The French Overseas Territory of New Caledonia, a group of about 25 islands in the South Pacific, is situated about 750 miles (1,207 km.) east of Australia. The territory, which includes the dependencies of Ile des Pris, Loyalty Islands, Ile Huon, Isles Belep, Isles Chesterfield, and the Walpole, has a total land area of 6,530 sq. mi. (19,058 sq. km.) and a population of 152,000. Capital: Noumea. The islands are rich in minerals; New Caledonia has the world?s largest known deposit of nickel, Nickel, nickel castings, coffee and copra are exported. ,British navigator Capt. James Cook discovered New Caledonia in 1774. The French took possession in 1853, and established a penal colony on the island in 1854. The European population of the colony remained disproportionately convict until 1894. New Caledonia became an overseas territory within the French Community in 1946, and in 1958 and 1972 chose to remain affiliated with France.,, Rulers:,,, ,French,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Franc = 100 Centimes,,