Australia and Oceania

Introduction to Australia

• Australia is a continent and a country• Driest inhabited continent on earth• 6 states and 2 territories• Sixth largest nation after Russia,

Canada, China, the USA and Brazil.

Australia’s Physical Geography• Mountains

– Located mainly on East coast– The Great Dividing Range

• Plateaus– Located in central and

western Australia– Covers almost 2/3 of

continent

• Central Lowlands– Grassland and desert – East central part of

Australia

Australia’s Physical Geography (cont)• Great Barrier Reef– Largest coral reef– Off Australia’s northeastern

coast– Formed from coral, the

limestone skeletons of a tiny sea animal

– Great Barrier Reef Clip

Introduction to New Zealand

New Zealand’s Physical Geography

• Two main islands– North Island• Beaches, forests, rich soil• Volcano’s

– South Island• Southern Alps—tall Mountain

Chain• Canterbury Plains—flat, fertile land• Western coast—cliffs, caves, fjords

Introduction to the Pacific Islands

• Over 10,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean

• Covers 20 million square miles

Pacific Island Physical Geography• Thousands of islands formed by tectonic plates or

volcanic hot spots• Three Island Groups– Melanesia• “Black Islands,” north and east of Australia

– Micronesia• “little islands,” north of Melanesia

– Polynesia• “many islands” Midway Island in the North to New Zealand

Pacific Island Physical Geography

• Low Islands– Atolls• formed by the buildup of coral reefs on the rim of

submerged volcanoes• Ring-shaped islands

– Lagoons• Atolls encircle lagoons• Shallow pools of clear water that only rise a few feet over

sea level• Little soil, few natural resources

• Continental Islands– Formed by rising and folding rock from the ocean

floor

Climate and Vegetation

• Climate—weather patterns typical for an area over a long period of time

• Vegetation—the plant life of a place

Climate and Vegetation

• Australia– North: Tropical climates– Interior: Deserts– Eastern, Southern, Southwestern: grasslands and

mixed forests

Climate and Vegetation• Pacific Islands– Dry season: blue skies– Wet season: constant rain and high humidity– Large Islands: lots of rain, rain forests, typhoons – Small Islands: little rain, only shrubs and grasses

• New Zealand– Marine west coast climate– North Island: warm during

summer, but mountains may have snow year-round

– 90% of plants are native only to NZ.

Australia New ZealandBackground •Aborigines, Arrived from

Southeast Asia• Currently make up 2% of the population

•Maori came from the islands of Polynesia. •Lived by hunting, fishing, and raising crops. Many traditions still exist.

Australia New Zealand

Population Distribution

-Uneven distribution of people.-Most live on the coasts in cities or towns. Major Cities: Sydney, Melbourne

-Uneven distribution of people. -Most live on the coasts in cities or towns. Major Cities: Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington

Australia New Zealand

Education Free, compulsory education Free, compulsory education

Australia New Zealand

Medical care Most people in cities have access to medical care

Most people in cities have access to medical care

Treatment -Indigenous people are often denied benefits.- Aborigines suffer from poverty, malnutrition, and unemployment.

Indigenous people are often denied benefits.

Australia New Zealand

Language English (Australian English is Strine) English and Maori

Religion -Indigenous peoples focus on the relationship of humans to nature. -Christianity is most widely practiced.

-Indigenous peoples focus on the relationship of humans to nature. -Christianity is most widely practiced.

Australian Lingo Guessing Game

• Take out a sheet of paper. • Number 1-14• The person who can get the most right, wins a

prize.

Australian Version American Version

1. Bounce

2. Bloke

3. Mate

4. Shark biscuit

5. Tall poppies

6. True blue

7. Dag

8. Ankle biter

9. Crook

10. Grey hairs

11. Rellie

12. Not the full quid

13. Mug

14. Surfies

AnswersAustralian Version American Version

1. Bounce 1. Bully

2. Bloke 2. boy/man

3. Mate 3. buddy/friend

4. Shark biscuit 4. New surfer

5. Tall poppies 5. Successful people

6. True blue 6. Patriotic

7. Dag 7. Funny Person, nerd

8. Ankle biter 8. Small child

9. Crook 9. Sick person

10. Grey hairs 10. Old person

11. Rellie 11. Family Relative

12. Not the full quid 12. Not the most intelligent

13. Mug 13. Gullible person

14. Surfies 14. People who surf more than work

Europeans• Colonized the region, and today, most of the people are

of British descent. • The British forcibly removed many Aborigines and

denied them basic rights. • The Maori social structure was weakened when the

British introduced new ways of farming and culture. • Australia and NZ won their independence in the early

1900s. The new country was a dominion, a largely self-governing country within the British Empire.