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The Isle of Pines (French: Île des Pins; name in Kanak language Kwênyii: Kunyié) is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France. The island is part of the commune (municipality) of L'Île-des-Pins, in the South Province of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nicknamed l'île la plus proche du paradis ("the closest island to Paradise").
The island measures 15 km (9.3 mi) by 13 km (8.1 mi). It lies southeast of Grande Terre, New Caledonia's main island and is 100 kilometers (62 mi) southeast of the capital Nouméa. The Isle of Pines is surrounded by the New Caledonia Barrier Reef.
The inhabitants of the island are mainly native Melanesian Kanaks.
The island is rich with animal life and is home to unusual creatures such as the crested gecko Rhacodactylus... Read more
The Isle of Pines (French: Île des Pins; name in Kanak language Kwênyii: Kunyié) is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France. The island is part of the commune (municipality) of L'Île-des-Pins, in the South Province of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nicknamed l'île la plus proche du paradis ("the closest island to Paradise").
The island measures 15 km (9.3 mi) by 13 km (8.1 mi). It lies southeast of Grande Terre, New Caledonia's main island and is 100 kilometers (62 mi) southeast of the capital Nouméa. The Isle of Pines is surrounded by the New Caledonia Barrier Reef.
The inhabitants of the island are mainly native Melanesian Kanaks.
The island is rich with animal life and is home to unusual creatures such as the crested gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus and the world's largest gecko Rhacodactylus leachianus.
The pic Nga is the island's highest point, at 262 meters (860 ft) elevation. River Ouro is the longest river.
Melanesian people lived on the island for over 2000 years before the island was first visited by Europeans. Captain James Cook in 1774 saw the island and renamed it on his second voyage to New Zealand. Cook gave the island its name after seeing the tall native pines (Araucaria columnaris). He never disembarked onto the island, but as he saw signs of inhabitance (smoke) assumed it was inhabited. In the 1840s Protestant and Catholic missionaries arrived, along with merchants seeking sandalwood.
The French took possession of the island in 1853 at which time the native Kunies opted for the Catholic religion. In 1872 the island became a French penal colony, home to 3,000 political deportees from the Paris Commune.
LOCAL TIME
6:18 pm
January 23, 2021
Pacific/Noumea
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LOCAL CURRENCY
XPF
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This cruise was very affordable. And here is a detailed report on the cruise "To the Aborigines, or a Total Solar Eclipse". Sydney - Brisbane - Hamilton Island - Mackay - Lifou (New Caledonia) - Isle of Pines - Noumea - Sydney We spent one day on the fauna of Australia... |
We continue our trip on
the Isle of Pines
, New Caledonia. Here’s a monument to St. Joseph.
This is Saint-Maurice. French missionaries landed here first. There is a statue of Christ surrounded by Kanak totems.
There is such a fence everywhere on the
island
.
Here are local... |
Many famous travel publications have repeatedly called
the Isle of Pines
to be "the most beautiful island in the world".
The island is located in the Pacific Ocean near the island of New Caledonia and is a member of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. The island is 9.3... |