Download Unit 10 Australia, Antarctica, and the Pacific Islands

Unit 10
Australia, Antarctica, and the Pacific Islands
Physical Characteristics
• This area includes more than 20,000 islands
• These islands consist of three types of islands
(high, low, and continental)
• High islands are mountainous and usually
volcanic
• Low islands are typically coral islands (atolls)
• Continental islands are extensions of the
continental shelf
• New Zealand is made up of 2 islands
(N & S)
• The North Island is flatter and has most of
the farm land
• The South Island is more mountainous
• Australia is the smallest continent; it can also be
considered an island
• The Great Dividing Range is a mountain chain,
in the east of Australia, that separates much of
the population from the interior of Australia
(outback)
• The outback area of Australia is an area of
plains and plateaus
• The Great Barrier Reef is located off of the
Northeastern coast of Australia
• The fact that Australia is an island has led to
isolation from the rest of the world which has
resulted in unique animal life (koala, kangaroo,
platypus)
• Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and
windiest continent
• Even though most of the continent is
under ice it contains mountains, plateaus,
and valleys
Climate
• The climates in this region varies
• Most of the islands have tropical climates
• There are also humid subtropical and marine
west coast climates in Australia and New
Zealand
• Most of Australia dry (arid and semiarid)
• This climate is due to the Great Dividing Range
which prevents moisture from reaching the
interior of Australia
• Antarctica’s climate is icecap and there is very
little precipitation
Economic Characteristics
• Australia and N. Zealand rely on ranching
and mining (primary activities)
• Australia has increased its mining industry
recently (diamonds, lead, iron ore, gold)
• There has been little money to invest in
creating roads and buildings, so they rely
on foreign investment
• Foreign investors control ½ of the industry
and take that money with them
• Australia’s dry areas are well suited for cattle
and sheep ranching
• In some cases the animals outnumber the
people
• N. Zealand’s climate and land make it more
suitable for farming than Australia
• Both nations rely heavily on the export of wool
and food products (UGGS)
• N. Zealand also has a good wood and paper
industry
• Both nations are developed, but do not rely on
manufacturing and have an increasing service
industry
• The island nations rely on subsistence activities
to survive
• Most societies are village type societies and are
centered around fishing and farming
• They primarily produce food, clothing and
shelter for themselves
• Agricultural products from the Pacific islands
include sugar, coffee, cocoa, and copra
• Air and water travel bring goods and services to
the remote areas of the Pacific region (Australia
and N. Zealand included)
• Tourism is also a large part of the
economy of this region
• This has caused some problems in that
hotels and stores must be built which
takes away land from the natives of these
areas
Cultural Characteristics
• Most of the people in Australia and N. Zealand are of
British descent
• In Aus. And N. Zealand Christianity is the major religion
• 85 % of the people live in cities or towns (Aus. and N.
Zealand)
• In Australia most of the population lives near the coast
• The ranching population is far removed from the cities
• The cultures here also reflect the mixture of European
and indigenous cultures like the Aborigines and Maori
• The Pacific islands are sparsely populated
• The culture is related to the isolation of
these island nations from the rest of the
world
• Traditional culture continues to shape lives
in the Pacific islands
• The Pacific Islands are divided into 3
regions (Micronesia, Melanesia, and
Polynesia)
• Traditional religions are still found over the
Pacific Islands, but Christianity is wide
spread thanks to missionaries who came
to the islands in the early 1900’s
Places and Things of Interest
Sydney, Australia
Sydney Opera House
Harbour Bridge
Sydney, Australia
Tahiti
Melbourne, Australia