New Caledonia

New Caledonia (French: Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 1,210 km (750 miles) east of Australia and 16,136 km (10,026 miles) east of France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and a few remote islets. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea. Locals refer to Grande Terre as "Le Caillou" ("the stone").

New Caledonia's population is 268,767 (Aug. 2014 census) and consists of a mix of Kanak people (the original inhabitants of New Caledonia), people of European descent (Caldoches and Metropolitan French), Polynesian people (mostly Wallisians), and Southeast Asian people, as well as a few people of Pied-Noir and Maghreban descent. The capital of the territory is Nouméa.

Open Water Swimming

New Caledonia is the location of a FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup race on the 2015 professional marathon swimming circuit. It is organised by Céline Brasseur, President, Cyril Huet, organizing committee chairman, Gil Verlaguet, the technical director, FINA TOWSC member Jean-Paul Narce, and IMSHOF Honour Swimmer Stéphane Lecat.

2015 FINA/HOSA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup Series

1st race - 7 February - La Patagones Viedma (Argentina), part of Maraton Patagones-Viedma International Open Water Swim
2nd race - 13 March - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3rd race - 18 April - New Caledonia, France
4th race - 2 May - Cancún (Mexico)
5th race - 20 June - Balatonfured, Hungary
6th race - 27 June - Setúbal Bay (Portugal)
7th race - 23 July - Lac St-Jean (Canada), part of the Traversee international du Lac St-Jean
8th race - 31 July - Lac Magog (Canada), part of the Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog
9th race - 8 August - Lac Mégantic (Canada), part of the Traversee international du Lac Mégantic
10th race - 12 October - Chun'an (China)
11th race - 17 October - Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

External links

• Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honors Kevin Holtom
• Nouvelle-Calédonie Natation
• Hosa Signs On To Support Pro Marathon Swimming Circuit
• Simone Ruffini Wins Opening Leg Of FINA/HOSA World Cup
• So Close, So Competitive. Rachele Bruni Wins World Cup
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• 10 Top Reasons To Watch New Caledonia Race
• Tests Of Tropical Toughness