New Caledonia Barrier Reef

New Caledonia Barrier Reef
Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Northern tip of Grande Terra
Country France
Type Natural
Criteria vii, ix, x
Reference 1115
Region ** Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 2008 (32nd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List
** Region as classified by UNESCO

The New Caledonia Barrier Reef is located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific, and is the second-longest double-barrier coral reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The New Caledonia Barrier reef surrounds Grande Terre, New Caledonia's largest island, as well as the Ile des Pins and several smaller islands, reaching a length of 1,500 kilometers (930 mi). The reef encloses a lagoon of 24,000 square kilometers (9,300 sq mi), which has an average depth of 25 meters (82 ft). The reefs lie up to 30 kilometers (19 mi) from the shore, but extend almost 200 kilometers (120 mi) to the Entrecasteaux reefs in the northwest. This northwestern extension encloses the Belep Islands and other sand cays. Several natural passages open out to the ocean. The Boulari passage, which leads to Noumea, the capital and chief port of New Caledonia, is marked by the Amédée lighthouse.

The reef has great species diversity with a high level of endemism, and is home to endangered dugongs (Dugong dugon), and is an important nesting site for Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Most of the reefs are generally thought to be in good health. Some of the eastern reefs have been damaged by effluent from nickel mining on Grand Terre. Sedimentation from mining, agriculture, and grazing has affected reefs near river mouths, which has been worsened by the destruction of mangrove forests, which help to retain sediment. Some reefs have been buried under several meters of silt.

In the lagoons of New Caledonia there are many water species ranging from plankton to larger fish and even sharks.

In January 2002, the French government proposed listing New Caledonia's reefs as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO listed New Caledonia Barrier Reef on the World Heritage List under the name The Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems on 7 July 2008. The Lagoons were listed under three UNESCO categories: 1.Superlative natural Phenomena or natural beauty. 2.Ongoing Biological and ecological processes. 3.Biological Diversity and threatened species.

External links

Coordinates: 20°24′43″S 164°33′59″E / 20.41194°S 164.56639°E / -20.41194; 164.56639



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Barrier reef — can refer to: *a coral reef, *the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, *the Belize Barrier Reef, *the New Caledonia Barrier Reef, * Barrier Reef (TV) , an Australian television series …   Wikipedia

  • New Caledonia — This article is about the overseas territory. For other uses, see New Caledonia (disambiguation). For other uses, see Caledonia. New Caledonia Nouvelle Calédonie …   Wikipedia

  • Great Barrier Reef — The Great Barrier Reef * UNESCO World Heritage Site …   Wikipedia

  • Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System — For other uses, see Mesoamerica (disambiguation). Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, Quintana Roo, Mexico The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS, also simply known as the Mesoamerican reef …   Wikipedia

  • Isle of Pines, New Caledonia — The Isle of Pines (French: Île des Pins ; Kanak name: Kunyié ) is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France. The island is part of the commune (municipality) of L Île des Pins, in …   Wikipedia

  • New Caledonia — /kal i doh nee euh, dohn yeuh/ 1. an island in the S Pacific, ab. 800 mi. (1290 km) E of Australia. 113,680; 6224 sq. mi. (16,120 sq. km). 2. an overseas territory of France comprising this island and other smaller islands: formerly a penal… …   Universalium

  • Barrier Reef Anemonefish — Taxobox name = Barrier Reef Anemonefish status = regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Perciformes familia = Pomacentridae subfamilia = Amphiprioninae genus = Amphiprion species = A. akindynos binomial = Amphiprion… …   Wikipedia

  • New Caledonia — Nouvelle Calédonie Neukaledonien …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Coral reef — Marine habitats Biodiversity of a coral reef Lit …   Wikipedia

  • Lagunas de Nueva Caledonia — Lagunas de Nueva Caledonia: diversidad del arrecife y ecosistemas asociados Nombre descrito en la L …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”