Physical Geography of Oceania, Australia, & Antarctica SSWG9 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Oceania, including Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica. a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on the region.

Mountains Major Features: Great Dividing Range, Transantarctic Mountains, Southern Alps Great Dividing Range is in the east and source of most rivers—remnants of old mountains Mt. Kosciusko is highest point on continent Western Plateau is also known as “the outback” and covers 2/3 of Australia. Southern Alps are on the south island of New Zealand

Mountains & Plateaus Great Dividing Range Transantarctic Mountains

Deserts Major Features: Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Simpson Desert Simpson Desert has sand dunes up to 120 feet high Great Victoria Desert is named for Queen Victoria & is actually a protected wilderness area This is essentially “the Outback”

Deserts Great Victoria Desert Great Sandy Desert

Plains Major Features: Central Lowlands, Nullarbor Plain, Canterbury Plains Nullarbor Plain is actually an arid flat land Central Lowlands lie over the Artesian Basin Canterbury Plains are in New Zealand and are used for livestock & farming

Plains Nullarbor Plain Canterbury Plains

Rivers Major features: Murray River, Darling River Murray is the main river system of Australia Darling is a tributary of the Murray Valley of Murray River is one of the most populated areas in Australia Used for hydroelectric power & irrigation

Rivers Murray River Darling River

Seas Major Features: Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, Weddel Sea, Ross Sea Tasman divides Australia from New Zealand Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and said to have clearest water of any sea Many cyclones in Coral Sea

Seas Weddell Sea Coral Sea

Additional Water Features Major Features: Great Barrier Reef, Lake Tuapo, Lake Eyre, Pacific Ocean, Great Australian Bight, Southern Ocean Great Barrier Reef is a long strip of coral covered land Lake Eyre is a salt lake that in many years is completely dry Great Australian Bight is a bay

Additional Water Features Lake Tuapo Pacific Ocean

Additional Land Features Major Features: Great Artesian Basin, Antarctic Peninsula Great Artesian Basin is the only reliable source of freshwater in Australia and is the deepest basin in the world People get water with similar technology as people drill for oil. Antarctic Peninsula is claimed by Argentina, Chile & the UK and used for research

Additional Land Features Great Artesian Basin Antarctic Peninsula

Islands 3 categories in Oceania: Micronesia Melanesia Polynesia Many islands were created by volcanoes and earthquakes Three major types of islands High Low Continental

Regions of Oceania