Noumea - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Noumea , (decides /numea/ ) harbor main city of New Caledonia, is the administrative capital of this community of overseas to the specific statute and the chief town of the Southern Province. It is also more the French-speaking big city of Oceania and even of all the Pacific Ocean in front of PAPEETE.
Although little populated (91 386), even by entering its suburbs (146 000), it is a city where one crosses all kinds of Ethnie S. the majority of the inhabitants are Blancs, mainly Caldoche S but also strong a Minorité of Fonctionnaire S and Militaire S French metropolitan which lives there temporarily. One finds also a strong proportion of Kanak S, Asiatique S and Polynésie NS. It is thus a Ville very métissée but with European culture , where the language of Molière is very present. The word " Nouméa" is a name of origin kanak replacing the old name of the city: Port-of-France .

Geography

Relief

Noumea is located on a Presqu'île at the south-western end of the New Caledonia. It has a broken relief made up of several hills (Ouen Toro, Montravel, Coffyn mount, Venus mount, etc), culminating with that of Montravel to 167 meters with the top of the sea level.

Its characteristic is that its downtown area and some of its districts (of which the industrial park of Ducos) are primarily built on embankments or Polder S, carried out after the cleansing of various littoral marshy zones at the 19th century (center town, Latin Quarter) or more recently gained on the sea (industrial park, port authority). The old island Nou, one of the old sites of the Bagne of New Caledonia, became an artificial peninsula renamed Nouville after the construction of fill and a bridge connecting the port to the island.

Littoral

The coast where Noumea is located forms a bay succession which offers a range of activities: bathe (Vata handle, bay of Lemons, bay of Magenta), pleasure (bay of Sainte-Marie, marinas of bays of the Orphanage and the Moselle), tourist port (quay Jules-Ferry) or commercial and industrial.

Climate

Protected partly from the dominant winds (south-eastern: the tropical trade winds) by its situation on the west coast of the Large Ground, it also has deep roads which one reaches by one of the greatest passes in the coral Récif.

The climate, tropical, is one of most lenient Territory: it is not there that one records the strongest minimal or maximum temperatures, nor strongest precipitations. Thus, the average of precipitations at the year (based over the period 1966 - 1995) is of 1072 mm, the most rainy months (more than 100 mm on average) being January, February and March (the “period of the cyclones” lasting the hot season) and June (period of the rains lasting the fresh season), according to Météo France. The average temperature is in the neighborhoods of 26°C for the season hot (December, January, February, March, with maximum temperatures often exceeding 30°C) and of 20°C for the fresh season (July, August, with the minimal ones with 17°C sometimes early the morning), always according to Météo France. The records of temperature recorded in Noumea were of 37°C for the maximum ones and 14°C for the minimal ones.

But Noumea is prone, as the remainder of the New Caledonia, with the tropical storms which go from the simple tropical depression until the Cyclone. The latest to date, Erica in 2003, caused major damage because of power of its winds and its sudden acceleration which took to court the meteorologists: in Noumea, several trees were torn off, to what was added many property damages (a half-moon dating from the Second world war was literally swept, the roof of the university flew away, etc), 230 people had to be accommodated in three lodging houses (Nouville, Anse Vata and River-Salted), but no human loss was not to regret on Noumea (human account on the whole of the territory: 2 dead plus the death of an agent of electricity after the cyclone during work of re-establishment of energy on the network). Moreover, Noumea was the only commune of the Territory not to be suffered from a drinking water cut. On the other hand, of many sailing ships of pleasure, wet in various bays of Noumea, were failed because of the strong winds and of the strong swell on the dams of the port.

Vegetation

Noumea has a rather luxuriant vegetation, with in particular of many not built spaces (in particular the hill of Montravel, or the essence of Ouen Toro which was arranged in pedestrian course). But the streets also are green. One finds a vegetation of the tropical type there, with the column-like pines typical of the Territory (one of the emblems calédoniens), the Cocotier S, the Palmier S but also the Blazing S which recognize at the hot season by their red flowers sharp. The forest park proposes a botanical path making it possible to discover many local endemic species (the rate of endemism of the territory is regarded as highest in the world). The policy of refitting of the Place of the Coconuts during the years 1990 in also made a good range of the local flora. The green areas are thus numerous (forest park, place of the coconuts but also the old cycle-racing track of Receiving, the turn of bays, the beach of Magenta…). Noumea remaining a city where the type of habitat is primarily suburban, the majority of the inhabitants have gardens thus.

History

Before the French

Several archaeological excavation campaigns were undertaken in the peninsula of Noumea, revealing a settlement before the installation of Europeans. The presentation of the various archeological sites calédoniens, and thus nouméens, were the subject of an exhaustive presentation in the thesis of the archeologist New Caledonian, director of the department of Archeology of the Territory, Christophe Sand: the Prehistory of New Caledonia; contribution to the study of the methods of adaptation and evolution of the companies océaniennes in an archipelago of the south of Mélanésie .

the first series of excavations was carried out in 1955 by the Americans Edward W. Gifford and Richard Shutler Jr. the University of California, thus finishing the first archaeological campaign conducted in New Caledonia and started by the two men in 1952. The excavations, carried out in the south of the peninsula (Vata Handle, site of the hippodrome, Ouen Toro, Bay of the Orphanage), revealed the presence of several sites of habitats as well as vestiges of various natures (furnace on the site n°19 of Ouen Toro, layer of burned stones, coal and black ground attesting of the presence of fires, human remainders perhaps corresponding to burials). Such vestiges were also found in Nouville, but none was dated with precision.
an excavation of rescue carried out in 1993 to the Point Magnin (southern end of the peninsula) at the time of the building site of the Méridien hotel allowed the archeologists François and Anne-Marie Semah and Hubert Forestier to emphasize holes of posts, waste of kitchen, layers of ash and several shards of pottery. These last were dated from, in the neighborhoods of the year 700.
Of the ceramics shards, of the pieces of shells or cut stones was found in a more disparate way at various places of the peninsula (Tina on sea, Ouen Toro, forest park where one finds the traces of a village with vestiges of hillocks of boxes). Analysis of the majority of the potteries, in particular those of the forest park or potteries called to " pustules" testify one more recent period, perhaps even of a contemporary period on arrival of Europeans.

At all events, the majority of the sources of the French soldiers testify that the peninsula even was uninhabited (or quasi uninhabited) at the time of the foundation of Wearing of France. It is even one of the reasons which pushed Tardy de Montravel to choose this site, then hoping to have few problems involved in the local populations. Thus, if it is known that the peninsula was inhabited before the arrival of Europeans (and even little front time), it is extremely improbable that the colonists sought to minimize the mélanésienne presence in the peninsula at the time of their installation. Consequently, either the settlements pre-Europeans were not in a durable way, or the peninsula was depopulated (because of the epidemics brought by the first contacts with Europeans, missionaries or santaliers, or in the past because of clannish wars). On another side, if the peninsula in itself or little were not populated by Mélanésiens at the time of the creation of Port-of-France, it is possible that it was about a dependence of the tribes neighborhood (with Païta, Dumbéa and the Mount-Gilds) populated that sporadically for “seasonal” activities (fishing…). This thesis could be found in two possible origins of the name of Noumea: for some, it would be about a deformation due to a bad comprehension of Europeans of the word “Dumbéa”, which indicates today a river which is thrown at the entry of the peninsula and one of the communes of Large Noumea. For others, they would be words in language Djubéa: “ Nou ” meaning “island” or “peninsula” (from where the Nou island, become since Nouville), and “ Méa ” which can mean “lagoon with fish, favourable with fishing”. Nevertheless, there does not exist any certainty on the settlement pre-European of Noumea, just as the etymological origin of the name of the chief town is prone to controversy and various interpretations.

