Southeast Asia and OceaniaThat’s a lot of islands

Southeast Asia• Located on the equator:

• Almost entire region falls within the humid tropics.

• Archipelago of about 25,000 islands

• Population: 610 million• Southeast Asia is

conventionally divided into two cultural, linguistic, and geographic regions:• Mainland Southeast Asia -

the countries of Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam;

• Insular (Island) Southeast Asia - the island or peninsular countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, East Timor

Mainland Southeast Asia • Half of 11 countries are on mainland

• Vietnam • Cambodia • Thailand • Laos • Myanmar • part of Malaysia

• Laos only country without coastline • Most countries on Indochina

Peninsula • Malaysia shares Malay Peninsula

with Thailand as well as occupying part of Borneo

Insular Southeast Asia • Insular = island • Brunei-almost surrounded by

Malaysia • East Timor-1999 became

independent of Indonesia • Indonesia-largest island country

with 13,677 islands (only 6,000 are named and only 1,000 settled)

• Singapore-just south of Malay Peninsula

• Philippines-11 islands have 95% land area (900 of 7,000 islands named)

Indonesia• Regional setting

• From the Greek Indos (India) and Nesos (Island), literally the “Indian Islands.”

• 17,000 islands:• About 6,000 inhabited.• Longest coastline in the world .• Three time zones.• Coastal zones supports

approximately 60% of the population.

• Controls two strategic straits:• Sunda and Malacca.• Through which much of the world’s

oil traffic must pass.

• Volcanism• Intense volcanic and seismic

activity.• 300 volcanoes of which 200 have

been historically active

Indonesia: Core and Periphery

Core

Periphery

More than 200 people per sqr km

Inner islands (Java, Madura and Bali)Fertile land due to volcanic origin and monsoon (among the most fertile land in the world).80% of the population on 7% of the land.Mostly Javanese.

Outer islands (Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya)20% of the population on 93% of the land.Most of the minorities.Sparsely populated but abundant in resources.

Mountains and Volcanoes

• Dominate landscape • Most peaks below 10,000 feet • Create geographical and political barriers • Western and northern highlands separate

region from India and China • Three ranges run north to south

• Arakan Yoma Range in western Myanmar • Bilauktaung Rnage between Myanmar and

Thailand • Annam Cordillera separating Vietnam from

Laos and Cambodia • Island mountains form part of Ring of Fire • Indonesian and Philippine islands marked

by craters • Mineral-rich volcanic material breaks

down and leaves rich, fertile soil, making Southeast Asia highly productive agricultural area

Volcanoes of Indonesia and the Philippines

• 327 volcanoes stretch across Indonesia

• Java, home to 17 of Indonesia's 100 active volcanoes, is one of Ring of Fire's most active areas

• 1883 eruption of Krakatau destroyed everything • now monitor volcanic activity to be

prepared • 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo

20th century's most powerful • 55 miles north of Philippine capital Manila • damaged town of Angeles • foot deep layer of ash over U.S. Clark Air

Force Base

Tectonic Activity in Indonesia

Eurasian Plate

Australian Plate

Philippines Plate

Australian Plate

Mainland Southeast Asia• External influences

• Have been stronger than internal influences.• China brought civilization and

technology (early history).• India brought religion (Hinduism and

Buddhism).• Middle Eastern countries brought

Islam and trade.• Europe brought trade and

colonialism.• USA and Japan brought imperialism

(at different levels):• Recently brought trade and

development.

• Indochina• Often used to define the region.• Hint at the strong historical Chinese

and Indian influence.• Notably refers to the former French

colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Bali, Fiji, and Tahiti

Rivers• Waterways for transportation,

communication, and food • Silt and deposits of sediment

create fertile agricultural regions • Mainland rivers originate in

northern highlands and flow south to Gulf of Thailand • Irrawaddy in Myanmar • Chao Phraya in Thailand • Red in Vietnam • Mekong between Thailand and Laos and

through Cambodia and Vietnam before emptying into South China Sea, where it adds 50 feet/year to shoreline from sediment

• Island rivers shorter and flow in various directions • Indonesian rivers flow south to north • Borneo's rivers flow from center outward

Agriculture• Two main types in SE Asia• Slash and Burn

• Located in upland areas• Slash forest and burn

before rainy season• Rain washed nutrients into

ground• Grows for 1-2 years then

must abandon plot for 10-15 years

• Wet Rice Agriculture• Must dramatically change

land• Must build terraces and

irrigation canals• Nutrients provided by algae

in water• Very labor intensive, but

can yield two crops a year

Mainland Southeast Asia: Thailand• Profile

• The “Land of the free”:• Never colonized by European

powers.• The core along the Chao Phrya

Valley.• Access to the Indian (Gulf of

Bengal) and Pacific (Gulf of Thailand) oceans.

• 62 million population:• Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%.• Buddhist 94.4%, Islam 4%, Hindu

1.1%, Christian 0.5%.• Muslims minority in the south

(along the Malaysia border).

0 150 30075 Miles

Bangkok

Chao Phrya Valley

Gulf of Thailand

Indian Ocean

Mainland Southeast Asia: Vietnam• Geographical setting

• Coastal plain along the South China Sea with a population of 78 million.

• Stands for “People of the south”.• Two major deltas: the Red River

(Song Koi) and Mekong.• Natural penetration corridor

towards China.• Only 5% of the territory is

mountainous.• The south is more fertile.• Most minerals resources in north.

• Government still one-party communist-ish, but opened up to free markets0 150 30075 Miles

Hanoi

Ho Chi Min City(Saigon)

Red River Delta

Mekong River Delta

Annamite Chain

Economies• Variety of political, economic and cultural landscapes• Least advanced

economies of the region:• Laos, Cambodia and

Burma.• Emerging nations:

• Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand.

• The leader: Singapore.Phnom Phem and Singapore

OceaniaAustralia, New Zealand, and surrounding islands

Geography of Australia• World’s smallest

continent/largest island; 6th largest country

• Western half: plateau rising to mountains

• Eastern half: Great Artesian Basin, rising to Great Dividing Range in East

• Outback in the middle; covers 70% of Continent

• Tasmania: large, mountainous island to southeast

Size Comparison

The Outback• Any area outside of urban zones is known as “the bush” in Australia; more remote areas are called “outback”• Used for tourism, agriculture, and mining

Ayers Rock (Uluru)• Sacred spot to indigenous people

• home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings

• Known for changing colors during the day/year

New Zealand• 900 miles East of

Australia• Mostly forests, sharp

mountain peaks (Southern Alps) due to convergence of plates

• Queen of England is the head of state, she appoints a Governor-General to act for her in NZ at the recommendation of the Prime Minister

• Wool is major export• Known for unusual birds