New Caledonia
Bethany Flick
Climates
- Tropical climate
- Modified by south-easterly winds
- Hot & humid period from November to March
- Cooler & dry period from June to August
- Precipitations differ within the island
- Between December & April tropical depressions & cyclones can cause winds to exceed a speed of 62 mph
Plants & Animals
Fern
The frond of the plant is the visible structure of this plant; it consists of a stalk known as a petiole topped with a leaf called a blade.
New Caledonian crow
The New Caledonian Crow is a moderately sized crow (40 cm in length) similar in size to the House Crow but less slender-looking.
Kagu bird
The Kagu is a ground-living bird, 55 cm (22 in) in length.
Natural Resources
- Nickel
- Chrome
- Iron
- Cobalt
- Manganese
- Silver
- Gold
- Lead
- Copper
History
- Islands were originally settled by the Lapita people
- They arrived in New Caledonia in 1500 B.C.
- The Polynesians arrived in the 1000s B.C.
- Europeans arrived & began to settle in the 19th century
- In 1853 New Caledonia became a French colony
People & Languages
- Languages - French, Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
- Ethnic groups - Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2%
Land use
- Arable land - 0.32%
- Permanent crops - 0.22%
- Other - 99.46%
Religion & Education
- Religion - Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
- Education - aged 6 or over & having attained: no formal schooling 5.2%, primary 52.5%, secondary 37.8%, higher 4.5%, literate population aged 15 or over 33,238 or 57.9%
Traditions, Customs, & Foods
- Offering a small gift to the tribe chief as a sign of respect
- Woodcarving
- Basketry
- Food - yams, taros, bananas, & sweet potatoes
Current issues/challenges
- Erosion caused by mining exploitation & forest fires