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Ua Island is a small, uninhabited island in New Caledonia's southern lagoon. Except during holidays and weekends with very nice weather there is hardly anyone in the entire lagoon area. This underwater sphere image was taken on the fringing coral reef just off the southern end of the island. The reefs are luxurient with a dense network of living corals. The diverse and rich coral reefs of the New Caledonia lagoon is one of the reasons the lagoon was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2008. This photo is one of a collection from the Cruising Guide to New Caledonia - a guide for pleasure yachts to all the anchorages in New Caledonia.
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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.