The large islands of Oceania are. Oceania: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia

Oceania is the name of a region of the world made up of island groups in the central and southern parts The Pacific... It covers over 8.5 million km². Some of the countries that make up Oceania include Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Solomon islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. Oceania also includes several dependent territoriessuch as American Samoa, Johnston and French polynesia.

Physical geography of Oceania

In terms of physical geography, the islands of Oceania are often divided into four different sub-regions, based on the geological processes that played an important role in their physical development. The first one is. It stands out because of its location in the middle of the Indo-Australian Plate, and the lack of mountain building during its development. Instead, Australia's current physical landscape features have been shaped largely by erosion.

The second region of Oceania consists of islands located at the collision boundaries between the plates of the earth's crust. They are found in the South Pacific. For example, on the collision line of the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates, and includes places such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Northern part The Pacific Ocean also has similar landscape types along the border of the Eurasian and Pacific plates. Collisions of tectonic plates are responsible for the formation of mountains such as those in New Zealand, which rise more than 3000 m above sea level.

Volcanic islands such as Fiji are the third category of landscape type found in Oceania. These islands tend to rise from the seafloor in hotspots in the Pacific Basin. Most of these areas are made up of very small islands with high mountain ranges.

Finally, island coral reefs and atolls such as Tuval are the last type of terrain in Oceania. Atolls are specifically responsible for the formation of low-lying land areas, some with closed lagoons.

Oceania climate

Köppen climate map of Oceania

Most of Oceania is divided into two climatic zones: temperate and. Most of Australia and all of New Zealand is in the temperate zone, and most of the Pacific island territories are considered tropical. The temperate regions of Oceania have high rainfall levels, cold winters, and warm or hot summers. The tropical regions of Oceania are hot and humid all year round.

In addition to these climatic zones, most countries in Oceania are affected by continuous trade winds and sometimes hurricanes (called tropical cyclones), which historically have caused catastrophic damage to the countries and islands of the region.

Flora and fauna of Oceania

Because most of Oceania lies in the tropical or temperate zone, abundant rainfall helps support the growth of humid and temperate rainforests throughout the region. Rainforests are common in some island countries, near the tropics, while temperate rainforests are found in New Zealand. Both types of forest are home to many species of animals and plants, making Oceania one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.

It is important to note that not all areas of Oceania receive heavy rainfall and some parts of the region are arid or semi-arid. Australia, for example, has large tracts of dry land that support a low flora diversity. In addition, El Niño has caused frequent droughts in recent decades in Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The fauna of Oceania, as well as its flora, are also extremely. Since most of the region is made up of islands, unique species birds, animals and insects have evolved in complete isolation. The presence of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier reef and Kingman Reef are also areas of high concentration of flora and fauna, and are considered biodiversity hotspots.

Oceania population

Oceania has a population of about 40 million, with the bulk of the people (about 30 million) living in Australia and New Zealand, while Papua New Guinea has a population of about 8 million. The remainder of Oceania's population is scattered across the various islands that make up the region.

Like population distribution, urbanization and industrialization are also unevenly distributed across Oceania. About 89% of the region's urban areas are in Australia and New Zealand, and these countries also have the best infrastructure. Australia, in particular, possesses many mineral and raw energy reserves and generates much of the region's economy. The rest of Oceania and, in particular, the Pacific island states are very poorly developed. Some islands are rich, but most are not. In addition, some of island states have a shortage of clean drinking water or food.

Agriculture is also important in Oceania and there are three types that are common in the region. These include subsistence agriculture, plantation crops, and capital intensive agriculture. Subsistence agriculture occurs in most of the Pacific Islands and is done to support local communities. Cassava, taro, yams, and sweet potatoes are the most common foods in this type of agriculture. Plantation crops are planted in the middle tropical islands while capital intensive agriculture is practiced only in Australia and New Zealand.

Finally, fisheries and tourism are important sectors of Oceania's economy and stimulate its development. Fishing is an important source of income because many islands have maritime exclusive economic zones that extend over 370 km. Tourism is also important to Oceania, as tropical islands such as Fiji offer aesthetic beauty, while Australia and New Zealand are attracted by developed cities with modern infrastructure. New Zealand has also become important tourist region in the sphere.

