Insula Pinilor, Noua Caledonie

Isle of Pines (Île des Pins) - an island in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Grand Terre. It forms part of the overseas territory of France, New Caledonia. The area of the island is 152.3 sq. km. Length - 15 km, width - 13 km. Isle of Pines is located to the south-east of the island of New Caledonia and approximately at 100 km south-east of the city of Nouméa.

The island was discovered in 1774 by the English traveller James Cook during his second circumnavigation. The mariner named it the Isle of Pines in honour of the local tree - the columnar araucaria.

Isle of Pines - “the most beautiful island in the world” - is famous for its underwater grottoes, snowy-white beach sand and extraordinary stands of araucarias that give the island an unmistakable, unique character. Giant trunks - columns rising above the canopy of palm forests, are a characteristic and captivating detail of the local landscape. It is one of the world’s most renowned resorts, especially popular with newlyweds. Its secluded beaches covered with the finest white sand, mysterious caves and hills overgrown with orchids present the traveller with a view of their unspoiled beauty. In addition to a wide choice of water sports, the island also has truly unique spots such as the Queen Hortense caves, the traditional Melanesian village of Wao and many others. A fantastic turquoise lagoon, channels with seawater, splendid beaches, pine groves - charming places that can be seen only on the Isle of Pines.

New Caledonia - an archipelago, an overseas special administrative-territorial entity of France, located in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of a large island of the same name and a group of small islands in the south-western part of the Pacific Ocean, in Melanesia. It borders to the south-west with Australia’s economic zone, to the north - with Vanuatu, to the south-east - with Fiji. The largest island of the archipelago is Grand Terre, where its capital is located.

Subtropical trade wind climate, hot and humid. The temperature changes little over the course of the year - the average in winter (from April to August) is about +19-23 C, in summer (November-March) +24-26 C. Annual rainfall ranges from 3000 mm in the eastern part of the archipelago to 700 mm in the west. Mostly rains fall from December-January through March, during the passage of cyclones. This period is characterised by cloudy weather and powerful tropical hurricanes. From September to November-December runs the trade wind season, when the weather is very windy but the sky is clear.