Oceania and AntarcticaOceania and Antarctica

Paradise in the Pacific and Paradise in the Pacific and Penguins at the PolePenguins at the Pole

OceaniaOceania

Physical Geography of OceaniaPhysical Geography of Oceania

The Pacific Ocean covers 1/3 of the world “Oceania” is the name for the islands located here Thousands of islands

Many are unnamed and never been explored Some are barely big enough for one person to live on

The Islands are divided into 3 sub-regions Micronesia- tiny islands Melanesia- black islands Polynesia- many islands

Climate of OceaniaClimate of Oceania

Climate Most Pacific islands are in the tropics

Between the Tropic of Capricorn and Cancer Warm climate throughout the year

Average temperature of 65 degrees

“Typhoons” Name for hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean Largest and most destructive storm

Types of IslandsTypes of Islands

“High islands” Formed by volcanoes

Generally large and mountainous islands Have fertile soil for farming Rain in mountains gives freshwater to the islands

Covered by forests These resources on the islands support large

populations Hawaii, Fiji, French Polynesia, and New Guinea

Types of IslandsTypes of Islands

“Low islands” Formed by the buildup of coral reefs

Limited water sources and resources Very small populations

Many have as few as 50 people living on them Often called “Atolls”

Ring-like coral islands

History/ Economics of OceaniaHistory/ Economics of Oceania

History Many of the islands of the Pacific were

discovered by Captain James Cook Tahiti was his first major discovery

Economy Most people are just barely making ends meet

Tourism Commercial fishing

AntarcticaAntarctica

Physical Geography of AntarcticaPhysical Geography of Antarctica

Land that is completely covered by ice Ice is up to 2 miles thick

Extremely harsh weather Temperatures can reach –121 degrees Winds can reach 200 miles per hour

What lives there? Moss, lichens, penguins and some insects

History of AntarcticaHistory of Antarctica

James Cook sailed around Antarctica Never saw land Concluded land would not be any good

Seal hunters and whalers finally found land Near the South Pole

Explorers of AntarcticaExplorers of Antarctica

Ronald Amundsen Norway Used dog sleds to become the first to find the

South Pole Had to eat the dogs on the way back No one could find his flag

Movement of the glacier had moved it from the pole

Robert Scott Great Britain

Decided to walk to the South Pole Died on return trip

Economic GeographyEconomic Geography

Petroleum and coal have been found here Cannot be taken for the next 50 years

Antarctic Treaty Signed in 1961 Gives 40 countries ownership of resources

No one really owns the land

Land is used for research purposes only Study the ozone layer and global warming