Oceania countries

Oceania map / Wikipedia

Below is a list of the 14 independent countries of Oceania, ranked from largest to smallest by area:

1) Australia:

• Area: 7 617 930 km²
• Population: about 25 million people
• Capital: Canberra

2) Papua New Guinea:

• Area: 462,840 km²
• Population: more than 8,000,000 people
• Capital: Port Moresby

3) New Zealand:

• Area: 268 680 km²
• Population: about 5,000,000 people
• Capital: Wellington

4) Solomon Islands:

• Area: 28,450 km²
• Population: about 600,000 people
• Capitals: Honiara

5) Fiji:

• Area: 18,274 km²
• Population: about 900,000 people
• Capital: Suva

6) Vanuatu:

• Area: 12,189 km²
• Population: about 270,000 people
• Capital: Port Vila

7) Samoa:

• Area: 2842 km²
• Population: about 193,000 people
• Capital: Apia

8) Kiribati:

• Area: 811 km²
• Population: about 110,000 people
• Capital: Tarawa

9) Tonga:

• Area: 748 km²
• Population: about 107,000 people
• Capitals: Nuku'alofa

10) Federated States of Micronesia:

• Area: 702 km²
• Population: about 105,000 people
• Capital: Palikir

11) Palau:

• Area: 459 km²
• Population: about 21,000 people
• Capital: Melekeok

12) Marshall Islands:

• Area: 181 km²
• Population: about 53,000 people
• Capital: Majuro

13) Tuvalu:

• Area: 26 km²
• Capital: Funafuti

14) Nauru:

• Area: 21 km²
• Population: about 11,000 people
• Capital: No

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Oceania is part of the world; a geographic, often geopolitical region of the world, consisting predominantly of hundreds of small islands and atolls in the central and western Pacific.

Geographical position

Oceania is the world's largest cluster of islands located in the western and central Pacific Ocean, between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern and temperate southern hemispheres. When dividing the entire land mass into parts of the world, Oceania is usually united with Australia into a single part of the world, Australia and Oceania, although sometimes it stands out as an independent part of the world.

The total area of \u200b\u200bthe islands is 1.26 million km² (together with Australia 8.52 million km²), the population is about 10.7 million people. (together with Australia 32.6 million people). Oceania is geographically subdivided into Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia; sometimes New Zealand is singled out.

The islands of Oceania are washed by numerous Pacific seas (Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Fiji Sea, Koro Sea, Solomon Sea, New Guinea Sea, Philippine Sea) and Indian Oceans (Arafura Sea).

Countries and dependent territories

Name of region, countries		Population	Population density (people / km²)
Australia
Australia				Canberra	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Ashmore and Cartier (Australia)		uninhabited
Cocos Islands (Australia)				West Island	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Coral Sea Islands (Australia)		uninhabited
Norfolk (Australia)				Kingston	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Christmas Island (Australia)				Flying Fish Cove	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Australia)		uninhabited
Melanesia
Vanuatu				Port Vila
Irian Jaya (Indonesia)				Jayapura, Manokwari
New Caledonia (France)
Papua New Guinea				Port Moresby
Solomon islands					SBD (Solomon Islands Dollar)
Fiji					FJD (Fiji Dollar)
Micronesia
Guam (USA)					USD (USA Dollar)
Kiribati				South Tarawa	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Marshall Islands					USD (USA Dollar)
Nauru					AUD (Australian Dollar)
Palau				Melekeok	USD (USA Dollar)
Northern Mariana islands (USA)					USD (USA Dollar)
Wake (USA)
Federated States of Micronesia					USD (USA Dollar)
Polynesia
American Samoa (USA)				Pago Pago, Fagatogo	USD (USA Dollar)
Baker (USA)		uninhabited
Hawaii (USA)				Honolulu	USD (USA Dollar)
Jarvis (USA)		uninhabited
Johnston (USA)
Kingman (USA)		uninhabited
Kiribati				South Tarawa	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Midway (USA)
Niue (New Zealand)					NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
New Zealand				Wellington	NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
Cook Islands (New Zealand)					NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
Easter Island (Chile)				Hanga Roa	CLP (Chilean Pesso)
Palmyra (USA)
Pitcairn (UK)				Adamstown	NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
Samoa					WST (Samoan tala)
Tokelau (New Zealand)					NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
Tonga				Nuku'alofa	TOP (Tongan pa'anga)
Tuvalu				Funafuti	AUD (Australian Dollar)
Wallis and Futuna (France)					XPF (Pacific French Franc)
French Polynesia (France)					XPF (Pacific French Franc)
Howland (USA)		uninhabited

