1. Australia Jeremy M. Rinkel

2. The Land Mountains and Plateaus Mountains and Plateaus –Great Dividing Range Stretches along the East Coast from Cape York Peninsula to the island of Tasmania Stretches along the East Coast from Cape York Peninsula to the island of Tasmania Most rivers begin in the Great Dividing range Most rivers begin in the Great Dividing range

3. Western Plateau Flat land in central and western Australia covers 2/3 of the continent Flat land in central and western Australia covers 2/3 of the continent Very few people live in this area Very few people live in this area This area is known as “The Outback” This area is known as “The Outback”

4. Nullarbor Plain Treeless land that ends near the Indian Ocean with breathtaking views from cliffs Treeless land that ends near the Indian Ocean with breathtaking views from cliffs

5. Central Lowlands Separates the Great Dividing Range and the Western Plateau Separates the Great Dividing Range and the Western Plateau Most rivers remain dry due to infrequent rainfall, when it rains they fill with water completely Most rivers remain dry due to infrequent rainfall, when it rains they fill with water completely

6. Central Lowlands Murray and Darling Rivers provides water for irrigating crops Murray and Darling Rivers provides water for irrigating crops Great Artesan Basin- underground water Great Artesan Basin- underground water –Artesan wells- are too salty for humans and crops, but useful in watering livestock

7. Great Barrier Reef Lies of the Northeastern coast Lies of the Northeastern coast Is the world’s largest coral reef Is the world’s largest coral reef The United Nations has designated the reef as a World Heritage Site The United Nations has designated the reef as a World Heritage Site Is a string of more than 2,500 reefs and stretches for 1,250 miles Is a string of more than 2,500 reefs and stretches for 1,250 miles

8. Natural Resources Only 10% of the land can be farmed Only 10% of the land can be farmed Australia’s farms are located near the Darling and Murray Rivers Australia’s farms are located near the Darling and Murray Rivers –Wheat, barley, fruit, and sugar cane In the Outback ranchers raise In the Outback ranchers raise –Cattle, sheep, and chickens

9. Minerals ¼ of the world’s bauxite ¼ of the world’s bauxite Most of the world’s high quality opals Most of the world’s high quality opals Various deposits of coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, nickel, and petroleum Various deposits of coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, nickel, and petroleum

10. Climate and Vegetation Tropical- Northeastern Australia Tropical- Northeastern Australia Deserts- interior of Australia Deserts- interior of Australia Mid-latitude temperate areas of grasslands, scrub, and mixed forests Mid-latitude temperate areas of grasslands, scrub, and mixed forests –Eastern, southern, and southwest coasts of Australia Differences in rainfall is the cause of these different climates Differences in rainfall is the cause of these different climates

11. Climate and Vegetation December thru March December thru March –Western Plateau (desert area) Subtropical high pressure air masses block moist air from the Pacific Subtropical high pressure air masses block moist air from the Pacific Daytime temperatures are hot Daytime temperatures are hot Nighttime temperatures drop drastically Nighttime temperatures drop drastically

12. Mild Steppe Climate Surrounds the Western Plateau Surrounds the Western Plateau Regular rainfall allows for vegetation Regular rainfall allows for vegetation –Eucalyptus and acacia trees and small shrubs grow Annual rainfall ranges from 10-20 inches a year Annual rainfall ranges from 10-20 inches a year Wattle- a strong interwoven wooden framework for building homes Wattle- a strong interwoven wooden framework for building homes

13. Coastal Areas Have a variety of moister climates Have a variety of moister climates Northeastern coast (humid-subtropical) averages more than 80 inches of rain a year Northeastern coast (humid-subtropical) averages more than 80 inches of rain a year Southern coast (Mediterranean climate) less rain Southern coast (Mediterranean climate) less rain Southeastern coast (Marine West Coast) Southeastern coast (Marine West Coast) –Supports Australia’s agriculture

14. Population Patterns Indigenous peoples and foreign colonizers have made Australia very diverse Indigenous peoples and foreign colonizers have made Australia very diverse Aborigines (Australia’s earliest people) Aborigines (Australia’s earliest people) –Possibly the world’s oldest surviving culture –Nomadic hunter and gatherers arrived from Southeast Asia –Make up 2% of the population

