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World Geography Today
The Pacific Islands
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Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 32
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
• What are the main physical features of the Pacific
Islands, and what physical processes affect
them?
• How is the Pacific Islands region divided into
subregions?
• What climates, biomes, and resources does the
region have?
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What are the similarities and differences
between the Pacific’s high islands
and low islands?
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 1: Natural Environments
HIGH
ISLANDS
• Formed by
volcanoes or
oceanic rock
• Mountainous
and rocky
• Fresh water
•Rich, volcanic soils
• Subject
to natural
phenomena
such as
volcanoes
• Generally
found in
groups
LOW
ISLANDS
• Made of coral
• Small and flat
• Often ring-shaped
• Little freshwater
• Thin soil
World Geography Today
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Section 1: Natural Environments
Physical Features
High and Low Islands
• High islands—Continental or oceanic (continental
rock or volcanic); usually mountainous
• Low islands—Coral; usually small and flat
• Atolls (ring-shaped coral islands)—Surround
lagoons
• Different environments—Richer soils, more
vegetation on high islands
World Geography Today
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Section 1: Natural Environments
Physical Processes
• Tectonic forces form volcanic islands and ocean
trenches.
• Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are
common in some areas.
• Coral islands form around volcano edges; island
sinks, leaving atoll.
World Geography Today
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Section 1: Natural Environments
Three Island Subregions
• Melanesia—Closest to Australia (includes eastern New
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji)
• Micronesia—East of Philippines (includes Caroline
Islands, Gilbert Islands of Kiribati, Northern Mariana
Islands, Marshall Islands)
• Polynesia—Largest subregion (huge triangle from Easter
Island to Hawaii to New Zealand; includes Cook,
Marquesas, Samoa, Society, and Tonga Islands, and the
Tuamotu Archipelago)
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 1: Natural Environments
Climates and Biomes
• Climates—Hot and rainy; only New Guinea has
highland zones; some distinct wet-dry seasons
• Trade winds play key role; also typhoons
• Thick tropical rain forests in areas of heavy
rainfall
World Geography Today
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Section 1: Natural Environments
Resources
• Key resources—Fish and shellfish (lobster,
octopus, shark, shrimp, tuna, oysters)
• Pearls from oysters in French Polynesia and the
Cook Islands
• Few other resources—Some timber (Papua New
Guinea); some metals (gold and copper in Papua
New Guinea; nickel in New Caledonia)
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
• What are some important events in the
history of the region?
• What are the traditions and culture of the
region like?
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 2: History and Culture
Question
What are some of the foreign influences in
the history of the Pacific Islands region?
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 2: History and Culture
1520s
Europeans
begin to
explore the
Pacific Islands.
1500
1898
United States
captures
Guam.
1900
1940s
Pacific region
becomes the
site for World
War II battles
and bases.
1950
Post-World War II
Many islands
move away from
colonization to
independence.
2000
World Geography Today
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Section 2: History and Culture
History
• Early migrations settled islands thousands of years
ago.
• Europeans arrived in 1500s; first Magellan, then
others.
• Race for colonies developed; by late 1800s foreign
powers controlled the region.
• Whale hunters disrupted life and culture, spread
disease.
World Geography Today
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Section 2: History and Culture
History (continued)
• Colonial rule became more organized—
plantations, military bases.
• World War II brought sudden changes; creation
of trust territories after war.
• Islands have varied political status—some
independent; some still colonies or associated
with outside powers.
World Geography Today
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Section 2: History and Culture
Traditions and Culture
• Many variations in ethnicity and language
• European or pidgin languages often used between
groups
• Traditional foods—Root crops (taro, yams), fruits
(bananas, breadfruit, coconut), fish
• Modern foods—Domesticated livestock, imported
processed foods, sugarcane as cash crop
World Geography Today
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Section 2: History and Culture
Traditions and Culture (continued)
• Religion—Native spirit religions and Christianity
• Traditional social organization—Clans or tribes
• Complex rules and social ranks in Polynesia; less
rigid elsewhere
• Matrilineal descent in Micronesia
• Art linked to religion (carvings)
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
• What are the economies of the Pacific Islands
region like?
• What are some demographic characteristics of
the region?
• What challenges do the people of the region
face?
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Section 3: The Region Today
Question
How are the Pacific Islands’ economies,
demography, and challenges linked?
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Economic
activities like
mining have
damaged the
environment.
Small markets
on islands make
industrialization
difficult.
The Pacific Today
Ethnic divisions
have sometimes
led to political
violence.
Population
growth has
resulted in
overcrowding.
Emigration has
led to shortage
of skilled
workers.
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Features
• Trade—Traditional inter-island trade now more
global
• Development—Small markets, limited resources
• Common activities—Fishing, subsistence
farming
• Commercial agriculture—Coconut oil, copra,
cacao, pineapples, vanilla
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Features (continued)
• Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)—Surround
islands; income from user fees
• Mining—Important to New Guinea, New
Caledonia, Nauru
• Export—Textiles and clothing
• Tourism—Important to Tahiti and Tonga
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Demographic Features
• Small population, but high population density on
some islands
• Few big cities, but rapid urban growth
• Substantial migration and emigration
• Cause of migration—Population growth (natural
increase)
• Labor shortage caused by emigration
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Challenges
• Rapid population growth
• Effects of economic development on environment
(deforestation, mining)
• Nuclear testing (radiation and health problems)
• Climate (global warming leading to submersion and
storm vulnerability)
• Political violence (Bougainville, Fiji)
World Geography Today
Chapter 32
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. What are the two types of islands in the Pacific? What are their
origins?
2. What geographic factors helped a large number of languages to
develop in the region?
3. What food crops have traditionally been important in the region?
What uses did Pacific Islanders find for the coconut palm?
4. Why is manufacturing not a major factor in the region’s
economy?
5. What are the three patterns of human movement in the Pacific
Islands today?