Geology

Geologically, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Tasmania are of continental origin, forming on the site of the hypothetical mainland of Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single land, but as a result of the rise in the level of the World Ocean, a significant part of the surface was under water. The relief of these islands is mountainous and highly dissected. For instance, highest mountains Oceania, including Mount Jaya (5029 m), are located on the island of New Guinea.

Most of the islands of Oceania are of volcanic origin: some of them are the tops of large underwater volcanoes, some of which still show high volcanic activity (e.g. Hawaiian Islands).

Other islands are of coral origin, being atolls that were formed as a result of the formation of coral structures around submerged volcanoes (for example, the Gilbert Islands, Tuamotu). A distinctive feature of such islands are large lagoons, which are surrounded by numerous islets, or motu, whose average height does not exceed three meters. Oceania has an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world - Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands archipelago. Despite the fact that its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. Miles), the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 sq. Miles). The largest atoll in terms of land area is Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line archipelago (or Central Polynesian Sporades) - 322 km². However, among the atolls there is also a special type - an uplifted (or uplifted) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m above sea level. This type of island has no lagoon or traces of its past existence. Examples of such atolls are Nauru, Niue, Banaba.

The relief and geological structure of the Pacific Ocean floor in the Oceania region has a complex structure. From the Alaska Peninsula (part of North America) to New Zealand, there are a large number of basins of the marginal seas, deep ocean trenches (Tonga, Kermadec, Bougainville), which form a geosynclinal belt characterized by active volcanism, seismicity and contrasting relief.

Most of the islands of Oceania lack minerals, only the largest of them are being developed: nickel (New Caledonia), oil and gas (New Guinea island, New Zealand), copper (Bougainville island in Papua New Guinea), gold (New Guinea , Fiji), phosphates (on most islands, deposits are almost or have already been developed, for example, in Nauru, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, many islands in the region have been actively developing guano, decomposed seabird droppings that have been used as nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. On the ocean floor of the exclusive economic zone of a number of countries, there are large accumulations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt, but at the moment no development is being carried out due to economic inexpediency.

Oceania climate

Oceania is located within several climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate. Most of the islands have a tropical climate. The subequatorial climate prevails on the islands near Australia and Asia, as well as east of the 180th meridian in the equatorial zone, equatorial - west of the 180th meridian, subtropical - north and south of the tropics, temperate - over most of the South Island in New Zealand.

The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by the trade winds, so most of them receive heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 mm, although some islands (in particular, due to the relief and on the leeward side), the climate may be drier or more humid. Oceania has one of the wettest places on the planet: on the eastern slope of Mount Waialeale on the island of Kauai, up to 11,430 mm of precipitation falls annually (the absolute maximum was reached in 1982: 16,916 mm fell then). Near the tropics average temperature is about 23 ° C, at the equator - 27 ° C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months.

On the climate of the islands of Oceania big influence also have such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves north towards the equator; during La Niño, it moves south towards the equator. In the latter case, severe drought is observed on the islands, in the first case, heavy rains.

Most of the islands of Oceania are subject to the destructive effects of natural disasters: volcanic eruptions (Hawaiian Islands, New Hebrides), earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones accompanied by typhoons and heavy rains, droughts. Many of them lead to significant material and human losses. For example, the July 1999 tsunami in Papua New Guinea killed 2,200 people.

On South Island there are glaciers in New Zealand and New Guinea, high in the mountains, but due to the process of global warming, their area is gradually decreasing.

