Physical Geography of South East Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

pgs. 689-692
1.
What is an archipelago and identify an example?
A set of closely grouped islands that sometimes form a curved arc.
2. What rivers and resources exist in South East Asia? Why is this important?
The Mekong River begins in China and crosses multiple Southeast Asian nations before reaching Vietnam. The river
brings fishing, farming and other resources for people; along with rich fertile soil and provides many mineral resources
such as petroleum, tin, and gem.
3. What is Oceania? About how many islands exist in Oceania?
Oceania is a group of about 20,000 Pacific Islands.
4. What are high islands? What are low islands?
High Islands are created by volcanoes. Low Islands are made of coral reefs.
5. What resource problem exists in Oceania?
Oceania lacks resources in the low islands, they have poor soil and majority of the islands have a deficiency in
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 Island may have hilly ranges and a volcanic plateau it is not as mountainous as South Island; New Zealand still
continues to flourish with strong fertile soil and forest to support the lumber industry. The natural harbors on the
coastline are used for seaports.
7.

How is Australia different from New Zealand? (Be specific. What is found here that is not found in New
Zealand?)
Australia is the smallest and flattest continent on Earth. Majority of the peaks located on the continent are found to be
less than 5,000 ft. tall. Mountains break up the plains and plateaus on the western range. They also lack rivers and
forestry. While New Zealand has its rich minerals and is the number of one supplier of bauxite, diamond, opal, lead,
and coal. Australia is also well known for its Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest coral reef in the world.
8. The 5th largest continent is Antarctica. Compare East and West Antarctica (underneath the ice).
Antarctica is found in the center of the South Pole, it topography is hidden by thick sheets of ice. Under the ice the
landscapes is different from above. East Antarctica.
9. What is interesting about Antarctica's ice sheet? What resources may lie beneath?
The ice sheet is actually the largest supply of fresh water in the world. Coal, minerals, and conceivably petroleum are
believed to be found underneath, but in 1991, twenty-six nations decided not to disrupt the ice for fifty years.
Climate and Vegetation
pgs. 694-701
1.
What sort of climate exists in most of South East Asia and Oceania?
The climate in most of South-East Asia and Oceania is normally tropical. Year-round rains are frequently found in the
areas of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Oceania. Temperatures are high; rainfall can wind up to 2 inches. Also,
monsoons determine the weather by determining wet or dry seasons.
2. What are the two categories that exist in the climate of South East Asia and Oceania?
The two categories are wet and dry, they exist in the climate of South-East Asia and Oceania.
3. Describe a monsoon.
Monsoons are winds that control the weather, they control whether the season will rainy or hot/dry.
4. How does the climate affect the tropical plants and vegetation that exists in South East Asia and Oceania?
The vegetation closest to the equator is rich and green; while forests are more commonly deciduous in the wet and dry
climate zones. Teak is a valuable tree that are found in those types of forests. Oceania does not have a large variety of
sources for vegetation. Low islands contain poor soil and small amounts of rain; so plants dont grow as well. High
islands with rich soil and plenty of rain which produce a high amount of flowers and trees.

5.

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

Farming? Why would this be interesting to historians?

Terraced farming is an ancient method of altering the landscape for farming. Farmers build terraces or ledges on the
sides of the hills. It allows people to plant on slopes allowing them to use land that would usually be untouched.
Making the flow of water easier to reach the crops and it conserves soil and prevents dirt from being washed down the
slope.
6.

Describe the climate in Australia and New Zealand. How is Australias climate similar to
South East Asia and also New Zealand?
New Zealand and the southern coast of Australia share a marine west coast climate. The breeze from the ocean brings
mild temperatures in the summer and keeps the land warm during the winter. New Zealand has rainy seasons all year
round. While in Australia; mountainous areas control the weather as well. The Great Dividing Range implements
moisture bearing winds to rise and shed their rain on the islands. Australia only has a few moist coast parts and thats
where trees grow up to 300 ft. tall.
7. Why is of Australia a dry desert? What is the outback?
A third of Australia is a dry desert because it receives less than ten inches of rain a year and is too dry for agriculture
and grazing. The outback is the uninhabited inland region where very few people live in the dry interior.
8. What is the White Desert? What sorts of life lives in it?
Antarctica is the worlds coldest and driest continent. In the winter, temperatures can go 70 degrees below 0.
Antarctica receives little to no precipitation; giving its nickname polar desert. Lichens and mosses are the only
types of plants available because they can survive the cold, harsh conditions and darkness.