur (20 November 1932 – 4 December 2010) was a French politician born in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Lafleur was a onetime leader of one of the two anti-independence parties in New Caledonia, the RPCR (Rally for Caledonia in the Republic). He was a signatory to the Matignon Accords in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998. He was elected deputy on 16 June 2002, for the 12th session of the legislature (2002–2007), representing the 1st district in New Caledonia, but lost his hold on power as a result of the elections of 9 May 2004, which propelled a new party, named "Future Together" (Avenir Ensemble), into control of government in South Province.
Lafleur, whose fortune stemmed partly from mining interests, reportedly slandered and intimidated Goldman Environmental Prize winner Bruno Van Peteghem over Van Peteghem's efforts to protect the ecology of New Caledonia.
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James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN (7 November 1728 – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. Cook made detailed maps of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, as well as the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand.
Cook joined the British merchant navy as a teenager and joined the Royal Navy in 1755. He saw action in the Seven Years' War, and subsequently surveyed and mapped much of the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River during the siege of Quebec. This helped bring Cook to the attention of the Admiralty and Royal Society. This notice came at a crucial moment in both Cook's career and the direction of British overseas exploration, and led to his commission in 1766 as commander of HM Bark Endeavour for the first of three Pacific voyages.
In three voyages Cook sailed thousands of miles across largely uncharted areas of the globe. He mapped lands from New Zealand to Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean in greater detail and on a scale not previously achieved. As he progressed on his voyages of discovery he surveyed and named features, and recorded islands and coastlines on European maps for the first time. He displayed a combination of seamanship, superior surveying and cartographic skills, physical courage and an ability to lead men in adverse conditions.
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Jean Lèques
Jean Lèques (born August 31, 1931 in Nouméa) is a New Caledonian politician. He has served as mayor of Nouméa since 1986; between 1999 and 2001 he was president of the government of New Caledonia.
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Kanak people
Kanak (formerly also Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the southwest Pacific. They constitute 44.1% of the total population of New Caledonia. Though Melanesian settlement is recorded on Grande Terre's Presqu'île de Foué peninsula as far back as the Lapita culture, the origin of Kanak people is unclear. Ethnographic research has shown that Polynesian seafarers have intermarried with the Kanaks over the centuries. The Kanaks refer to the French as Caldoches.
New Caledonia was annexed to France in 1853, and became an overseas territory of France in 1956. A political movement, restarted by the Kanaks in 1984, after an initial failed revolt in 1967, has strongly pursued total independence status from the French rule. The movement is supported by the United Nations resolution of December 1986. A 2014 referendum will decide whether or not the territory will achieve sovereign status. When the 1988 Matignon agreements were signed between the representatives of France and New Caledonia to decide on holding the referendum for independence, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the Kanak leader of the independence movement, had mooted a proposal to set up an Agency for the Development of Kanak Culture (ADCK). After Tjibaou's assassination in 1989, the French President François Mitterrand ordered that a cultural centre on the lines suggested by Tjibaou be set up in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia; it was to be the last of Mitterrand's Grands Projets. The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre was formally established in May 1998.
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Louise Michel
Louise Michel (1830–1905) was a French anarchist, school teacher and medical worker. She often used the pseudonym Clémence and was also known as the red virgin of Montmartre. Journalist Brian Doherty has called her "[t]he French grande dame of anarchy."
Louise Michel was born at the Château of Vroncourt (Haute-Marne) on 29 May 1830, the daughter of a serving-maid, Marianne Michel, and the daughter of the châtelain, Etienne Charles Demahis.
She was brought up by her father's parents and received a liberal education. After her grandfather's death in 1850 she was trained to teach, but her refusal to acknowledge Napoleon III prevented her from serving in a state school. She became violently anti-Bonapartist, and is even said to have contemplated the assassination of Napoleon III. In 1866 she found her way to a school in the Montmartre quarter of Paris, where she threw herself ardently into works of charity and revolutionary politics.
She was active during the Paris Commune as an ambulance woman and treated those injured on the barricades. During the Siege of Paris she untiringly preached resistance against the Prussians. On the establishment of the Commune, she joined the National Guard. She offered to shoot Thiers, and suggested the destruction of Paris by way of vengeance for its surrender.
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Māori people
The Māori (Māori pronunciation: [ˈmaːɔɾi], English: /ˈmaʊəri/) are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Māori originated with settlers from eastern Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages at some time before 1300 CE. Over several centuries in isolation, the Polynesian settlers developed a unique culture that became known as the "Māori", with their own language, a rich mythology, distinctive crafts and performing arts. Early Māori formed tribal groups, based on eastern Polynesian social customs and organisation. Horticulture flourished using plants they introduced, and later a prominent warrior culture emerged.
The arrival of Europeans to New Zealand starting from the 17th century brought enormous change to the Māori way of life. Māori people gradually adopted many aspects of Western society and culture. Initial relations between Māori and Europeans were largely amicable, and with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 the two cultures coexisted as part of a new British colony. Rising tensions over disputed land sales led to conflict in the 1860s. Social upheaval, decades of conflict and epidemics of introduced disease took a devastating toll on the Māori population, which went into a dramatic decline. But by the start of the 20th century the Māori population had begun to recover, and efforts were made to increase their standing in wider New Zealand society. Traditional Māori culture has enjoyed a revival, and a protest movement emerged in the 1960s advocating Māori issues.
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Napoleon III
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808 – 9 January 1873) was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the emperor of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte. Elected President by popular vote in 1848, he initiated a coup d'état in 1851, before ascending the throne as Napoleon III on 2 December 1852, the forty-eighth anniversary of Napoleon I's coronation. He ruled as Emperor of the French until 4 September 1870. He holds the unusual distinction of being both the first titular president and the last monarch of France.
Napoleon III is primarily remembered for an energetic foreign policy which aimed to jettison the limitations imposed on France since 1815 by the Concert of Europe and reassert French influence in Europe and abroad. A brief war against Austria in 1859 largely brought an end to the process of Italian unification. In the Near East, Napoleon III spearheaded allied action against Russia in the Crimean War and restored French presence in the Levant, claiming for France the role of protector of the Maronite Christians. A French garrison in Rome likewise secured the Papal States against annexation by Italy, defeating the Italians at Mentana and winning the support of French Catholics for Napoleon's regime.
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Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians (in Hawaiian, kānaka ʻōiwi, kānaka maoli or Hawaiʻi maoli) refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau report for 2000, there are 401,162 people who identified themselves as being "native Hawaiian" alone or in any combination. 140,652 people identified themselves as being "native Hawaiian" alone. The majority of native Hawaiians reside in State of Hawaiʻi, California, Nevada and Washington. Two-thirds live in the State of Hawaiʻi while the other one-third is scattered among other states with a high concentration in California.
The history of native Hawaiians, and of Hawaiʻi in general, is classified into four major periods: antiquity (Ancient Hawaiʻi), monarchy (Kingdom of Hawaiʻi), territorial (Territory of Hawaiʻi), and statehood (State of Hawaiʻi).
The early settlement history of Hawaiʻi is still not completely resolved. Some believe that the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaiʻi in the 3rd century from the Marquesas and were followed by Tahitian settlers in AD 1300 who conquered the original inhabitants. Others believe that there was only a single, extended period of settlement. Patrick Kirch, in his 2001 Hawaiki, argues for an extended period of contact but not necessarily for a Tahitian invasion:
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Negrito
The Negrito are a class of several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia.
Their current populations include 12 Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, six Semang peoples of Malaysia, the Mani of Thailand, and the Aeta, Agta, Ati, and 30 other peoples of the Philippines. Reports from British traders also speak of negrito people on Borneo (Sarawak). (Journal of the Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. XXIX, part 1, 1956)
Negritos share some common physical features with African pygmy populations, including short stature, natural afro-hair texture, and dark skin; however, their origin and the route of their migration to Asia is still a matter of great speculation. They are the most genetically distant human population from Africans at most loci studied thus far (except for MC1R, which codes for dark skin).
They have also been shown to have separated early from Asians, suggesting that they are either surviving descendants of settlers from an early migration out of Africa, commonly referred to as the Proto-Australoids, or that they are descendants of one of the founder populations of modern humans.
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Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano, Ufficiale OMRI (born 14 September 1937 in Genoa) is an Italian Pritzker Prize-winning architect. Architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff said of Piano's works that the "...serenity of his best buildings can almost make you believe that we live in a civilized world."
In 2006, Piano was selected by TIME as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was selected as the 10th most influential person in the "Arts and Entertainment" category of the 2006 Time 100.
Piano was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1937 into a family of builders. He was educated and subsequently taught at the Politecnico di Milano. He graduated from the University in 1964 and began working with experimental lightweight structures and basic shelters. From 1965 to 1970 he worked with Louis Kahn and Z.S. Makowsky. He worked together with Richard Rogers from 1971 to 1977; their most famous joint project is the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (1977). He also had a long collaboration with the engineer Peter Rice, with whom he shared a practice (L'Atelier Piano and Rice) between 1977 and 1981.
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Rotuman people
The Rotuman people are the indigenous inhabitants of Rotuma, a small island group forming part of the Republic of Fiji. The island itself is a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian divisions of the Pacific Ocean, and due to the seafaring nature of traditional Pacific cultures, the indigenous Rotuman have adopted or share many aspects of its multifaceted culture with its Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian neighbours.
It is believed by many academics that the first inhabitants of the island were probably the ancient (Melanesian) seafaring people the Lapita, followed by waves of Micronesians and finally by Polynesians, giving Rotumans a similar but thoroughly distinct language, cultural heritage and metaphysical understanding to that of their preceding parent cultures.
