map of Lifou, central islands of loyalty islands, New Caledonia dependency, oceania |
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Loyalty Islands |
| Area | 1,197.1 km2 (462.2 sq mi) |
| Length | 81 km (50.3 mi) |
| Width | 16–24 km (9.9–15 mi) |
| Country | |
|
France
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| Overseas departments and territories of France | New Caledonia |
| Commune | Lifou |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 10151 (as of 2004) |
| Density | 8.48 /km2 (21.96 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Kanaks 96.9%, Europeans 2.6%, Polynesians 0.1%, Other 0.4% |
Lifou Island is the largest and most important island of the Loyalty Islands, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is located at .
Contents |
The island is part of the commune (municipality) of Lifou, in the Islands Province of New Caledonia. The administrative center of the commune is located at Wé, on Lifou Island.
Irregular in shape, Lifou Island is 81 km (50 mi) long and 16 to 24 km (10 to 15 miles) wide. The island is flat with no hills or rivers, but has abundant vegetation, fertile soils, and terraced cliffs. Lifou Island is a former coral atoll that was part of a submerged volcano. Nearly 2 million years ago, the island was uplifted to its present shape and elevation. Since there are no rivers on Lifou, the water comes from rain that seeps through the calcareous soil and forms freshwater ponds.
Tourism is a major industry on the island. Chief exports include copra, rubber, vanilla and sugarcane.
The native language of the island is Drehu.
The current traditional high chief of the island is Evanes Boula.