Formation

After the taking possession of New Caledonia by the France the September 24th 1853, the new colonial administration seeks a place sheltered and profiting from good roads in order to create a military station there and to make the Chef-lieu of it island. Finally, it is the Captain Tardy de Montravel (which gave its name to one of the districts of the city) which finds the site ideal, protected from the winds prevailing and opposite an important master key in the reef, on a peninsula in the south-west of the Grande Ground. Thus is founded the June 25th 1854 Port of France which is reduced to its beginnings with a simple garrison of soldiers concentrated around strong Constantine (with the site of which the hospital Gaston-Bourret is today). As of 1855, a first town-planning is consisted the Major of the Génie Paul Coffin (which gave its name to one of the hills of the peninsula). It envisages the construction of a hillock, known as Conneau hillock, in order to gain space on the sea. The June 26th 1859, Port-of-France becomes a commune whose mayor and municipal council are named by the Gouverneur of the colony (the municipal council will be elected only as from 1881).

The bagne

The city slowly will develop with the arrival of colonists, traders, but especially by the presence of 1864 with 1894 of the bagne on the island Nou in the roads of the chief town then in the peninsula of Ducos. To avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique, its name is changed into Noumea the June 2nd 1866. The arrival of the convicts offers a free labor to the colony which makes use of it to complete great work, like the cleansing of the marshes of the peninsula (Bay of the Orphanage, Latin Quarter), the levelling of the Conneau hillock between 1875 and 1877 which gives rise to the current downtown area, the construction of roads, the installation of the port or the realization of conduits and drains making it possible to supply the small town out of water. Then Noumea is modernized, with public lighting with gas in 1887, then the first phone network and the first service of public transport. The first car arrives in 1901, and in 1914 Noumea is connected to the commune of Païta, then later with Foa, by a Railroad (the “small Train of the mine ”).

Nickel

But it is the exploitation of the Nickel which gives a second breath to the chief town after the abandonment of the bagne in 1894 and which confers to him its role of economic capital of the territory, in particular when one realizes that nickel reinforces in a considerable way the capacities of resistance of the Acier. The production and the transformation of nickel thus become an strategic issue for France at the beginning of the 20th century in a context of arms race the day before the First World War, and thus is created the factory of Doniambo to Noumea in 1909 which concentrates all the production of nickel of the colony. During the interval war, Noumea extends gradually on totality from the peninsula but is touched hard by the crisis of the years 1930.

The Second world war

In 1942, the American unload and transform New Caledonia into gigantic a Porte-avions for the war of the Pacific. In truth, New Caledonia becomes the principal American base camp for the operations of the Pacific. The Americans bring with them modernity and mark Calédoniens deeply: Coca-Cola, Chewing-gum, dance hall… Several districts of Noumea still keep the toponymic trace of this presence: Receiving , Motor Pool is names of district inherited old American military zone… Much Calédoniens and Nouméens kept a certain nostalgia of this time, and still today, many ceremonies commemorate every year this period around the American memorial. Post-war period, certain requests mild nutters were sent to Washington to make of New Caledonia the 51e State of America.

Boom of nickel

The presence of the US Army durably doped the New Caledonian economy which will reach its apogee in the years 1960-70: it is the time of the “ Boom of the Nickel ”. green gold makes it possible the island to grow rich considerably, and it is especially Noumea which profits from the economic consequences of this exploitation thanks to the presence of factory SLN of Doniambo. Principal consequence of this economic boom: wave of a frantic and rather anarchistic extension of the " capitale" with the construction of towers copied from the great metropolitan urban units: Montravel, Saint-Quentin at the exit of the city, Magenta…

Events

But the Economic crisis world related to the oil crisis of 1973 touches also New Caledonia, to what is added a brutal ethnic political crisis and during the years 1980 which will oppose independence and loyal supporters. Noumea, it, becomes the bastion of the anti-freedom fighters and escapes a time the confrontations which take place especially in Brousse. Nevertheless, after death the January 11th 1985 of Yves Tual, a young person Caldoche (or calédonien of European origin whose family is present on the Territory since several generations) 17 years killed by Mélanésie NS, violent riots take place in Noumea: the independence trade of leaders nouméens are plundered and set fire to (the pharmacy of the former deputy Maurice Lenormand, the service station Dang, etc). The situation is calmed only after the signature of the agreements of Matignon. It is in Noumea that is signed in 1998 them from now on famous agreements of Noumea which defined the current statute of the Territory.

The embellishment of the city

As from the years 1990, the mayor Jean Lèques undertakes an important policy of embellishment of the city. He makes rehabilitate thus certain districts closed down as River-Salted and Ducos in the northern periphery of Noumea or the Valley-of-Shooting. The Place of the Coconuts is completely refitted: the old monuments of the place (the Celestial Fountain, the Bandstand, or the old town hall which borders it which is transformed into museum of the city) are renovated and the esplanade is decorated many trees (coconuts, from where its name, blazing). The turn of bays, him also, strongly was modified, with the installation of pedestrian and cycle walks, but also of vast marinas of pleasure. Lastly, since the beginning of the 21e century, the municipality launched out in a new project aiming at transforming the tourist Pôle bays of the south of the Presqu'île (bay of Lemons, Anse Vata) into a kind of “Riviera” calédonienne with luxury hotels, restaurants and a strong concentration of bars and nightclubs.

To this policy of embellishment an expansion policy due to the strong increase in the population nouméenne is added (65 110 inhabitants in 1989, 76.293 in 1996 and 91.386 in 2004). This demographic development required an intense activity of constructions of habitats and new allotments do not cease being arranged in the peninsula (Tuband allotment at the edge of bay of Sainte-Marie in the south-eastern part, districts easy of Tina in north, allotments accommodating of the families of the middle-class or more popular of the Doors of Iron and Magenta in the east…). Moreover, the agglomeration nouméenne, which one calls the Grand Noumea, does not cease extending. Thus the district of Koutio, in the commune of Dumbéa, with its general high school and technique of Large Noumea new bright burning coal or its shopping mall accommodating, amongst other things, a Hypermarket Crossroads, became emblematic of this frantic expansion of the capital towards its common neighbors. Moreover, as in the majority of the modern cities, one observes since the years 1980 a phenomenon of escape of the urban center towards the suburbs. The Migratory balance of the commune of Noumea is thus negative with the profit of the communes of sound Agglomération (balance of - 4.638 between 1989 and 1996).

Policy

Noumea is the Chef-lieu of the New Caledonia, it is thus the seat of the High commissionership (" Haussariat"), residence of the delegated government of the French Republic, as well as Congress of New Caledonia (legislative body of the territory) and government of New Caledonia.

It is also the chief town of the Southern Province, it thus accommodates the Hotel of the Province (also called the “Blue House” by the local mediums).

As regards the international cooperation, Noumea is also the seat of the general secretary of the Communauté of the Pacific (old Commission of the Southern Pacific CPS).