Rotuman mythology typically points to Samoans as the first people to inhabit the island of Rotuma. The most prominent creation myth speaks of Raho, a Samoan prince who, shamed by his family, sought a new home with his daughters. He travelled across the Pacific in his canoe, and when he came to a spot with two protruding rocks, poured baskets of sand from Samoa over the rocks, forming the islands of Rotuma.
wn.com/Rotuman_people -
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa until country name change in 1997); and American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States.
Samoans living in Samoa in 2006 were estimated at 188,000 The majority of ethnic Samoans now reside in other countries, primarily in New Zealand (115,000 in 2001) and Australia (39,992 in 2006)
Although the Samoan Natives (Tagata Mao'i) have long claimed to be the indigenous people of their islands, holding firm to the belief that Samoans were birthed by special creation in Samoa, it has been theorized by many linguists and anthropologists, based on linguistic commonalities as well as archaeological findings, that migrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan Islands approximately 3500 years ago, settling in what has come to be known as "Polynesia" further to the east. This approximation is based on the so-called "Lapita" pottery that has been dated to that time; it is possible, as the natives suggest, however, that the Samoan Islands were in fact settled some time prior to 1000 BC and that the original settlement actually predates the arrival of those to whom the pottery was culturally relevant. Furthermore, the Samoans have developed a language, culture, and social practice most divergent from the other ethnic groups associated with the Lapita pottery and the term "Austronesia".
wn.com/Samoans -
Tahitians
The Tahitians, or Maohis, are indigenous peoples of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands, as well as the modern population of these lands of mixed ancestry (French: demis). The Tahitians are one of the most significant indigenous Polynesian peoples of Oceania.
The original Tahitian society was unaware of metal as it was based on Stone Age technology. However, it enabled Tahitians to clear land for cultivation on the fertile volcanic soils and build fishing canoes, their two basic subsistence activities. The tools of the Tahitians when first discovered were made of stone, bone, shell or wood.
The Tahitians were divided into three major classes (or castes): ari'i,ra'atira and manahune.Ari'i were relatively few in number while manahune constituted the bulk of population and included some members who played essential roles in the society. It is estimated that by the first contact with Europeans in 1767 the population of Tahiti was no more than 40,000 while other Society Islands held probably 15,000-20,000 natives.
wn.com/Tahitians -
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people (Vietnamese: người Việt or người Kinh) are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam. The earliest recorded name for the ancient Vietnamese people appears as "Lạc".
Although geographically and linguistically labeled as Southeast Asians, long periods of Chinese domination and influence have placed the Vietnamese culturally closer to East Asians, or more specifically their immediate northern neighbours, the Southern Chinese and other tribes within the South China. The word Việt is shortened from Bách Việt, a name used in ancient times. Nam means "south".
If regarded as a single ethnic group, the Vietnamese constitute one of the world's largest."CIA World Factbook". May 8th, 2012. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
wn.com/Vietnamese_people
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New Caledonia
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:17
- Updated: 15 Jan 2013
Stunning aerial footage of New Caledonia!
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia
Stunning aerial footage of New Caledonia!
New Caledonia awaits decolonisation
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:06
- Updated: 28 Dec 2012
A conference is being held by the United Nations Special Committee of 24 on decolonisation in New Caledonia, a French territory that is among the countries and territories on the UN list to be decolonised. The UN committee, responsible for studying the implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, is more generally called the "Special Committee of 24". It oversaw the independence of the former Indonesian province of East Timor (Timor Leste). The number of remaining countries and territories to be decolonised has, therefore, dropped from 17 to 16. They include, in the Pacific, Tokelau (New Zealand), Pitcairn (United Kingdom) and New Caledonia (France). The decolonisation process of New Caledonia is enshrined in the Noumea Accord, signed in 1998 between pro-independence and pro-France parties. With a special focus on the notion of "common destiny", it provides guidelines for a gradual transfer of powers from France to local authorities, a power-sharing government and a possible referendum on self-determination between 2014 and 2018. New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986, after independence-related unrest in the mid-1980s. As part of a special series on the world's remaining colonies, Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports from the capital, Noumea, on New Caledonia's decolonisation process and its progress. [May, 18, 2010]
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_awaits_decolonisation
A conference is being held by the United Nations Special Committee of 24 on decolonisation in New Caledonia, a French territory that is among the countries and territories on the UN list to be decolonised. The UN committee, responsible for studying the implementation of the declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, is more generally called the "Special Committee of 24". It oversaw the independence of the former Indonesian province of East Timor (Timor Leste). The number of remaining countries and territories to be decolonised has, therefore, dropped from 17 to 16. They include, in the Pacific, Tokelau (New Zealand), Pitcairn (United Kingdom) and New Caledonia (France). The decolonisation process of New Caledonia is enshrined in the Noumea Accord, signed in 1998 between pro-independence and pro-France parties. With a special focus on the notion of "common destiny", it provides guidelines for a gradual transfer of powers from France to local authorities, a power-sharing government and a possible referendum on self-determination between 2014 and 2018. New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986, after independence-related unrest in the mid-1980s. As part of a special series on the world's remaining colonies, Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports from the capital, Noumea, on New Caledonia's decolonisation process and its progress. [May, 18, 2010]
- published: 18 May 2010
- views: 10166
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
New caledonia... Fantastic island
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:33
- Updated: 13 Dec 2012
Fantastic.... so cool!!!
http://wn.com/New_caledonia_Fantastic_island
'ElectroLegs' - The New Caledonia by STAN BICKNELL
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:59
- Updated: 16 Jan 2013
thenewcaledonia.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com This is a track called 'Electrolegs' from my band 'The New Caledonia' off the album LOTUS. This was filmed and recorded as one continuous, single take with no editing to the videos or drums in post production. I decided to once again use my Sonor S-Classix Scandinavian Birch in the beautiful Stratawood finish as the birch from the toms cut through with such a warm round tone and suit this track perfectly. I proudly endorse and exclusively play the following gear: SONOR Drums UFiP Cymbals Trick pedals Silverfox Drumsticks In this video I am showcasing the following gear: SONOR S-Classix with Scandinavian Birch Shells in Stratawood finish- BD - 22" x 17.5" TT - 10" x 8" TT - 12" x 9" FT - 14" x 14" 14" x 5.5 Artist Series Snare with Vintage Maple shell in Blanched Roots finish UFiP Cymbals- (left from birdseye view) 13" Natural Top/Extatic Bottom Hi-Hats 18" Class Crash 20" Natural Hand-Hammered Sizzle Ride Trash Stack made of cracked 18" China on cracked 19" Crash 19" Brilliant Crash TRICK BIGFOOT single pedal with DW Dual Beater SILVERFOX Drumsticks (MR) Cheers Billy and Tony at Drum Partners Australia. Thanks to all my mates for a great day and specifically: Michael Tayler - Engineer and Mixing Paul Innes - DOP This was filmed at Threephase Studios in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. Cheers Scott and Ben The New Caledonia is: STAN BICKNELL - Drums FAGAN WILCOX - Guitar TIMON MARTIN - Guitar MIKE TAYLER - Bass If you'd like to ...
http://wn.com/'ElectroLegs'_The_New_Caledonia_by_STAN_BICKNELL
thenewcaledonia.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com This is a track called 'Electrolegs' from my band 'The New Caledonia' off the album LOTUS. This was filmed and recorded as one continuous, single take with no editing to the videos or drums in post production. I decided to once again use my Sonor S-Classix Scandinavian Birch in the beautiful Stratawood finish as the birch from the toms cut through with such a warm round tone and suit this track perfectly. I proudly endorse and exclusively play the following gear: SONOR Drums UFiP Cymbals Trick pedals Silverfox Drumsticks In this video I am showcasing the following gear: SONOR S-Classix with Scandinavian Birch Shells in Stratawood finish- BD - 22" x 17.5" TT - 10" x 8" TT - 12" x 9" FT - 14" x 14" 14" x 5.5 Artist Series Snare with Vintage Maple shell in Blanched Roots finish UFiP Cymbals- (left from birdseye view) 13" Natural Top/Extatic Bottom Hi-Hats 18" Class Crash 20" Natural Hand-Hammered Sizzle Ride Trash Stack made of cracked 18" China on cracked 19" Crash 19" Brilliant Crash TRICK BIGFOOT single pedal with DW Dual Beater SILVERFOX Drumsticks (MR) Cheers Billy and Tony at Drum Partners Australia. Thanks to all my mates for a great day and specifically: Michael Tayler - Engineer and Mixing Paul Innes - DOP This was filmed at Threephase Studios in Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. Cheers Scott and Ben The New Caledonia is: STAN BICKNELL - Drums FAGAN WILCOX - Guitar TIMON MARTIN - Guitar MIKE TAYLER - Bass If you'd like to ...
- published: 04 Jan 2012
- views: 12070
- author: stanbicknell
New Caledonia: Nouméa, Grande Terre, Neukaledonien - Landscape and city
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:00
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
Visiting Nouméa in New Caledonia, the biggest city on the biggest island Grande Terre. Check the beautiful coastline as well as the chessboard-city with its wonderful landscape - but also the mine.
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_Nouméa,_Grande_Terre,_Neukaledonien_Landscape_and_city
Visiting Nouméa in New Caledonia, the biggest city on the biggest island Grande Terre. Check the beautiful coastline as well as the chessboard-city with its wonderful landscape - but also the mine.
