Island of the Pines
The island of the Pines , also called the island nearest to the Paradise , is an small island in the south-east of the New Caledonia.
The island owes its name with the abundant presence of araucarias ( Araucaria columnaris ) to the high characteristic slim silhouettes.
Accessible in boat and the plane since Noumea, it is one of the tourist places of the archipelago. Among the assets of this island: the great sand beaches end and white (fames) and colors of the Lagoon. The best example remains the Bay of Kuto. One can also quote Bay of Oro, with his luxury hotel the Meridian line and, near, separate sea water a natural swimming pool of bay by a barrier of rocks. Another attraction of the island particularly appraisal of the tourists, the walk in the traditional dugout in the lagoon.
It measurement 14 kilometers out of 18. Populated almost 2.000 inhabitants, primarily of the Mélanésiens (nearly 94%) divided into eight tribes and which one calls Kuniés. The Large-Chief of the island, Hilarion Vendégou, is also the Maire commune of the Island of the Pines.
At the time of the Deportation of risen of the Common of Paris, the western part of the island was affected for them. The deportees were divided in five communes. Most known is the first, that of Ouro. It is in this commune that is the ruins of the bagne. There is only the water tower which remains in good state because it was renovated in 2005 at the time of the days of the inheritance, it always was in service, even if water comes now directly from collecting and either from the channel to open sky dug by the deportees. This channel with open sky makes five kilometers with hillside of the collecting of Ouinteureu, until Ouro.
In the fifth commune, which is completely in the north of the island on the grounds of the tribe of Gadji, were assigned the Kabyles of the Pacific.
The island of the Pines is also known for its prehistoric vestiges : one thus found there potteries Lapita with the place says “Vatcha” in the village of Vao, former to the Christian era, of the cave paintings as more than 400 Tumulus in the center of the island which one does not know if they are of human or natural origin.
The emission-play Frenchwoman of Télé reality the Adventurers of Koh-Lanta (season 5) took place in 2005 on small islands close to the island of the Pines.
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