Geography of New Caledonia (original) (raw)

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

**Geographic coordinates:**21 30 S, 165 30 E

**Map references:**Oceania

Area:
_total:_19,060 sq km
_land:_18,575 sq km (7,172 sq. mi)
_water:_485 sq km

**Area - comparative:**slightly smaller than New Jersey

**Land boundaries:**0 km

**Coastline:**2,254 km

Maritime claims:
_exclusive economic zone:_200 nm
_territorial sea:_12 nm

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

**Terrain:**coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes:
_lowest point:_Pacific Ocean 0 m
_highest point:_Mont Panie 1,628 m (5,341 ft)

Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:
_arable land:_0%
_permanent crops:_0%
_permanent pastures:_12%
_forests and woodland:_39%
_other:_49% (1993 est.)

**Irrigated land:**160 sq km (1991)

**Natural hazards:**cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues: erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires