Koné, New Caledonia

Koné
The main road in the centre of Koné
The main road in the centre of Koné
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of Koné
Map
Coordinates: 21°03′32″S 164°51′06″E / 21.059°S 164.8518°E / -21.059; 164.8518
CountryFrance
Sui generis collectivityNew Caledonia
ProvinceNorth Province
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Thierry Gowecee[1]
Area
1
373.6 km2 (144.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2019 census)[2]
8,144
 • Density22/km2 (56/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
 • 2019 censusKanaks 57.75%
Europeans 14.35%
Wallisians and Futunans 1.78%
Mixed 12.71%
Other 13.41%
Time zoneUTC+11:00
INSEE/Postal code
98811 /98860
Elevation0–1,014 m (0–3,327 ft)
(avg. 10 m or 33 ft)
1 New Caledonia Land Register (DITTT) data, which exclude lakes and ponds larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers.

Koné (French pronunciation: [kɔne]) is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, a special collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Koné is the provincial seat of the North Province.

Geography

Climate

Koné has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). The average annual temperature in Koné is 23.7 °C (74.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,034.7 mm (40.74 in) with February as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in February, at around 27.3 °C (81.1 °F), and lowest in July, at around 19.8 °C (67.6 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Koné was 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) on 12 February 1954; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) on 21 July 1997.

Climate data for Koné (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1952−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.8
(100.0)
38.5
(101.3)
36.9
(98.4)
36.8
(98.2)
34.0
(93.2)
33.5
(92.3)
32.1
(89.8)
32.5
(90.5)
35.2
(95.4)
37.2
(99.0)
37.5
(99.5)
38.2
(100.8)
38.5
(101.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.6
(88.9)
31.8
(89.2)
31.0
(87.8)
29.6
(85.3)
27.7
(81.9)
26.1
(79.0)
25.2
(77.4)
25.5
(77.9)
27.0
(80.6)
28.6
(83.5)
29.9
(85.8)
31.1
(88.0)
28.8
(83.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4)
27.3
(81.1)
26.6
(79.9)
25.0
(77.0)
22.8
(73.0)
21.1
(70.0)
19.8
(67.6)
20.0
(68.0)
21.0
(69.8)
22.9
(73.2)
24.5
(76.1)
26.1
(79.0)
23.7
(74.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)
22.8
(73.0)
22.2
(72.0)
20.3
(68.5)
17.9
(64.2)
16.1
(61.0)
14.4
(57.9)
14.4
(57.9)
15.1
(59.2)
17.3
(63.1)
19.1
(66.4)
21.1
(70.0)
18.6
(65.5)
Record low °C (°F) 15.0
(59.0)
15.5
(59.9)
14.0
(57.2)
11.5
(52.7)
8.2
(46.8)
6.3
(43.3)
6.2
(43.2)
6.8
(44.2)
7.0
(44.6)
8.2
(46.8)
10.6
(51.1)
12.0
(53.6)
6.2
(43.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 135.9
(5.35)
186.4
(7.34)
178.9
(7.04)
81.5
(3.21)
71.7
(2.82)
73.4
(2.89)
49.7
(1.96)
50.0
(1.97)
31.2
(1.23)
29.7
(1.17)
48.9
(1.93)
97.4
(3.83)
1,034.7
(40.74)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.0 10.8 10.7 7.1 6.0 5.6 5.2 4.6 3.0 3.4 4.4 8.2 78.0
Source: Météo-France[3]

Politics and regional development

Koné is the seat of the government of the Northern Province, dominated since the Province was established by pro-Independence politicians. The aim has been to develop Koné and neighbouring towns into an economic growth pole, anchored by the large Koniambo project and nickel mine. The idea has been to give Kanak peoples job opportunities independent from France and the loyalist Southern Province. This 'VKP' zone is now established, with a marked increase in business activity, construction, and public facilities (library, cinema, swimming pool) since the mid 2000s.

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ Population, ménages et logement par commune, en 2019, Institut de la statistique et des études économiques Nouvelle-Calédonie
  3. ^ "Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records" (PDF). Météo-France. Retrieved August 25, 2022.