1. Australia & Oceania Notes

2. Physical Geography of Australia…
Known as the Land Down Under because of its southern location “under” the equator
It is both a country and a continent.
Divided into 3 regions:
Great Dividing Range
Central Lowlands
Western Plateau
Pink – Western Plateau
Yellow – Central Lowlands
Green – Great Dividing Range

3. Physical Geography of Australia…
Great Dividing Range
contains most of the mountains and hills
Divides the flow of Australia’s rivers
Central Lowlands
thick area of pasture lands that run through the middle of Australia.
Great Artesian Basin – waters are pressurized and come naturally to the surface
Western Plateau
Covers nearly 2/3 of Australia
Dry desert
Called the Outback
Three deserts cover the outback: the Great Sandy, the Great Victoria, and the Great Gibson.

4. Physical Geography of Australia…
The Great Barrier Reef
Located off Australia’s northeastern coast.
The reef is one of the world’s most famous natural wonders
The reef is made of coral formed by the limestone skeletons of tiny sea animals

5. Bodies of Water… Rivers Oceans Lakes Seas Darling River Murray River
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Lakes
Lake Eyre
Seas
Tasman Sea
Coral sea
Philippine Sea

6. Natural Resources… Rich in mineral and energy sources
6% of Australia’s land is arable
Many areas are used for grazing
Australia is the leading producer of wheat, cattle, & sheep
Water is a scarce resource
Some other resources: uranium, bauxite, iron-ore, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, silver
Sources of energy: coal, oil, and natural gas
Green is arable & more habitable land

7. Climate… Second driest continent
The Western Plateau is the driest area
2/3 of Australia has arid or semiarid climate
Low elevation
Lies between 20° and 30° south latitude
The southern coasts have a Mediterranean climate

8. Animals and vegetation…
Many endemic species
Because Australia separated from other continents, unique plants and animals developed
Many marsupials – mammals that carry their young in pouches
Kangaroo
Wallaby
Koala
Two native forms of vegetation dominate the region:
Acacia
Eucalyptus trees

9. Physical Geography of Oceania…
Consists of three major island groups:
Melanesia – lies closest to Australia
Solomon Islands
Fiji
Micronesia – lies east of the Philippines
Guam
Marshall Islands
Polynesia – largest of the three
Cook Islands
Samoa

10. Physical Geography of Oceania…
High Islands
Rocky & mountainous islands
2 types of high islands:
Continental Islands
Not formed by volcanoes
Most of the larger islands
Example: Papua New Guinea (world’s 2nd largest island)
Oceanic Islands
Volcanic islands that have formed from ocean floor
Part of the Ring of Fire
Lowland Islands
Formed from coral
Low islands tend to have a ring shape
Ring-shaped coral islands is called an atoll
Within the atoll lies a shallow body of water called a lagoon

12. Climate of Oceania…
Most of region lies between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
Climates are generally hot with high rainfall
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) – area where trade winds meet near the equator creating humid and rainy conditions

13. Natural Resources of Oceania…
Fish & shellfish are important resources
Export: lobsters, octopus, shrimp & tuna
Cultured pearls harvested from oysters
Gold, copper, and nickel are found on large continental islands

14. Physical Geography of New Zealand…
A group of mountainous islands covered with forest
1,000 miles southeast of Australia
Divided into 2 major islands separated by Cook Strait:
North Island
Lake Taupo
Tectonically active islands
South Island
Southern Alps
Includes Mt. Cook (highest point)
Many glaciers

15. Natural Resources of New Zealand
Main resource is good farmland
Energy sources:
Hydroelectric power is produced from New Zealand’s rivers
Hydroelectricity provides roughly 65% of the power
Use hot steam from volcanoes for geothermal energy
New Zealand does not have many large mineral deposits
Global supplier of wool, sheep, forests products and fish

16. Climate & Vegetation of New Zealand
Marine west coast climate—rainfall year round with mild temperatures.
Small shrubs called manuka cover the area

17. Physical Geography of Antarctica
Twice the size of Australia
Ice is nearly 2 miles thick
Ice covers 95 % of land mass
The Transantarctic Mountains divide the continent into two regions
Krill a shrimp like animal is used for food.

18. Climate… Coldest, windiest, most isolated continent
Lowest temperature = -128°F
Summer temperatures are still below freezing
Receives 2 inches of precipitation per year

19. Exploration…
Called the “continent for science and peace” as defined by the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1959
This means NO political borders, no military activity, no nuclear waste or explosions, and NO national claims to ownership
Madrid Protocol (1991)
32 countries signed
Formed an agreement to protect Antarctica
Banned oil and gas exploration for 50 years
The key to Antarctica’s scientific value has been its isolation because it has been untouched by humans for so many years
No country owns Antarctica but 7 countries have claimed portions of it.

