Introduction to Oceania
Political Map of Oceania
Physical Map of Oceania
Pacific Ocean
Coral Sea
Great Barrier
Reef
Indian Ocean
Tasman Sea
Great Victoria Desert
What is Oceania?
• Geographers estimate that there are more than 20,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean
• As a group, these islands are called Oceania
• There are two types of islands– High islands – created by volcanoes– Low islands – created by coral reefs
Regions of Oceania
Antarctica
• Antarctica is the 5th largest continent, circular in shape, sitting on the South Pole
• Its landscape is covered by a thick ice sheet, but geologists believe that vast resources are underneath
International Dateline
The international dateline runs through this region. It runs on approximately 180 degrees latitude and divides one day from another on Earth.
Colonies in Oceania
Name Territory of
American Samoa US
Cook Islands New Zealand
French Polynesia France
Guam US
Midway Islands US
New Caledonia France
Norfolk Island Australia
Northern Mariana Islands US
Wake Island US
Climate map of Australia
Climate of Oceania
• Many of the Pacific Islands have a tropical climate due to their location near the Equator and warm ocean currents
Great Barrier Reef
• Located off of Australia’s northeast coast, the Great Barrier Reef is often called the world’s largest coral reef
• Some 400 species of coral are found here
Australia in isolation
• Because of Australia’s location and its island status, the plant and animal species of Australia grew in relative isolation
• Tectonic stability and an unusual pattern of climate change also have contributed
• This has created many varieties of plants and animals found only in Australia