Noumea remains bastion traditional of RPCR, also called today Gathering-UMP, party anti-freedom fighter founded by Jacques Lafleur which was appointed 1 {{Re}} district, which includes Noumea and the Îles Honesty, of 1978 with 2007. The current deputy of this district elected in 2007, Gaël Yanno, is resulting from this party.

The current mayor is Jean Lèques, in function since 1986 and re-elected with the 1st turn with each municipal election since then (56,8% of the votes and 40 seats out of 49 in 1995, 53,39% and 39 elected officials since 2001). Today, the municipal council is thus made up: 39 elected officials for the RPCR (of which the mayor and his 14 assistant), 4 for the Avenir together (resulting from two lists: “Noumea, it is Capital" e" ” carried out by Sonia Lagarde which linked the party “Alliance” and the Mouvement for France local, both opposed to the Accord of Noumea at the time, the list had obtained in 2001 22,6% of the votes, three of the five elected officials of this list were integrated into the Avenir together; “All from here” Isabelle Ohlen who is the single one elected of this list formed between various personalities of the civil society and the moderate freedom fighters of FCCI and fighting especially for the installation of a common destiny, the list had obtained 5,3% of the votes), 2 for the National front (11,1%), 2 of the list “Alternate citizen” (7,6% in 2001, the two elected officials are the freedom fighter Gerald Cortot of the Union calédonienne and Jean-Raymond Postic of the civil society) and 2 for the Mouvement for France (which made secession of the group “Noumea itis capital" e" ” in 2006 to criticize the position of the Future together, whose 3 other members of this group are adherent, about the electorate).

But the electorate of the chief town however seems to move away from RPCR and Jacques Lafleur at the time of the provincial elections of the May 9th 2004. Indeed, during these elections, the list anti-freedom fighter dissenting and opposed to Jacques Lafleur, the Future together, arrives at the head in front of the party traditional loyal supporter not only at Noumea (with 1159 votes of advances), but also in two other communes of the Grand Noumea: Dumbéa (common escaping RPCR traditionally) and Païta (stronghold of Harold Martin, one of the tenors of the Future together).

Districts

The sector of the Noumea old man

This sector is, as in all the other cities, far from residential but it accommodates 6.100 inhabitants all the same.

Downtown area

Downtown area, or historical center, is the the most important district of Noumea. It is about colonial the old working. The downtown area is organized around the Place of the Coconuts and has many historic buildings, of which the Celestial Fountain (km 0 of the roads calédoniennes) and the bandstand on the place of the Coconuts, or the cathedral Saint-Joseph and the temple protesting in top of this place. Further in north the territorial Hospital Gaston-Bourret (CHT) is located, built with the site of the very first building of Port-of-France: strong Constantine. Beside the place, the center town is organized according to a checkerboard plan and accommodates many clothes shops, jewelleries and shops of luxury which were worth the nickname in Noumea of " Paris of the Peaceful ". It is there also that the head offices of the local companies are.

Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter (called thus because it was at the origin separate of the downtown area by broad band of sea, pointing out the Latin Quarter of Paris) is quite as tourist as the old center and is quite as old. One finds there in particular the Museum territorial, the municipal Marché and some restaurants and bars as well as the main thing Marina of the city, the Port the Moselle.

The point of Artillery

The point of Artillery separates the Port the Moselle from bay of the Orphanage and constitutes the southern limit of the Noumea old man. This district accommodates the oldest college of Noumea, the George-Beaudoux college (initially called college Perugia) as well as the principal college of the territory, the college Perugia, and the Escoffier hotel college. It is also an important military base, from where its name.

Nouville

The artificial peninsula of Nouville (old Nou island, where the prison authorities were installed) always accommodates the center of stop of the Camp Is, pointing out the old penitentiary function of the Nou island. But it has to become in the years which come the true university center from the capital, with the general high school and technical Jules-Garnier which accommodates several preparatory classes at the universities, or the seats of the faculty of Sciences and Technique and of that of right as well as the Academic institute of formation of the Masters (IUFM) of the Pacifique. Important work were begun in 2005 to transform the site of Nouville into a large campus refitted in order to accommodate in the years which follow the department of the Letters, Langues and Social sciences, for the moment installed with Magenta.

Valley of the Genius

Drawing its name owing to the fact that it accommodated at the 19th century and the beginning of the battalion of the genius of New Caledonia. It is today about a residential district, dominated by the cornice of the Semaphore on which the theater of the Federation of Laic Works (FOL) of New Caledonia was installed. At the entry of the Vallée the barracks Gally Passeboc is, of the name of the officer who was in charge of the repression of the revolt Mélanésie of the big boss Ataï in 1878 and which was killed during this countryside. In front of was arranged the place Bir Hakeim and its war memorial of the First World War. It is on this place that take place the great ceremonies of commemoration of different the Guerre S and the wreath layings.

Suburb

The sector of the Suburb contains 11.000 inhabitants. They are the oldest residential districts of the chief town forming the direct periphery of the downtown area.

Valley of the Colonists

This district holds its name owing to the fact that it is there that the first civil colonists settled at the time where Port-of-France was yet only one military base. It is organized around the street Auguste-Bénébig (old colonial road 13 then territorial road 13) which connects the downtown area to Magenta. It is a residential district. One finds there the college catholic of Champagnat and the Protestant college Do Kamo. It is a very cosmopolitan district. Historical quarters, it also include/understand several classified buildings historic buildings as the castle Hagen (house of colonial style which is used today with exposures and cultural activities), the church Saint-Jean-Baptist of the Valley of the Colonists or the old buildings of the current Magnin private clinic.

Suburb-Blanchot

This district is quite as old as the Valley of the Colonists. It, is also organized to him around a principal artery, the street of the Despointes Port, which connects the downtown area to bay of Sainte-Marie. One finds there the house Célières, one of the principal models as regards colonial architecture. This residence, dilapidated since the death of its last owner and occupied by squats, will be the subject of an important restoration campaign aiming at giving again its appearance of origin to him. Another historic building, the old civil prison (which was used as 1881 with 1939) in which is today installed the Center of Art, also said " Theater of Poche".

Sainte-Marie

This district was organized around the bottom of bay of Sainte-Marie which gave him its name. Built with hillside, they are relatively recent allotments. A policy of cleansing of the bottom of bay was undertaken since the beginning of the 21e century because of the proliferation of a very malodorous alga obstructing particularly the residents.

Montravel

The population of this sector, most popular of Noumea, is of 7100 inhabitants. This sector thus comprises in very first place the district of Montravel, by far most recent, with its turns HLM. This district shelters primarily a population of so Wallisian origin mélanésienne but. In the vicinity, is the site of the factory of Doniambo and the industrial port of the city. But the sector of Montravel does not comprise that the district of Montravel, one can also quote that of the Valley of the Shooting, inhabited since the 19th century (with the site of the first cemetery of the chief town). This district, which is spread out over the southern sides of the hill of Montravel, has been the object for these last years of a strong policy of rehabilitation.

