Everyone knows the landmark of New Caledonia: the world-famous heart of Voh, an extraordinary creation of nature, which formed here a unique and perfect heart in the green.
The Kanaks honor the sea turtle and call it 'Bwärä' - keeper of life. (Photo by Bwärä Foundation).
The 'blue hole' on the outer edge of the New Caledonian barrier reef. Not even diving legend Jaques Costeau made it to the bottom, which is about 150 meters.
After laying eggs on the strictly protected beach, a loggerhead turtle (Careta careta) returns to the protective seawater. (Thanks to Bwära for the photo)
For many, the most beautiful new building in Ozenia: the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, designed by Italian star architect Renzo Piano.
Cultural guide Georgy Passil explains the significance of the totem carvings in a Kanak community hut on the grounds of the Tjibaou Cultural Centre.
Cultural Centre Tjibaou: The bowl-shaped constructions should remind of the traditional huts of the Kanaks.
Dinosaur backdrop: At the waterfall "Chutes de la Madeleine" one seems to dive into a million years old earth age.
Endemic to New Caledonia, the Barred honeyeater (Glycifohia undulatus) feeds on the pollen of the flowers, which it can suck up thanks to its curved beak and pencil-like tongue.
The 'Pernod Creek' in southern New Caledonia. It owes its colour to the mineral olivine, which is abundant here.
The Lac de Yaté was created in 1959 as a 4000 hectare reservoir. Thousands of trees fell victim to the project and the resulting sunken forests are a bizarre and questionable beauty.
Heavy Metal Land: The rust red landscape around Lac de Yaté contains large amounts of iron, manganese, chromium ore, nickel and cobalt. Only a few hardy plants grow in these toxic breeding grounds.
Heavy Metal Land: The rust red landscape around Lac de Yaté contains large amounts of iron, manganese, chromium ore, nickel and cobalt. Only a few hardy plants grow in these toxic breeding grounds.
The Lac de Yaté was created in 1959 as a 4000 hectare reservoir. Thousands of trees fell victim to the project and the resulting sunken forests are a bizarre and questionable beauty.
The author in a two-seater airplane during a sightseeing flight over the coral reef.
I really didn't expect that. I am speechless. On this round flight I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the New Caledonian Lagoon. Tears come to my eyes. This is definitely one of the most beautiful natural treasures I have ever seen.
The 'blue hole' on the outer edge of the New Caledonian barrier reef. Not even diving legend Jaques Costeau made it to the bottom, which is about 150 meters.
The stunningly beautiful New Caledonian Lagoon was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. After the Australian Barrier Reef, it is the second largest coral reef in the world - with a fraction of visitors.
Laura and Etienne Boya Wayahat offer their guests in the sparsely populated northwest of New Caledonia an experience of Kanak culture, cuisine and hospitality.
New Caledonian style interior: the living room of Laura and Etienne Boya Wayahat.
Tonight, Etienne Boya Wayahat will say grace. Our plates will be filled with freshly harvested yam, taro and fried chicken.
Bonjour, Malte. Laura serves breakfast in a lovingly decorated and decorated wooden cabin on her property.
The stone natural monument 'La Poule' ('The Chicken') near Hienghène in the north west of the island.
A disused microwave oven nailed to a tree. Why? The solution: Eviscerated appliances such as televisions are often used as post boxes.
During my morning walk on the grounds of Marie-Claude's ranch, I startle these wild horses. Every few meters they stop and look around curiously for me.
A wild horse on the grounds of Marie-Claude's ranch. When they are not needed on the farms, the horses are left to themselves for months. Until perhaps one day they are caught again.
Sunrise over the reef edge of the overwhelmingly beautiful lagoon.
Snorkelling trip in the largest lagoon in the world. You can see our boat on the left side of the picture. For hours there is no other boat in the lagoon. Underwater I watch parrotfish, groupers, stingrays and reef sharks.
The strictly protected 'Green Island' amidst the lagoon of New Caledonia.
The edge of the lagoon is 3 to 19 kilometres from the mainland, the lagoon itself is only a few metres deep. A paradise for divers.
The 'Shark channel' close to Bourail. The edge of the lagoon is 3 to 19 kilometres from the mainland, the lagoon itself is only a few metres deep. A paradise for divers.
This calf's mother has died. Countrywoman Marianne (with hat in the background) hands it over to the care of a farmer who wants to raise the calf from foster parents on his farm.
View over the 'Lac de Yaté'.
