NEW CALEDONIA

106 team members
Adopt-a-country school: St Joseph's School
Accommodation: St Joseph's School
Dining: Sinai Hall

Capital:     Noumea
Land Area:      19,103 sq km
Languages:     Kanak dialects, French
Currency:     French Pacific Franc

New Caledonia is one of the most southern Pacific Island countries lying between Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu.
Sheltered by the second largest barrier reef in the world, it has the world's largest lagoon around its main island. The capital of New Caledonia is Noumea.
Dating of rock carvings (petroglyphs), sculptured stone and Lapita pottery suggest first settlement of the islands was 4000 years ago and perhaps was part of the great Melanesian migration across the Pacific from Asia.
Named by Captain James Cook the region became a French territory in 1853.
New Caledonia has a land area of 19 103 km² . Almost half the 200,000 population are Melanesian Kanaks, who have populated the islands for 4000 years. Citizens of French origin comprise another 34% of the population.
The official languages of New Caledonia are Kanak dialects and French. While the French influence is strong, the Kanaks have retained much of their culture and tradition, particularly in rural areas and on the outer islands.
New Caledonia is a French Overseas Territory, which essentially means that it lies between an independent country and a normal overseas department of France.