Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Antarctica Chp 31, 32, and Beyond

Australia and New Zealand Australia is divided into three main landforms, –Great Dividing Range (erode remains of a mountain range) –Central Lowlands (Contains many artesian wells) –Western Plateau (covers about 2/3 of Australia/ contains the oldest rocks on the continent) The Great Barrier Reef, off the northeast coast, consist of 1,200 miles of coral reefs famous for its size and varied wildlife. Australia is a desert continent with green edges. Australia is a desert continent with green edges. All of New Zealand has a mild marine west coast climate.

New Zealand

Great Barrier Reef

Australia Australia is known for it’s strange plants and animals. Most Australian mammals are marsupials or mammals that have their young in pouches (Kangaroo, Koala, Wallaby) Most Australian mammals are marsupials or mammals that have their young in pouches (Kangaroo, Koala, Wallaby) The continent also contains some of the deadliest animals in the world (funnel web spider, the Inland Taipan)

Kangaroo with a Joey Koala

The Inland Taipan

Funnel Web Spider

Australia Australia's first people were Aborigines. There were many different kinds of Aborigines, speaking hundreds of different languages By the time Europeans got there in the 1700’s there were only about 300,000. Today Aborigines represent only 1% of Australia's population. The British settled Australia as a penal (prison) colony. Than many more people came when gold was discovered in 1851.

Aboriginal group with a didgeridoo

Port Author Penal Colony

Australia and New Zealand The first people in New Zealand were the Maori (from the pacific islands) The first European settlers to explore New Zealand were missionaries, traders and whalers. Problems between the British and the Maori led to the Maori Wars of in which the Maori lost. Both Australia and New Zealand depend on a combination of farming, manufacturing, and tourism. Sheep are a major part of New Zealand economy. 65% of New Zealand’s electricity is hydroelectric. Canberra is the capital of Australia.

Maori canoes

Maori land wars

Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera House, Australia.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

The Pacific Islands The Pacific Islands are divided into three areas: –Micronesia –Polynesia –Melanesia ( includes Papua New Guinea - The Solomon Islands) More than 10,000 islands lie within the Pacific Region These islands are classified as either: –High islands (mountainous, rocky and volcanoes) –Low Islands (formed from coral) In 2007 thousands of new plant and animal species were found in Papua New Guinea.

The Pacific Islands Climates are generally hot with high rainfall. Trade winds affect the climate. Europeans began exploring the area in the 1500’s (Ferdinand Magellan) Guam, Wake Island, and American Samoa are all US territories. Each society of Pacific Islands has developed its own culture. (most are matrilineal – trace their roots through the mother) Christianity is the main religion of the Pacific Islands. Sweet Potatoes, Yams, bananas, breadfruit, and coconut are important foods in the area. Sweet Potatoes, Yams, bananas, breadfruit, and coconut are important foods in the area.

Papua New Guinea Islanders

Melanesian women from New Caledonia

Polynesia

Antarctica Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent and surrounded by the Southern Ocean. In 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization created the fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean 98% of the continent is covered by ice. On average, Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Temperatures reach a minimum of between -112 °F and -130 °F in the winter -112 °F and -130 °F in the winter The only flora consists of mosses, lichen, and many types of algae. Seals, whales, penguins and other birds are the only forms of animal life beside fish species.

Antarctic Animals

Antarctica (history) The first confirmed sighting of the continent occurred in 1820 by a Russian expedition. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by twelve countries; to date, forty-five countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecology. The United States military issues the Antarctica Service Medal to military members or civilians who perform research duty in Antarctica. The medal includes a "wintered over" bar issued to those who remain on the continent for two complete six-month seasons.

Antarctica (Today) Though Antarctica has no permanent residents research teams consist of about 4,000 people in summer to about 1,000 in winter. As the only uninhabited continent, Antarctica has no government and belongs to no country.