27 Unspoilt NATURE A VAST & CONTRASTING ARCHIPELAGO Travelling through New Caledonia is like discovering several worlds in one destination. Covering 18,575 km2, this remarkable archipelago broke away from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana around 80 million years ago, allowing its landscapes and wildlife to evolve in extraordinary isolation. Stretching over 450 km, Grande Terre is bordered by the Isle of Pines, the Loyalty Islands and the Bélep Islands, and crossed by a mountain range rising to 1,628 metres. Sparsely populated and rich in protected natural areas, New Caledonia offers an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, from the golden savannahs of the West and lush rainforests of the East to the striking red earth of the Great South. FLORA FOUND NOWHERE ELSE Recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, New Caledonia is a botanical treasure. Around 75% of its 3,400 recorded plant species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. Ancient species such as the Amborella, the world’s oldest flowering plant, grow alongside majestic kaori trees, towering tree ferns and the colourful mining scrub. From rare dry forests and coastal mangroves to vast niaouli woodlands, each ecosystem reveals another facet of this exceptional natural heritage. PEACEFUL WILDLIFE With no dangerous predators or venomous snakes on land, exploring New Caledonia’s wilderness is as relaxing as it is rewarding. Wildlife enthusiasts can discover 184 bird species, including the iconic kagu, the Ouvéa Parakeet and the remarkably intelligent New Caledonian Crow. Native reptiles, insects and fruit bats complete this unique wildlife, alongside rusa deer and wild pigs introduced generations ago. Rainforest: A lush tropical sanctuary home to more than 2,000 species, including the majestic kaori and the ancient Amborella. Mining Scrub: A striking red landscape found nowhere else on Earth, where nearly 90% of plant species are endemic. Dry Forest: Rare and fragile, this remarkable ecosystem shelters beautiful flowering plants such as Captain Cookia and Turbinas. Mangrove: A natural bridge between land and sea, protecting the coastline while providing vital habitat for wildlife. Savannah:Vast open grasslands dominated by the iconic white niaouli trees, renowned for their remarkable resistance to fire. A VARIETY OF ECOSYSTEMS New Caledonian vegetation Humid forest Dry forest Mining scrub Mangrove Savana
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