Human Geography: Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, & Antarctica

What is the dominant climate for Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica?

Oceania No one knows how many islands exist in the Pacific Ocean, but some geographers estimate that there are more than 20,000! As a group, the Pacific Islands are called Oceania The Philippines, Indonesia, and other islands near the mainland are not considered part of Oceania because their people have cultural ties to Asia. New Zealand and Australia are often considered part of Oceania even though Australia in a continent not just an Island.

Geographers divide Oceania into three regions, defined both by physical geography and culture Melanesia  north of Australia; “black islands” Micronesia  north of Melanesia & south of Japan; “tiny islands” Polynesia  covers the area from Midway Island in the north to New Zealand in the south; “many islands”

Vanishing Islands One reason geographers don’t know the exact number of islands in Oceania is because it changes over time. Erosion causes some islands to vanish, while other forces create new islands. Most islands fall into 1 of 2 categories; high islands and low islands High islands- are created by volcanoes Low islands- are made of coral reefs All the islands added together would still be smaller than the area of Alaska!

Resources of Oceania Oceania is NOT rich in natural resources The low lands have poor soil and most of the islands lack minerals. New Caledonia has nickel, chromium, and iron; New Guinea has copper, gold, and oil; Nauru has phosphate and both Fiji and the Solomon Islands have Gold. The general scarcity of resources has made is difficult to develop industry.

New Zealand New Zealand has two main islands; North Island and South Island. Running down the center of the Island is a 300 mile long mountain range called the Southern Alps North Island has hilly ranges and a volcanic plateau, but it is much less mountainous than South Island.

New Zealand Resources Fertile farmland and forests for lumber industry. Has natural harbors that are used for seaports It has few mineral resources. Also North Island has a volcanic area with underground steam. Engineers have found ways to use the steam to power generators. It’s swift flowing rivers have allowed its people to build dams that generate electricity.

Australia: Good Day Mate’! Australia is the flattest and smallest continent on earth. It has a chain of highlands that runs near it’s eastern coast called the Great Dividing Range. Few of it’s peaks rise higher than 5,000 ft Australia has very few rivers. The largest is the Murray River, which flows into the Southern Ocean.

Mountain range effects Australia’s climate. It forces moisture-bearing winds to rise and shed their rain before moving inland. This results in the Eastern coast being more populated because the abundance of rain and cooler temperatures.

Australia’s Resources Australia is rich in minerals. It is the world’s leading supplier of bauxite, diamonds, opals, lead and coal.

Antarctica Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, generally circular in shape, it is centered on the South Pole. The landscape of Antarctica is hidden by a thick sheet of ice, but under the ice lays a varied landscape. The Transantarctic Mountains divide the continent in two.

Antarctica’s Resources Antarctica’s ice sheet is the largest supply of fresh water in the world. Geologists believe that resources such as coal, minerals, and perhaps even petroleum may lie beneath the ice. In 1991, 26 nations agreed not to mine Antarctica for 50 years.

White Desert Antarctica is Earth’s driest and coldest continent. In the winter, inland temperatures can fall to 70 degrees below zero or colder. Cold air does not hold moisture well, so the air there has only 1/10th the water vapor found in the atmosphere of temperate regions. As a result, Antarctica receives little precipitation and is often called a polar desert, or white desert.

Oceania All nations, except Nauru, are island groups Prehistoric people journeyed from mainland Southeast Asia to nearby Pacific islands using small rafts or canoes and land bridges that have since disappeared

Oceania experienced turmoil in the 20th century. During World War II, the Allies and the Japanese fought fierce battles there to gain control of the Pacific. Afterward, some islands were used as nuclear test sites, not only by the United States Since 1962, 12 different nations have gained independence, foreigners still rule the other islands.

A Traditional Economy Economy in which people work not for wages but as subsistence activities, in which a family produces only for themselves

A Traditional Economy AGRICULTURE: most low islands do not have fertile soil. High islands do have soil that supports agriculture. Chief crops: bananas, sugar, cocoa, coffee, and copra, which is the dried meat of coconuts. One major crop was taro, a plant with a starchy root. Taro can be eaten boiled, or it can be made into breads, puddings, or a paste called poi.

Tourism has become very important to the economy Although hotels, stores, roads, and vehicles threaten the islands’ environment and traditional ways of life. Fishing also provides a significant source of income.

Culture of the Islands THE ARTS Oceania has a culture that blends traditional ways with the cultures of Europe and the United States. Some 1,100 of the world’s languages are spoken there. Many Pacific Islanders speak European languages. English is the most common. THE ARTS Islanders produce arts and crafts, such as baskets and mats woven from the leaves of palm trees or carved wooden masks. Some islanders make a living selling art to tourists.

TRADITIONAL LIFE Most people live in villages, ranging from small clusters of houses to large walled settlements. The houses were usually wooden with thatched roofs. RECENT CHANGE Oceania has few cities, but they have been growing > jobs & education. Rapid urban growth has led to slums and inadequate sanitation facilities. In addition, city people are giving up their traditional ways of life.

Australia & New Zealand In 1788, Great Britain founded Sydney, Australia, as a penal colony—a place to send prisoners Australia and New Zealand became British colonies even though the native people had cultures of their own

Which is which????? United Kingdom New Zealand Australia ***The stars are arranged in such a way that it symbolizes a Southern Cross. The Southern Cross is a famous constellation situated in the southern hemisphere. Thus the Southern Cross in the flag is an identification of Australia and New Zealand's position geographically.

Aboriginal people: natives who migrated to Australia from Asia 40,000 years ago Had complex religion and social structures Nomadic people, never established permanent settlements Hunted with boomerangs

The Maori Came from Polynesia to settle New Zealand Dependent on fishing, hunting, and farming Tā moko is the permanent body and face marking by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Traditionally it is distinct from tattoo and tatau in that the skin was carved by uhi (chisels) rather than punctured. This left the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CNQZCF9yfE

Economy Both are major exporters of farm products New Zealand in 1998 the number of farm animals (including 47.6 million sheep and 8.8 million cattle) was 15 times greater than the number of people! world’s largest producer of kiwi fruit Australia Mining is major income

Antarctica Continent used mainly for scientific research; 18 nations have scientific research stations Weather patterns Can observe the sun & stars without obstruction (clouds) The ozone layer Krill, a small shrimp like animals that are a major part of the food chain

Tourism in Antarctica Across most of Earth, a tourist attraction that sees 35,000 visitors a year isn’t very much. But when it’s Antarctica, every footstep matters. “What used to be Antarctic tourism in the late ’80s through the ’90s was generally people of middle age or older going on cruises and small ships where they went ashore at a few locations and they looked at wildlife, and one current station,” he said. “But there’s an increasing diversification of the activities now, so it’s much more action-orientated. Now people want to go paragliding, water skiing, diving or a variety of other things.”

Questions What is an example of HEI in New Zeeland? What 2 things effect population distribution of these regions the most? Indigenous of New Zealand? Australia? A. What are they known for? Explain the physical characteristics of Antarctica Describe the folk culture of these places. How are they threatened by pop culture? Australia is rich in what resources?

Answers Volcanic steam use for power Climate and mountain ranges. (Desert in Australia, North Island of NZ less mountainous) Indigenous of New Zealand: Maori, face tattoo Australia: Aborigines, boomerangs, complex religion and social structures Explain the physical characteristics of Antarctica Covered in ice, landmass underneath thought to be rich in resources, treaty agreement to not disrupt ecosystem (drill) Subsistence agriculture, small villages, strive to maintain indigenous culture but threatened by tourism development. Mineral resources