The city lies on a peninsula at the island s southern tip, sandwiched between low hills and a protected deepwater harbour . Noum a remains dominated by French language and culture. The local economy is based on nickel smelting and tourism.
Tourists come here to visit the city's many beaches , and to windsurf and sail.
Between the two main tourism areas of the town, Ansa Vata Beach and Baie des Citron , a cigar-shaped peninsula juts out into the South Pacific at Noum a. Noum a is located on a protected harbour in the southwestern part of the island of New Caledonia. It is the territory's capital, chief port, and principal administrative and economic centre. Tourism, and the mining and refinement of nickel-ore are both important to the town's economy. The National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts and the Bernheim Library are situated here. Shadowed by centenary flame trees, Place des Cocotiers is a very popular gathering place right in the heart of the city.