the pacific islands a.k.a - oceania. section 1objectives identify the main physical features of the...
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The Pacific IslandsA.K.A - Oceania
Section 1Objectives
• Identify the main physical features of the Pacific Islands region and the physical processes that affect them.
• Explain how the the Pacific Islands region is divided into subregions.
• Describe the climates, biomes, and resources found in the region.
Physical Features
• The Pacific Ocean- This is the largest natural feature on Earth.
• 1/3 of the worlds surface
• 10,000 + Islands in this region
• Islands here are either High Islands or Low Islands
• High Islands are usually mountainous and are formed from volcanoes.
• Low Islands are formed from coral build up.
Coral Reefs
• Coral is formed by colonies of tiny marine life. Millions of skeletons build up and form coral reefs.
• Coral reefs provide food and shelter for much of the marine life.
• Coral reefs have been called the rain forests of the ocean because of he biological diversity. 25% of all ocean species are found in coral reefs.
Physical Processes
• High Islands typically have rich volcanic soil.
• The variation in elevation allows high islands to receive rain. Rain Shadow Effect!
• Low Islands typically less fertile, and often have no sources of freshwater.
• Very tectonically active here
• Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and resulting tsunamis
Mariana Trench
• The average depth of the Pacific Ocean in 14,000 feet.
• The deepest point, the Mariana Trench, is more than 36,000 feet below sea level.
• Oceanic trenches are the result of plate subduction.
• Volcanic ridges often run parallel to the trenches.
Three Island Groups
• The Pacific Islands are divided into 3 subregions
• Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia
• Melanesia – Lies closest to Australia, Mostly mountains and Volcanoes
• Micronesia – East of the Philippines, north of the Equator
• Polynesia – Largest of the 3 subregions
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
• Most of the region’s islands lie in between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Climates are generally hot with high rainfall
• Fish and shellfish are very important resource
• Lobsters, octopuses, sharks, shrimp, and tuna
• Cultured Pearls are harvested from oysters.
• Timber
Section 2 Objectives
• Identify some important events in the region’s history
• Describe the traditions and culture of the region
European Arrival
• Europeans began to explore the Pacific Islands in the 1500’s
• Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese sailor but who was working for Spain, was the first to arrive
• Spanish, Dutch, British and French all came exploring------then Germany, Japan, and the United States began searching for colonies in the region.
• The French used their island colony, New Caledonia, as a prison.
European Influence
• Lots of whale hunting in the region-----whale oil was used for lighting and industrial uses before the discovery of Petroleum.
• Diseases like influenza and measles were spread to the local islanders.
• Many islanders were enslaved, and many traditions were lost.
• The islands became battlefields between 1941 and 1945----WWII.
• After the war, the United States has remained as a presence----several military bases in Guam, Wake Island, and American Samoa.
Traditions and Culture
• There are many variations to culture here, but there are some generalizations about cultural features that exist all over the pacific islands.
• Many languages and cultures developed independently because of the huge amount of ocean in between islands.
• On New Guinea, thick rain forests and large mountains separated people---more than 700 languages are spoken on the Island of New Guinea.
• Some Pacific people have developed simplified universal languages based on English called pidgin languages.
Education and Religion
• Almost all children in Polynesia and Micronesia now receive education through the high school level.
• Schooling is not yet available to everyone in Melanesia.
• There are several universities that mostly teach in English.
• Early traditional religions—people worshiped many gods—carved statues, costumes, masks and dance were usually part of religious rituals.
• Christianity is the main religion of in the Pacific Islands today.
Food
• Before the Euros there were 3 main root crops--Sweet potatoes, Taro, and yams
• 3 main tree crops were bananas, breadfruit, and coconut.
• Coconut palm was particularly useful
Eat the soft flesh
• Drank the milk
• Used the shells as containers
• Made roofs and baskets
Food
• Fish is the main source of protein
• Before Euros---domesticated animals were limited chickens, dogs, and pigs.
• No dogs lived on the Marquesas Islands
• Pigs were usually served at only special celebrations. Celebrations were ranked based on the number of pigs served.
Traditional Societies
• Historically people were placed into tribes or clans.
• People inherited their rank and the chiefs often distributed land and organized work.
• Often, in Polynesia, the competition for land, resources, and status led to war.
• Elsewhere, people placed less emphasis on inherited rank.
• People could gain status by giving feasts or presenting valuable gifts.
• In Micronesia, groups were often Matrilineal. That is, people traced kinship through the mother.
Section 3 Objectives
• Describe the economies of the Pacific Islands
• Identify some demographic characteristics of the region.
• Examine some challenges that the people of the region face.
Economy
• Economies in the islands have always depended on trade because of the uneven distribution of resources.
• There are very limited resources on the islands, so many places still rely on fishing and subsistence farming for food.
• Coconut oil and coconut meat---copra---have been major exports.
Population and Migration
• Very low total population, but some of the smaller islands are densely populated
• The search for jobs, education, and a better standard of living has pushed people to move to other islands or other countries.
• Often it is the skilled worker who moves away, leaving only inept people on the islands.
Facing Challenges
• Economic development is hurting the environment
• Overmining
• Cutting forests
• Overfishing
• France, Britain, and the U.S have all used their Pacific territories to test nuclear weapons. Radiation still exists there today.
• With global warming, ice caps are melting. This could cause flooding on some of the low islands.