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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
Port of the wind | Port of the wind | ||
==Geography== | |||
[[File:Port de Vent_Topo_Map.png|right|250px|Topographic map of Port de Vent]] | |||
<gallery mode="packed"> | |||
0_Araucaria_columnaris_New_Caledonia.jpg|{{wp|Araucaria columnaris|coral reef araucaria}} trees on the water's edge | |||
File:Brisset_C_(1).jpg | |||
File%3ABrisset_C_(12).jpg | |||
File:Lagon_BOURAIL_NC.jpg | |||
File:Lagoon_at_Isle_of_Pines_.jpg | |||
File%3AMontrouziera_sphaeroidea_(Yaté)_-_rameau.jpg | |||
File%3ANew_Caledonia_Forest_Long_Exposure_(65502063).jpeg | |||
File%3ASite_de_Netcha%2C_aire_de_gestion_durable_des_ressources%2C_Nouvelle_Calédonie._01.jpg | |||
File:Tortue_verte_et_son_compagnon.jpg | |||
File:Jeune Dracophyllum verticillatum, Mont Dore.jpg | |||
File:Kagu_0A2A2595.jpg|Kagu | |||
</gallery> | |||
The islands are covered in lush palm groves and bordered by white sand beaches. The northwestern corner of the l'Ile Gran Capræ are wrung by coral reefs with a diversity of land, sea, and aerial fauna. This, coupled with the geographically specific flora, makes the island a popular eco and adventure tourism destination. | |||
===Flora=== | |||
The islands of Port de Vent hosts a remarkable assemblage of flora. Towering {{wp|Araucaria columnaris|coral reef araucaria}} (Araucariaceae) dominate the rainforests. Unique species like the fragrant {{wp|Gaultheria fragrantissima}} and the medicinally valuable Tamanu ({{wp|Calophyllum inophyllum}}) thriving in the dappled shade. The forest floor presents a diverse tapestry of ferns and flowering plants. Tree ferns ({{wp|Cyatheaceae}}) lend a prehistoric charm, while epiphytic orchids ({{wp|Orchidaceae}}) adorn the branches with vibrant displays in hues of purple, pink, and yellow. The translucent Ghost Orchid ({{wp|Epipogium aphyllum}}) exemplifies the island's remarkable adaptations. Bromeliads ({{wp|Bromeliaceae}}) with spiky leaves and colorful flowers add further vibrancy to the understory. Notably, Port de Vent harbors a distinct coffee plant ({{wp|Coffea ventenensis}}), its beans prized for their unique aroma. The island's coastal fringe features mangrove forests ({{wp|Rhizophoraceae}}) vital for marine life, while salt-tolerant plants like Sea Lettuce ({{wp|Ulva lactuca}}) and the vibrant Beach Hibiscus ({{wp|Hibiscus tiliaceus}}) thrive in harsher conditions. | |||
===Fauna=== | |||
Port de Vent's fauna exhibits a fascinating interplay of isolation and adaptation. The island's {{wp|avifauna}} includes the flightless Kagu ({{wp|Rhynochetos jubatus}}), Ventoise Crow ({{wp|Corvus moneduloides}}), remarkable and well-researched for its intelligence and tool-using prowess, the Horned Parakeet ({{wp|Eutrichoglossus carteri}}) and the Ventenga ({{wp|Cyanoramphus cookii}}). The formidable Giant Geckos ({{wp|Rhacodactylus leachianus}}) is the provincial animal, some exceeding a meter in length, while Skinks ({{wp|Scincidae}}) of various shapes and sizes scamper through the undergrowth. The amphibian fauna remains understudied, but intriguing recent discoveries like the fluorescent tree frog ({{wp|Hyla ventenensis}}) with its bioluminescent properties are the focus of an expanding univeristy system that increasingly focuses on further studying the fauna of the islands. | |||
===Climate and environment=== | |||
{{Further|Prevailing Winds}} | |||
[[File:Port de Vent_climate_map.png|250px|right|Climate map of Port de Vent]] | |||
Port de Vent has a tropical wet climate in the windward (eastern) areas of the islands, a tropical dry climate on the leeward side if the higher elevations, those elevations being a Mediterranean climate. | |||
==Society== | ==Society== |
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