Unit 10 Southeast Asia, Oceania and Antarctica

 Most Southeast Asian islands are found in archipelagos.  On the islands, a great majority of mountains were formed from volcanic activity.

The Great Barrier Reef

 The Great Barrier Reef is 1,250 miles long. This reef contains around 400 species of coral.  This reef can be seen from outer-space.

 The Great Barrier Reef is threatened by modern land-clearing and livestock- grazing methods that cause tons of sediment to wash into the sea and by toxic runoff from farmlands treated with pesticides and fertilizers.

Australia’s Unique Life Forms

Invasion of Rabbits  First introduced by a colonist who imported them from England for the sport of hunting, rabbits have now caused many problems for Australians.

Nuclear Testing  An arms race between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the 1940s and 1950s caused many problems throughout islands in the South Pacific.  The U.S. conducted 66 tests in the Pacific.

Colonialism and Its Aftermath  Many European nations and the Japanese sought control of Southeast Asia to obtain the region’s wealth.  The United States became involved in the Vietnam War to prevent Communist North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam.

 In 1973, the United States withdrew from the war. In 1975, South Vietnam surrendered and Vietnam became one country, ruled by Communists.  Also in that year Communist took over both Cambodia and Laos.

Oceania  Southeast Asian mainlanders reached nearby islands by canoes or land bridges.  Islanders died of European diseases, local customs disappeared and islands came under foreign control.