- published: 22 Aug 2011
- views: 5311
- author: ThomasMajchrzak
New Caledonia; a biodiversity gem of the South Pacific
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:49
- Updated: 29 Dec 2012
new celedonian biodiversity and wwf's efforts to protect it
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia;_a_biodiversity_gem_of_the_South_Pacific
new celedonian biodiversity and wwf's efforts to protect it
- published: 02 Mar 2008
- views: 2795
- author: ahabdowner
New Caledonia Aerial HD Footage
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:55
- Updated: 03 Jan 2013
Aerial footage flying around New Caledonia including reefs, isle of pines, ship wreck and Noumea. Shot using Tony Monk Films Cineflex HD Aerial Helicopter Camera System.
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_Aerial_HD_Footage
Aerial footage flying around New Caledonia including reefs, isle of pines, ship wreck and Noumea. Shot using Tony Monk Films Cineflex HD Aerial Helicopter Camera System.
- published: 02 May 2011
- views: 5940
- author: tonymonkfilms
New Caledonia reef under threat
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:22
- Updated: 31 May 2012
The coral reef that surrounds the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is the second biggest in the world - after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The reef is home to some of the world's most diverse marine life, and is a major source of food and income for locals. But it is coming under threat as the mining of nickel, another one of its richest natural resource, expands. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports from New Caledonia. [May, 30, 2010]
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_reef_under_threat
The coral reef that surrounds the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is the second biggest in the world - after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The reef is home to some of the world's most diverse marine life, and is a major source of food and income for locals. But it is coming under threat as the mining of nickel, another one of its richest natural resource, expands. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports from New Caledonia. [May, 30, 2010]
- published: 30 May 2010
- views: 8696
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
PARADISE REVEALED - THE NEW CALEDONIA EPISODE
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 12:27
- Updated: 14 Jan 2013
The North Kiteboarding Team went down to beautiful New Caledonia in late August this year. Tom Hebert, Angela Peral and Airton Cozzolino where accompanied by the brand new Evo´s and took fully advantage of the breathtaking kite spots they found! Have an inside look in one of the most amazing trips we ever did with North Kiteboarding!
http://wn.com/PARADISE_REVEALED_THE_NEW_CALEDONIA_EPISODE
The North Kiteboarding Team went down to beautiful New Caledonia in late August this year. Tom Hebert, Angela Peral and Airton Cozzolino where accompanied by the brand new Evo´s and took fully advantage of the breathtaking kite spots they found! Have an inside look in one of the most amazing trips we ever did with North Kiteboarding!
- published: 01 Nov 2012
- views: 17061
- author: nkbrocks
US Marines training with French in New Caledonia (Part 1) AMERCAL 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 16:46
- Updated: 17 Jan 2013
Next Episode: www.youtube.com PART 3: www.youtube.com US Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conduct a physical training session on Camp Broche, New Caledonia, Sept., 2011, during Exercise AMERCAL 2011. AMERCAL is a platoon-level combat arms combined exchange between the French Armed Forces, New Caledonia and US Marines with the purpose of maintaining a high level of interoperability, enhancing military-to-military relations and improving mutual combat capabilities with French allies. (US Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Harper JJ) Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod
http://wn.com/US_Marines_training_with_French_in_New_Caledonia_Part_1_AMERCAL_2011
Next Episode: www.youtube.com PART 3: www.youtube.com US Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, conduct a physical training session on Camp Broche, New Caledonia, Sept., 2011, during Exercise AMERCAL 2011. AMERCAL is a platoon-level combat arms combined exchange between the French Armed Forces, New Caledonia and US Marines with the purpose of maintaining a high level of interoperability, enhancing military-to-military relations and improving mutual combat capabilities with French allies. (US Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Harper JJ) Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod
- published: 23 Jan 2012
- views: 14079
- author: MilitaryNotes
New Caledonia Travel Doc Part 07
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:20
- Updated: 01 Jan 2013
New Caledonia is an outstanding destination, due largely to the magnificent barrier reef which surrounds the main island of Grande Terre. It is the second largest in the world and is, unsurprisingly, an underwater maze of natural beauty. But the islands themselves are more than capable of entertaining the holidayer. Luxurious five star hotels invite the wealthy tourists into their midst, whilst the budget traveller can lodge in the cheaper accomodation. But be they wealthy or on a budget, everyone who comes to New Caledonia is treated to the same cultural vivacity and tropical flavour. Frenchness has made its mark on culture, but the islanders are by no means a collection of French folk donning swimsuits and suntans; their dance and food are unmistakably traditional, though infused with modern influences. Since 1986 the United Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. New Caledonia will decide whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum sometime after 2014. bbtv broadbandtv powersports powerdocs new caledonia france cities city world nature travel tour tourism history ancient discovery destinations landmark culture civilization building structure background adventure
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_Travel_Doc_Part_07
New Caledonia is an outstanding destination, due largely to the magnificent barrier reef which surrounds the main island of Grande Terre. It is the second largest in the world and is, unsurprisingly, an underwater maze of natural beauty. But the islands themselves are more than capable of entertaining the holidayer. Luxurious five star hotels invite the wealthy tourists into their midst, whilst the budget traveller can lodge in the cheaper accomodation. But be they wealthy or on a budget, everyone who comes to New Caledonia is treated to the same cultural vivacity and tropical flavour. Frenchness has made its mark on culture, but the islanders are by no means a collection of French folk donning swimsuits and suntans; their dance and food are unmistakably traditional, though infused with modern influences. Since 1986 the United Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. New Caledonia will decide whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum sometime after 2014. bbtv broadbandtv powersports powerdocs new caledonia france cities city world nature travel tour tourism history ancient discovery destinations landmark culture civilization building structure background adventure
- published: 08 Oct 2008
- views: 7514
- author: BroadbandTVTravel
Blue Lagoon - New Caledonia GT Popping
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:49
- Updated: 13 Jan 2013
For more videos or reservations visit oceanbluefishing.com Watch as Ocean Blue Fishing team go to New Caledonia which is also known for its excellent Extreme GT Popping fishing spot.
http://wn.com/Blue_Lagoon_New_Caledonia_GT_Popping
For more videos or reservations visit oceanbluefishing.com Watch as Ocean Blue Fishing team go to New Caledonia which is also known for its excellent Extreme GT Popping fishing spot.
- published: 29 May 2009
- views: 84112
- author: OceanBlueFishing
New Caledonian Crested geckos in the wild
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:18
- Updated: 06 Jan 2013
Spotlighting In New Caledonia's Rainforests
http://wn.com/New_Caledonian_Crested_geckos_in_the_wild
Spotlighting In New Caledonia's Rainforests
- published: 10 Aug 2006
- views: 12789
- author: adrian cunningham
2012.06.08 HIGHLIGHTS OFC NATIONS CUP - NZL vs NCL
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:57
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
New Caledonia have booked a meeting with Tahiti in the final of the OFC Nations Cup after beating New Zealand 2-0 at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in the second semi-final. OFC TV PRODUCTION
http://wn.com/20120608_HIGHLIGHTS_OFC_NATIONS_CUP_NZL_vs_NCL
New Caledonia have booked a meeting with Tahiti in the final of the OFC Nations Cup after beating New Zealand 2-0 at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in the second semi-final. OFC TV PRODUCTION
- published: 08 Jun 2012
- views: 12903
- author: OFCfootball
Traditional dancing from Lifou, New Caledonia
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:35
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
"Hoot Ma Waap", a vigorous traditional dance from the village of Xepenehe on the island of Drehu (Lifou), in the Loyauté Islands of Kanaky (New Caledonia), performed by young men during the Festival of Melanesian Arts in Lifou, December 2001.
http://wn.com/Traditional_dancing_from_Lifou,_New_Caledonia
"Hoot Ma Waap", a vigorous traditional dance from the village of Xepenehe on the island of Drehu (Lifou), in the Loyauté Islands of Kanaky (New Caledonia), performed by young men during the Festival of Melanesian Arts in Lifou, December 2001.
- published: 21 Feb 2009
- views: 6214
- author: luitzenk
Medical Labratory Technician at College of New Caledonia
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:28
- Updated: 12 Oct 2012
The College of New Caledonia is a comprehensive community college providing access to lifelong learning. The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is located in Prince George, British Columbia and works alongside the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to provide access to education and job training for our area.
http://wn.com/Medical_Labratory_Technician_at_College_of_New_Caledonia
The College of New Caledonia is a comprehensive community college providing access to lifelong learning. The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is located in Prince George, British Columbia and works alongside the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to provide access to education and job training for our area.
- published: 06 Apr 2009
- views: 5771
- author: CaledoniaCollege
New Caledonia Giant Geckos
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:20
- Updated: 01 Jan 2013
Dr Alfonso talks with Vicki from Big Fat Geckos about the New Caledonia Giant Gecko. This was at the Repticon in Orlando Florida 2010.
http://wn.com/New_Caledonia_Giant_Geckos
Dr Alfonso talks with Vicki from Big Fat Geckos about the New Caledonia Giant Gecko. This was at the Repticon in Orlando Florida 2010.
- published: 16 Nov 2010
- views: 14603
- author: reptilesupply
Blue Lagoon: What Lies Beneath - New Caledonia GT Popping and Jigging
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:46
- Updated: 15 Jan 2013
For more videos or reservations visit oceanbluefishing.com Extreme GT popping and jigging at Poindimie on New Caledonia's East Coast. Fishing adventure trip at Poindimie on New Caledonia's East Coast and features some incredible live fishing footage as well as some underwater shots.
http://wn.com/Blue_Lagoon_What_Lies_Beneath_New_Caledonia_GT_Popping_and_Jigging
For more videos or reservations visit oceanbluefishing.com Extreme GT popping and jigging at Poindimie on New Caledonia's East Coast. Fishing adventure trip at Poindimie on New Caledonia's East Coast and features some incredible live fishing footage as well as some underwater shots.
