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NEW CALEDONIASettled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence. WHEN TO GO The best time to visit New Caledonia is from May to mid-December. The best time not to visit New Caledonia is during rainy season from mid-December to mid-April when mosquitos are infecting people with dengue fever. FACTS ABOUT NEW CALEDONIA - Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
- Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
- Area: 19,060 sq km
- Coastline: 2,254 km
- Max elevation: Mont Panie 1,628 m
- Population: 224,824
- Capital: Noumea
- Government: territorial collectivity of France since 1998
- Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
- Internet Country Code: .nc
- Calling Code: 687
- Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
- Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
- Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
- Major Industries: nickel mining and smelting
- Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
- Environmental issues: erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
- Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
- Average sea surface temp: from 21 °C (July/August) to 26 °C (July/August)
- Average annual rainfall: 1,000 mm
- Average tourist arrivals: 101,000
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