20. Population of Australia
Smallest continent
92% of population is of British or other European ancestry
7% of population is of Asian descent
19 million people live in Australia
Largest populated country in the South Pacific
Cities are located on the coastal regions
85% of Australia’s population lives in urban areas

21. Population of Oceania…
New Zealand
Many people live along coast
Most of New Zealand’s population is of British descent
Maori are the largest minority group making up 10% of population
More than 80% New Zealand’s population lives in urban areas
Pacific Islands
Population is low
Great deal of emigration out of the region

22. Australian History… Australia’s first people were the aborigines
Came to Australia more than 40,000 years ago from southeast Asia
Nomadic lifestyle
Hunted with spears, nets, & boomerangs
Coastal areas – focused on fishing

23. Early Settlement… British settled Australia as a prison colony
Other people came to farm or raise sheep
1851 – gold was discovered attracting more settlers
Many settlers forced Aborigines off their land
Aborigines were wiped out by European diseases

24. European Settlement…
As settlers continued to arrive, more towns and colonies were founded
1901 – six colonies were joined to form the Commonwealth of Australia
Maintained close ties and accepted British king/queen as chief of state

25. History of Oceania…
First people to settle New Zealand were the Maori from the Pacific islands (AD 750)
Micronesians – Developed trade with Melanesia and Asia
Some Micronesians were linked genetically to Aborigines
Polynesians – overseas trade and farming and fishing

26. Europeans in the South Pacific…
Early Explorers
1500s – Europeans began to explore the South Pacific
1642 – Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became first European to reach New Zealand
Captain James Cook
explored South Pacific & made contact with Maori
Between 1768 and 1779 – claimed east coast of Australia for Great Britain, and sailed around Antarctica
First European settlers in New Zealand were missionaries & traders from Great Britain

27. Continuing European Interest…
Australia
Introduced sheep, cattle, and horses
New Zealand
Settlers were attracted to good soil and fishing
British settlers signed treaty with Maori taking control of lands
Treaty provided that British had to protect Maori rights
Maori Wars fought from 1845 – 1872 in which Maori lost
1907 – New Zealand became independent country
Antarctica
Not explored
South Pole – reached by Roald Amundsen in 1911
Oceania
Settled by Christian missionaries
Christianity widespread among natives
Continuing European Interest…

28. Struggle for Imperial Power…
1898 – U.S. gained control of Philippines & Guam through the Spanish-American War
By late 1800s – foreign powers controlled nearly entire region
Built plantations, military bases, and fishing outposts
Japan gained control during WWII
Bloody fighting as Allies pushed Japan back
Made some nations territories – areas in South Pacific placed under Western temporary control
Some are now self-governing – others still under U.S. influence

29. Culture… Language Religion
English is the official language of Australia & New Zealand
Australians speak with a distinct “Aussie” accent
People of Papua New Guinea speak 700 different languages
Reflecting colonialism – English & French are spoken
Religion
Majority of people are Christian
Asian immigration has brought Buddhism and Islam
Aborigines emphasize spiritual ties to the land

30. Aussie Translations… Can you translate these Australian words? Biscuit
Clicks
Dunny
Esky
G’day
Mozzies Oz
Roo
Saltie
Shark biscuit

31. Aussie Translations… Biscuit……………………….cookie
Clicks………………………..kilometer
Dunny……………………….restroom
Esky…………………………ice chest
G’day………………………..hello
Mozzies……………………..mosquitoes
Oz……………………………Australia
Roo…………………………..kangaroo
Saltie…………………………saltwater crocodile
Shark biscuit………………...inexperienced diver

32. Government Today… Parliamentary Democracy Democratic Republic
Australia
New Zealand
Democratic Republic
Kiribati
Nauru
Vanuatu
Constitutional Monarchy
Tonga
Western Samoa
U.S. Territories
American Samoa
Guam
Governed by French
Polynesia
Antarctica
no official government
no permanent settlements

33. Economy… Australia New Zealand
Well developed economy & high per capita GDP ($23,200)
Export mostly raw materials
Imports mostly manufactured goods
Many people work in service industry
Trade partners include Asian nations and United States
New Zealand
Combination of fishing, farming, and tourism
Exports: wool, meat, fish, dairy products
Sheep outnumber people 13:1

34. Agriculture… Only 6% of land is good for farming
Australia and New Zealand export large quantities of meat and wool
Australia is leading wool producing country
Ranching
Graziers, or herders tend to large ranches called stations
Farming
Copra – the dried meat from the coconut palms is the only farm export.
Wheat is Australia’s most important crop

35. Mining & Manufacturing…
important part of the economy
Leading producer of diamonds, bauxite, opal, and lead
Also leading producers of coal, copper, and iron ore
Many island countries may benefit one day from mineral deposits on the ocean floor
Manufacturing
Some countries are moving toward manufacturing of clothing and textiles
Country
Reserve (in million carats)
Australia
230
Botswana
225
China 20
Congo
350
South Africa
150

36. Tourism…
Tourists are drawn each year to clear blue water and white sand
Draw visitors from around the world but especially from U.S. & Japan
Vital industry for islands such as Fiji & Tahiti

37. Environmental Issues…
Cane Toads in Australia
Cane toads
Introduced toads into the cane fields to eat the bugs
No natural enemy—they were poisonous
Brush tail possum was introduced in 1837
Carried a disease that is deadly to the cattle population

38. Environmental Issues…
Phosphate Mining
Chemical used to make fertilizer
Strip mining has destroyed the topsoil
Logging
More than 1/3 of the Australia’s woodlands have been cleared
Nuclear Testing
France, Great Britain, and U.S. used their Pacific territories as nuclear testing grounds
1940s and 1950s – U.S. tested on Bikini Atoll on the Marshall islands

39. Environmental Issues…
Global warming is special worry for people of the Pacific
As polar ice melts, ocean levels rise
Many of these islands may be submerged or vulnerable to storms
Ozone depletion is the greatest danger to this area.
Fear that global warming will kill the Krill