Païta

For the town in Peru, see Paita.
Païta

An aerial view of Païta

Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Coordinates: 22°08′01″S 166°21′02″E / 22.1337°S 166.3505°E / -22.1337; 166.3505Coordinates: 22°08′01″S 166°21′02″E / 22.1337°S 166.3505°E / -22.1337; 166.3505
Country France
Sui generis collectivity New Caledonia
Province paita
Government
 • Mayor Harold Martin
Area1 699.7 km2 (270.2 sq mi)
Population (2014 census)2 20,616
 • Density 29/km2 (76/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
 • 1996 census Europeans 32.6%
Polynesians 32.1%
Kanaks 23.9%
Other 11.4%
INSEE/Postal code 98821 / 98890
Elevation 0–1,618 m (0–5,308 ft)
(avg. 30 m or 98 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.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Païta (French pronunciation: ​[pajta]) is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport, is located there.

Sights

Locomotive
Former railway station
Petroglyphs near Paita

The Catholic church in the centre of Paita was built in 1875. The modern Cultural Centre in the High Street is used for various exhibitions and cultural performances. The Town Hall (Mairie) is close by.

About one mile from the town centre to the north, is the former railway station of the Nouméa-Païta railway where a small locomotive which was used until 1940 can be seen.[1]

In the southeast of Paita petroglyphs possibly dating from the 13th or 14th century B.C. can be seen on a rock at a small river. Some of the petroglyphs look similar to the sun or to flowers. From the road the place can be reached by cement stairs behind a wooden pavilion.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Piere Grundmann: Nouvelle Calédonie, p. 110. Paris 2012
  2. ↑ Pierre Grundmann: Nouvelle Calédonie, p. 242. Paris 2012
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