1. Physical Geography of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica:
A Region of Extremes
This wide and varied region includes the South Pole icescape, volcanic Pacific islands, Southeast Asian tropics, and Australian deserts.

2. Physical Geography of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica:
A Region of Extremes
SECTION 1
Landforms and Resources
SECTION 2
Climate and Vegetation
SECTION 3
Human-Environment Interaction

3. Landforms and Resources
Section-1
Landforms and Resources
This region includes two peninsulas of Asia, two continents, and more than 20,000 islands.
Its landforms include mountains, plateaus, and major river systems.

4. Landforms and Resources
Section-1
Landforms and Resources
Southeast Asia: Mainland and Islands
Peninsulas and Islands
Mainland Southeast Asia lies on two peninsulas
− rectangular Indochinese Peninsula is south of China
− Malay Peninsula is 700-mile strip south from mainland
Malay Peninsula bridges mainland and island archipelagoes
− archipelago—set of closely grouped islands, often in a curved arc
− Malay Archipelago includes the Philippines, Indonesian islands
Continued…

5. Southeast Asia: Mainland and Islands {continued}
Mountains and Volcanoes
Mainland mountain ranges, like Annamese Cordillera, run north-south
− fan out from northern mountainous area
Island mountains are volcanic in origin, part of Pacific Ring of Fire
− volcanic eruptions, earthquakes are common in region
Continued…

6. Southeast Asia: Mainland and Islands {continued}
Rivers and Coastlines
Several large mainland rivers run south through mountain valleys
− spread out into fertile deltas near coast
Mekong River starts in China, ends in wide delta on Vietnam coast
− farming, fishing along river support millions of people
Resources
Volcanic activity, flooding rivers create nutrient-rich, fertile soil
Rivers, seas provide fish; some areas have petroleum, tin, gems

7. Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica
No Exact Number
No one knows how many islands there are in the Pacific
− some estimate there are more than 20,000
− hard to count because islands vanish and new ones appear
As a group, the Pacific Islands are called Oceania
− includes New Zealand, Australia (a continent, not an island)
− doesn’t include Philippines, Indonesia—culturally Asian
Continued…

8. Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica {continued}
Oceania’s Many Islands
Some islands vanish due to erosion, new ones are created
Volcanoes create high islands, coral reefs make up low islands
− most islands are small; total land area is smaller than Alaska
In general, islands lack minerals but:
− New Caledonia has nickel, chromium, iron
− New Guinea has copper, gold, oil
− Nauru has phosphate
Continued…

9. Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica {continued}
Majestic New Zealand
New Zealand has two main islands, North Island and South Island
Southern Alps—300-mile mountain range down center of South Island
− 16 peaks over 10,000 feet; over 360 glaciers
North Island has hilly ranges, volcanic plateau
− fertile farmland; forests for lumber; natural harbors
Few mineral resources, but dams generate electricity
Continued…

10. Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica {continued}
Flat Australia
Australia is earth’s smallest, flattest continent
Great Dividing Range—chain of highlands parallel to east coast
West of range are plains and plateaus
Murray River is largest of continent’s few rivers
Little forestry, but rich in bauxite, diamonds, opals, lead, coal
Great Barrier Reef—1,250-mile chain of 2,500 reefs, islands
Continued…

11. Lands of the Pacific and Antarctica {continued}
Icy Antarctica
Fifth-largest continent is circular in shape, centered on South Pole
Thick ice sheet covers landscape—world’s largest fresh-water supply
Transantarctic Mountains divide continent
− East Antarctica is plateau surrounded by mountains, valleys
− West Antarctica is group of separate islands linked by ice
There could be coal, minerals, petroleum under ice
− in 1991, 26 nations agreed not to mine region for 50 years

12. Climate and Vegetation
Section-2
Climate and Vegetation
This region’s climates range from tropical to desert to polar icecap.
There is a great diversity of plant and animal life, including some species found nowhere else in the world.

