Oceania

Oceania

Island Groups

• continental islands-once attached to the continent

• high islands-associated with _______ origin

• low islands-associated with _______ origin

Continental Islands

• Examples: Australia and New Zealand

• share some physical features like mountain ranges (fold mountains)

• also have own distinct physical features

• Example: Australian Outback

Australian Outback

• comprised of deserts and semi-arid land

• location along the Tropic of Capricorn- cool, dry, southerly winds

• inland plains

• perceptual region-lack precise borders, or even regionally accepted characteristics

High and Low Islands

created by two distinct processes: either volcanic eruptions or, alternatively, coral reef-building

High Islands

• Melanesia has many high islands because major part of the "Ring of Fire"

• on the boundary of the Pacific plate and the Australian plate

Low Islands

• Micronesia and Polynesia are dominated by low islands

• particularly susceptible to climate change because of rising water

Climate

• impacted by latitude, distance from the equator

• many areas are hot and humid throughout the year, seasonal changes with winds/rainfall

• highland areas-lower temperatures, higher rainfall

• climate of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands varies considerably due to this wide geographic spread and the effect of ocean currents

Biomes

• extremely diverse- range from desert to grasslands to temperate and tropical forests

• biodiversity- the number and variety of species found within a specific geographic region

• because much of the area consists of islands, unique species of birds, animals, and insects evolved out of isolation from others

Multiple Choice

Oceania is formed by thousands of islands

• True

• False

Fill in the Blank

The three island groups of Oceania include the continental islands, low islands, and _________ islands.

Multiple Choice

Which geographic formation is pictured in this aerial photo? And is created from a coral reef?

• Atoll

• Barrier Island

• Archipelago

• Isthmus

Multiple Choice

These climates predominate in Oceania

• Temperate and cold

• Temperate and warm

Multiple Choice

Oceania is called this, because the main physical feature of the region is the...

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Southern Ocean

Multiple Choice

The vast open space of Australia known for its harsh, dry and hot weather is called the..

• Outback

• Great Sandy Desert

• Uluru

• Expanse

Multiple Choice

Melanesia means:

• Many islands

• Small islands

• Big islands

• Black islands

Multiple Choice

Runs through New Zealand

• Tropic of Cancer

• Tropic of Capricorn

• Ring of Fire

• Cook Strait

Multiple Choice

What type of climate is found in inland Australia?

• Equatorial

• Tropical

• Desert

• Oceanic

Multiple Choice

Use the map below to identify the following country: New Zealand

• A

• B

• C

• D