Walpole Island
- ISS006-E-5742
- 02 December 2002
- 02:05 UTC
Located around 150 km east of the Île des Pins, Walpole is one of two eastern islands claimed as dependent territories of New Caledonia. The other eastern dependency of New Caledonia — Île Matthew — lies 215 km to the east. Walpole measures 3 km in length and 400 m in width.
Formed from coral limestone, the island has been geologically uplifted, forming a flat and narrow plateau ringed by near vertical cliffs that range in height from 70 m to over 100 m at the southern tip. Much of the interior is barren or vegetated with sparse scrub; in the south are regions of woodland. In the east, the plateau drops to a terrace formation that is more thickly vegetated.