15. Groups of Aborigines Arrente (central Australia) Arrente (central Australia) –Believe in Dreamtime- a system of beliefs that they feel connects them back to the beginning of time. Palawa- live on the Island of Tazmania Palawa- live on the Island of Tazmania

16. People Europeans Europeans –Began colonizing Australia in the 1500s –Most people are of British descent Asians Asians –Actively recruited immigrants –Immigrated to Australia for economic opportunity

17. Density and Distribution The physical geography attributes to an uneven distribution of people The physical geography attributes to an uneven distribution of people –Very few live in the central plateaus and deserts –Most live along the coasts

18. Early People Early Aborigines led a nomadic life Early Aborigines led a nomadic life They used various routes to reach water and food sources They used various routes to reach water and food sources –Clans (family groups) traveled within their ancestral boundaries Men hunted animals with boomerangs Men hunted animals with boomerangs –A heavy throwing stick that soars and curves in flight

19. European Exploration James Cook (British sailor) undertook 3 voyages between 1768-1779 James Cook (British sailor) undertook 3 voyages between 1768-1779 –Claimed eastern Australia & various South Pacific islands –He also circled Australia –Cook produced very accurate maps and records of these places

20. European Settlement 1788- Britain used Australia as a colony for convicts sent from over-crowded prisons 1788- Britain used Australia as a colony for convicts sent from over-crowded prisons 1850s- Free British settlers established coastal farms and settlements 1850s- Free British settlers established coastal farms and settlements –Wool from sheep was a major export –Gold was also discovered

21. Indigenous People British forcibly removed many Aborigines from the land and denied them basic rights British forcibly removed many Aborigines from the land and denied them basic rights Violence against them reduced the populations greatly Violence against them reduced the populations greatly 1850s most Aborigines were placed on reserves or separate areas 1850s most Aborigines were placed on reserves or separate areas

22. Independence 1901- Britain’s Australian colonies became states and formed the Commonwealth of Australia 1901- Britain’s Australian colonies became states and formed the Commonwealth of Australia Became a dominion (a largely self- governing country) within the British Empire Became a dominion (a largely self- governing country) within the British Empire It’s government is a blend between U.S. Federal system and the British Parliamentary Democracy It’s government is a blend between U.S. Federal system and the British Parliamentary Democracy

23. Education Australia provides free and compulsory education Australia provides free and compulsory education 99% Literacy rate 99% Literacy rate Many students attend universities Many students attend universities Students in the remote Outback region receive and turn-in assignments through the mail and communicate by two-way radios Students in the remote Outback region receive and turn-in assignments through the mail and communicate by two-way radios

24. Healthcare People in the city have access to quality healthcare and social services People in the city have access to quality healthcare and social services Rugged terrain and long distances in rural areas make access to healthcare difficult Rugged terrain and long distances in rural areas make access to healthcare difficult Many Aborigines suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and unemployment Many Aborigines suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and unemployment Private organizations have been trying to make up for past injustice Private organizations have been trying to make up for past injustice

25. Language English is the major language English is the major language Strine- (Australian English) unique vocabulary from Aborigine words, terms from original settlers, and slang Strine- (Australian English) unique vocabulary from Aborigine words, terms from original settlers, and slang

26. Religion Aborigines focus on the relationship between humans and nature Aborigines focus on the relationship between humans and nature Christianity is the most widely practiced religion Christianity is the most widely practiced religion

27. The Economy Australia is the world’s leading exporter of wool Australia is the world’s leading exporter of wool Most of the land is devoted to raising livestock Most of the land is devoted to raising livestock Less than 5% of the population work in agriculture Less than 5% of the population work in agriculture

28. The Economy Stations (Australia’s ranches) sometimes are as large as 6,000 square miles or about the size of Connecticut Stations (Australia’s ranches) sometimes are as large as 6,000 square miles or about the size of Connecticut Less than 10% of the land is arable or suitable for growing crops Less than 10% of the land is arable or suitable for growing crops Technology and new irrigation systems help farmers make use of the limited land Technology and new irrigation systems help farmers make use of the limited land

