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WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
New Caledonia
MAP 12C
The
Archipelago of New Caledonia is dominated
by the large land mass of Grande Terre, the third
largest island in the Pacific (after New Guinea and
New Zealand). It is of continental origin, having diverged
from Australia some 65 million years ago. and has a
mountainous interior rising to more than 1 600 meters.
The shallow shelf on which the island sits extends a considerable distance to the northwest, and includes the
continental lies Belep and a number of smaller islands and
coral cays further north. To the southeast the shelf continues down to the lie des Pins. The shallow platform on
which these islands lie is rimmed by the worlds second
largest barrier reef, over 1 300 kilometers in length. There
are quite regular passes in the reef, largely associated with
river mouths on the mainland. In a few locations to the
north, notably along the Grand Recif de Koumac and the
Recif des Frangais, a deep lagoon has developed within
the single structure of the outer barrier reef flat, forming a
rare double barrier structure. Between the barrier reef and
the mainland there are many platform structures, while
fringing reefs are also widespread in many areas. To the
northwest the barrier reef continues beyond the lies Belep
up to a charmel, the Grand Passage. Beyond this there is
a group of reefs known as the D'Entrecasteaux Reefs,
including Huon Atoll, Surprise Atoll and a number of
smaller atoll and barrier-like structures.
Due east of Grande Terre is the low-lying chain of
the Loyalty Islands. Mare in the south has some volcanic
rocks, while the others are composed primarily of uplifted
limestone. Fringing reefs encircle most of Mare and Lifou.
Ouvea to the north is a partially uplifted and tilted atoll
with fringing reefs along its eastern (uplifted) coastline,
but with a wide reef-fringed lagoon to the west. Moving
northwest is the small atoll of Beautemps-Beaupre and
then a small group of reefs known as the Astrolabe Reefs.
Lying in considerable isolation to the northwest of the
Loyalty Islands and to the east of the D'Entrecasteaux
Reefs is another significant reef structure, the Petrie Reef
Far to the east of the Loyalty Islands are the two small
islands of Matthew and Hunter. Geographically these
are a part of the Vanuatu chain, but they are claimed by
both countries.
Over 550 kilometers west of Grande Terre are two very
large shallow reef areas. The Chesterfield Islands are coral
cays along the penmeter of a large atoll. A shallow reef
with a very steep outer slope marks its northern and
western margins, while to the southeast there is no clear
atoll margin, but a gentle slope to considerable depths. To
A reef slope showing high coral cover, with a map puffer Arothron mappa.
WORLD ATLAS OF CORAL REEFS
New Caledonia
MAP 12C
The
Archipelago of New Caledonia is dominated
by the large land mass of Grande Terre, the third
largest island in the Pacific (after New Guinea and
New Zealand). It is of continental origin, having diverged
from Australia some 65 million years ago. and has a
mountainous interior rising to more than 1 600 meters.
The shallow shelf on which the island sits extends a considerable distance to the northwest, and includes the
continental lies Belep and a number of smaller islands and
coral cays further north. To the southeast the shelf continues down to the lie des Pins. The shallow platform on
which these islands lie is rimmed by the worlds second
largest barrier reef, over 1 300 kilometers in length. There
are quite regular passes in the reef, largely associated with
river mouths on the mainland. In a few locations to the
north, notably along the Grand Recif de Koumac and the
Recif des Frangais, a deep lagoon has developed within
the single structure of the outer barrier reef flat, forming a
rare double barrier structure. Between the barrier reef and
the mainland there are many platform structures, while
fringing reefs are also widespread in many areas. To the
northwest the barrier reef continues beyond the lies Belep
up to a charmel, the Grand Passage. Beyond this there is
a group of reefs known as the D'Entrecasteaux Reefs,
including Huon Atoll, Surprise Atoll and a number of
smaller atoll and barrier-like structures.
Due east of Grande Terre is the low-lying chain of
the Loyalty Islands. Mare in the south has some volcanic
rocks, while the others are composed primarily of uplifted
limestone. Fringing reefs encircle most of Mare and Lifou.
Ouvea to the north is a partially uplifted and tilted atoll
with fringing reefs along its eastern (uplifted) coastline,
but with a wide reef-fringed lagoon to the west. Moving
northwest is the small atoll of Beautemps-Beaupre and
then a small group of reefs known as the Astrolabe Reefs.
Lying in considerable isolation to the northwest of the
Loyalty Islands and to the east of the D'Entrecasteaux
Reefs is another significant reef structure, the Petrie Reef
Far to the east of the Loyalty Islands are the two small
islands of Matthew and Hunter. Geographically these
are a part of the Vanuatu chain, but they are claimed by
both countries.
Over 550 kilometers west of Grande Terre are two very
large shallow reef areas. The Chesterfield Islands are coral
cays along the penmeter of a large atoll. A shallow reef
with a very steep outer slope marks its northern and
western margins, while to the southeast there is no clear
atoll margin, but a gentle slope to considerable depths. To
A reef slope showing high coral cover, with a map puffer Arothron mappa.