- published: 27 Aug 2009
- views: 16356
- author: OceanBlueFishing
GT Popping in New Caledonia
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:55
- Updated: 12 Jan 2013
Jared, Adrian and I went to pop got giant trevally in New Caledonia in June of 2011. We fished with Le Poisson Banane (aka LPB). We had a great time and here is some video I shot from our trip.
http://wn.com/GT_Popping_in_New_Caledonia
Jared, Adrian and I went to pop got giant trevally in New Caledonia in June of 2011. We fished with Le Poisson Banane (aka LPB). We had a great time and here is some video I shot from our trip.
- published: 05 Jul 2011
- views: 11630
- author: egluck
US Marines Weapons Training - New Caledonia (Part 2) AMERCAL 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:23
- Updated: 06 Jan 2013
NEXT EPISODE (Part 3): www.youtube.com Part 1: www.youtube.com US Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and French Airborne Marines, with 8th Infantry Regiment, Com De Clerage Et D'appius, Castres, France, Plum, New Caledonia, conduct live fire training during Exercise AMERCAL 2011 on Camp Broche, New Caledonia, Sept. 23, 2011. AMERCAL is a platoon level combat arms combined exchange between the French Armed Forces, New Caledonia and US Marines with the purpose of maintaining a high level of interoperability, enhancing military to military relations and improving mutual combat capabilities with French Allies. (US Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Harper JJ)Available in high definition French Para Marines train with US Marines: www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/US_Marines_Weapons_Training_New_Caledonia_Part_2_AMERCAL_2011
NEXT EPISODE (Part 3): www.youtube.com Part 1: www.youtube.com US Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and French Airborne Marines, with 8th Infantry Regiment, Com De Clerage Et D'appius, Castres, France, Plum, New Caledonia, conduct live fire training during Exercise AMERCAL 2011 on Camp Broche, New Caledonia, Sept. 23, 2011. AMERCAL is a platoon level combat arms combined exchange between the French Armed Forces, New Caledonia and US Marines with the purpose of maintaining a high level of interoperability, enhancing military to military relations and improving mutual combat capabilities with French Allies. (US Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Harper JJ)Available in high definition French Para Marines train with US Marines: www.youtube.com
- published: 23 Jan 2012
- views: 8087
- author: MilitaryNotes
Hunting Rusa deer in New Caledonia Part 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:41
- Updated: 10 Oct 2012
Hunting the Rusa deer in the roar in an environment where high mountains and thick bush makes an ideal place for this ghost of the forest. Rusa deer was introduced to New Caledonia from Indonesia and somehow they have done better in the sense of trophy and size.Most of the hunting in NC is long shots with medium to heavy calibers not just for the distances but mostly because Rusa is very hard to bring down, maybe the fighting spirit of their ancestors has not abandoned them where the deep wound from the claws and fangs of a Bengal tiger would heal in a short time.Safe hunting.
http://wn.com/Hunting_Rusa_deer_in_New_Caledonia_Part_1
Hunting the Rusa deer in the roar in an environment where high mountains and thick bush makes an ideal place for this ghost of the forest. Rusa deer was introduced to New Caledonia from Indonesia and somehow they have done better in the sense of trophy and size.Most of the hunting in NC is long shots with medium to heavy calibers not just for the distances but mostly because Rusa is very hard to bring down, maybe the fighting spirit of their ancestors has not abandoned them where the deep wound from the claws and fangs of a Bengal tiger would heal in a short time.Safe hunting.
- published: 28 Sep 2011
- views: 8039
- author: waikarimoana
2012 PKRA REEF Kitesurf Pro New Caledonia -Double Elimination-
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 368:05
- Updated: 13 Jan 2013
Live footage as recorded live from the PKRA REEF Kitesurf Pro New Caledonia -Double Elimination-
http://wn.com/2012_PKRA_REEF_Kitesurf_Pro_New_Caledonia_-Double_Elimination-
Live footage as recorded live from the PKRA REEF Kitesurf Pro New Caledonia -Double Elimination-
- published: 25 Nov 2012
- views: 5844
- author: PKRAWorldTour
Hunting Rusa deer in New Caledonia Part two
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:18
- Updated: 18 Oct 2012
Hunting and stalking Rusa deer is a challenging act that need unlimited wits and mental sharpness to get close and have a neck shot.The pace has to be slow and the movement like a flow without a sharp and sudden movement.Safe hunting.
http://wn.com/Hunting_Rusa_deer_in_New_Caledonia_Part_two
Hunting and stalking Rusa deer is a challenging act that need unlimited wits and mental sharpness to get close and have a neck shot.The pace has to be slow and the movement like a flow without a sharp and sudden movement.Safe hunting.
- published: 16 Dec 2009
- views: 3596
- author: waikarimoana
photo: White House / Pete Souza
17 Jan 2013
AMY TEIBEL ... Polls suggest Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to win Israel's elections next week and continue in office ... Israel and the U.S ... While the U.S ... vetoes at the U.N ... Israel retaliated by announcing plans for a new settlement construction surge, drawing unusually severe international rebukes. "With each new settlement announcement, in Obama's view, Netanyahu is moving his country down a path toward near-total isolation," Goldberg wrote....(size: 10.2Kb)
photo: GFDL
17 Jan 2013
TOKYO. Aviation regulators on Thursday grounded most of the world's 787 Dreamliner fleet until a fire risk linked to the plane's batteries can been fixed, deepening a crisis for its US manufacturer Boeing ... However, he stressed ... Air India and Chile's LAN Airlines followed suit ... Kajiyama told reporters ... "Boeing engineers, aircraft experts and several Wall Street analysts have defended problems with the jet as routine for a new airplane ... ....(size: 4.5Kb)
photo: Creative Commons / INABA Tomoaki
16 Jan 2013
AP Business Writers= TOKYO (AP) — Boeing Co.'s 787 planes were grounded for safety checks Wednesday by two major Japanese airlines after one was forced to make an emergency landing in the latest blow for the new jet ... The earliest manufactured jets of any new aircraft usually have problems and airlines run higher risks in flying them first, said Brendan Sobie, Singapore-based chief analyst at CAPA-Center for Aviation....(size: 11.1Kb)
photo: French MoD photo
16 Jan 2013
BAMAKO, Mali -- After a punishing bombing campaign failed to halt the advance of al-Qaida-linked fighters, France pledged Tuesday to triple the size of its force in Mali, sending in hundreds more troops as it prepared for a land assault to dislodge the militants occupying the country's northern half ... On Tuesday, France announced that it was increasing the number of troops from 800 to 2,500 ... "We have one objective ... On Tuesday, U.S ... ....(size: 3.6Kb)
photo: AP / BP
16 Jan 2013
IN what could be the first spillover from France's intervention in Mali, Islamist militants attacked and occupied a natural gas complex partly operated by energy company BP in southern Algeria. Two foreigners were killed and dozens of others, including Americans, were taken hostage ... It said it was holding 41 foreigners, including seven Americans ... Recommended Coverage. Al-Qaeda seize hostages in Algeria. End of sidebar ... . ....(size: 7.4Kb)
noodls
17 Jan 2013
The Stage 3 qualifiers were not confirmed until after the A-League 2012/13 season draw was released causing the All Whites matches against New Caledonia on Friday March 22 and the Solomon Islands on Tuesday March 26 to clash with the A-League encounter ... the New Zealand-based side would be unable to sign any replacements in order to field a team....(size: 3.0Kb)
noodls
17 Jan 2013
The winner of the OFC U-17 Championship Preliminary will go on to the second stage set for Vanuatu in April against the region's top tiered teams - New Zealand, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and hosts, Vanuatu ... Siligi and Ruben Luvu Jr - who represented American Samoa at this age group two years ago in New Zealand....(size: 4.0Kb)
noodls
17 Jan 2013
... Phoenix's game against Newcastle Jets because of a clash with the New Zealand's World Cup qualifying matches. The Jets are fuming that the match has been moved from its original date of March 23 to February 27 because it clashes with the All Whites' World Cup qualifiers against New Caledonia (March 22) and the Solomon Islands (March 26)....(size: 4.7Kb)
NZ Herald
17 Jan 2013
We might know the Warrior Princess as Xena, played by New Zealander Lucy Lawless and filmed in Auckland ... I expect it will be a really tough field in New Zealand like it was in Phuket last year ... This includes 212 from Australia but also Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Caledonia, Philippines, South Africa, Switzerland and Britain....(size: 5.2Kb)
noodls
17 Jan 2013
Harry Ngata believes Andrew Durante would be a "great acquisition" for the New Zealand team should the Australian get the go ahead to switch allegiance in March ... Ngata is also confident that New Zealand fans would embrace Durante as an honorary Kiwi ... Many are touting Durante as the ready-made replacement for Nelsen with World Cup qualifiers against New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands coming up in March....(size: 7.7Kb)
Stuff
16 Jan 2013
The Wellington Phoenix's A-League match with the Newcastle Jets on March 23 has been brought forward to February 27 because it clashes with the All Whites World Cup Oceania qualifying games against New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands....(size: 1.4Kb)
NZ Herald
16 Jan 2013
... the FFA's agreed to shift the Phoenix's round 26 match with the Newcastle Jets in order to avoid a clash with the All Whites World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia....(size: 0.9Kb)
NZ Herald
16 Jan 2013
The All Whites host New Caledonia and then travel to the Solomon Islands for the qualifiers on March 22 and 26 respectively, which has prompted ......(size: 0.8Kb)
noodls
16 Jan 2013
(Source. FFA - Football Federation Australia Limited) ... The match has been rescheduled due to a clash with the FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifying matches between the New Zealand All Whites and New Caledonia on Friday 22 March and against the Solomon Islands on Tuesday 26 March ... distributed by ... The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.. (noodl. 17213062) ....(size: 2.3Kb)
noodls
16 Jan 2013
(Source. Wellington Phoenix FC) ... The match has been rescheduled due to a clash with the FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifying matches between the New Zealand All Whites and New Caledonia on Friday 22 March and against the Solomon Islands on Tuesday 26 March. The FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers were not confirmed until after the Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season draw was released ... Email online@ticketek.co.nz ... distributed by....(size: 2.6Kb)
Sun Star
16 Jan 2013
President Benigno Aquino III led the unveiling of the shipyard in Barangay Arpili, Balamban, Cebu yesterday ... Commercial vessels ... Enterprises in New Caledonia; another project is a 41-meter catamaran passenger ferry, which was ordered by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago; a 65-meter catamaran Ro-Pax fast ferry ordered by the Sultan of Oman; and a 50-meter live-aboard dive cruise vessel ordered by the North Star Cruise of Australia ... ....(size: 2.8Kb)
The Examiner
16 Jan 2013
For only the second time in its history, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team will play a World Cup Qualifier in Denver ... MT. The U.S ... 6 and Oct. 15. The top three teams automatically advance to next summer's World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher still has a chance to qualify through a two-game playoff against the winner of the Oceania region, which includes New Zealand, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Tahiti ... ....(size: 3.1Kb)
noodls
15 Jan 2013
Wesley Lautoa, who plays for French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, will not be making an appearance for the New Caledonia national side in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Stage 3 in March - but sees himself making his debut for Les Cagous in the future ... New Caledonia in the future ... Born in Épernay, a town situated in the Champagne region of northern France, Lautoa's links to New Caledonia have been inherited through his family....(size: 4.2Kb)
Coordinates: 21°15′S 165°18′E / 21.25°S 165.30°E / -21.25; 165.30
This article is about the overseas territory. For other uses, see New Caledonia (disambiguation).
