PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Australia

Essential Questions

How have Australia’s location, climate, and natural resources affected where people live?

How have Australia’s location, climate, and natural resources impacted trade?

Key Terms

Marsupial- an animal that carries its young in a body pouch

Coral- a rocklike material made up of the skeletons of tiny sea creatures

Geyser – A hot spring that ejects a column of water into the air.

Tectonic plate- a large piece of the Earth’s crust

Location! Location! Location!

What does the location mean?

Located in Southern hemisphere (south of the Equator): seasons opposite of those in the U.S.

Located in the Eastern hemisphere

Far from large landmasses So what does this mean?

Unique Environment

Plants & Animals unique to the region.

Biologically unique- Marsupials (Almost all mammals are marsupials in Australia)

Kiwi & Yellow-eyed Penguin

Kiwi?? No, not quite

That’s more like it!

Marsupials

Why So Unique??

Tectonic Plates: Australia & Oceania are part of the

Indo-Australia plate. Once part of large landmass that

included Antarctica. Moved NW in Pacific Ocean

Wild life slowly changed, b/c islands are isolated these living things did not spread to other regions

Where do people live in Australia?

Most Australians live along Australia’s E & SE coasts This plain has most

fertile farmland & receives ample rain

Moist winds from the PO bring rain & mild pleasant climate

Presence of the Murray & Darling rivers

Great Dividing Range

W of GDR is rain shadow.

People depend on wells for fresh water

Outback: desert & grassland

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Tourism – The business of providing tours and services for tourists.

Great Barrier Reef

1. Located in the Coral Sea –NE Australia

2. Includes 2600 individual reefs, 900 islands, and an area of 133,000 square miles.

3. Became known to Europe in 1770-Captain Cook

4. # 1 destination for tourism, especially scuba divers

5. Cities along coast offer daily trips

Who takes care of the GBR?

GBR Marine Park Authority

Australian Government manages reef: zoning, management plans, permits, education used to conserve GBR

1981 selected as World Heritage Site

2004, GBR Marine Park became largest protected sea area in world.

Great Barrier Reef

Environmental Concerns

1. RunoffSeveral major cities along NE coast. Large areas of coastal lands have been used for

agricultural & pastoral purposes. Sediment & chemical runoff from farming Loss of coastal wetlands which are natural filter Results in 400 of 2600 reefs are within risk zone were

water quality has declined Crown-of-Thorns starfish natural predator of

corals, dramatic increase in species caused by decreased water quality

Crown-of-Thorns Starfish

Environmental Concerns cont. . .

Global Warming

Many corals living at upper edge of temp. tolerance.

This can lead to Coral Bleaching Corals release photosynthesizing cells- turn white If water doesn’t cool down w/in a month, coral dies

Also brings about more violent tropical storms

Environmental Concerns

2. Coral Bleaching

Many corals living at upper edge of temp. tolerance.

Corals release photosynthesizing cells-turn white If water doesn’t cool down w/in a month, coral dies Brings about more violent tropical storms

Coral Bleaching