Australia and Oceania Physical Geography

Oceania Oceania is a word for a large region that includes Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Australia Australia has 7 territories Territory Capital Queensland Brisbane New South Whales Sydney Northern Territiory Darwin Western Austraslia Perth South Australia Adelaide Victoria Melbourne Tasmania Hobart

Location Australia is located n both the southern and the eastern hemispheres. It also located in the low and the middle latitudes. The Pacific and Indian Oceans surround part of Australia. Australia is southeast of Asia, which is the nearest continent. It is bordered by 4 seas Timor Sea and Arafura Sea to the north. The Coral Sea to the east. The Tasman Sea to the south.

Neighbors To the north of Australia are the islands of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To the east are the Solomon Islands. New Zealand neighbors Australia to the southeast.

Geography Facts Canberra is the National Capital. Australia is 3 million square miles Ranks as the 6th largest country Australia is the smallest continent At its farthest points Australia reachers 1950 miles north to south & 2475 miles east to west. The shoreline of Australia is 22,800 miles long.

Physical Features Australia is the driest and flattest continent. Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands are part of the Indo-Australian Plate.

Landforms Fertile Plains Great Dividing Range are the most important mountains in Australia. They begin in the NE and stretch to the SE. To the west the mountains create a rain shadow. This rain shadow region is made of semiarid plateaus and deserts. Fertile Plains Located in the east and SE. Most of Australia’s population lives in this region. This area is excellent for farming.

Landforms The Outback Ayers Rock A huge central plain region in the middle of the continent. It is covered with mostly desert and dry grassland. Home to the Great Victorian and great Sandy Desert. Ayers Rock Also know as Uluru by the natives. It is a huge reddish-brown rock. It rises over 1000 feet and is over 1 mile long. It is located in Australia's interior.

Landforms Great Barrier Reef Major Rivers It is near the northeastern coast of Australia in the Coral Sea. It is the world’s largest coral reef. Stretches 1500 miles . Home to an It is a natural barrier from the ocean and sea. Major Rivers Australia's two major rivers are the Murray and Darling. Most of Australia’s population and cities are found along the two rivers. They are both located in the SE portion of Australia.