MARE, ILE

formerly Nengone Island, southernmost of the Loyalty Islands, a raised coralline limestone and volcanic group in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that is part of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. Rising to 300 ft (100 m), Mar is the highest in the group. It is 22 mi (35 km) long and 18 mi wide and has a total area of 248 sq mi (642 sq km). It was annexed by France in 1866 and was Christianized by indigenous teachers from Rarotonga and Samoa. Tadine (Tadinou), on the west coast, is the administrative centre and the site of an airfield. The islanders grow taro, yams, and bananas; copra and oranges are exported. Pop. (1983) 4,610.