What is the largest island in the French territory of New Caledonia?

Grande Terre is the largest island in the French territory of New Caledonia.

Grande Terre stretches for roughly 400 kilometres and contains most of New Caledonia’s population, infrastructure, and economic activity. Nouméa, the territory’s capital, sits on the island’s southwestern coast. A central mountain range divides the island’s wetter eastern side from its drier western side.

The island is surrounded by one of the world’s largest lagoon systems, enclosed in many places by a barrier reef. New Caledonia is also known for major nickel deposits, which have made mining a central part of its economy.

Grande Terre is sometimes simply called New Caledonia, but those names are not identical. New Caledonia is an archipelago and French sui generis collectivity; Grande Terre is its main and largest island. The Loyalty Islands, including Lifou, lie farther east.