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