Soils and hydrology

Due to the different climatic conditions, the soils of Oceania are very diverse. The soils of the atolls are highly alkaline, of coral origin, and very poor. They are usually porous, which makes them very poor at retaining moisture, and also contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands are generally of volcanic origin and are highly fertile. On large mountainous islands there are red-yellow, mountain laterite, mountain-meadow, yellow-brown soils, yellow soils, and red soils.

There are large rivers only on the South and North Islands of New Zealand, as well as on the island of New Guinea, on which the largest rivers of Oceania, Sepik (1126 km) and Fly (1050 km) are located. The largest river in New Zealand is the Waikato (425 km). Rivers are primarily fed by rainwater, although in New Zealand and New Guinea, rivers are also fed by melting glaciers and snow. On the atolls, rivers are completely absent due to the high porosity of the soil. Instead, rainwater seeps through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. Larger islands (usually of volcanic origin) have small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.

The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, is located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are rare.

Flora and fauna

Oceania is part of the Paleotropic Vegetation Region, with three subregions distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian, and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants in Oceania, the coconut palm and breadfruit are distinguished, which play an important role in the life of local residents: fruits are used for food, wood is a source of heat, a building material, copra is produced from the oily endosperm of coconut palm nuts, which forms the basis of exports of the countries of this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemic species (both flora and fauna) is recorded in New Zealand and Hawaiian Islands, while from west to east there is a decrease in the number of species, genera and families of plants.

The fauna of Oceania belongs to the Polynesian faunal region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand stands out as an independent region, New Guinea - in the Papuan subregion of the Australian region. New Zealand and New Guinea are the most diverse. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily the atolls, mammals are almost never found: many of them are inhabited only by the small rat. But the local avifauna is very rich. Most atolls are home to bird colonies where seabirds nest. Among the representatives of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are the kiwi birds, which have become the national symbol of the country. Other endemics of the country are kea (lat.Nestor notabilis, or nestor), kakapo (lat.Strigops habroptilus, or owl parrot), takahe (lat.Notoronis hochstelteri, or wingless sultanka). All the islands of Oceania are home to a large number of lizards, snakes and insects.

During the European colonization of the islands, alien species of plants and animals were introduced to many of them, which negatively affected the local flora and fauna.

The region has a large number of protected areas, many of which occupy significant areas. For example, the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati have been the world's largest marine reserve since January 28, 2008 (with an area of \u200b\u200b410,500 km²).

Population

The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians and Papuans.

The Polynesians living in the countries of Polynesia are of a mixed racial type: in their appearance the features of the Caucasian and Mongoloid races are visible, and to a lesser extent - the Australoid. The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans, Maori, Marquesas, Rapanui and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages: Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori, Marquis, Rapanui, and others. The characteristic features of Polynesian languages \u200b\u200bare a small number of sounds, especially consonants, an abundance of vowels.

Micronesians live in the countries of Micronesia. The largest peoples are the Carolinians, Kiribati, Marshalls, Nauru, Chamorro and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Caroline, Kusai, Marshall, Nauru and others. The Palau and Chamorro languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the West Malay-Polynesian languages, and Yapi forms a separate branch in the Oceanian languages, which also includes the Micronesian languages.

Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. The racial type is Australoid, with a small Mongoloid element, close to the Papuans of New Guinea. Melanesians speak Melanesian languages, but their languages, unlike Micronesian and Polynesian, do not form a separate genetic grouping, and linguistic fragmentation is very large, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.

Papuans inhabit the island of New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. In anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians, but differ from them in language. Not all Papuan languages \u200b\u200bare related to each other. The national language of the Papuans in Papua New Guinea is the English-based Tok Pisin Creole. According to various sources, there are from 300 to 800 peoples and languages \u200b\u200bof the Papuans. At the same time, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between a separate language and a dialect.

Many languages \u200b\u200bof Oceania are on the verge of extinction. In everyday life, they are increasingly being replaced by English and French.

