1. Cultural Characteristics of Australia, the Pacific Islands and Antarctica Francisci WG.4

2. The Pacific Islands The Pacific Islands are sparsely (scattered) populated. Many of the Pacific Islands are developing nations.

3. The Pacific Islands Many of the people living in the Pacific Islands are subsistence farmers living in rural areas. Traditional culture dominates these islands. The majority of the people live in thatched roof dwellings: a house covered with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes and heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof.

4. Antarctica There are no permanent residents of Antarctica. Countries may send teams of scientists to do research work for periods of time, but they do not permanently live there.

5. Australia The population of Australia is clustered along the coasts. The interior of Australia is sparsely populated because this region is primarily desert climate. Australia is a very well developed country with the majority of the people living in modern cities.

6. Australia The indigenous people of Australia are called the Aborigines: a person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times. The culture of Australia reflects a mix of both European and Aborigine backgrounds. Australia was colonized by the English as a prison colony.

7. New Zealand New Zealand is also a developed country with most of the population living in modern cities The indigenous people of New Zealand are called the Maori. The culture of New Zealand reflects a mix of both European and Maori backgrounds.

8. Cultural Landscape Research Stations (Antarctica) Cattle and sheep stations (Australia)

9. Cultural Landscape Sydney Opera House (Australia) Great Dividing Range (Australia): 4 th longest mountain range in the world.

10. Cultural Landscape Great Barrier Reef (Australia): The world’s largest coral reef system; composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands that stretch for 1,616 miles and cover an area of approximately 132,974 sq. miles.