Birds in New Caledonia

New Caledonia

New Caledonia, officially Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies, internally self-governing dependency of France, land area 7,241 sq mi (18,760 sq km), South Pacific, c.700 mi (1,130 km) E of Australia. It comprises the island of New Caledonia, the Isle of Pines, the Loyalty Islands, the Huon, Chesterfield, and Belep groups, and Walpole Island. East of Walpole are the uninhabited Matthew and Hunter islands, claimed by New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The capital is Nouméa on New Caledonia island. New Caledonia island, the largest island of the territory (6,223 sq mi/16,118 sq km), is mountainous and temperate in climate. The entire marine special economic zone of the dependency is a natural park, with some protection, and reefs within the park are more stringently protected.