For other uses, see Caledonia.
| New Caledonia
Nouvelle-Calédonie
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||
| Motto: "Terre de parole, terre de partage"[1] | ||||||
| Anthem: Soyons unis, devenons frères[1] |
||||||
.svg) |
||||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Nouméa | |||||
| Government | Dependent territory | |||||
| - | Presidential Head of State | François Hollande | ||||
| - | President of the Government of New Caledonia | Harold Martin | ||||
| - | High Commissioner | Albert Dupuy | ||||
| Legislature | Congress | |||||
| Sui generis collectivity of France | ||||||
| - | Annexed by France | 1853 | ||||
| - | Overseas territory | 1946 | ||||
| - | Sui generis collectivity | 1999 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 18,576 km2 (154th) 7,172 sq mi |
||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2011 estimate | 256,275[2] (182nd) | ||||
| - | 2009 census | 245,580[3] | ||||
| - | Density | 13.2/km2 (200th) 34.2/sq mi |
||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | €6.278 billion[4] | ||||
| - | Per capita | €25,450[4] | ||||
| Currency | CFP franc (XPF) |
|||||
| Time zone | (UTC+11) | |||||
| ISO 3166 code | NC | |||||
| Internet TLD | .nc | |||||
| Calling code | 687 | |||||
New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie[5]) is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) east of Australia and about 20,000 kilometres (12,000 mi) from Metropolitan France.[6] The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines and a few remote islets.[7] The Chesterfield Islands in the Coral Sea are also part of New Caledonia. Locals refer to Grande Terre as "Le Caillou", the rock.[8]
New Caledonia has a land area of 18,576 square kilometres (7,172 sq mi). The population (2011 estimate) is 256,275.[2] The capital of the territory is Nouméa.[6]
Contents |
History[link]
The earliest traces of human presence in New Caledonia date back to the Lapita period.[9] The Lapita were highly skilled navigators and agriculturists with influence over a large area of the Pacific.[10]
_warriors_posing_with_penis_gourds_and_spears,_New_Caledonia.jpg)
The British first sighted New Caledonia on September 4, 1774, during the second voyage of Captain James Cook.[11] He named the territory New Caledonia, as the north-east of the island reminded him of Scotland.[11] The west coast of Grande Terre was approached by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse in 1788, shortly before his disappearance, and the Loyalty Islands were first visited in 1796.[11] From then until 1840, only a few sporadic contacts with the archipelago were recorded.[11] Contacts became more frequent after 1840, because of the interest in sandalwood from New Caledonia.[9]
As trade in sandalwood declined, it was replaced by a new form of trade, "Blackbirding", a euphemism for enslaving people from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands to work in sugar cane plantations in Fiji and Queensland.[12] The trade ceased at the start of the 20th century.[12] The victims of this trade were called Kanakas like all the Oceanian people, after the Hawaiian word for 'man'.[12]
The first missionaries from the London Missionary Society and the Marist Brothers arrived in the 1840s.[13] In 1849, the crew of the American ship Cutter was killed and eaten by the Pouma clan.[14] Cannibalism was widespread throughout New Caledonia.[15]
On September 24, 1853, under orders from Napoleon III, Admiral Febvrier Despointes took formal possession of New Caledonia and Port-de-France (Nouméa) was founded June 25, 1854.[11] A few dozen free settlers settled on the west coast in the following years.[11] New Caledonia became a penal colony, and from the 1860s until the end of the transportations in 1897, about 22,000 criminals and political prisoners were sent to New Caledonia, among them many Communards, including Henri de Rochefort and Louise Michel.[16] Between 1873 and 1876, 4,200 political prisoners were "relegated" in New Caledonia.[11] Only forty of them settled in the colony, the rest returned to France after being granted amnesty in 1879 and 1880.[11]
In 1864 nickel was discovered on the banks of the Diahot River and with the establishment of the Société Le Nickel in 1876 mining began in earnest.[17] The French imported labourers to work in the mines, first from neighbouring islands, then from Japan, the Dutch East Indies and French Indochina.[16] The French government also attempted to encourage European immigration, without much success.[16]
The indigenous population was excluded from the French economy, even as workers in the mines, and they were ultimately confined to reservations.[16] This sparked a violent reaction in 1878 as High Chief Atal of La Foa managed to unite many of the central tribes and launched a guerrilla war which cost 200 Frenchmen and 1,000 Kanaks their lives.[17] The Kanak population declined from around 60,000 in 1878 to 27,100 in 1921, and their numbers did not increase again until the 1930s.[17]
In June 1940, after the fall of France, the Conseil General of New Caledonia voted unanimously to support the Free French government, and in September the pro-Vichy governor was forced to leave for Indochina.[17] In March 1942, with the assistance of Australia,[18] the territory became an important Allied base,[17] and Nouméa the headquarters of the United States Navy and Army in the South Pacific.[19] The fleet which turned back the Japanese navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was based at Noumea.[17] American troops counted up to 50,000 men, the equivalent of the contemporary population.[11] In 1946 New Caledonia became an overseas territory.[11] By 1953 French citizenship had been granted to all New Caledonians, regardless of ethnicity.[20]
The European and Polynesian populations gradually increased in the years leading to the nickel boom of 1969–72, and the Melanesians became a minority, though they were still the largest single ethnic group.[20] Between 1976 and 1988, New Caledonia adopted five different statutes, with each proving to be a source of discontent and, at times, serious disorder,[11] culminating in 1988 with a bloody hostage taking in Ouvéa. The Matignon Agreements, signed on June 26, 1988, ensured a decade of stability. The Noumea Accord signed May 5, 1998, set the groundwork for a 20-year transitional period that will gradually transfer competences to the local government.[11]
Politics[link]
Main article: Politics of New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a sui generis collectivity that has been gradually transferred certain powers from France.[21] It is governed by a 54-member Territorial Congress, a legislative body composed of members of three provincial assemblies.[22] The French State is represented in the territory by a High Commissioner.[22] At a national level, New Caledonia is represented in the National Assembly by two deputies and a senator.[23] At the 2007 French presidential election the voter turnout in New Caledonia was 68.14%.[24]
For 25 years, the party system in New Caledonia was dominated by the anti-independence The Rally–UMP.[22] This dominance ended with the emergence of a new party, Avenir Ensemble, also opposed to independence but considered more open to dialogue with the Kanak movement,[22] which is part of FLNKS, a coalition of several pro-independence groups.[22]
Customary authority[link]
The Kanak society has several layers of customary authority, from the 4,000-5,000 family-based clans to the eight customary areas (aires coutumières) that make up the territory.[25] Clans are led by clan chiefs and constitute 341 tribes, each headed by a tribal chief. The tribes are further grouped into 57 customary chiefdoms (chefferies), each headed by a Head Chief, and forming the administrative subdivisions of the customary areas.[25]
_receives_a_wreath_to_lay_at_the_U.S._war_memorial_during_a_ceremony.jpg)
The Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, and has jurisdiction over the law proposals concerning the Kanak identity.[26] The Customary Senate is composed of sixteen members appointed by each traditional council, with two representatives per each customary area.[26] In its advisory role, the Customary Senate must be consulted on law proposals "concerning the Kanak identity" as defined in the Noumea Accord.[26] It also has a deliberative role on law proposals that would affect identity, the civil customary statute and the land system.[26] A new President is appointed each year in August or September, and the presidency rotates between the eight customary areas.[26]
Kanak people recourse to customary authorities regarding civil matters such as marriage, adoption, inheritance, and some land issues.[25] The French administration typically respects decisions made in the customary system.[25] However, their jurisdiction is sharply limited in penal matters, as some elements of the customary justice system, including the use of corporal punishment, are seen as clashing with the human rights obligations of France.[25]
Military[link]
The Armed Forces of New Caledonia (French: Forces armées de Nouvelle-Calédonie) include about 2,000 soldiers, mainly deployed in Koumac, Nandi, Tontouta, Plum and Noumea.[27] The land forces consist of a regiment of the Troupes de marine, the Régiment d’infanterie de marine du Pacifique. The naval forces include two P400 class patrol vessels, a BATRAL and a patrol boat of the Maritime Gendarmerie.[27] The air force is made up of three Casa transport aircraft, four Puma helicopters and a Fennec helicopter, based in Tontouta.[27] In addition, 760 gendarmes are deployed on the archipelago.[27]
Status[link]
Since 1986 the United Nations Committee on Decolonization has included New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.[citation needed]
Under the Noumea Accord, signed in 1998 following a period of secessionist unrest in the 1980s, New Caledonia is to hold a referendum on independence between 2014 and 2018.[28]
The official name of the territory, Nouvelle-Calédonie, could be changed in the near future due to the accord, which stated that "a name, a flag, an anthem, a motto, and the design of banknotes will have to be sought by all parties together, to express the Kanak identity and the future shared by all parties."[29] To date, however, there has been no consensus on a new name for the territory.[30]
New Caledonia has increasingly adopted its own symbols, choosing an anthem, a motto, and a new design for its banknotes.[31] In July 2010, New Caledonia adopted the Kanak flag, alongside the existing French tricolor, as the dual official flags of the territory.[32] The adoption made New Caledonia one of the few countries or territories in the world with two official national flags.[32] The decision to use two flags has been a constant battleground between the two sides and led the coalition government to collapse in February 2011.[28]
Administrative divisions[link]
Main article: Administrative divisions of New Caledonia
The institutional organization is the result of the organic law and ordinary law passed by the Parliament on February 16, 1999.[21]
The archipelago is divided into three provinces:
- South Province (province Sud). Provincial capital: Nouméa. Population: 183,007 inhabitants (2009).
