australia and oceania. australia great dividing range – rivers western plateau – outback...

Australia and Oceania

Australia

• Great Dividing Range– Rivers

• Western Plateau– Outback

• Nullarbor Plain– Dry treeless

plain

• Water supply– Murray river– Darling river– Great Artesian Basin

• Largest and deepest in the world• Only reliable source of fresh water

• Great Barrier Reef– Largest reef system (more than 2, 500 reefs)– Extends 1,250miles– Tourism: $1 billion aus.

New Zealand

• North Island• South Island– Both have beaches, rich soil, mountains

• Mt. Cook– Southern Alps, highest peak– Called Aorangi by Maori

• Cantebury plains– Most fertile area

Oceania

• Three groups:– Melanesia– Micronesia– Polynesia

• Many volcanic islands• Atolls– Build up of coral reefs

Resources• Australia– Agriculture• Only 10% of land is arable

– Wheat, fruit, cattle, sheep, etc

– Minerals• Gold, Bauxite (used for aluminum), opals, oil, iron ore,

etc

• New Zealand– Fertile soil• Sheep and wool dominate export

– Timber– Powerful rivers• Hydroelectric powers: 75% of country’s energy

– Geothermal energy– Fishing• Tuna, marlin, sharks, cod

Antarctica

• Ice cap cover 98%– 70% of world’s fresh water

• 2x size Australia• Desert– Less than 10inches percip.

• Divided by Transantarctic Mountains• Antarctic Treaty 1959– 12 countries sign (now 46)– No military activity, only scientific research

• Identify and illustrate the following terms:– Wattle -Lichens– Doldrums -Mauka– Typhoons

• 1. What climate supports most of Australia's agricultural lands?

• 2. Describe the factor that prevents temperature extremes in New Zealand

• 3. What problems might researchers encounter in Antarctic, and how could these conditions be overcome?

Australia short stories

• United Streaming video on Australia