Magenta

This sector is one of the most dynamic centers, and also one of most cosmopolitan of the chief town with its 14.000 inhabitants. Its heart remains the district of Magenta itself, where one finds the aerodrome domestic of Noumea, the site of the Faculty of Arts, languages and social sciences of the university of New Caledonia (which has to be moved towards Nouville from here a few years) as well as the Numa-Daly stage (built in 1966 at the time of the 2nd Jeux of the Pacific, one gave him the name of a former French footballer having played to the Olympique of Marseilles). One can also quote the clinical of Magenta which accommodates the services of Pédiatrie and Obstétrique of the territorial hospital (CHT), as well as the most important college of the city. The district of the High-Magenta is used as bond between the downtown area and the residential districts of the periphery. One also finds there, in the heights, the zoological gardens and forest. Around these two important poles the fully residential districts of the peninsula of Ouémo developed, of the Iron Doors and the Fourth km where one finds the old cemetery of the Fourth km, created in the years 1880 and always expanding. It should be noted that the Arts center Tjibaou is in this administrative sector.

Lastly, this district is certainly that where one can observe greatest social diversity. Thus, the suburban districts of the middle-classes of Ouémo, the High-Magenta and part of the Iron Doors côtoient the turns of Magenta, located between the stage and the CHT, and the suburban social housing built recently in the heights between the Iron Doors and the aerodrome and accommodating a primarily Wallisian population or mélanésienne. See the detailed article: Arts center Tjibaou

River-salted

The district of River-salted was carried out starting from the end of the year 1960 and until in 1982 on embankments built at the beginning of the 20th century to allow the passage at the time of the " Small-train" mine. This district holds its name, mentioned on the charts as of 1859, of the presence of vast marshes. Forsaken for a long time, it was the object these last years of a true policy of rehabilitation which includes/understands construction in 2000 of a media library (33 000 documents including 4.000 CD) and in 2001 of a Coffee-music " Mouv'". One finds there also the college of River-Salted, classified priority zone of teaching ZEP, and the Petro-Atiti vocational school. This district is populated of 9000 inhabitants, mainly so European mélanésiens and Polynesians but. It constitutes the northern limit of the town of Noumea, towards the commune of Dumbéa.

The sector of Saint-Quentin

The sector of Saint-Quentin is populated of 7.500 inhabitants and constitutes the north-eastern periphery of the city, giving on the commune of the Mount-Gilds. This administrative sector of Noumea east in full expansion. One finds there various residential districts with the varied attractivity: 6th and 7th km as well as the district of Normandy are rather popular. They include/understand the turns of Saint-Quentin at the exit of the city, which will be gradually emptied their inhabitants and destroyed in order to build suburban residences, as well as the cemetery of the 6th km, most recent and most important of the chief town, or the college of Normandy… It is in the 1990 qu years ' was arranged the new residential district of Tina, divided into Tina-on-Sea and Tina-Presqu' Île. Allotments for easy people were installed there, as well as a Golf of 18 holes and a cycle track with Tina-on-Sea.

The sector of Ducos

Ducos is a Presqu'île: it is the economic and industrial center of Noumea where many companies are installed. The peninsula of Ducos counts 7500 inhabitants and constitutes the north-western part of Noumea. At the origin, Ducos belonged to the prison authorities which had installed a center there where were imprisoned condemned considered to be most dangerous.

Industrial parks

Today, it includes/understands the industrial park of Ducos located near factory SLN of Doniambo. Another industrial heart of the peninsula, the district of bay of Numbo, old penitentiary site, and whose activities are centered around the chalandage, of naval construction and the cement factory. Lastly, one can quote at the western end of the peninsula the point Koumourou (what means “deep hole” or “blue hole”) which initially was used with the installation of a battery as artillery and which is used today for storage of hydrocarbons and gas destineds to the provisioning of New Caledonia.

Residential districts

One also finds in Ducos of the residential districts: some are rather old, like the district even of Ducos or that of Tindu also dating from the prison authorities at the 19th century. These old districts have been the subject of a policy of rehabilitation for these last years. But of the more recent districts were also arranged, like that of Logicoop (parcelled out between years 1960 and 70) and the reach development concerted (ZAC) of Kamere whose realization started in the years 1990 and who should count in the long term between 2500 and 3000 inhabitants. One finds the college of Kamere there.

District-south

With its aquarium and its beaches, it is about the tourist part of Noumea, in particular around bay of Lemons and the Vata handle where many hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs are. The bay of the Orphanage is used as for it as marina and the White Coast, at the southern of bay of Sainte-Marie, basic end nautical. To that is added the residential districts, primarily European, of Receiving, Motor Pool, Trianon, Valley Pleasure (with its hippodrome) and of Géa. One finds there a college public, the Jean-Mariotti college, but also a private college, Saint-Joseph of Cluny, and a private college, Blaise-Pascal. There are 13.900 inhabitants.

A particular phenomenon: the Squats

It developed in Noumea since the years a 1980-90 particular type of habitat: what Nouméens generally call the squats . Those consist of dwellings built out of materials of recovery (generally out of corrugated sheet), on private or public waste grounds belonging in particular to the municipality with the accesses of the city (most important are those located close to Montravel, in the vegetation of the mangrove type between Magenta and the peninsula of Ouémo, behind the Hospital specialized of Nouville, at the accesses of the airport of Magenta at the entry of Tina, on banks of bay of Koutio - Kaméré in the North-West of the peninsula). Several visions and opinions are opposed concerning these squats:

for some, it acts of Mélanésiens coldly arrived of bush which, testing difficulties of finding work, do not succeed in being placed and the means do not have of treating to a decent dwelling. The solution is thus in a development of the policy of construction of dwellings to the accessible rents with a priority to rehouse the squatteurs . It is partly for this reason that was created the new social housing of suburban type in Ducos (Logicoop, Kaméré) or to the Iron Doors (on the heights which separate the already existing districts from the airport of Magenta). But the policy of the Real estate company calédonienne (SIC) and the government is often considered to be insufficient by certain associations or by the league of the human rights of New Caledonia.
among criticisms most virulent of the squats and the squatteurs , one finds in particular the Caldoche S of Noumea, of many Subways but also of many Mélanésiens owners or tenants of housing in Noumea as well as the populations resulting from more recent immigrations (Polynesians of which Wallisians, Asiatiques). For them, the fact that there are squatteurs raises only because of the latter and that it is the best means for the latter of placing itself close to Noumea and thus to profit from the advantages from the city while laying out of water and free electricity (while being connected clandestinely to the electricity and water supply networks) and without having to pay rent. Moreover, the presence of squats is often associated with the development of criminality.
of many sociologists and anthropologists regards more and more the squats as a type of rather specific habitat, different from the Bidonville S of the Third World countries. Thus, for more and more of specialists, the squatteurs would be of Mélanésiens which would have been obliged to leave their tribe for varied reasons (primarily for economic reasons or professional) and which, not adapting to the European lifestyle of the city, would have recreated a space of life similar to that they had left in tribe (thus, the social organization, the names given by their inhabitants to the squats, the development of food gardens, in particular of tropical fruit trees, point out the typical tribe mélanésienne). Thus, the squat would be in fact a recovery of the traditional lifestyle Kanak to the accesses of a European environment more , the city.

