Editing New Caledonia (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of New Caledonia}}
[[File:New Caledonia - S199828000484.jpg|thumb|New Caledonia from space]]
[[File:Reefs of New Caledonia from ISS, September 9, 2020.jpg|thumb|Coral reefs of New Caledonia from ISS, September 9, 2020]]

New Caledonia is part of [[Zealandia]], a fragment of the ancient [[Gondwana]] super-continent, which is part of [[Oceania]]. It is speculated that New Caledonia separated from Australia roughly 66 million years ago, subsequently drifting in a north-easterly direction, reaching its present position about 50 million years ago.<ref>Boyer & Giribet 2007: 355</ref>

The mainland is divided in length by a central mountain range whose highest peaks are [[Mont Panié]] ({{cvt|1,629|m|disp=or}}) in the north and [[Mont Humboldt]] ({{cvt|1,618|m|disp=or}}) in the southeast.<ref name="geo-jc"/> The east coast is covered by a lush vegetation.<ref name="geo-jc"/> The west coast, with its large savannahs and plains suitable for farming, is a drier area. Many ore-rich massifs are found along this coast.<ref name="geo-jc"/>

The [[Diahot River]] is the longest river of New Caledonia, flowing for some {{convert|100|km}}.<ref name="EB">{{Britannica|161133|Diahot River}}</ref> It has a catchment area of {{cvt|620|km2}} and opens north-westward into the [[Baie d'Harcourt]], flowing towards the northern point of the island along the western escarpment of the Mount Panié.<ref name="EB"/><ref name="UNU">{{cite web |url=http://www.greenstone.org/greenstone3/nzdl;jsessionid=9C07FFA7400A6C3C823F1ACAF98A3D9D?a=d&d=HASH01e0de34b153f45530bc1736.5.pp&c=ccgi&sib=1&dt=&ec=&et=&p.a=b&p.s=ClassifierBrowse&p.sa= |title=The impacts of opencast mining in New Caledonia |publisher=The [[United Nations University]] |access-date=9 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727215730/http://www.greenstone.org/greenstone3/nzdl;jsessionid=9C07FFA7400A6C3C823F1ACAF98A3D9D?a=d&d=HASH01e0de34b153f45530bc1736.5.pp&c=ccgi&sib=1&dt=&ec=&et=&p.a=b&p.s=ClassifierBrowse&p.sa= |archive-date=27 July 2011 }}</ref> Most of the island is covered by wet evergreen forests, while savannahs dominate the lower elevations.<ref name="gbrs"/> The New Caledonian lagoon, with a total area of {{convert|24000|km2}} is one of the largest lagoons in the world. The lagoon and the surrounding [[New Caledonia Barrier Reef]] was named a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 2008 for its exceptional beauty and marine biodiversity.<ref name="geo-jc">{{cite web |url=http://www.nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr/site/La-Nouvelle-Caledonie/Donnees-Geographiques |title=Données Géographiques |language=fr |website=Nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr |access-date=2013-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030174815/http://www.nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr/site/La-Nouvelle-Caledonie/Donnees-Geographiques |archive-date=30 October 2012 }}</ref><ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1115 |title = Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 20 November 2021 |archive-date = 20 November 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211120223140/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1115/ |url-status = live }}</ref> In May 2023, there was an earthquake and tsunami in New Caledonia. This triggered a tsunami warning here as well as in other nearby countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/loyalty-islands-south-pacific-earthquake-today-tsunami-b2341846.html |title=Earthquake triggers 3ft wave tsunami warnings across South Pacific |work=The Independent |first=Shweta |last=Sharma |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=29 May 2023 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519062421/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/loyalty-islands-south-pacific-earthquake-today-tsunami-b2341846.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The climate is [[tropical climate|tropical]], with a hot and humid season from November to March with temperatures between {{convert|27|and|30|C}},<ref name="geo-jc"/> and a cooler, dry season from June to August with temperatures between {{cvt|20|and|23|C}},<ref name="geo-jc"/> linked by two short interstices.<ref name="ped"/> The tropical climate is strongly moderated by the oceanic influence and the [[trade winds]] that attenuate humidity, which can be close to 80%.<ref name="geo-jc"/> The average annual temperature is 23&nbsp;°C, with historical extremes of {{cvt|2.3|and|39.1|C}}.<ref name="ped"/>

The rainfall records show that precipitation differs greatly within the island. The {{convert|3000|mm}} of rainfall recorded in [[Galarino]] are three times the average of the west coast. There are also dry periods, because of the effects of [[El Niño]].<ref name="ped"/> Between December and April, [[tropical depressions]] and [[cyclones]] can cause winds to exceed a speed of {{convert|100|kph}}, with gusts of {{convert|250|kph}} and very abundant rainfall.<ref name="ped"/> The last cyclone affecting New Caledonia was [[Cyclone Niran]], in March 2021.