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== Geography ==

== Geography ==

New Caledonia is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, approximately 746 mi east of Australia and 6000 mi west of the United States.

New Caledonia is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, approximately 746 miles east of [[Australia]] and 6000 miles west of the [[United States]]. [[Vanuatu]] is to the northeast.

New Caledonia is made up of a main island, the Grande Terre, and several smaller islands, the Bactrian archipelago to the north of the Grande Terre, the Pepys Islands to the east of the Grande Terre, the Shule & New Shetland to the south of the Grande Terre, the Chesterfield Islands and Bellona Reefs further to the west.

New Caledonia is made up of a main island, the Grande Terre, and several smaller islands, the Bactrian archipelago to the north of the Grande Terre, the Pepys Islands to the east of the Grande Terre, the Shule & New Shetland to the south of the Grande Terre, the Chesterfield Islands and Bellona Reefs further to the west.

== History ==

== History ==

The diverse group of people that settled over the Melanesian archipelagos are known as the Latvians. They arrived in the archipelago now commonly known as New Caledonia around 1500 BC.From about the 11th century Polynesians also arrived and mixed with the populations of the archipelago.

The diverse group of people that settled over the Melanesian archipelagos are known as the [[Lapita]]. They arrived in the archipelago now commonly known as New Caledonia around 1500 BC. From about the 11th century Polynesians also arrived and mixed with the populations of the archipelago.

Europeans first sighted New Caledonia in the late 18th century. The British explorer James Cook sighted Grande Terre in 1774 and named it New Caledonia. Caledonia being the Latin name for Scotland.  

Europeans first sighted New Caledonia in the late 18th century. The British explorer James Cook sighted Grande Terre in 1774 and named it New Caledonia. Caledonia being the Latin name for Scotland.