Demography

The town of Noumea counts 91.386 inhabitants with the last census of 2004. But the agglomeration extends now well beyond the limits from the city, within the communes of the Mount-Gilds (in the south, especially coastal districts of Robinson, the Bridge-of-French, Boulari, Small valley-in Or), of Dumbéa (to north, primarily the district of Koutio which forms to it near " banlieue" of Noumea) and Païta (in the North-West, with in particular the construction of new allotments along the expressway). With the sights of the last census, one estimates that large Noumea counts more 146 000 inhabitants, is almost the 2/3 of the total population of the Territory. Less than 30 years represent more half of the population nouméenne (52,7% in 1996, less than 20 years representing more of the third of the population, are 33,7%). Although populated with more than 50% by descendants of Europeans, Noumea is a particularly cosmopolitan city. Ethnic mixing is rather important and the phenomenon of ghettoisation does not exist or little, although certain districts (like Montravel or River-Salted) are primarily mélanésiens and others more European (Tina, Val Pleasure, Suburb-Blanchot). The chief town " a long time was called; Noumea Blanche" because of its strong proportion of European population, but this phenomenon tends to be limited with in particular a migratory movement of the bush, and tribes, towards the city. It is as in Noumea as concentrates the Wallisian population and futunienne, more important than with Wallis-and-Futuna. To that is added a considerable Asian community, primarily of the Indonesia NS and Vietnam iens, but also some Chinese.

Sources:

Reference mark and figures concerning the evolution of the town of Noumea realized by the college Lapérouse
table of demographic trends of the communes of the Territory since 1956
Given ISEE of New Caledonia.

The table above shows the demographic trends of the chief town since its creation. Several phases arise thus with the first glance:

a phase of installation (1854-1864): before the installation of the bagne, the chief town remains a small village but starts to develop with the arrival of first colonists “pioneers”. But the population of Port-of-France remains primarily made up of unmarried soldiers and men.
the period of the bagne (1864-1891): the population increases quickly because of the important demographic contribution of the “convicts”. Nevertheless, one notices a deceleration of this increase in 1887 and 1891, primarily of with the fact that this period corresponds to one moment when the first convicts having finished their sorrow in Noumea begin doubling (obligation to remain in the colony during a time corresponding to their old sorrow and being used to force the " forçats" released to remain in the colony) in bush.
end of the bagne and colonization Feillet (1891-1921): the decision of the Feillet governor of " to turn off the water sale" tap; in 1894 and thus to close the bagne causes the departure of the penitentiary population of the peninsula. Moreover, the new wave of colonization launched by the new governor (the Feillet colonists) relates to primarily the bush, with the result that the city stagnates on the demographic level during this period.
a revival in the years 1920 (1921-1931): the population nouméenne starts again to increase in the years 1920, because of the trade boom on the international plan (the " Folles" years;), of the development of the industry of nickel but also of the failures of colonization of the bush (Feillets colonists and “northerners”) which push some “broussards” to come to settle in the chief town.
the years 1930 (1931-1936): fall demographic due to the economic crisis.
the American presence (1936-1946): the American presence brings a new lifestyle as well as " dollars" who give again a certain dynamism with the capital.
the rise of the post-war period (1946-1969): raise which can be explained by a demographic international context of rise and urban rise (the " baby-boom ") but also by the abolition of the code of the indigénat which gives the right to Kanaks to move and to settle where they wish it. Some are thus attracted by the economic aspect and Westerner of the chief town. The population almost tripled in 12 years (1951-1963).
boom of nickel (1969-1974): the considerable economic advancement related to nickel causes a considerable demographic boom in Noumea which sees its population increased of more than 17.000 people in 5 years. This economic advancement is accompanied by an urban development and rather anarchistic real estate.
a depopulation related to the crisis of the first oil crisis (1974-1976): for the first time since the end of the war, Noumea loses its population (much turns over in metropolis and this depopulation touches all the Territory). But this fall is of short duration.
the return to the rise (1974-1989): during this period, the population of Noumea starts again to increase gently: first of all, the city succeeded in counterbalancing its migratory deficit of with people leaving the Territory for the Metropolis by a positive balance of the bush towards the chief town (the crisis also touching rural environment, some broussards go to Noumea to be likely more to find work). To that is added the “events” of the years 1980 during which many Europeans of bush (“broussards”) take refuge in Noumea to flee the confrontations.
new demographic boom (1989 - today): because of the return to the political stability and ethnic, to what a new boom of nickel is added since the beginning of the years 2000, urban rise does not stop.

Religions

The dominant religion is the Christianisme (Catholicisme and Protestantisme). Because the French colonists immediately set up their religion. Several churches were built in Noumea, as well as a cathedral dating from the end of the 19th century (the principal churches are the church of the Wish, the church Saint-Jean-Baptist of the Valley of the Colonists, the Saint-Michel church of Montravel). New Caledonia having been the object before the taking possession by France of a fight between Protestant and catholic missionaries, these two religions thus are well established in the capital. The European population is mainly catholic, just as the Wallisians and Futuniens who are them very seldom Protestant. On the other hand, the population mélanésienne is divided. There is also a Muslim community which draws the essence of its faithful within the indonésiens of origin. The Large Temple of Noumea, close to the cathedral, date completion of the 19th century and dominates the place of the Coconuts. Many Churches, for the majority coming from the the United States, are present, in particular the Témoins of Jéhovah, the adventist and the Mormons. There are also religious schools, like the catholic college of Champagnat and the Protestant college Do Kamo.

Teaching and research

Manpower

They were of 28.482 students and pupils in 2000, including 12.998 in primary school education, 6.487 for the colleges, 3.773 for the colleges and 2.975 for the vocational schools and 2.249 students of higher education.

Schools

48 public schools, including 34 primary educations and 14 nursery schools, 444 classes gathering 13.000 pupils. To that is added 6 catholic private schools (2 nursery schools, 1 elementary and 3 elementary and maternal).

5 colleges of secondary education THESE public in Noumea and 7 in large Noumea. To that 2 catholic private colleges are added to Noumea is three for Large Noumea.

3 colleges of mainstream education and technological public in Large the Noumea (including 2 in Noumea) and 3 public colleges of vocational training in Noumea (of which a vocational school and industrialist and a commercial and hotel college). There exist two private colleges of mainstream education (a catholic, a Protestant) and two private vocational schools (a catholic, a Protestant).

Higher education

Noumea is regarded as an academy with whole share, nevertheless it does not have of a vice-chancellorship but a vice-vice-chancellorship which is always attached to an academy of metropolitan supervision.

the Université of New Caledonia was born in 1987 under the name of French university from the Pacific distributed between two university centres: that of New Caledonia and that of French Polynesia, the administrative seat of the university being with Tahiti. In 1999, the two centers became two autonomous universities and the antenna calédonienne became the university of New Caledonia (UNC). It is about the smallest university of France by its manpower, with 2.496 students in 2005; 78 teacher-researchers and teachers work there, like 52 administrative officers and of library. It is distributed on three sites, all located at Noumea: two in Nouville in the west (Nouville-Banian: department of Sciences and Technology, Nouville-Workshops: department of Right, Management and Economy) and in Magenta in the east (department of the Letters, Languages and Social sciences). It is envisaged to join together soon the departments in only one large university campus with Nouville, work started in 2005. The university does not offer formation beyond the first cycle (i.e. the license within the framework of reform LMD), except for a professional master of development and town and country planning DEVTAT (a master of right, open in 2005, was closed in 2006). The licenses offered are: mathematics, data processing, physical sciences, life sciences, sciences of the Earth and sciences of the Universe SVSTU, right, economy management, public administration, letters modern, English, history, geography and languages océaniennes. It was also open in 2003 a first year of medicine in collaboration with CHU of the Pity-Salpêtrière to Paris. Several DEUST is open there: géosciences, metallurgy, data processing, revegetalisation and management of the mining environment.