The situation of the indigenous population in the countries of Oceania is different. If, for example, in the Hawaiian Islands their share is very low, then in New Zealand the Maori make up up to 15% of the country's population. The share of Polynesians in the Northern Mariana Islands, located in Micronesia, is about 21.3%. In Papua New Guinea, the majority of the population are numerous Papuan peoples, although there is also a high proportion of immigrants from other islands in the region.

In New Zealand and Hawaii, the majority of the population is Europeans, with a high proportion also in New Caledonia (34%) and French Polynesia (12%). On the Fiji Islands, 38.2% of the population is represented by Indo-Fijians, the descendants of Indian contract workers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century.

Recently, in the countries of Oceania, the proportion of immigrants from Asia (mainly Chinese and Filipinos) has been increasing. For example, in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Filipinos account for 26.2% and the Chinese for 22.1%.

The population of Oceania is mainly Christian, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branch.

Oceania history

Pre-colonial period

The island of New Guinea and the nearby islands of Melanesia were believed to have been inhabited by immigrants from South-East Asia, sailed by canoe about 30-50 thousand years ago. Most of Micronesia and Polynesia were settled about 2-4 thousand years ago. The colonization process ended around 1200 AD. By the beginning of the 16th century, the peoples of Oceania were going through a period of decomposition of the primitive communal system and the formation of an early class society. Crafts, agriculture, and navigation were actively developing.

Colonial period

Ships of the English traveler James Cook and canoes of the natives in Matawai Bay on the island of Tahiti (French Polynesia), painter William Hodges, 1776

In the period from the 16th to the 18th century, the period of the study of Oceania by Europeans continued, who gradually began to populate the islands. However, the process of European colonization proceeded very slowly, since the region did not arouse much interest among foreigners due to the lack of natural resources, and negatively affected the local population: many diseases were brought that had never been in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, in as a result of which a significant part of the natives died. At the same time, there was a Christianization of the inhabitants who worshiped numerous deities and spirits.

In the 18th-19th centuries, the islands of Oceania were divided between the colonial powers, primarily the British Empire, Spain and France (later the United States and the German Empire joined them). Of particular interest among the Europeans was the possibility of creating plantations on the islands (coconut palm for copra, sugarcane production), as well as the slave trade (the so-called "blackbird hunting", which involved recruiting islanders to work on plantations).

In 1907, New Zealand became a dominion, but it did not formally become a fully independent state until 1947. After the First World War, the first political organizations (“May” in Western Samoa, “Fijian Youth” in Fiji) began to emerge, fighting for the independence of the colonies. During World War II, Oceania was one of the theaters of military operations, where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American troops).

After the war, the region experienced some improvements in the economy, but in most colonies it was one-sided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: in 1962, Western Samoa gained independence, in 1963 - Western Irian, in 1968 - Nauru. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.

Postcolonial period

After gaining independence, most of the countries of Oceania have remained serious economic, political and social problems, which they are trying to solve thanks to the help of the world community (including the UN) and through regional cooperation. Despite the process of decolonization in the 20th century, some of the region's islands still remain dependent to one degree or another: New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna from France, Pitcairn Islands from Great Britain, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau from New Zealand, a number of islands (all outer minor islands except Navassa Island) from the United States.

Economy

Most of the countries of Oceania have a very weak economy, which is due to several reasons: limited natural resources, remoteness from world markets for products, a shortage of highly qualified specialists. Many states depend on financial assistance from other countries.

The economy of most countries in Oceania is based on agriculture (copra and palm oil production) and fishing. Among the most important crops are coconut, bananas, breadfruit. Possessing huge exclusive economic zones and not having a large fishing fleet, the governments of Oceania countries issue fishing licenses to vessels of other states (mainly Japan, Taiwan, and the USA), which significantly replenishes the state budget. The mining industry is most developed in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.

A significant part of the population is employed in the public sector. Recently, measures have been taken to develop the tourism sector of the economy.

Culture

The art of Oceania has developed a distinctive style that makes the local culture unique.

