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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 S, 165 30 E
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Map references:
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oceania
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Area:
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total: 19,060 sq km
water: 485 sq km
land: 18,575 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Jersey
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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2,254 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
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Terrain:
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coastal plains with interior mountains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
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Natural resources:
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nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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160 sq km (1991)
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones, most frequent from November to March
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Environment - current issues:
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erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
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Geography - note:
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consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
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