Higher education not-academic: several BTS (in four colleges), of the preparatory classes at the scientific universities in physics, technology and engineerings (1 college). Lastly, there exists a IUFM Pacifique which has an antenna in Nouville on a new open site in 2005 close to the university campus. It prepares with the contests of professorship of the schools and the professors of vocational schools in Letter-history and English-letters, with the CAPES of Letters modern, History-geography, English, Mathématiques and Life sciences and Earth and finally CAPEPS.

Research: in addition to the university, which has several laboratories in particular as regards vegetable or marine biology, there exists in Noumea the Research institute for the development (IRD) whose research fields touch the biodiversity as well, biology marinades, the study of fauna and the flora, climatology or history and archeology with the participation in the missions Lapérouse with Vanikoro. It should be noted that the campus of Sciences of the university was the place of the first International Conference of Mathematics of New Caledonia, organized in 2005 by the professor Henri Bonnel of the universities in mathematics.

Hospital

There is several hospital and private clinics in Noumea. As regards the public sector, one counts the territorial Hospital (CHT) the which gathers the Hôpital Gaston Bourret, oldest and most important of the Territory, and the Hôpital of Magenta (often called by abuse Clinique language of Magenta), which gathers the services of pediatry, gynecology, obstetrics and reanimation néonatale.

With that must be added the Hospital specialized (CHS) Albert Bousquet, generally called the center of Nouville, specialized in the psychiatric and geriatric care.

With that must be added several private clinics, of which the Polyclinique of the Handle Vata, the Clinique Magnin with Valley of the Colonists and the Clinical of Bay of the Lemons.

Economic activities

Noumea remains the principal economic and industrial center as well as the first port of the Territory. The active population rose with 36.627 individuals in 1996, including 4.124 unemployed (either an unemployment rate of 7,1%).

The industrial activity

The economy of the capital is, as for the remainder of the New Caledonia, centered around the treatment of nickel. The factory Eramet - SLN located on the peninsula of Doniambo, between the industrial sector of Ducos and the commercial port, is thus to date the only and transformation treatment plant of the nickel ore on the Territory. It currently has a production of 60 000 tons per annum of transformed ore and is the subject of a policy of modernization of its equipment to carry this production to 75 000. This factory remains one of the principal employers of the capital since 1 382 paid worked in 2004 there. The industrial sector thus represented in 1996 more 10 % of the active population. Of course, the transformation of nickel is not the only industrial activity of Noumea, but it remains dominating. One can quote if not the agro-alimentary sector with in particular of the canning facilities or the factories of production of drinks (such as the Société the Cold which produces at the same time local sodas but which works especially under license of famous brands like Coca-Cola, or the Grande Brewery of New Caledonia (GBNC) which produces a beer, the Number One, which received several prices on the international fairs). Noumea also has a cement factory and activities of naval construction in Numbo.

The wearing of Noumea

The wearing of Noumea remains of small size to the international scales with a total traffic of 5.584 thousands of tons in 2004. Nevertheless, there remains a giant in New Caledonia and, in a certain direction, the insular Pacific. The trade balance is largely surplus because of export of nickel. Thus, only 1.511 thousands of tons of goods were unloaded in 2004 against 4.073 embarked thousands of tons. The latter are composed with more than nickel ore 90%. On the other hand, the unloadings relate to primarily manufactured goods, primarily of the cars, but also of the food products of importation.

Services

The tertiary sector is by far developed in Noumea, and represented the most more than 77% of the active population of the capital in 1996. The public office in particular employs a considerable number of nouméens, that it is the State, the Territory, the Province or the commune.

Noumea is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of New Caledonia. It manages the airport of Tontouta.

Tourism

It is truly a sector in becoming which has much evil still to develop. That is worth of course for the whole of the territory. However, Noumea profited on the tourist level from the choice from the maritime shipping company " P&O" to create a cruising on the basis of Sydney and making some sites in New Caledonia, of which Noumea. Moreover, from the concentration of the economic activities and cultural in Noumea, the chief town became a place of required passage for all the tourists remaining in Calédonie. If not, Noumea, true garden city, proposes many sites with the tourists, that they are monuments built by the man or of the natural panoramas provided by the many hills of the chief town.

The aquarium of Noumea

Founded in 1956, the Aquarium of Noumea presents an open system out of sea water and natural light. It accommodates more 60 000 visitors per annum and constitutes the place more visited of New Caledonia. In the second half of 2006, a new aquarium, of 2250 m ², will be inaugurated and should carry the capacity to 200 000 visitors per annum. The most known speciality of the aquarium is the fluorescent corals which it accommodates.

The bagne

Vestiges of the bagne to Nouville. One can quote the old church of the bagne, reconverted in theater (the Theater of the Island), but also the current museum of the bagne and the old workshops which became since the site of the department of right and economy of the university of New Caledonia. Some of these sites act as archaeological excavations, in particular old bakery where research gave their first result as for the operating process of this building.

The Amédée headlight

The small island of the Amédée headlight is one of the places in the surroundings of Noumea most visited by the tourists, in particular Japanese. Its popularity is due primarily to its headlight 55 height m (the higher second of the world, and not the first as one often believes it, behind the Dutch headlight Lange Jaap) inaugurated on November 15th, 1865 (feastday of the empress Eugenie).

The control of the building work of this headlight was supervised by a young engineer of naval constructions, 24 years old, former student of the Polytechnic school, Louis-Emile Bertin (1840-1924) at the request of the count de Chasseloup-Laubat, Minister for the marine of Napoleon III. The initial work on the spot with the assistance of soldiers and mélanésiens will last ten months, from January in November 1865. This same Bertin created twenty years later the marine of war of the Mikado (the emperor MutsuHito) and the arsenals of Kure (close to Hiroshima) and Sasebo (close to Nagasaki), many Japanese still remember that which always has a bust placed on the pier of the port of the town of Honshu, located on bay of Tokyo.

Thursdays of the Center Town

Thursdays of the Center Town which are held every week on the Place of the Coconuts (before, it acted of Thursdays of the Vata Handle) and according to a different topic each time. They make it possible to make discover products typically calédoniens and give an outline of the cultural life calédonienne.

" Small Trains"

" Small Trains" , motorized vehicles taking again the aspect of the old trains of the 19th century and offering to the tourists visits with accompanying notes of the city.

Zoological gardens and botanical

The zoological gardens and botanical, known as also forest Park on the heights of Montravel, have a range of endemic animal species: the Cagou (symbol of the territory), the Nautou (larger species of pigeon in the world) but also a many range of birds of any kind and several species of animals more or less " exotiques" (monkeys, move, kangaroo, reptiles, ibis, pink flamingos) as well as a botanical course giving an outline of diversity and richness of the flora calédonienne. zoological and botanical

The place of the Coconuts

The Place of the Coconuts, true heart of the city. It was initially a garden, then one started to build various places above. One moved in there of the natural parks and places. It is located at the center of the city and is even regarded as central point of kilometric measurement of the city. On this place, one can see the bandstand created and restored in 1986. One finds also the fountain celestial, since 1894. This place of the coconuts is the ideal place of all the festive appointments.