In the visual arts of the Polynesians, the main place belongs to woodcarving and sculpture. Among the Maori, carving reached a high level, they decorated boats, details of houses, carved statues of gods and ancestors, such a statue stands in every village. The main motive of the ornament is a spiral. Moai stone statues were created on Easter Island and the Marquesas Islands. Of the crafts, the most important was the construction of boats, since they made it possible to fish and travel long distances (in this regard, astronomy developed among the Polynesians). Among the Polynesians, tattooing was widespread. Tapa, which was made from the bark of trees of the mulberry family, served as clothing. In Polynesia, myths, legends, fairy tales, singing and dancing were developed. Writing was probably only on Easter Island (rongo-rongo), on other islands folklore was transmitted orally.

Singing and dancing are popular among the Micronesian arts. Each tribe has its own myths. In the life of the islanders, the main place was occupied by ships - boats. There were boats of different types: dibenil - sailing, valab - large rowing boat. Megaliths are found on the Yap Islands. Of particular interest is Nan Madol, known as the "Micronesian Venice". it whole city on the water, in the lagoon on the island of Ponape. Stone structures have been built on artificial islands.

Among the Melanesians, woodcarving reached a special heyday. Unlike the Polynesians, the Melanesians were not so attached to the sea, they were more like inhabitants of the land. The main musical instrument is the drum, or tomtam. Folklore, songs, dances, myths are widespread among the Papuans. The songs and dances are very simple. The chant is called moon, and the melody varies very little. The importance has a cult of ancestors and skulls. Papuans make corvars - images of ancestors. Woodcarving is well developed.

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Oceania is the name of the largest cluster of large and small islands in the western and central Pacific Ocean on our planet. The islands of Oceania occupy about 1.3 million square kilometers of the Earth's surface and all of them, large and small, are almost 7 thousand.

Oceania Islands

Traditionally, the islands of Oceania are divided by geographers, historians and ethnographers into three groups: Melanesia with the most big island New Guinea, Micronesia, Polynesia with the second largest island in Oceania, New Zealand.

The region of the islands of Oceania Melanesia ("black island")

Melanesia is located in the west of Oceania and, in addition to New Guinea, it includes the Bismarck and Louisiada archipelagos, as well as the D "Anttkastro Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, New Herbids Islands, New Caledonia Island, Fiji Islands, Loyote and several others. ...

The main share of the territory of Melanesia falls on the island of New Guinea. He owns 829 of the 969 thousand square kilometers occupied by this area of \u200b\u200bthe islands of Oceania.

Islands of Oceania Polynesia ("multi-island")

Polynesia stretches from the southwest to the east of Oceania. The largest islands in Polynesia are New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Wallis, Tokelau, Horn, Cook, Tuvalu, Tubuai, Society, the Marquesas Islands and Easter Island.

265 thousand square kilometers of the total area of \u200b\u200bPolynesia falls on New Zealand, 17 thousand - on the Hawaiian Islands and 9 thousand - on the rest.

Oceanic Islands Micronesia ("shallow island")

Micronesia is located in the northwest of Oceania. The total area of \u200b\u200bits islands is only 2.6 thousand square kilometers, but these smallest islands are scattered in the ocean with an area of \u200b\u200babout 14 million square kilometers.

The main island groups of Micronesia are the Marshall, Caroline and Mariana Islands, as well as the Gilbert Islands.

Oceania Islands by Origin

The islands of Oceania differ in their origin and on this basis they are usually divided into four types: volcanic, coral or atoll (biogenic), continental, and geosynclinal.

Volcanic Islands of Oceania

The volcanic islands of Oceania are the summits of dormant or active underwater volcanoes. Among them there are islands ranging from ten square kilometers to several thousand and they are the main type of islands in Oceania.

The most famous of the volcanic islands are Hawaii, Easter Island, Tahiti and Samoa.

Oceania Coral Islands (biogenic)

In the shallow ocean waters, whole colonies of small marine animals - corals, usually settle. For centuries, when corals die off, their skeletons cover the bottom of the ocean, are pressed and form a rock. Over time, coral reefs and whole islands appear above the surface of the water, and if coral deposits occurred along the contour of the vent of an underwater volcano, then atolls appear - coral islands with a lagoon in the center.

