Download Physical Features - Burnet Middle School

Chapter 28, Section 1
(Pages 776–779)
Physical Features
Physical processes shape Earth’s surface. As you read, complete the chart
below. List one example of each landform in each area, and write a key
fact about it.
Landform
Key Fact
Australia
New Zealand
Oceania
Antarctica
Landforms of the Region
Australia
New Zealand
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Australia is a country and a continent. It is mostly flat, with
few differences in elevation. Narrow plains along the east and
southeast make good farmland. The Murray and Darling Rivers
run through these plains, and most Australians live there.
The Great Dividing Range rises along Australia’s eastern
coast. It is an escarpment rather than a true mountain range,
because the rocky plateau plunges to lowlands below it. West
of the range sprawls a huge area of flat, dry plains and plateaus
called the outback.
The Great Barrier Reef lies off Australia’s northeastern coast.
This coral reef is a structure formed by the skeletons of small
sea animals. It is the largest coral reef in the world, stretching
about 1,250 miles.
New Zealand is made up of many islands. The two main
islands—North Island and South Island—are separated by the
Cook Strait. The country lies along a fault line where two tectonic
plates meet. As a result, the North Island has active volcanoes
and geysers, or hot springs that carry steam and heated water
to the Earth’s surface. The geysers can erupt as high as 60 feet
into the air.
Chapter 28, Section 1
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Where is the
best farmland in
Australia and New
Zealand located?
(pages 777–778)
Landforms of the Region
List the three types
of islands that make
up Oceania.
1.
2.
3.
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
How is an ice shelf
different from an
ice cap?
The Southern Alps run along the western coast of South
Island. Glaciers rest on the mountain slopes. Long ago, they
carved steep-sided valleys, called fjords. Today the fjords are
filled with sparkling blue water. East of the Alps, the fertile
Canterbury Plains form New Zealand’s best farming area.
Oceania is a grouping of thousands of islands, including
New Zealand, in the Pacific Ocean. Three types of islands—
high, low, and continental—can be found in Oceania.
High islands were formed by volcanic activity. These mountainous islands have valleys that fan out into coastal plains. Tahiti
and the Fiji Islands are examples of high islands. Low islands
were formed by coral. Many low islands, such as the Marshall
Islands, are atolls, or low-lying, ring-shaped islands that surround
shallow pools of water. Continental islands were formed when
tectonic plate movement caused rock to rise and fold from the
ocean floor. New Guinea and the Solomon Islands were formed
this way. Continental islands have mountains, plateaus, and valleys.
Antarctica is located at the Earth’s southern polar region.
The Transantarctic Mountains divide Antarctica into two regions.
A high plateau rises to the east. The South Pole is located on
this plateau. A group of islands linked by ice lies to the west.
Most of Antarctica’s highlands and plains are covered by an
ice cap. The ice cap spreads into the ocean, where it forms an
ice shelf above the water. Icebergs are huge chunks of ice that
break off the ice shelf and float freely in the water.
Natural Resources
Write down three
energy resources
of New Zealand.
1.
2.
3.
Chapter 28, Section 1
(continued)
(page 779)
Natural resources vary throughout the region. Mineral
deposits can be found in Australia, including bauxite, copper,
nickel, and gold. New Zealand also has deposits of gold, coal,
and natural gas. In addition, New Zealand generates hydroelectric power from its rivers and gets geothermal energy from its
hot springs.
Few resources are found on the smaller islands of Oceania.
Some of the larger islands have oil, gold, nickel, and copper,
however. Geologists have discovered that Antarctica has rich
deposits of coal and iron ore, which would be difficult and
costly to tap because of the harsh climate. Many nations have
agreed not to mine Antarctica’s mineral wealth in order to
preserve the environment.
197
Natural Resources
(continued)
Because of the isolation of the islands in this region, some
native plants and animals are unique and do not live anywhere
else in the world. Two famous examples are Australia’s kangaroos and koalas. These animals are marsupials, or mammals
that carry their young in a pouch. Another unusual animal is the
kiwi, a flightless bird. It is the national symbol of New Zealand.
Wrap -Up
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the entire
section.
1. Determining Cause and Effect How has New Zealand’s location
on a fault line affected its physical features?
2. Defining What is an iceberg, and how is it formed?
198
In the space provided, write a description of two or more unique features of this region.
Chapter 28, Section 1
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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