Tourist Guide Noumea
Noumea, the capital city of New Caledonia, is located on a peninsula in the
south of New Caledonia's main island, Grand Terre.
It is the capital, chief port, and principal administrative and economic centre
of the country and is home to the majority of the island's European, Indonesian,
Tahitian and Vietnamese population, as well as many native Kanaks (Melanesians
of the Papuan type).
Noumea enjoys a wonderful climate, with more sunshine days than any other Pacific
Island capital.
The first European to set up a settlement nearby was a the British trader James
Paddon in 1851. Only three years later, the city was officially founded by France
and even today Noumea remains dominated by French language and culture. American
troops were brought in the city shortly after the beginning of World War II
to forestall its expected invasion by the Japanese.
Today, Noumea is one of the most rapidly-growing cities in the Pacific.
Tourism, and the mining and refinement of nickel-ore are very important to the
town's economy.
