Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, & Antarctica

Australia & New Zealand Introduction Australia and New Zealand have been cut off from the Earth’s other landmasses for millions of years. Australia – Huge, mostly flat, with several climates New Zealand – Small, Mountainous, Uniform Climate. An area the same size as the United States has a population smaller than New York cities 19.5 Million Both are modern and industrialized countries 96% of trade to other countries is comprised of farming and mining economic activity

Australia The land “Down Under” – Why? Entirely within the southern hemisphere. The only continent that contains just one country. The smallest continent in the world. As a country it has the 6th largest land area. Former colony of Great Britain, & has an Anglo – Saxon cultural background.

Australia Overview Has more than 80% of the land area of the U.S. while only 10% of Australia is livable. Largest fragment of Gonwanaland (4.3 billion years old) Land is mostly flat and dry; lowest overall elevation and relief of all Earth’s continents. Most is dry climate – areas along the coasts have moister climates.

Australia’s North East coast Great Barrier Reef, largest chain of coral in the world.

Australia’s Southern coast Great Australian Bight A bay of the Indian Ocean

Coastal plains Circle Australia & Northern Tasmania Bass Strait separates Tasmania from Australia

Great Divide Wrapping around SE area of highlands Forms the continental divide Australian Alps SE corner of country

Nullarbor Southern Shore Long wide plain Vast dry Tree Less Plateau 400 miles Latin for “no tree”

Australian Highlands Four Main Highlands MacDonnell Ranges The Flinders Range Hamersley and Darling Ranges

MacDonnell Range Arid center of the country

The Finders Range Southern Coast

Hamersley and Darling Ranges Separate part of western plateau from coastal lowlands. No higher than 5,000 feet.

Australian Water No large river network Most rivers are like Wadis Flow only after heavy rain Shrink in dry seasons Lakes in interior often become salt flats Murray is chief river system Artesian wells 2/3 southern part Australia have dry plateaus or deserts Dry grazing lands with shrubs 6% land forested

Murray River System Drains from the Great Divide of the Darling Range SE Australia Largest farming area 6% arable

Artesian Wells Most of Australia’s water Great Artesian Basin N. of Murray Basin Drill into ground until water flows to the surface under its own pressure.

Australian Climate The location near the Equator nearly all has dry climate Center is desert Rim around desert is steppe climate (short grasses and shrubs) Closer to equator along northern coast Area around Cookstown tropical monsoon climate Eastern and Southern coasts moist, mild winter: Mediterranean Climate Farther South – southern coast, middle latitude marine – summers hot with high humidity: winters warm / mild. South eastern coast – Mediterranean climate (rain in winter

Economic & Cultural Patterns 1800s – British controlled Penal Colony Imprisoned for everything from not paying bills to stealing bread. Prison overcrowding in England Prisoners where offered freedom if they moved to Australia

Australia: Colonial Period 6 States ruled as separate colonies Victoria New South Wales Queensland Western Australia South Australia Tasmania 1901 – Australian constitution unified colonies Parliamentary (democracy) form of government (Commonwealth of Australia) 1911 – Northern Territory Added 1980s Capital territory added

Australian Economy GDP – Industry, Agriculture, Minning Industry 36% - 25% of population employed in industry Agriculture & Mining make up the majority of Australia’s economy Land good for grazing – 58% of country is used for pasture livestock. Livestock is raised on “Stations” or (ranches) Major agg. product is wool 1/3 of the worlds Major crop is Wheat grown in Murray basin 7th in the world in wheat production

Mineral Resources 1851 – farming economy changed with the discovery of gold Australia has 90% of worlds Rutile/Zircon Rutile – used in the production of titanium Zircon – Jewelry Large diamond and opal deposits Exports more coal than any other country Many resources untapped

Australia’s Cultural Patterns First inhabitants were Aborigines Crossed a land bridge from Asia Brought the Dingo with them 40,000 Live on reservations(1% total Pop) Population was small until the discovery of gold (1850-60)

Aboriginal Lands

Population Distribution Melbourne has the largest Italian population outside of Rome. Two out of three people live on narrow plain along the East and SE coast Largest cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne Sydney & Melbourne = 1/3 of Australia’s population Western & Southern coast are Perth, Adelaide on southern coast (1 million people)

Australian History Aborigines – 40,000 years Hunters & Gatherer nomads form Asia Portuguese sailors may have been first to meet Aborigines 1600s Spanish/Dutch explored 1642 – Dutch explorer Abel Tasman – island 1770 – James Cook east coast of Australia: “Terra Australis Incognita” = Unknown southern land 1776 – British lost American colonies and began to settle Australia First permanent European settlement – Sydney (Batony Bay)