Ten Geographic Qualities

1. Land is
fragmented into
numerous islands
and one continent

2. Lowest
Population of any
World Region
Ten Geographic Qualities

3. Australia is a continent
and a country

4. Australia is the most
urbanized country

5. New Zealand and the
island countries are
volcanic landforms
Ten Geographic Qualities

6. The continent of Australia is dominated by desert
hence the low population density and high
urbanization rates


7. Isolation from the rest of the world has dominated
this regions history

8. Most of the dominant cultural
landscapes have been imported
from Europe
Ten Geographic Qualities

9. New Zealand is
dominated by
mountains

10. Tropical
Climates dominate
the remaining
island countries
Relative Location of Oceania

Remotely located
south of Southeast
Asia, and
surrounded by the
Pacific Ocean
Physical Geography of
Oceania
Physical Geography

Plate Tectonics
– Collision of the
Australian plate
with the Eurasian,
Indian and
Philippine Plates
have created the
Indonesian
archipelago
– Australia was once
a part of the
southern part of
Pangea
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Rivers
– Barossa
River
Valley
– Snowy
River
– Murray
River
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Landforms
– Ayers Rock
– Olga Mountains
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Landforms
– Great Bite
– 12 Apostles
Physical Geography of
Oceania
 Landforms
– Pancake Rocks New Zealand
Physical Geography of
Oceania
 Landforms
– Volcanic Landforms
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Landforms
– Great Diving Range
– Blue Mts.
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Landforms
– Nullabor Plain
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Landforms
– Southern Alps of New Zealand
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates
– Tropical
Rainforest
Climate
dominates
South Pacific
Islands &
northern
Australia
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates
– Tropical Savanna
Climate
dominates drier
areas south of
the tropical
rainforest regions
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates
– Desert
Climate
Dominates
the Australian
interior
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates
– Steppe
Climates
surround the
interior desert
regions
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates found in
New Zealand and
the coasts of
Australia
Physical Geography of
Oceania

Climates
– Higher
Elevations
Great Dividing
Range
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Population
– Very low population
numbers

30 million in region
– No significantly
large concentrations
– concentrations on
coasts & rivers and
in cities
Oceania
 Population
Characteristics
– Birth rates 18/1000
– Death rates 7/1000
– Natural Increase 1.1 %
– Infant Mortality 28/1000
– Doubling Time 63yrs
– Pop <15 27%
– Pop > 65 10%
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Languages
– Indo European
dominates the
region
– Aborigine
languages
dominate
interior of the
Australia
continent,
Papua New
Guinea and
smaller islands
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Religion
– Protestant
Christianity
Dominates the
region
– Aboriginal animistic
religions dominate
remote areas
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Religion
– Religious
landscapes
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Commercial Agriculture
– World’s largest sheep ranches are in Australia
– There are 20 sheep for every person in New
Zealand
– Commercial Ranching
– Commercial Diarying
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
 Economy
– resource rich
– manufacturing of
textiles
– skilled & educated
labor force
 Cities
Cultural Geography of
Oceania
are centers for manufacturing
(secondary), services (tertiary) and
information industries (quaternary)
Cities as Economic Centers
– Australia
Sydney
 Melbourne
 Brisbane
 Perth
 Adlaide

– New Zealand
Auckland
 Wellington
 Christchurch
