Southeast Asia, Oceania, & Antarctica

Chapter 30Physical Geography

Southeast Asia: Mainland & Islands• Mainland SE Asia lies on two

peninsulas• Indochinese Peninsula – rectangular

shape• Malay Peninsula – narrow strip of land

about 700 miles long, serves as a bridge from the Mainland and the islands

SE Asia

• Most of the islands are found in archipelagoes

• The Philippines and the islands of Indonesia are part of the Malay Archipelago

The Philippines - made up of 7,100-plus islands

SE Asia - Mountains

• Annamese Cordillera – run north to south on the Mainland

• On the islands, most of the mountains are volcanic (Ring of Fire)

SE Asia - Rivers

• Mekong River – starts in China and runs through several SE nations, forms a wide delta on Vietnam’s coast

• Millions rely on the Mekong for fishing and farming

Mekong River - Thailand

Mekong River in Cambodia – known for endangered giant catfish (can grow up to 10 feet long)

SE Asia – Natural Resources

• Fertile soil due to volcanic activity and flooding

• Fishing in the rivers and nearby seas• Petroleum• Tin• Gems

Australia: Continent & Country

• Mountains• Great Dividing Range• Run along the eastern coast

• Central Lowlands• Pastureland• Underground water called the Artesian

waters are pressurized and rise to the surface into ranchers’ wells without any pumping

Great Dividing Range

Australia

• Western Plateau• Covers nearly 2/3rds of Australia• Called “The Outback”• 3 deserts cover much of the region

• Great Sandy, Great Victoria, Gibson• Mammoth rock formations

The Outback

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large

sandstone rock formation in the Outback

Gibson Desert

Wildlife – Kangaroo

Wildlife - Emu

Wildlife – Koala

Wildlife – Dingo

Wildlife – Platypus

Wildlife – Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodile Farm in Australia

Australia

• Great Barrier Reef• Off of the northeastern coast• Made of coral formed by the limestone

skeletons of tiny sea animals• Long strip of coral-covered land that is

home to an array of brilliantly colored fish & underwater creatures

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Australia

• Natural Resources• 10% of the land is arable• One of the world’s leading producers of

wheat, cattle, & sheep• One of the world’s leading exporters of

beef, mutton, lamb, & wool• Uranium, bauxite, iron ore, copper, lead,

manganese, nickel, zinc, gold, silver, diamonds, & opals

Oceania: Island Lands

• Divided into 3 major island groups based on location, how the islands were formed, & the culture of its inhabitants• Melanesia – north & east of Australia• Micronesia – north of Melanesia & south of

Japan• Polynesia – from Midway island in the

north to New Zealand in the south

Fiji – part of Melanesia

Guam (U.S. territory) – part of Micronesia

French Polynesia

Oceania

• High Islands• Formed as a result of colliding tectonic

plates• Part of the Ring of Fire known for its

earthquake & volcanic activity

Ring of Fire

Oceania

• Low Islands• Began as the result of volcanic eruptions• Coral has grown along the rim of an

underwater volcano, creating a ring-shaped island called an atoll

• At the center is a shallow lagoon• Low-lying so waves wash them in & out of

view• Little soil & few natural resources

Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

Oceania

• Continental Islands• Made of rock that has risen from

continental shelves on the ocean floor• Not formed by volcanoes, but many have

active volcanoes• Mineral found on the islands include oil,

gold, nickel, & copper

New Zealand• Located 1,200 miles southeast of Australia• A group of mountainous islands• North Island

• Center of the island is a plateau of volcanic stone crossed by a chain of volcanic peaks (active)

• Freshwater lakes• Hills – sheep & dairy cattle

• South Island• Dominated by Southern Alps

Lake Taupo – North Island

Southern Alps – South Island

New Zealand• Natural Resources

• Fast-flowing rivers – hydroelectric power• Steam from volcanic hot water –

geothermal energy• Coal• Natural gas• Exporter of sheep & wool products• Pine forests• Pacific Ocean fish

Antarctica: A White Plateau

• Twice the size of Australia• Ice, as much as 2 miles thick in some places,

covers about 95% of the continent• Transantarctic Mountains & Antarctic

Peninsula divide the continent into two regions

• East – high, flat plateau• West – land is mostly below sea level

Antarctica

• Greatest resource – the scientists who conduct research there

• Research weather patterns & observe the sun & stars without obstruction

• Also look at the effect of human industrialization on the Earth’s ozone layer

• Mineral resources• Wealth of sea resources – krill (may one day

help feed the world’s hungry)

Lake Fryxell

Transantarctic Mountains

Emperor penguins - Ross Sea, Antarctica

Research Station

American researchers in Antarctica.

Climate & Vegetation

• Australia• Desert – moisture is blocked by subtropical

high-pressure air masses• Steppe – surrounds the desert, wet & dry

season, acacia & eucalyptus trees dominate the landscape

• Coasts – southern coasts have a Mediterranean climate, the northeast have a humid subtropical climate, & the southeast have a marine west coast climate

Eucalyptus Trees

Climate & Vegetation

• Oceania• North of the Tropic of Capricorn• Tropical rain forest climate• Wet & dry seasons (makes agriculture

difficult)• Risk of typhoons

Climate & Vegetation

• New Zealand• Marine west coast, except in the mountain

regions• Rain throughout the year & mild

temperatures

Climate & Vegetation• Antarctica

• One of the coldest places on Earth• Also, one of the highest & driest continents• Plateau is drier than Australia’s deserts• Dryness makes the air colder• During the long winter, temperatures may

drop to -100°F

Climate & Vegetation• Antarctica

• Ice is always moving, inching slowly toward the ocean

• In the warmer, moister parts of the continent, it moves more quickly, often breaking into pieces

• Between the pieces, huge cracks called crevasses develop

• A small area lies in the tundra climate zone – temps may reach almost 60° F & mosses & lichens are able to grow

Antarctica

The bottom of a crevasse.