Ouen Toro

Ouen Toro is a hill located at the southern end of the peninsula of Noumea. If the sides is and northern from now on are built, the remainder of the hill was arranged in pedestrian path in the middle of nature. It is about more arranged green big space of Noumea. This hill was if not one of the advanced stations of American during the Second world war, and the US Army installed there in particular a battery of artillery aiming at pushing back a possible attack of the Japanese if those would have advanced until in New Caledonia. The guns, although except service, always exist and spaces it arranged in the neighborhoods allows to have a panoramic sight on the lagoon and bays downwards.

The Hagen castle

This building being in the district of the valley of the colonists, was formerly the house of the Master for the colonizers. It was repurchased in 1998 and is used for the exposures open to the tourists and the calédoniens during the European Journées of the inheritance.

Leisures

Noumea east turned towards the sea, it is normal that the essence of its leisures is also directed towards the water sport. But the city, which suffered a long time from its distance, starts to know an increasingly diversified cultural activity.

Beaches

The beaches of the Vata Handle and Bay of Lemons are bordered of hotels (including one five stars, the Meridian line), of restaurants, casino S (two), of bars and nightclubs. " Anse" and the " D" bay; are the appointments of youth nouméenne the evenings, whether it is out of box or to show its cars " tunées " and for the races of car on the Vata Handle. If not the " turn of the baies" is arranged in paved pedestrian walks (walk Roger Laroque skirting bay of Lemons and the Vata Handle) or not (walk Pierre Vernier which skirts part of bay of Sainte-Marie).

Culture

Several museums, whose territorial museum which offers an outline of arts first Kanaks or Océaniens in general, the museum of the City (installed in what was the town hall of Noumea of the end of the 19th century at the years 1970) which, in addition to its collections on the history of Noumea, is in the beginning many demonstrations and exposures under the impulse of the town hall, the museum of Bagne with Nouville or the museum of the Sea whose originality comes from the parts brought back by forwardings Lapérouse to Vanikoro. The city also has an academy of music (old territorial School of Music ETM), of two theaters (Theater of the Island and Center of Art says also Théâtre of Pocket), of a theater (Federation of laic works FOL), of a public library (Bernheim library), of a coffee musics (Mouv', concert hall of 400 places which accommodate especially artists and groups local) and of a media library (River-Salted). The Arts center Tjibaou is used at the same time as place of exposure, media library and museum of the culture Kanak. Moreover, Noumea accommodates from now on several annual festivals. First of all, the musical festival '' Live in August '' (gathers groups of Rock, Blues, Rhythm' blues, Jazz, pop, Funk but also of Folk Irish coming primarily from Australia or New Zealand but also from all the Pacifique and which occurs in the theaters and the bars in a very Anglo-Saxon environment) created in 1991 by GBNC (Large Brewery of New Caledonia) initially under the name of Jazz in August before taking its current name in 1998. In 1995 took place the first edition of Biennial the Equinox (spectacle of street, circus, cinema, theater, dance, music with each edition a different topic, that of 2005 having had for topic the air one and fire, with troops coming from the Territory, the Pacifique but also from Europe) which thus takes place every two years in October.

Sport

Football

There are two football clubs in Noumea.

US Calédonienne
Magenta ACE Nickel, better known under the name of Magenta ACE or ASM, is the principal club nouméen and one of most important of the Territory. This club thus knew an exceptional season in 2005 since, in addition to to have gained the cut and the championship of New Caledonia, it succeeds in reaching finally of the Championship of Oceania in June 2005 after having obtained the first place of the Group B and to be themselves imposed 4-1 in semi-final vis-a-vis the frightening club tahitien of the ACE Pirae which was however in residence. Nevertheless, Nouméens finally inclined on June 10th vis-a-vis the superiority of Australian of Sydney FC. However, for a first participation in the championship océanien, Calédoniens then succeeded in making the surprise while becoming vice-champions of Oceania. Unfortunately, at the time of the following edition of the championship, the club arrived last of its group (the B) group by gaining one match over 3. ACE Magenta had if not be champion of Overseas territories while beating ACE Pirae in 2003 (2-2 with the match outward journey, 2-2 with the return match then 4-3 after shootings to the goal, it was the first time that the club disputed the championship), thus obtaining the possibility of disputing the final of the Cut of the DOM-TOM 2004 vis-a-vis the champion of the DOM, but the club nouméen was inclined then vis-a-vis the Inhabitants of Martinique of the Club Franciscain (2-3). Nouméens, after having lost their championship of TOM into 2004 vis-a-vis Tahitiens of the ACE Manu Ura (1-1 with the match outward journey then 1-2 with the return match), gained once again the cut of TOM in 2005 by beating this time Tahitiens of the ACE Tefana (4-1 with the match outward journey, 3-1 with the return match). Thus, after having been the first club calédonien to gain this championship which opposes since 1996 the respective champions of French Polynesia and New Caledonia, the Magenta ACE thus succeeded in obtaining second once this title (becoming the second club having the most once gained this tournament with equality with the ACE Manu Ura and behind the 5 titles of the ACE Venus, him also Tahitien club). The semi-final of the Cut of the Champions of Overseas, new name of the Cut of the DOM TOM, was lost by the club calédonien the September 8th 2005 at the stage of Viry-Châtillon vis-a-vis the champion of Mayotte, the ACE Sada (2-3). Nouméens were also inclined at the time of small finale 0 to 5 vis-a-vis the Inhabitants of Martinique of the Franciscain Club. The season 2006 was nevertheless much less profitable for the Magenta ACE: in addition to elimination before the final stages at the time of the Cut of Oceania, the club did not obtain the championship of New Caledonia for the first time since four years and the Cut of New Caledonia for the first time since 1998 does not succeed in gaining.

The drives of the Magenta ACE take place at the Numa-Daly stage, known as also stage of Magenta, where also the finales of cut and championship of New Caledonia as well as the international matches take place taking place in New Caledonia.

Another club also exists in the suburbs of Noumea:

ACE Mount-Gilds is him also a particularly important club of the calédonienne federation of football. It was thus champion of New Caledonia in 2002 and for this year 2006 (this same year, club has also gained Cut of New Caledonia, which had not been the case in 2001), which enabled him to dispute the cut of TOM each time, losing twice vis-a-vis the champion tahitien: the first time against the ACE Venus (0-0 with the match outward journey and 0-1 with the return match) and this year against the ACE Tefana (0-2 with the match outward journey and 0-0 with the return match).

These clubs belong to the Fédération calédonienne of football, founded in 1928, and of the Coupe of New Caledonia of football, created in 1954. Football is a rather popular sport at Mélanésiens.

Water sports

But the sport of predilection of Nouméens seems to be the water sport, in all its forms. First of all, the pleasure holds a big role in a city where one tends to say that each inhabitant has his boat. But the ocean navigation of competition is developed also enough, with in particular the nautical Circle calédonien (CNC) based with Port-Pleasure in bay of the Orphanage.