13. Climate and Vegetation
Section-2
Climate and Vegetation
Widespread Tropics
Year-Round Rains
Tropical wet climate in coastal Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Oceania
− also in most of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
High temperatures—annual average of 80 degrees in Southeast Asia
Parts of Southeast Asia get 100, even 200 inches of rain annually
Some variations—high elevations in Indonesia have glaciers
Continued…

14. Widespread Tropics {continued}
Wet and Dry Seasons
Tropical wet and dry climate borders the wet climate
− weather is shaped by monsoons
− found in parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
Temperatures are consistently hot, but rainfall varies
Monsoon areas often have disastrous weather
− typhoons can occur in region during the wet season
Continued…

15. Widespread Tropics {continued}
Tropical Plants
Southeast Asia has great vegetation diversity
− tropical evergreen forests near equator
− deciduous forests in wet and dry zone
− teak is harvested commercially
Oceania doesn’t have diverse vegetation
− low islands have poor soil, little rain (few plants)
− high islands have rich volcanic soil, rain (flowers, coconut palms)

16. Bands of Moderate Climate
Hot Summers, Mild Winters
Australia and New Zealand have generally mild climates
Mountain chain runs parallel to east coast of Australia
Strip between mountains and coast divides into two climate zones
− northern part is humid subtropical—hot summers, mild winters
− heavy rainfall—gets 126 inches of rain annually
− also climate of northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar
Continued…

17. Bands of Moderate Climate {continued}
Mild Summers, Cool Winters
Marine west coast climate on Australian southeast coast, New Zealand
− ocean breezes warm the land in winter, cool it in summer
− New Zealand’s forests are primarily evergreens, tree ferns
New Zealand gets rain all year; regional amounts vary dramatically
− South Island mountains bring rain down on western slopes
Australia’s Great Dividing Range keeps rain on populous east coast

18. Hot and Cold Deserts Arid Australia
One-third of Australia is desert, located in the continent’s center
− under 10 inches of rain annually; too dry for agriculture
Band of semiarid climate encircles desert
− 20 inches of rain annually; crops need irrigation
Dryness caused by tropical, subtropical heat that evaporates rain
Few live in dry inland region called the outback
Continued…

19. Hot and Cold Deserts {continued}
The White Desert
Antarctica is earth’s coldest, driest continent
− icecap climate: temperatures can drop to –70 degrees
Cold air doesn’t hold moisture well
− has 1/10 the water vapor of temperate zones
Area receives little precipitation; called a polar desert
Plants are lichens, mosses; animals are sea life, birds (penguins)

20. Human-Environment Interaction
Section-3
Human-Environment Interaction
Pacific Islanders developed technology that enabled them to travel the Pacific Ocean.
This region has been damaged by nuclear testing and the introduction of European animals.

21. Human-Environment Interaction
Section-3
Human-Environment Interaction
Traveling the Pacific
Navigation Charts
It’s believed Pacific Island settlers came from Southeast Asia
− use land bridges, small rafts, canoes to reach nearest islands
Later venture further out, use stars and charts to navigate
− on charts, sticks show wave patterns, shells show islands
Islanders keep secrets of charts until late 1800s
− then begin using European navigation methods
Continued…

22. Traveling the Pacific {continued}
Special Canoes
To sail ocean, islanders develop special voyaging canoes
− double hulls stabilize canoe, allow it to carry lots of weight
− canoes use sails, sometimes have cabin on top for shelter
− carry plants to be grown at destination
Large voyaging canoes are awkward in island lagoons
− use outrigger canoe—float attached on one side for balance

23. Invasion of the Rabbits
The Rabbit Problem
European colonizers bring animals to Australia, including rabbits
In 1859, Thomas Austin releases 24 rabbits into Australia to hunt
− one pair can have 184 descendents in 18 months
− Australia has over one billion rabbits by 1900
Rabbits strip sparse vegetation, ruin sheep pastures, cause erosion
− resulting lack of food endangers native animals
Continued…

24. Invasion of the Rabbits {continued}
Control Measures
Efforts are made to control number of rabbits
− import foxes to prey on them, but foxes also endanger native wildlife
In 1950s, they’re intentionally infected with myxomatosis; 90% die
− ranches then able to support twice as many sheep
− rabbits become immune to disease; back to 300 million by 1990s
Today a combination of poisons, diseases, fences are used

25. Nuclear Testing Tests in Bikini Atoll
Nuclear arms race between U.S., USSR begins in the 1940s
− U.S. conducts 66 nuclear bomb tests on Bikini, Enewetak atolls
− atoll—ringlike coral island, or islands, surrounding a lagoon
Marshall Islands’ Bikini Atoll is far from shipping, air routes
“Bravo” hydrogen bomb test vaporizes several islands
− radiation contamination injures or sickens many islanders
Continued…

26. Nuclear Testing {continued}
Long-Term Effects
Bikini Islanders moved to the island of Kili in 1948
− conditions there don’t allow them to fish or grow enough food
U.S. declares Bikini safe in late 1960s, some islanders return
− in 1978, doctors find dangerous radiation levels in islanders
− islanders leave again
Cleanup of Bikini Atoll begins in 1988
− still unknown when Bikini will be suitable for humans again