A heart seen from above

After Poe I drove more to the north, to a small town Voh. There was something I wanted to see from the mountain summit near Voh. I arranged a drive to the mountain top (it was too hot and humid for a hike). First we saw the clear border of the expansive coral reef. 

"Heart of Voh" was the reason I wanted to come here. It is a natural large formation of mangrove vegetation that resembles a heart that can be seen only from above. And indeed it is a perfect shape of a heart. The photo below hardly resembles the famous image of the French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand who used the heart (photographed from a helicopter) for the cover of his famous book "Earth from Above".

The tick and vast mangroves are very common in New Caledonia.

The mangrove lives to the rhythm of the tides, which twice a day, cover and uncover the mud. Situated between land and sea, it plays a buffer role in protecting the coastline against marine erosion especially during the cyclones, and provides a filter through the roots that retains the particles that might pollute the lagoon.

If you are ever in this part of the world and want to hike/drive the mountains in Voh for splendid views and hear some great stories contact Jacque Locquet 785 451.