There are hundreds of coral islands (atolls) in Oceania, both single ones and forming entire archipelagos. These are the Caroline, Mariana, Marshall Islands, as well as the Gilbert and Tuamotu Islands. The largest atoll in Oceania is Kwajalein. Its area is 2.3 thousand square kilometers (including the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon) and it belongs to the archipelago of the Marshall Islands.

Oceania mainland

The mainland islands of Oceania were once part of the mainland and became islands as a result of the movement of the earth's crust. So New Guinea is separated from the mainland by Australia only by a strait, the bottom of which was land until recently, and New Zealand is part of the huge continent that once existed, which included both Australia and Antarctica.

For a share mainland islands Oceania accounts for 90% of its territory. They have lowlands and mountain systems, and extended mountain plateaus.

Oceania Grade 7 message will briefly tell you a lot useful information about this geographic region of the world. Also, information about Oceania of the report will help to deepen your knowledge of geography.

Oceania Post

Oceania is a separate part of the geopolitical region. It consists of a large number of atolls and islands that are located in the central and western Pacific Ocean.

Oceania: a brief description

Oceania is located between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and the temperate latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Oceania is often viewed by geographers as part of Australia. There is a geographic name for this, which sounds like Australia and Oceania. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe geopolitical region is 1.24 million km 2. It is inhabited by 10.6 million people.

Oceania is divided into 3 geographic regions: Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. It is washed by such seas of the Pacific Ocean basin as the Solomon, Coral, New Guinea, Coro and Fiji, the Tasman Sea. And the Arafura Sea, which belongs to the Indian Ocean basin.

Climatic features of Oceania

Most of Oceania is dominated by a tropical climate and abundant annual rainfall. The islands, which are located closer to the tropical belt, are characterized by an average annual temperature of +23 ° C. In the area near the equator - 27 ° C. The climate of the geopolitical region is influenced by the El Niño and La Niña flows. Most of the islands are affected by the tsunami, active volcanoes and typhoons.

Oceania differs from other regions in a sharp change weather conditions: Heavy rains give way to prolonged drought.

Minerals of Oceania

Mineral deposits are due to the geological structure and origin of the islands. Nickel, chromite and other metals are mined in the New Caledonian region. New Guinea has reserves of bauxite, coal and oil. The atoll islands are rich in phosphorites.

Flora and fauna of Oceania

The islands are large in size and are covered with humid evergreen forests or savannas. The trees are dominated by pandanuses, bamboos, ficuses, casuarins. Several types of trees are beneficial for human activities - sago and coconut palms, mango and bananas, melon and breadfruit. Also on the islands of Oceania there are endemic species: tree ferns, cowrie pine, New Zealand flax and cabbage tree.

The fauna is represented by echid, tree kangaroos, crocodiles, kiwi bird. There are no predators and poisonous snakes on the islands; mammals practically do not live. The Europeans brought pigs, cows, horses, goats, rabbits, and cats to Oceania.

• The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are representatives of the Australoid-Mongoloid race.
• Here is the Caribati country, which lies in all hemispheres.
• The region has active volcanonot fading since 1902.
• Heydayway Island is distinguished by the fact that it has an underwater post office, the only one in the world.
• In the past, Oceanians have practiced cannibalism.

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Between 28 ° N and 53 ° S; 130 ° East and 105 ° W. This island world includes almost 7 thousand islands. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe island land of Oceania is about 1.3 million km2. This is only 2% of the area of \u200b\u200bthe Pacific Ocean.

Geographical location, size and relief of the islands closely related to their origin. According to their genesis, the islands of Oceania belong to four main types: continental, biogenic and geosynclinal, which arise in contact zones - island arcs.

The mainland islands are the most significant in terms of area (,). Mountain ranges on them are combined with extensive low-lying plains and plateaus. The Hawaiian Islands are a typical example of volcanic islands. Coral reefs and atolls are of biogenic origin. Atolls are flat, low ring-shaped islands with a lagoon in the middle that communicates with the ocean. Such are, for example, the islands of Central Polynesia (the Tuamotu archipelago is the most grandiose cluster of atolls in the world). Geosynclinal island arcs lie in the western part of Oceania. The relief of the islands of this type is a combination of mountains and. Such, for example, is the island of New Caledonia, stretched for more than 400 km.