- North Province (province Nord). Provincial capital: Koné. Population: 45,137 inhabitants (2009).
- Loyalty Islands Province (province des îles Loyauté). Provincial capital: Lifou. Population: 17,436 inhabitants (2009).
New Caledonia is further divided into 33 municipalities:[21] One commune, Poya, is divided between two provinces. The northern half of Poya, with the main settlement and most of the population, is part of the North Province, while the southern half of the commune, with only 127 inhabitants in 2009, is part of the South Province.
| South Province | North Province | Loyalty Islands Province |
|---|---|---|
|
Geography[link]
Main article: Geography of New Caledonia
New Caledonia is part of Zealandia, a fragment of the ancient Gondwana super-continent. Zealandia separated from Australia 60–85 million years ago.[33] New Caledonia itself separated from Australia 65 million years ago, subsequently drifting in a north-easterly direction, reaching its present position about 50 million years ago.[34]
The mainland is divided in length by a central mountain range whose highest peak are Mount Panié (1629 m) in the north and Mount Humboldt (1618 m) in the southeast.[35] The east coast is covered by a lush vegetation.[35] The west coast, with its large savannahs and plains suitable for farming, is a drier area. Many ore-rich massifs are found along this coast.[35]
The Diahot River is the longest river of New Caledonia, flowing for some 100 kilometres (62 mi).[36] It has a catchment area of 620 square kilometres and opens north-westward into the Baie d'Harcourt, flowing towards the northern point of the island along the western escarpment of the Mount Panié.[36][37] Most of the island is covered by wet evergreen forests, while savannahs dominate the lower elevations.[38] The New Caledonian lagoon, with a total area of 24,000 square kilometers is one of the largest lagoons in the world. It is surrounded by the New Caledonia Barrier Reef.[35]
Climate[link]
The climate is tropical, with hot and humid period from November to March with temperatures between 27°C and 30°C,[35] and a cooler, dry period from June to August with temperatures between 20°C and 23°C,[35] linked by two short transition periods.[11] The tropical climate is strongly moderated by the oceanic influence and the trade winds that attenuates humidity, which can be close to 80%.[35] The average annual temperature is 23°C, with historical extremes of 2.3°C and 39.1°C.[11]
The rainfall records show that precipitations differ greatly within the island. The 3000 mm of rainfall recorded in Galarino are three times the average of the west coast. There are also dry periods, because of the effects of El Niño.[11] Between December and April, tropical depressions and cyclones can cause winds to exceed a speed of 100 km/h with gusts of 250 km/h and very abundant rainfall.[11] The last cyclone affecting New Caledonia was Cyclone Vania (2011), in January 2011.
Environment[link]
See also: Biodiversity of New Caledonia
New Caledonia has many unique animals, especially birds[39] It has the richest diversity in the world per square kilometre.[39]and plants. In its botany not only species but entire genera and even families are unique to the island, and survive nowhere else. The biodiversity is caused by Grande Terre's central mountain range, which has created a variety of niches, landforms and micro-climates where endemic species thrive.[39]
Bruno Van Peteghem who was in 2001 awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his efforts on behalf of the Caledonian ecological protection movement in the face of "serious challenges" from Jacques Lafleur's RPCR party.[40] Progress has been made in a few areas in addressing the protection of New Caledonia's ecological diversity from fire, industrial and residential development, unrestricted agricultural activity and mining (such as the judicial revocation of INCO's mining license in June 2006 owing to claimed abuses).[41]
Flora[link]
New Caledonia’s fauna and flora derive from ancestral species isolated in the region when it broke away from Gondwana many tens of millions of years ago.[42] Not only endemic species have evolved here, but entire genera and even families are unique to the islands.
More tropical Gymnosperm species are endemic to New Caledonia than to any similar region on Earth. Of the 44 indigenous species of gymnosperms, 43 are endemic, including the only known parasitic Gymnosperm (Parasitaxus usta).[43] Again, of the 35 known species of Araucaria, 13 are endemic to New Caledonia.[39]
The world's largest extant species of fern, Cyathea intermedia, also is endemic to New Caledonia. It is very common on acid ground, and grows about one metre per year on the east coast, usually on fallow ground or in forest clearings. There also are other species of Cyathea, notably Cyathea novae-caledoniae.[44]
New Caledonia also is one of five regions on the planet where species of Nothofagus are indigenous; five species are known to occur here.[43]
New Caledonia has its own version of maquis (maquis minier) occurs on metalliferous soils, mostly in the south.[38] The soils of ultramafic rocks (mining terrains) have been a refuge for many native flora species because they are toxic and their mineral content is poorly suited to most foreign species of plants.[43]
Fauna[link]
New Caledonia is home to the New Caledonian crow, a bird noted for its tool-making abilities, which rival that of primates.[45] These crows are renowned for their extraordinary intelligence and ability to fashion tools to solve problems, and make the most complex tools of any animal yet studied apart from humans.[46]
The endemic Kagu, agile and able to run fast, is a flightless bird, but it is able to use its wings to climb branches or glide. It is the surviving member of monotypic family Rhynochetidae, order Gruiformes.[47]
There are 11 endemic fish species and 14 endemic species of decapod crustaceans in the rivers and lakes of New Caledonia. Some exist only in small areas such as Neogalaxias.[48] The Nautilus, considered a living fossil and close to the Ammonites which became extinct at the end of the Mesozoic era, occurs in Pacific waters around New Caledonia.[48]
Several species of New Caledonia are remarkable for their size: the Ducula goliath is the largest extant species of pigeon; Rhacodactylus leachianus, the largest gecko in the world; the Phoboscincus bocourti the largest skink in the world, thought to be extinct but rediscovered in 2003.[48]
Demographics[link]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1956 | 68,480 | — |
| 1963 | 86,519 | +26.3% |
| 1969 | 100,579 | +16.3% |
| 1976 | 133,233 | +32.5% |
| 1983 | 145,368 | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 164,173 | +12.9% |
| 1996 | 196,836 | +19.9% |
| 2004 | 230,789 | +17.2% |
| 2009 | 245,580 | +6.4% |
| ISEE[3] | ||
At the last census in 2009 New Caledonia had a population of 245,580.[49] Of these, 17,436 live in the Loyalty Islands Province, 45,137 in the North Province, and 183,007 in the South Province.[6] Population growth has slowed down since the 1990s, but remains strong with a yearly increase of 1.7% between 1996 and 2009.[49]
Natural growth is responsible for 85% of the population growth, while the remaining 15% is attributable to net migration.[49] The population growth is strong in the Southern province (2.3% per year between 1996 and 2009), moderate in the Northern Province (0.7%), but negative in the Loyalty Islands, which are losing inhabitants (- 1.3%).[49]
Over 40% of the population is under 20,[6] although the rate of older people on the total population is increasing.[49] Two residents of New Caledonia out of three live in Greater Nouméa.[49] Three out of four were born in New Caledonia.[49] The total fertility rate went from 3.2 children per woman in 1990 to 2.2 in 2007.[49]
Ethnic groups[link]
| Communities, 2009[50] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kanak | 99,078 | 40.34% |
| European | 71,721 | 29.20% |
| Wallisian, Futunan | 21,262 | 8.66% |
| Tahitian | 4,985 | 2.03% |
| Indonesian | 3,985 | 1.62% |
| Vietnamese | 2,357 | 0.96% |
| Ni-Vanuatu | 2,327 | 0.95% |
| Other Asian | 1,857 | 0.76% |
| Other | 14,743 | 6.00% |
| Multiple communities | 20,398 | 8.31% |
| Not declared | 2,867 | 1.17% |
| Total | 245,580 | 100.00% |
In 2009, 40.3% of the population reported belonging to the Kanak community, 29.2% to the European community and 8.7% to the community originating from Wallis and Futuna. The remaining identified communities represented 7.3% of the population, and included Tahitians (2.0%), Indonesians (1.6%), Vietnamese (1.0%), Ni-Vanuatu (0.9%) other Asian (0.8%) and other (1.0%). 8.3% belonged to multiple communities, 5% declared their community as "Caledonian", 1.2% did not respond.[51] The question on community belonging, which had been left out of the 2004 census, was reintroduced in 2009 under a new formulation, different from the 1996 census, allowing multiple choices and the possibility to clarify the choice "other".[51]
