Physical Geography of South East Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

pgs. 689-692
1.

What is an archipelago and identify an example?

An archipelago is a set of closely grouped islands that sometimes form a

curved arc. An example one is part of the Malay Archipelago that is located in the
Philippines islands of Indonesia.
2.

What rivers and resources exist in South East Asia? Why is this important?
Mekong River runs through the valleys and mountains. It is relies on for

farming and fishing. Fertile soil is a very important resource because volcanic
activity and flooding add nutrient to the soil.
3.

What is Oceania? About how many islands exist in Oceania?

Oceania is the pacific islands and there are more than 20,000 islands that

are considered Oceania.

4.

What are high islands? What are low islands?

High islands are created by volcanos. And low islands are made of coral

reefs.
5.

What resource problem exists in Oceania?

They are not very rich in resources, the low islands have very poor soil and

most of the islands lack minerals.

6.

Describe the difference in the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Even though it has limited natural resources, what has allowed New Zealand to
thrive?
North islands of New Zealand have hilly ranges and volcanic plateaus. It also
has fertile farmlands and forest to support the lumber industry. The North
islands also have volcanic areas with underground stem.
7.

How is Australia different from New Zealand? (Be specific. What is found

here that is not found in New Zealand?)

In Australia the minerals that they have are Bauxite, diamonds, lead and
coal. Which New Zealand does not have. Australia is very rich in minerals rather
than New Zealand.

8.

The 5th largest continent is Antarctica. Compare East and West Antarctica

(underneath the ice).

East Antarctica is a plateau that is surrounded by mountains and valleys. And
West Antarctica is a group of separate islands linked together by ice that covers
them.
9.

What is interesting about Antarctica's ice sheet? What resources may lie

beneath?
It is the largest supply of fresh water in the world. Resources are believed
to be under the ice like coal, minerals, and petroleum.

Climate and Vegetation

pgs. 694-701
1.

What sort of climate exists in most of South East Asia and Oceania?
Tropic climate exist throughout most of South East Asia and Oceania.

2.

What are the two categories that exist in the climate of South East Asia and

Oceania?
Year round rain and wet and dry seasons are two categories that exist in the
climate.
3.

Describe a monsoon.
Monsoons are winds that cause the wet and dry seasons.

4.

How does the climate affect the tropical plants and vegetation that exists in

South East Asia and Oceania?

In South East Asia the climate doesnt really affect the tropical plants and
vegetation. The forest are more common for the wet and dry climate zone.
Although Oceanias climate affects the plants and vegetation because the low

islands have poor soil and little amount of rain making it hard for plants to grow.
The high islands have volcanic soil with enough rain that allows the vegetation to
grow.

5.

Look at the 5 Themes Box (Human-Environment Interaction). What is

Terraced Farming? Why would this be interesting to historians?

Terraced farming is when farmers built sections on the side of hills where
they grow different crops. This would be interesting to historians because it is a
different way of farming that we use today.
6.

Describe the climate in Australia and New Zealand. How is Australias climate

similar to South East Asia and also New Zealand?

Australia is located on the southern hemisphere where the summers are hot
and the winters are mild and also have heavy rainfall. While New Zealand has mild
summers and cool winters because the ocean breezes warm air in winter and cooler
in summer.
7.

Why is of Australia a dry desert? What is the outback?

One third of Australia is a dry desert because it lies on the center of the

continent. The region receives less than 10 inches of rain in a year making it very
dry for the agriculture. Also it is very hot in the tropics because the rain
evaporates very fast. The outback is the unpopulated inland region.
8.

What is the White Desert? What sorts of life lives in it?

The White Desert is the land that is located around the South Pole land it is

the earths coldest and driest continents. In winter the temperatures can drop 70
degrees below zero or even colder. It has little precipitation which is often called
the polar desert, with heavy snow and ice that never melts. Lichens, mosses,
penguins, and sea life can survive in the cold.