1. Australia, The Pacific Realm, and Antarctica

2. Physical Geography Title: Physical Geography
Main Idea: The vast region in the Pacific Ocean is physically isolated from other parts of the world.
The “Australia” passage tells how Australia is a country and a continent and has a dry climate and large area of desert.

3. Physical Geography
The “Pacific Realm and Antarctica” passage describes how the Pacific Realm is made up of thousands of small islands, atolls, and coral reefs. New Zealand is part of the realm. Antarctica is centered on the South Pole and is covered by ice.
One map shows the precipitation of Australia; the other shows the physical geography of the entire region, especially its many islands.
One photo shows what an atoll in French Polynesia looks like; the other shows part of a coral reef near Australia.

4. Indigenous Plants and Animals
Eucalyptus Trees – oil in the leaves is used in medicine; can reach 300 feet tall, leaves are the only things koala bears eat.
Wildflowers
Shrubs
Acacia trees – 700 varieties in Australia
Brightly colored flowers

5. Indigenous Plants and Animals
Marsupials: kangaroo, koala, wallaby, wombat
Platypus and echidna – only mammals that lay eggs and have beaks
Flightless birds – kiwi, kakapo, cassowary, emu
Kookaburra – call that sounds like laughter

6. Biological Hitchhikers
Original Cause:
Invasive species arrive by accident
First Effect:
Invasive species disturb native habitats.
Second Effect:
Some native plants and animals become extinct.

7. Biological Hitchhikers
Original Cause:
Travelers introduce dingoes.
First Effect:
Dingoes become wild.
Second Effect:
Dingoes prey on kangaroos, wallabies, and livestock.

8. Biological Hitchhikers
Original Cause:
Europeans introduce rabbits
First Effect:
Rabbits become feral
Second Effect:
Rabbits damage crops and grazing lands

9. Biological Hitchhikers
Original Cause:
Non-native plants arrive
First Effect:
Invasive plants spread widely
Second Effect:
Can smother native plants and harm trees

10. The Pacific Islands High Islands: Formed by volcanic activity
Have plentiful rainfall
Formed over hotspots
Molten material cools and forms cones underwater
Have fertile soil which people can farm
Pineapples, sugarcane, mangoes grow well
Mountainous

11. The Pacific Islands Low Islands
Are coral islands and often sit on coral reefs
Formed by skeletons of tiny marine animals
May form around the base of a volcano
Can be atolls
Have less rainfall
Drought is common
Smaller than high islands
Rise just above sea level
People living there depend on fishing

12. The Pacific Islands Similarities:
Both formed over long periods of time
Both have tropical warm climate with wet and dry seasons

13. Indigenous Populations
The Aborigines were Australia’s first developed culture – 30,000BC
Considered the oldest continuous human culture in the world
Culture and language developed apart from other human groups
Due to isolation
Were nomadic hunter-gatherers
1788 – Europeans arrived; between 500,000 and 1 million aborigines
Conflicts and disease killed many off
Today, is roughly 3% of population

14. Seagoing Societies
Over centuries, islanders (seafarers) became experts at navigation and sailed the region
Used stars and bird flight patterns, and made stick charts to map out
Different cultures blended and developed
1700s, encountered Europeans

15. From Convicts to Colonists
17 years after first being explored, British ships sailed out for Australia
To ease overcrowding in British prisons, convicts were sent to colonies, including Australia
Those who were married brought their families
Convicts’ skills were used to build and farm the colony
1831 Britain helped migrate its citizens there
Population more than doubled in ten years
1890, Australia began to consider independence, 1901 became a commonwealth of Britain