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General Information
Area: 18,575 sq km (7172 sq miles).
Population: 209,222 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 11.3 per sq km.
Capital: Nouméa. Population: 76,293 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY: New Caledonia is an island group approximately 1500km (930 miles) off the northeast coast of Australia. Mountains run the entire length of the main island. On the western side, the land is relatively flat and forested by gum trees. The east coast is more mountainous with beautiful seashores fringed by tropical plants. Crystalline serpentine rock covers more than half the island. About 48km (30 miles) southeastwards lies Ile des Pins (Kunie), an island famed for its caves and grottoes containing stalactites and stalagmites. The Loyalty Group lies to the east of New Caledonia, the main islands being Ouvéa, Lifou and Maré. The remaining islands are the Chesterfield Group, Hinter, Huon Group, Matthew and Walpole.
Government: French Overseas Territory since 1957. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac, represented locally by High Commissioner Tierry Lataste since 1999.
Language: French is the official language, but Polynesian and Melanesian are also spoken. English is also widely spoken.
Religion: Vast Christian majority, with 59 per cent Roman Catholic.
Time: GMT + 11 (GMT + 10 in summer).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style, two-pin plugs are in use.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 687. Outgoing international code: 00. There is a 24-hour service for international calls. International calls are bookable at the Post Office (0745-1115 and 1215-1530) or through hotels. Most hotels have direct dial facilities, but it is cheaper to make international calls through the operator (tel: 19).
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network, operated by Mobilis (website: www.opt.nc). Roaming agreements exist (with some countries).
Fax
Available at most hotels and post offices.
Internet
ISPs include Offratel (website: www.offratel.nc). Public access is available in several Internet cafes and at ‘cyber points’ (computers available for public use in local businesses/ISPs).
Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to a week. The Post Office, located on rue Eugène Porcheron, is open Mon-Fri 0745-1115 and 1215-1530.
Press
Newspapers are published in French and include Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (daily) and Télé 7 Jours (weekly).
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
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