29. Mining and Manufacturing Leading producer of various minerals from the South Pacific Leading producer of various minerals from the South Pacific –Diamonds, gold, bauxite, iron ore, opals High transportation costs limit mining High transportation costs limit mining The land rights of Aborigines also limits where mining can occur The land rights of Aborigines also limits where mining can occur

30. Transportation Have the most advanced road and railway systems in Oceania Have the most advanced road and railway systems in Oceania In the coastal areas, highways are well- maintained In the coastal areas, highways are well- maintained Subways provide public transportation Subways provide public transportation In the Australian Outback, very few roads exist In the Australian Outback, very few roads exist

31. Transportation Issues Long distances Long distances Harsh climates Harsh climates Obstacles to land travel Obstacles to land travel Air and water travel are vitally important Air and water travel are vitally important

32. Communication Same geographic issues make communication a problem as well Same geographic issues make communication a problem as well Cattle stations in the Outback are large enough for their own post office and telephone exchanges Cattle stations in the Outback are large enough for their own post office and telephone exchanges Cellular, digital, and satellite communication, including the internet are common in some areas Cellular, digital, and satellite communication, including the internet are common in some areas

33. Trade and Interdependence Improved transportation and communication have increased trade between the South Pacific and the rest of the world Improved transportation and communication have increased trade between the South Pacific and the rest of the world During most of the 1900s, Australia mostly traded with the U.K. and United States During most of the 1900s, Australia mostly traded with the U.K. and United States

34. Trade and Interdependence Recently expanded trade with the neighboring countries in Asia Recently expanded trade with the neighboring countries in Asia –Japan, Taiwan, and China Became a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Became a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Is pursuing free trade agreements with China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Is pursuing free trade agreements with China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

35. Oceania and Australia Have some of the planet’s richest and diverse natural resources Have some of the planet’s richest and diverse natural resources Resources haven’t been managed well and now face many environmental challenges Resources haven’t been managed well and now face many environmental challenges

36. Unusual Animals Home to many unique animal species Home to many unique animal species –Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies Have been threatened by the human introduction of nonnative animals Have been threatened by the human introduction of nonnative animals –Europeans brought various animals and they have taken over the original habitat of the native animals 16 types of marsupials are now endangered 16 types of marsupials are now endangered

37. Forest, Soil, and Water Woodlands have been cleared for farms and grazing land Woodlands have been cleared for farms and grazing land –Leaves land vulnerable to wind and water erosion Soil conservation is closely linked to reducing deforestation Soil conservation is closely linked to reducing deforestation Drought, salt, irrigation, and agriculture runoff has threatened freshwater supply Drought, salt, irrigation, and agriculture runoff has threatened freshwater supply

38. Oceania Faces challenges in managing its freshwater Faces challenges in managing its freshwater Small coral atolls and volcanic islands have very little freshwater Small coral atolls and volcanic islands have very little freshwater The lack of clean drinking water The lack of clean drinking water –Keeps the standard of living low –Poses barriers to economic growth of countries

39. Environmental Effects on the Great Barrier Reef Agriculture run-off, fertilizers, organic, and toxic waste endanger the reef Agriculture run-off, fertilizers, organic, and toxic waste endanger the reef Coral environments are also stressed by: Coral environments are also stressed by: –tourists –Boaters –Divers –Oil shale mining –Increased water temperatures

40. Environmental Effects on the Great Barrier Reef Coral bleaching- the breakdown of the relationship between coral and the algae that provide these organisms with nutrients Coral bleaching- the breakdown of the relationship between coral and the algae that provide these organisms with nutrients Pollution threatens all kinds of marine life Pollution threatens all kinds of marine life –Plankton (very small organism) dies off which leads to other larger animals dying

41. The Nuclear Legacy The U.S. and other countries tested nuclear weapons in the South Pacific during the 1940s and 1950s The U.S. and other countries tested nuclear weapons in the South Pacific during the 1940s and 1950s The effects of radiation exposure and environmental damage have continued for generations The effects of radiation exposure and environmental damage have continued for generations

42. The Nuclear Legacy Antinuclear activists are very powerful and large groups play a major role in the South Pacific countries’ political system Antinuclear activists are very powerful and large groups play a major role in the South Pacific countries’ political system