Geography/Physical Features Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctica

Landforms and Resources Includes two Peninsulas  Indochinese and Malay Peninsula. Includes more than 20,000 islands most of which are in archipelagos. The mainland has several mountain ranges

Indochinese Peninsula Malay Peninsula

Mountains on the islands are of volcanic origin. Creates fertile soil for farming. Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire Pacific Ocean’s ring of volcanoes and earthquakes. Mainland Mekong River Valley important.

Pacific Ring of Fire

Mekong River

Oceania is the region of Pacific Islands. Two types of islands include: High islands  created by volcanoes Low islands  made from coral reef.

New Zealand is mountainous with rivers, fertile farmland, and forest. Australia is flat and rich in minerals. Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest coral reefs in the world off of Australia. Antarctica is centered around the South Pole and has a varied landscape including possible resources.

New Zealand

Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

Antarctica

Climate and Vegetation Tropical wet climate in the coastal parts of SE Asia. Temperatures are high. Elevation affects temperature.

SE Asia has the greatest diversities of vegetation of any region. 1/3 of Australia is desert that the locals call The Outback. Antarctica is considered a polar desert due to the lack of moisture it receives.

Human-Environment Interaction Pacific Islanders developed technology to travel the Pacific. Handmade charts, the voyaging canoe and the outrigger canoe were used. European colonizers brought rabbits to Australia that grazed crops.

Voyaging Canoe

Outrigger canoe

Bikini Atoll was the site of U.S. atomic weapons tests. 1951-1958 U.S. held over 60 explosions that vaporized several islands and contaminated the entire area with radiation.

Islanders became sick or died. Bikini islanders remained exiled from their homeland. No one knows when Bikini Atoll will be suitable for human life.