Oceania is driven by the origin and islands. Thus, New Caledonia is characterized by rich deposits of chromites and a number of other metals. , bauxite and oil are mined in New Guinea. Phosphorite deposits have been found on the atoll islands.

Oceania islands determined geographic location territory and the softening influence of the ocean. The main archipelagos of the islands lie in the equatorial and tropical zones of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Only the adjacent islands are located in and around the belt. Average monthly periods of the warmest month vary from + 25 ° С in the north to + 16 ° in the south; the coldest - from + 16 ° in the north to + 5 ° С in the south. , Caroline and Mariana Islands, as well as New Guinea lie in a strip where the temperature is around + 26 ° C all year round. The softening influence of the ocean affects the slight fluctuations in temperature across the seasons and throughout the day. There is a lot of precipitation, on average 3000-4000 mm. They are especially abundant in the western part of Oceania, where mountains of mainland islands stand in the way of trade winds from the ocean. However, one of the wettest places on Earth is in the Hawaiian Islands, where upwind slopes of volcanoes receive up to 12,500 mm of precipitation per year.

Species composition and animal world poor and peculiar due to the remoteness and isolation of the islands of Oceania from the rest of the land. The large islands of Oceania are covered mainly with evergreen (on the windward slopes) or. Here, among the trees, ficuses, pandanuses, bamboos, casuarins prevail. There are many valuable trees and plants useful for humans: coconut and sago palms, bread and melon trees, rubber plants, bananas and mangoes. There are many endemic species in the forests of New Zealand: special types of tree ferns, pines (cowrie pine is one of the giant trees the globe), cabbage tree, New Zealand flax, etc.

The fauna is also peculiar. It is richer and more diverse on the islands closer to Australia. So, in New Guinea, echidna and tree kangaroo are common, crocodiles are found in. In New Zealand, there is not a flying, but a running kiwi bird. Among the land animals on the islands of Oceania, there are almost no mammals, predators have never been found, there are no poisonous snakes. The coastal waters and lagoons of the islands are unusually rich in various forms of life.

Livestock (cows, pigs, horses), as well as a number of cosmopolitan animals from other parts of the world, were brought to Oceania. Rats have bred on the islands, cats have run wild; goats and rabbits destroyed a significant part of the vegetation, which led to the washing away of the canopy. Irrational use of land, deforestation, pollution of coastal waters, the transformation of some islands into military test sites for nuclear weapons upset the natural balance on the islands of Oceania.

Population Oceania , constituting about 10 million people, is represented by indigenous people, settlers and a mixed population. In New Guinea and the adjacent islands live Papuans belonging to the equatorial race. The indigenous population of New Zealand (Maori) and other islands in Oceania belongs to a special Polynesian group of peoples, which occupy an intermediate position between the three main races of mankind. These peoples have lighter skin and wavy hair than the Papuans. It is still not entirely clear where and in what ways the Polynesians settled the main archipelagos of the islands of Oceania many millennia ago. The migrant population is immigrants from Europe, Asia and America. So, the Anglo-New Zealanders make up 3/4 of the population of this country, and the indigenous people - Maori - only 9%. However, on other islands in Oceania, Aboriginal people (as opposed to Australia) make up the majority of the population.

The inhabitants of Oceania are traditionally engaged in fishing. In New Zealand, immigrants from Europe raise sheep and cattle; meat, wool and butter are the main export products.

Political Map Oceania developed as a result of the capture of the islands by European and American colonialists in the 19th and 20th centuries. Three decades ago, there was only one independent state in Oceania - New Zealand. Now politically independent Micronesia consists of many (more than 1500!) Small islands in the western part of the Pacific Ocean to the north of (Mariana, Marshalov, Caroline Islands, etc.). New Zealand stands out as a special area of \u200b\u200bOceania. And not only in terms of natural and ethnographic conditions, but also taking into account the level economic development throughout Oceania.