New Caledonia

New Caledonia, a French territory, is an archipelago in the South Pacific between Australia and Fiji. The main island, Grande Terre, is about the size of Taiwan and is home to most of the population. The archipelago has a total land area of 18,576 square kilometers. The climate is tropical and humid, with a wet season from November to April. The average temperature is 26.6 degrees Celsius. The population of New Caledonia was estimated at 269,000 in 2017. The majority of the population is of Melanesian descent, with a significant minority of European descent. The official languages are French and Kanak. The economy of New Caledonia is dominated by nickel mining and exports. Tourism is also an important sector. The GDP per capita was US$17,741 in 2017. New Caledonia is a popular tourist destination, especially for scuba diving and snorkeling. The islands are home to a large number of endemic species of plants and animals. The archipelago was first settled by the Lapita people about 3,500 years ago. The first European contact was in 1774, when the British explorer James Cook landed on Grande Terre. France annexed the archipelago in 1853 and began to settle it with Europeans. New Caledonia was a major source of nickel during the 20th century. The nickel mines were operated by the French company SLN. In 1988, the government of New Caledonia approved the Matignon Accords, which granted greater autonomy to the Kanak people. A independence referendum was held in 2018, but the majority of voters chose to remain part of France.