Geographic Characteristics (Australia, New Zealand and Top 10 Geographic Characteristics of Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands)

Australia is both a continent and a country Australia is both a continent and a country. Including Tasmania, it is the land size of the continental United States. 90% pop is urban (only 10% rural) Most live along eastern rim

2. Aborigines are the native inhabitants of Australia. They came from SE Asia 40,000 to 60,000 years ago to live in the Outback. When Europeans arrived, many killed off by disease. Today only 2% of Australia’s 20 million total population (390,000), but gaining back rights and land taken from them

3. Australia and New Zealand are both former British colonies 3. Australia and New Zealand are both former British colonies. Australia was a colony of convicts! Both countries are still loyal to Great Britain (even to the point of sending soldiers to aid of Britain).

4. Climate/Vegetative Regions Australia is the flattest continent on the planet: Tropical Savannas of the North—includes cyclones Mediterranean of South/West Eastern Highlands—Great Dividing Range (but all less than 3,000 ft tall) Interior— OUTBACK, “the bush,” “back of beyond,” “never never” (includes Ayers Rock)

4. Climate/Vegetative Regions con’t. Australia’s climate is not very diverse… Very little rainfall (mostly arid/semiarid climate zones – pg. 407). Coastal areas are Mediterranean or tropical climate (where population is). Seasons are the opposite times as ours (Summer = Jan., Winter = June)

5. Economy/Resources Mining – copper, gold, iron ore, coal, bauxite, and diamonds Ranching – sheep for meat and wool (largest supplier of wool in world since 1850) and cows for beef Agriculture – wheat, dairy, and sugarcane Leader in bauxite 40% world’s diamonds

6. The Great Barrier Reef, located off the northeastern coast is the largest coral reef in the world. It is 1200 miles long with the world’s greatest variety of ocean life! It’s the only living thing that can be seen from space!

Great barrier Reef

7. New Zealand, located 1000 miles SE of Australia, is located along the Ring of Fire (prone to ???). Made up of two islands, North and South.

NEW ZEALAND’S RELATIVE LOCATION (ASTRIDE PLATE BOUNDARIES)

THE IMPACT

8. The Maori peoples are native to New Zealand 8.The Maori peoples are native to New Zealand. They make up 15% of New Zealand’s population (compared to 2% of Aborigines in Australia).

9. The Pacific Islands are divided into three groups (pg.403-404): Melanesia Micronesia Polynesia

10. Problems in Paradise Severe trade deficits – import 10x greater than export Tourism is good, but depend on larger nations for support Resources of fish & deep sea minerals have a promising future, but concerns with environment To protect fishing industry, islands claim a 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the islands. Any foreign countries wishing to fish must get permission