The Kanak people, part of the Melanesian group, are indigenous to New Caledonia.[52] Their social organization is traditionally based around clans, which identify as either “land” or “sea” clans, depending on their original location and the occupation of their ancestors.[52] According to the 2009 census, the Kanak constitute 94% of the population in the Loyalty Islands Province, 74% in the North Province and 27% in the South Province.[52] The Kanak live in relatively poor socio-economic situations.[52]
Europeans first settled in New Caledonia when France established a penal colony on the archipelago.[52] Once the prisoners had completed their sentences, they were given land to settle.[52] According to the 2009 census, of the 71,721 Europeans in New Caledonia 32,354 were native-born, 33,551 were born in other parts of France, and 5,816 were born abroad.[50] The Europeans are divided into several groups: the Caldoche are usually defined as those born in New Caledonia who have ancestral ties that span back to the early French settlers.[53] They often settled in the rural areas of the western coast of Grande Terre, where many continue to run large cattle properties.[53]
Distinct from the Caldoches are those were born in New Caledonia from families that had settled more recently, and are called simply Caledonians.[53] The French-born immigrants who come to New Caledonia are called métros, indicating their origins in metropolitan France.[53] There is also a community of about 2,000[53] pieds noirs,[54] some of them prominent in anti-independence politics, including Pierre Maresca, a leader of the RPCR.[55]
Languages and religion[link]
Main article: Languages of New Caledonia
The French language began to spread with the establishment of French settlements, and French is now spoken even in the most secluded villages. The level of fluency, however, varies significantly across the population as a whole, primarily due to the absence of universal access to public education before 1953, but also due to immigration and ethnic diversity.[56] At the 2009 census, 97.3% of people aged 15 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas only 1.1% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[57]
The 28 Kanak languages spoken in New Caledonia are part of the Oceanic group of the Austronesian family.[58] Kanak languages are taught from kindergarten (4 languages are taught up to the bachelor's degree) and an academy is responsible for their promotion.[59] The three most widely spoken languages are Drehu (spoken in Lifou), Nengone (Maré) and Paicî (north of Grande Terre).[59] At the 2009 census, 35.8% of people aged 15 or older reported that they could speak (but not necessarily read or write) one of the indigenous Melanesian languages, whereas 58.7% reported that they had no knowledge of any of them.[57]
The Roman Catholic Church claims half of the population as adherents, including almost all of the Europeans, Uveans, and Vietnamese and half of the Melanesian and Tahitian minorities.[20] Of the Protestant churches, the Free Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands have the largest number of adherents; their memberships are almost entirely Melanesian.[20] There are also numerous other Christian groups and small numbers of Muslims.[20]
Economy[link]
Main article: Economy of New Caledonia
New Caledonia has one of the largest economies in the South Pacific, with a GDP per capita slightly higher than New Zealand, though there is significant inequality in income distribution,[60] and long-standing structural imbalances between the economically dominant South Province and the less developed North Province and Loyalty Islands.[22] The currency in use in New Caledonia is the CFP franc, pegged to the euro at a rate of 100 CFP to 0.84 euros. It is issued by the Institut d'Emission d'Outre-Mer.[61]
GDP grew by only 1.1% in 2009, a result affected by a contraction of domestic demand and a deflationary situation brought about by a drastic fall in nickel prices.[62] In the same year, GDP per capita stood at 3.1 million CFP francs.[62]
Financial support from France is substantial, representing more than 15% of the GDP, and contributes to the health of the economy.[2] Tourism is underdeveloped, with 100,000 visitors a year, compared to 400,000 in the Cook Islands and 200,000 in Vanuatu.[31] Much of the land is unsuitable for agriculture, and food accounts for about 20% of imports.[2] According to FAOSTAT, New Caledonia is one of world's largest producers of: yams (33rd); taro (44th); plantains (50th); coconuts (52nd).[63] The exclusive economic zone of New Caledonia covers 1.4 million square kilometres.[7] The construction sector accounts for roughly 12% of GDP, employing 9.9% of the salaried population in 2010.[60] Manufacturing is largely confined to small-scale activities such as the transformation of foodstuffs, textiles and plastics.[60]
In 2007, exports from New Caledonia amounted to 2.11 billion US dollars, 96.3% of which were mineral products and alloys (essentially nickel ore and ferronickel).[64] Imports amounted to 2.88 billion US dollars.[64] 26.6% of imports came from Metropolitan France, 16.1% from other European countries, 13.6% from Singapore (essentially fuel), 10.7% from Australia, 4.0% from New Zealand, 3.2% from the United States, 3.0% from Japan, and 22.7% from other countries.[64] The trade deficit is very high at over 130 billion CFP francs.[62]
Nickel sector[link]
Main article: Nickel mining in New Caledonia
New Caledonian soils contain about 25% of the world's nickel resources.[65] The late-2000s recession has gravely affected the nickel industry, as the sector faced a significant drop in nickel prices (-31.0% year-on-year in 2009) for the second consecutive year.[62] The fall in prices has led a number of producers to reduce or stop altogether their activity, resulting in a reduction of the global supply of nickel by 6% compared to 2008.[62]
This context, combined with bad weather has forced the operators in the sector to revise downwards their production target.[62] Thus, the activity of mineral extraction has declined by 8% in volume year on year.[62] The share of the nickel sector as a percentage of GDP fell 3%, to 5% in 2009 compared with 8% in 2008.[62] A trend reversal and a recovery in demand, have been recorded early in the second half of 2009, allowing a 2.0% increase in the local metal production.[62]
Culture[link]
Wood carving, especially of the houp (Montrouziera cauliflora), are a contemporary reflection of the beliefs of the traditional tribal society, and include totems, masks, chambranles, or flèche faitière,[66] a kind of arrow which adorns the roofs of Kanak houses. Basketry is a craft widely practiced by tribal women, creating objects of daily use.[66]
The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and opened in 1998, is the icon of the Kanak culture.[66]
The Kaneka is a form of local music, inspired by reggae and originating in the 1980s.[66]
The Mwâ Ka is a 12m totem pole commemorating the French annexation of New Caledonia, and was inaugurated in 2005.[67]
Media[link]
Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes is the only daily newspaper in the archipelago.[68] A monthly publication, Le chien bleu, parodies the news from New Caledonia.[68]
There are five radio stations: the public service broadcaster RFO radio Nouvelle-Calédonie, Océane FM, Radio Djido (established by Jean-Marie Tjibaou), NRJ and Radio Rythmes Bleus.[68]
As for television, the public service broadcaster RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie has two channels: Télé Nouvelle-Calédonie, dedicated partly to local programming and newscasts and Tempo, which retransmits French programmes.[68] Canal+ relays the programming of Canal + France, and CanalSat proposes 17 digital channels in French.[68] Analogue television broadcasts ended in September 2011, completing the digital television transition in New Caledonia.[69] The French broadcasting authorities are considering bids for two new local television stations, NCTV and NC9, planned to be launched in 2012.[70]
The media are considered to be able to operate freely, but Reporters Without Borders raised concerns in 2006 about "threats and intimidation" of RFO staff by members of a pro-independence group.[71]
Sports[link]
The largest sporting event to be held in New Caledonia is a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
The New Caledonia football team began play in 1951, and was admitted into FIFA, the international association of football leagues, in 2004.[72] Prior to joining FIFA, New Caledonia held observer status with the Oceania Football Confederation, and became an official member of the OFC with its FIFA membership. They have won the South Pacific Games five times, most recently in 2007, and have placed third on two occasions in the OFC Nations Cup. Christian Karembeu is a prominent New Caledonian former footballer, while Alex Khadivi also played a few games in Noumea.
Horse Racing is also very popular in New Caledonia.
Women's cricket matches are also popular.[73]
The Rugby league team participated in the Pacific Cup in 2004. Marie Ezoe Canel is the captain of the New Caledonia Women's rugby team.
New Caledonia also has a national synchronised swimming team which tours abroad.
New Caledonia is hosting the Oceanias in 2012.