The nautical base of the White Coast, in bay of Sainte-Marie in the south of the peninsula of Noumea, is also a high place of the veil. One finds there the School provincial of Veil EPV which exempts in school periods of the free lesson to schoolboys, schoolboys and high-school pupils resulting from any formation within the framework of their courses of Physical education and sporting (EPV) (the sport varies according to the age of the pupils: it is primarily of the Optimist for young people, of the Planche to veil or the Kayak for oldest). If not, the EPV also proposes paying training courses during school vacations in particular in Optimist, Planche with veil and Laser but also of the courses of discovered marine element for smallest. Beside this public corporation private clubs are: the Company of the regattas calédoniennes SRC for the Optimist and the Laser , Hobby Cat Club HCC for the Hobie Cat (organization of the championship of the world in 2002) and the Association of Board with veil APV for the Board with veil (organization of the championship of the world of Board to veil in 1999) and the Funboard.

But of many Nouméens, in particular young people, practice the sail except club, in particular the Funboard in bays of Magenta, Holy Marie and with the Handle Vata, but also the Kitesurf with the Point Magnin (southern point of Noumea). This last sport is increasingly popular, which gave to the organization each year since 2002 of a stage of the championship of the world of Kitesurf in Noumea: Alcatel Kytesurf Pro. Lastly, it is it should be noted that there exists in Noumea a club of vaa' has, or dugout tahitienne, sport primarily practiced by the Polynesians but not only.

Although it is not a water sport strictly speaking, deep-sea diving is also a rather popular sport because of the extraordinary richness of the lagoon calédonien. The principal sites in the neighborhoods of Noumea are those of the Amédée headlight (with Amédée D Diving Club) and of the Main Small island.

Equestrian sports

Another particularly popular sport at Calédoniens, and in particular within the descendants of colonists (or Caldoches), horsemanship and the races. Thus, the equestrian sports have being the first with truly organizing itself in New Caledonia, as of the 19th century. And if one tends to say that there exists a particular relation between the " Broussard" (Caldoche of bush and having a rural activity primarily) and its horse, it is also the case for Caldoches nouméens. Thus, there exist two horse clubs in Noumea: the most important Clamp, but also oldest (founded the August 24th 1947), and that of Gourmette.

The horse-races are also very popular near the descendants of the " large familles" calédoniennes. The Hippodrome of the Vata Handle in Noumea, called Henri Millard since his restoration in the years 1990, exists since the 19th century and accommodates the principal horse demonstrations calédoniennes: the Contest Cellocal (contest of obstacle) and horse-races of which most prestigious is the Clark Cut.

Other sports

The other Olympic traditional sports are developed in Noumea: the Swimming with three principal clubs based each one in a respective swimming pool: the Olympic one in the Olympic swimming pool of Ouen Toro (southern of Noumea), the CNC (of the same name as the nautical club) in the swimming pool éponyme with Port-Pleasure close to bay of the Orphanage and the Club to River-Salted in the swimming pool and the district of the same name (the swimming pools of the CNC and of River-Salted are basins of 25 m). The Cyclisme is him as a very popular sport within the population calédonienne, and in particular caldoche, since the end of the 19th century, as it is cycling on road (with the cycle tracks of the walk Pierre-Sliding gauge or Tina) or on track (the principal one being located at the stage of Magenta where was involved in particular before making an international career future the Olympic medal Laurent Gané).

The Tennis is also a sport developed rather well in the place chief, with the clubs of the Mount-Coffyn and Receiving, the first having profited for a long time as trainer of the former international player Wanaro Godrella. Noumea has accommodated if not for a few years the International ones of New Caledonia, minor tournament of the circuit ATP and WTA. Many sports present in New Caledonia are of Anglo-Saxon origin, showing the influence of country such as the Australia on the population calédonienne and in particular of the chief town. The Golf for example is a sport recently discovered but increasingly popular in New Caledonia and in particular in Noumea, especially since the opening (1995 - 1997) of the golf of Tina. If not, in the agglomeration, with the periphery of the urban area, one also finds the golf of Dumbéa. If not, on the level of the collective sports, one finds the Cricket, very popular near Mélanésiennes, the Handball and the Volley-ball, two sports primarily appreciated by the Polynesians (in particular Wallisians) and Mélanésiens, but also the Basket-ball and the Baseball, this rather recent last and being still developed very little. One of principal sports complexes accommodating of the grounds, and in particular a room omnisport, adapted to these sports remains the complex of the Vata Handle. This one remains also one of the principal places of practice of the Athlétisme.

This last sport is developed thus enough, in club or near the private individuals. One thus finds the evening come from many runners on the pedestrian walks arranged around the bays (walk Roger-Laroque with the Vata handle and walk Pierre-Sliding gauge bay of Sainte-Marie) like in the arranged circuit of Ouen Toro favourable with the races of orientation. Lastly, the city organizes each year an international marathon which accommodates runners come from the whole world but primarily from the zone the Asia-Pacific (of which in particular Japan and Australia) and an international triathlon.

Lastly, Noumea, on several occasions, accommodated the Jeux of the southern Pacific, kinds of Games Olympic on an insular Pacific scale (host city in 1966 and 1987) and was selected to organize these plays in again 2011.

Transport

The airport

Noumea is served by the airport of Tontouta to approximately 50 km in north, mainly since Tōkyō, Ōsaka, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

The Airport of Magenta, located in Noumea, serves the islands close and in particular the Îles Honesty and the island to the Pines. The wearing of Noumea accommodates also regularly, and for short stays, large steamers of luxury ( Pacific Sky , Pacific Sun , formerly the Pacific Princess …) charged primarily with Australian tourists. Noumea was a long time also the Home port of the Club Med 2 before this sailing ship of luxury does not join the the Antilles.

Circulation

The car is by far the means of transport more used in the agglomeration. And Noumea suffers thus from a serious security issue road, 525 accidents having been listed in the commune in 2000 (against 735 accidents on the whole of the Territory this same year). On the other hand, these accidents are seldom mortals (3 victims of the road in Noumea in 2000, but nevertheless 107 seriously injureds). Another problem, which that one arises for all the cities expanding, that of the parking, in particular in the downtown area. Indeed, no large multistorey parking lot was built and, owing to the fact that the downtown area is primarily built on embankments, it is impossible to construct underground car parks. There exists thus in the center plus 5.100 places including 2.500 free and 2.600 paying. Those are quickly saturated with week. Lastly, circulation becomes also an increasingly alarming problem, in particular early the morning (between 7:00 and 9:00) and rather late the evening (between 15:30 and 18:00) and especially on the slip roads which connect the chief town to the other communes of the agglomeration.

The urban transport

the town of Noumea has a network of bus, managed by drunk GIE Karuia , distributed in 9 lines and 468 stops. It is the only public transport of the capital.
There exists if not a network of taxis, recognizable by their colors (green and white), with the peaceful tariff of 101 frank by km (approximately 85 centimes of Euro S).

Cycle track

One finds a cycle Track arranged recently in Noumea, to allow people to move more in the ecological bicycle and other means of transport in order to lower the automobile traffic. The track comprises four votes. Two to roll on the right and two others to roll on the left. It is called cycle track of Tina .

Famous personalities

Native of Noumea

Deceased in Noumea

Dominique Bouet (1960)
Maurice Lenormand (2006)

Inhabitants or of passage

Twin cities

Nice, the Alpes-Maritimes, France since 1985
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia since 1992
Taupo, New Zealand since 1995

Photograph gallery

Random links:

Addresses Web | Parallelepiped | Uzbek | Munduruku | Turn cyclist of the Limousin