1. Physical Geography of Oceania, Australia, & Antarctica
SSWG9 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Oceania, including Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica.
a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on the region.

2. Mountains
Major Features: Great Dividing Range, Transantarctic Mountains, Southern Alps
Great Dividing Range is in the east and source of most rivers—remnants of old mountains
Mt. Kosciusko is highest point on continent
Western Plateau is also known as “the outback” and covers 2/3 of Australia.
Southern Alps are on the south island of New Zealand

3. Mountains & Plateaus
Great Dividing Range
Transantarctic Mountains

4. Deserts
Major Features: Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Simpson Desert
Simpson Desert has sand dunes up to 120 feet high
Great Victoria Desert is named for Queen Victoria & is actually a protected wilderness area
This is essentially “the Outback”

5. Deserts
Great Victoria Desert
Great Sandy Desert

6. Plains
Major Features: Central Lowlands, Nullarbor Plain, Canterbury Plains
Nullarbor Plain is actually an arid flat land
Central Lowlands lie over the Artesian Basin
Canterbury Plains are in New Zealand and are used for livestock & farming

7. Plains
Nullarbor Plain
Canterbury Plains

8. Rivers Major features: Murray River, Darling River
Murray is the main river system of Australia
Darling is a tributary of the Murray
Valley of Murray River is one of the most populated areas in Australia
Used for hydroelectric power & irrigation

9. Rivers
Murray River
Darling River

10. Seas
Major Features: Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, Weddel Sea, Ross Sea
Tasman divides Australia from New Zealand
Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and said to have clearest water of any sea
Many cyclones in Coral Sea

11. Seas
Weddell Sea
Coral Sea

12. Additional Water Features
Major Features: Great Barrier Reef, Lake Tuapo, Lake Eyre, Pacific Ocean, Great Australian Bight, Southern Ocean
Great Barrier Reef is a long strip of coral covered land
Lake Eyre is a salt lake that in many years is completely dry
Great Australian Bight is a bay

13. Additional Water Features
Lake Tuapo
Pacific Ocean

14. Additional Land Features
Major Features: Great Artesian Basin, Antarctic Peninsula
Great Artesian Basin is the only reliable source of freshwater in Australia and is the deepest basin in the world
People get water with similar technology as people drill for oil.
Antarctic Peninsula is claimed by Argentina, Chile & the UK and used for research

15. Additional Land Features
Great Artesian Basin
Antarctic Peninsula

16. Islands 3 categories in Oceania:
Micronesia
Melanesia
Polynesia
Many islands were created by volcanoes and earthquakes
Three major types of islands
High
Low
Continental

17. Regions of Oceania