Loyalty Islands

The Loyalty Islands (French Îles Loyalty Islands ) are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia and is approximately 100 km from the main island. They are the province of the Loyalty Islands, one of the three provinces of New Caledonia, New Caledonia are like in the area of the rainforest and are geographically part of Melanesia. The southeasternmost island of the group in a geographical sense, Walpole no longer belongs administratively to the province of the Loyalty Islands, but the Southern Province of New Caledonia, and in the community Ile des Pins.

Geography

The archipelago consists of four atolls: Lifou, Maré, Ouvea and Tiga, and several smaller islands. Taken together, is their area 2500 km ². The highest point is 138 m above sea level on the island of Maré.

Population

The population of the Loyalty Islands are of mixed Melanesian and Polynesian descent with a small European origin minority. In the Loyalty Islands 22,080 people live (according to census of 2004).

History

The first recorded western contact with the Loyalty Islands is British Capt. Attributed to William Raven from London merchant ship Britannia, which the route Norfolk Iceland - Batavia sailed in 1793.

However, it is very likely that the actual island discovery and wording on the British ship Loyalty (also Loyalist, Jethro Daggett master) goes back, the 1789 to 1790 from London undertook a South Seas trading voyage.

Political Structure

Administratively, the Loyalty Islands are divided into three municipalities: the capital of the province is Wé, it lies on the island of Lifou.

Economy

The main export of the island group is copra, the dried meat of coconuts core, is extracted from the coconut oil.