Transport[link]
Main article: Transport in New Caledonia
Tontouta International Airport is located 50 km north of Noumea, and connects New Caledonia with the airports of Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, Osaka, Papeete, Fiji, Wallis, Port Vila, Seoul, and St. Denis.[74] Most internal air services are operated by the domestic carrier Air Calédonie.[75] Cruise ships dock at the Gare Maritime in Noumea.[76] The passenger and cargo boat Havannah sails to Port Vila, Malicolo and Santo in Vanuatu once a month.[76]
New Caledonia's road network consists of:
- Route territoriale 1, going from the exit from Noumea to the Néhoué river, north of Koumac;
- Route territoriale 2, located on Lifou Island and from the Wanaham airport to the south of Wé;
- Route territoriale 3, from the junction with the RT1 in Nandi up to Tiwaka;
- Route territoriale 4, from the junction with the RT1 near Muéo to the power plant.[77]
References[link]
- ^ a b La Nouvelle-Calédonie se dote d'un hymne et d'une devise - LeMonde.fr
- ^ a b c d New Caledonia entry at The World Factbook
- ^ a b Population des communes et provinces de la Nouvelle-Calédonie de 1956 à 2009
- ^ a b En bref 10
- ^ Previously known officially as the "Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies" (French: Territoire de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances), then simply as the "Territory of New Caledonia" (French: Territoire de la Nouvelle-Calédonie), the official French name is now only Nouvelle-Calédonie (Organic Law of 19 March 1999, article 222 IV — see [1]). It should be noted that French courts often continue to use the appellation Territoire de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.
- ^ a b c d Présentation / La Nouvelle-Calédonie / Accueil
- ^ a b Présentation - L'Outre-Mer
- ^ South Pacific handbook - David Stanley at Google Books
- ^ a b Histoire / La Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ New Caledonia, p. 13, Leanne Logan and Geert Cole at Google Books
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rapport annuel 2010 IEOM Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ a b c De Kanaka à Kanak: l'appropriation d'un terme générique au profit de la revendication identitaire
- ^ Charting the Pacific - Places
- ^ New Caledonia, p. 15, Leanne Logan and Geert Cole at Google Books
- ^ From primitive to postcolonial in Melanesia and anthropology at Google Books
- ^ a b c d France's Overseas Frontier: Départements Et Territoires D'outre-mer at Google Books By Robert Aldrich, John Connell
- ^ a b c d e f South Pacific handbook at Google Books By David Stanley
- ^ "Hasluck: Clearing A Way To Total War" (PDF). http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/30/chapters/06.pdf. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
- ^ World War II Pacific Island Guide, p. 71, Gordon L. Rottman, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002
- ^ a b c d e New Caledonia at Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ a b c Présentation - L'Outre-Mer
- ^ a b c d e f Concluding session, Special Committee on Decolonization approves two texts on New Caledonia, Tokelau; hears appeals to heed criticism of its work
- ^ 2011, Année des Outre-mer - Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ (French) Minister of the Interior, Government of France. "Resultats de l'election presidentielle — Nouvelle Caledonie". http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2007/000/988/988.html. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
- ^ a b c d e The situation of Kanak people in New Caledonia, France. - Country Reports - UNSR James Anaya, page 8
- ^ a b c d e Sénat coutumier / Les Elus / La Nouvelle-Calédonie / Accueil
- ^ a b c d Les Forces armées de Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ a b Sarkozy calls for dialogue over New Caledonia violence - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
- ^ (French) Government of New Caledonia. "Les accords de Nouméa" (PDF). Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080405032022/http://www.gouv.nc/static/pages/outils/telechargement/accordsNoumea.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ (French) RFO. "Société : La Nouvelle-Calédonie choisit un hymne et une devise". Archived from the original on 31 July 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080731091549/http://nouvellecaledonie.rfo.fr/article424.html. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ a b Nouvelle-Calédonie : où en est le processus d'indépendance ? - LeMonde.fr
- ^ a b Malkin, Bonnie (20 July 2010). "New Caledonia adopts second flag in compromise over French rule". The Daily Telegraph (UK). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newcaledonia/7900494/New-Caledonia-adopts-second-flag-in-compromise-over-French-rule.html. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ Keith Lewis; Scott D. Nodder and Lionel Carter (11 January 2007). "Zealandia: the New Zealand continent". Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/OceanStudyAndConservation/SeaFloorGeology/1/en. Retrieved 22 February 2007.
- ^ Boyer & Giribet 2007: 355
- ^ a b c d e f g Données Géographiques / La Nouvelle-Calédonie / Accueil
- ^ a b Diahot River at Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ "The impacts of opencast mining in New Caledonia". The United Nations University. http://www.greenstone.org/greenstone3/nzdl;jsessionid=9C07FFA7400A6C3C823F1ACAF98A3D9D?a=d&d=HASH01e0de34b153f45530bc1736.5.pp&c=ccgi&sib=1&dt=&ec=&et=&p.a=b&p.s=ClassifierBrowse&p.sa=. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ a b New Caledonia: a very old Darwinian island?
- ^ a b c d New Caledonia at Google Books By Leanne Logan, Geert Cole
- ^ Bruno Van Peteghem, Goldman Environmental Prize website
- ^ "Indigenous Kanaks Take On Inco in New Caledonia", MiningWatch Canada, 19 July 2006
- ^ Alan S. Collins, Sergei A. Pisarevsky, Amalgamating eastern Gondwana: The evolution of the Circum-Indian Orogens, Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 71, Issues 3–4, August 2005, Pages 229-270, ISSN 0012-8252, 10.1016/j.earscirev.2005.02.004. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825205000231)
- ^ a b c Dossier > La flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie - Première partie
- ^ Dossier > La flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie - Deuxième partie
- ^ Weir, A.A.S.; Chappell, J.; Kacelnik, A. (2002). "Shaping of hooks in New Caledonian crows". Science 297 (5583): 981. DOI:10.1126/science.1073433. PMID 12169726. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/297/5583/981?ijkey=2kJDaHqe6c11A&keytype=ref&siteid=sci.
- ^ BBC - Earth News - Clever New Caledonian crows go to parents' tool school
- ^ Kagu — Oiseaux-birds.com
- ^ a b c endemia.nc - La BIODIVERSITÉ
- ^ a b c d e f g h Insee - Population - Recensement de la population en Nouvelle-Calédonie en 2009 - 50 000 habitants de plus en 13 ans
- ^ a b ISEE - Population 2009
- ^ a b Recensement de la population 2009
- ^ a b c d e f The situation of Kanak people in New Caledonia, France. - Country Reports - UNSR James Anaya, page 5
- ^ a b c d e Leanne Logan; Geert Cole (5 July 2001). New Caledonia. Lonely Planet. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-86450-202-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=lly95WF8n-cC&pg=PA39. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ David A. Chappell (2005). "New Caledonia". The Contemporary Pacific 17 (2): 435–448. DOI:10.1353/cp.2005.0043. http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/contemporary_pacific/v017/17.2chappell02.html.
- ^ Henry Kamm (26 July 1988). "Noumea Journal; On an Island in the Pacific, but Far From at Peace". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DC1E3FF935A15754C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all.
- ^ Situation linguistique en Nouvelle-Calédonie - Vice-Rectorat de Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ a b Principales caractéristiques des individus de 15 ans et plus, par province de résidence et sexe
- ^ Académie des Langues Kanak - Langues
- ^ a b La maison de la Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ a b c Countries - Pacific - New Caledonia - Information Paper - NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- ^ Vie pratique - L'Outre-Mer
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Les comptes économiques rapides de Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ "FAOSTAT 2008 by Production". faostat.fao.org. http://faostat.fao.org/site/339/default.aspx. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ a b c (French) Institut de la statistique et des études économiques de Nouvelle-Calédonie (ISEE). "Bilan économique et social 2007 – Échanges Extérieurs (on page 23)" (PDF). http://www.isee.nc/telechargement/bilan2007.pdf. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
- ^ "Nickel gleams again in New Caledonia", Metal Bulletin, 3 December 2001
- ^ a b c d Découvrez - La Culture | Tourisme Nouvelle-Calédonie
- ^ Mwâ Ka in Noumea, New Caledonia - Lonely Planet
- ^ a b c d e Vivre en Nouvelle-Calédonie | Gîtes Nouvelle Calédonie
- ^ L'Outre-mer dit adieu à l'analogique - AUDIOVISUEL - Info - Nouvelle-Calédonie - La 1ère
- ^ Two new New Caledonia television channels proposed
- ^ BBC News - Regions and territories: New Caledonia
- ^ "New Caledonia joins the world football community". FIFA.com. 24 May 2004. http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/news/newsid=92706.html. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
- ^ Lonely Planet
- ^ Aéroport international de Nouméa la Tontouta - Présentation
- ^ ISEE — Transport
- ^ a b Transport in New Caledonia - Lonely Planet Travel Information
- ^ Site de la DITTT – Infrastructures routières
Further reading[link]
- Di Giorgio Wladimir, member of the Pontifical Academy, in "Francs et Kanaks" (Purpose of the n° 51495 résolution).2009.
- Boyer, S.L. & Giribet, G. (2007): A new model Gondwanan taxon: systematics and biogeography of the harvestman family Pettalidae (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi), with a taxonomic revision of genera from Australia and New Zealand. Cladistics 23(4): 337–361. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00149.x
External links[link]
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- Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie
- Tourism New Caledonia
- New Caledonia at the Open Directory Project
- New Caledonia travel guide from Wikitravel
- Biodiversité Néo-Calédonienne
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http://wn.com/New_Caledonia
Related pages:
http://de.wn.com/Neukaledonien
http://es.wn.com/Nueva Caledonia
http://ru.wn.com/Новая Каледония
http://cs.wn.com/Nová Kaledonie
http://pt.wn.com/Nova Caledónia
http://pl.wn.com/Nowa Kaledonia
http://hi.wn.com/नया कैलेडोनिया
http://it.wn.com/Nuova Caledonia
http://id.wn.com/Kaledonia Baru
http://nl.wn.com/Nieuw-Caledonië (gebiedsdeel)
http://fr.wn.com/Nouvelle-Calédonie
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
