Hienghène

Hienghène ([jəŋ.ɡɛːn];[1][2] Fwâi: Hyehen) is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is located on a bay called Hienghène Bay, known for its eroded limestone islets.[3]

Hienghène
Commune
"La Poule" (the hen) cliff in Hienghène
Location of the commune (in red) within New Caledonia
Location of Hienghène
Coordinates: 20°41′39″S 164°55′20″E
Country	France
Sui generis collectivity	New Caledonia
Province	North Province
Government
• Mayor	Daniel Goa
Area ^1	1,068.8 km^2 (412.7 sq mi)
Population  (2019 census)	2,454
• Density	2.3/km^2 (5.9/sq mi)
Ethnic distribution
• 2014 census	Kanaks 93.56% Europeans 3.06% Wallisians and Futunans 0.08% Mixed 1.49% Other 1.81%
Time zone	UTC+11:00
INSEE/Postal code	98807 /98815
Elevation	0–1,628 m (0–5,341 ft) (avg. 20 m or 66 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.

The islets are remnants of a limestone and silica formation that once covered the whole of the bay, some 40 million years ago.[3] Erosion from wind and water carved away the softer limestone, leaving the harder silica behind in eye-catching formations. Several of these formations have been given fanciful names, such as the Sphinx, the Towers of Notre Dame, and the Hen (pictured).[3]

References

1. Wallis, Mary Davis (25 June 1994). "The Fiji and New Caledonia Journals of Mary Wallis, 1851-1853". [e-mail] – via Google Books.
2. Stanley, David (3 December 2004). Moon Handbooks South Pacific. David Stanley. p. 858 – via Internet Archive. Hienghène pronunciation.
3. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 179. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.