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The Dumbea River was once the primary water supply for Noumea, New Caledonia. The first dam was built in 1892 and the whole watershed was wisely set aside as a protected water reserve. It is no longer used as a water supply but the water reserve has kept the river pristine. The area has long been a popular picnic and walking area for residents of Noumea and today the Provence Sud is setting up walking trails in the area and beginning to manage it as a park. You'll see lots of sphere images near this one because we enjoy coming here for exercise and taking photos.
I just love the crystal clear water in the river and in this sphere image a couple of big rocks have squeezed the water flow creating a nice contrast of calm, clear water, rapids, and ripply clear water. It was cool today so we didn't strip off and go for a swim but I couldn't resist creating a memory bubble of what rivers are supposed to look like.
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New Caledonia is the closest South Pacific Island to Australia and New Zealand. It is a French Territory and although the official language is French the culture is a blend of Melanesian, European, Polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian, and more. There is one large mountainous island called Grande Terre and 6 smaller islands - the three Loyalty Islands, Belep and the Isle of Pines.The islands are remarkably unpopulated and there are vast areas of wilderness. There are hundreds of kilometers of walking treks, camp grounds, more than 42 parks and reserves, and crystal clear rivers with sparkling waterfalls. Almost one third of the population is located in the capital city of Noumea. Nickel mining is the primary industry and is the major contributor to the high standard of living in the country. Grande Terre is surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world and the protected lagoon created by this barrier reef is the largest in the world. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2008, the lagoon is 24,000 square kilometers and supports a diverse and luxuriant fauna of fish and invertebrates.The vibrant, clear and rich colors are one of the first things that visitors notice when they arrive. Noumea has a complete range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and activities to welcome visitors.