GEO200 Past Lecture Notes on Oceania PDF

WELCOME TO GEO-200 World Regional Geography Dr. Fatmaelzahraa Hussein Visiting Faculty -CHSS ( A ssista nt Pro fe sso r) Lecture 12 Lecture-12 A Geographic Profile of OCEANIA  Lecture-12 Lecture Objectives Is To : 1. E...

WELCOME TO GEO-200 World Regional Geography Dr. Fatmaelzahraa Hussein Visiting Faculty -CHSS ( A ssista nt Pro fe sso r) Lecture 12 Lecture-12 A Geographic Profile of OCEANIA  Lecture-12 Lecture Objectives Is To : 1. Explore Oceania region and Sub regions 2. Explore Oceania Population, Climates and Biomes. 3. Understand Oceania Islands and Land use. 4. Understand Oceania Culture, Languages and Ethnicity. 5. Understand Oceania Economic Geography 6. Understand Oceania Indigenous people 7. Understand Oceania Exotic Species.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: ​Introduction to the Region Oceania Region covers one-third of the earth’s surface Dominated by the world’s largest ocean, the Pacific Comprising Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, and some islands), Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Sub-regions Australia New Zealand Islands of the Mid-Pacific Sub-regions of Oceania  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Major Divisions Pacific Island Regions Melanesia “Black Islands” Micronesia “Tiny Islands” Polynesia “Many Islands” Typical Traits for a Pacific Island Country Population of 100,000 to 150,000 Area of 400 to 1600 square kilometers Made up of a number of islands Poor economically Ex-colony of Britain, New Zealand, or Australia Heavily dependent on foreign economic aid  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: The People and Where They Live Regional population is 40 million (2016) Australia has the largest population in Australasia (24 million people in 2016). Papua New Guinea has the largest population in Melanesia (8 million people in 2016). Oceania is 76% rural, excluding Australia and New Zealand  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: The People and Where They Live Population growth rates vary widely Australia (0.7%) and New Zealand (0.8%) 2.6% in Papua New Guinea Postindustrial Fear in Australia/New Zealand Might not have enough people to support the countries’ economies and aging populations  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Climates The dominant climate in Oceania varies across the region due to its vast geographical spread, but the dominant climate in Oceania, especially in Australia, which consists largely of deserts and semi-arid areas. The Outback is characterized by extremely low rainfall and high temperatures. The dominant climate in the populated areas of Australia is primarily temperate, particularly along the eastern, southeastern, and southwestern coasts where most Australians live.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Biomes The dominant biomes in Oceania, especially in Australia, are the savannas (tropical grasslands with scattered trees) and the steppe biomes (semi-arid grasslands). Desert Biome covers a significant portion of Australia’s interior. The tropical rainforest biome is significant in northern areas and the islands of Oceania.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Land-Uses The dominant land use in Oceania is livestock grazing, particularly in Australia. Agriculture and forestry are significant in more fertile areas like New Zealand and the coastal regions of Australia. Mining is a major land use in the resource-rich interior regions of Australia, while urban development is concentrated along the coasts.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Island Types High Islands: Moorea Island, Tahiti Continental Islands ◦ Continents were attached to other continents before sea level changes and tectonic activities isolated them ◦ Examples: Australia, New Guinea, New Britain, New Zealand High Islands ◦ Often the result of volcanic eruptions ◦ Examples: Hawaii, Samoa, Society Islands Low Islands ◦ Made of coral ◦ Most take the shape of an irregular ring surrounding a lagoon (called an atoll) ◦ Lack resources to support dense populations ◦ Examples: Kiribati, Caroline and Marshall Islands Low Islands  Lecture-12 Vulnerability of Oceania’s Ecosystems Factors Threatening Endemic (common to a particular people or area) Species: ◦ Human-Induced Extinctions ◦ Habitat Destruction ◦ Deliberate Hunting ◦ Introduction of Exotic Species ◦ Volcanic Eruptions ◦ Typhoons (Hurricanes) ◦ Rises in Sea Level Australia has the highest endemic species - species which occur nowhere else on Earth.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Cultural and Historical Geographies Australia and New Zealand ◦ Majority European in culture and some indigenous ethnicity. Fiji, New Caledonia, and Guam ◦ Half indigenous and half foreign. Remainder of Oceania’s Population ◦ 80% Indigenous ◦ 13% Asian ◦ 7% European  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: The Indigenous People Settlement began in the Pacific region 50,000 years ago Settlers came across the land bridge that linked New Guinea and Australia (Torres Strait Islanders) Ancestors of today’s Aborigines Languages 1. Linguistic Legacy Aboriginal, Austronesian, and Papuan. 2. Linguistic Complexity Papua New Guinea is home to 860 languages Australia has more than 250 Indigenous languages. English and French reflect colonial past Australia has no official language, but the national language of Australia is English. New Zealand has 3 official languages: English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.  Lecture-12 Europeans in Oceania First Europeans in region were voyagers European legacy Established trade Introduced Christianity Created new settlement patterns Disrupted old political systems Rearranged demographic and natural landscapes Introduced exotic crops  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Religions Christianity is the dominant religion in Oceania but there are small representations of Muslims (in Papua), and Hindu (in Fiji) traditional indigenous myths and religious practices continue to exist beside introduced religions.  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Economic Geography Aside from Australia and New Zealand, the region is characterized by a lack of industrial development. Poverty typical of LDCs prevails in the region Tyrannies of size and distance Most countries must import more than they can export Making a Living in Oceania Seven Major Economic Enterprises 1. Exports of plantation crops 2. Exports of fish 5. Information technology 3. Exports of minerals 6. Textile production 4. Services for western military interests 7. Tourism  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Economic Geography (Cont.) The 21 square kilometers of land that is Nauru have been devastated by phosphate mining that once made Nauruans among the wealthiest people per capita on earth. Nauru  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Geopolitical Issues Oceania was once entirely colonial The U.S., Britain, Australia, and New Zealand have abandoned most of their colonies. Only France has held on to all of its colonies Interest of Foreign Powers in the Pacific Importance of Islands to Governing Powers Military advantages Economic advantages French Polynesia used for French atomic testing  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Environmental Future Tidal Surge Rise in sea level due to global warming Sea levels have risen in recent years at a rate of 0.254 cm per year Unprecedented tidal surges Kiribati, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu could be completely submerged, while other island nations would lose territory Alliance of Small Island States Established in 1990 to address global warming Putting forward the first draft text in the Kyoto Protocol negotiations as early as 1994  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Australia and New Zealand Relations Similar in population, cultural heritage, political problems and orientation, type of economy, and location Products of British colonization and reflect British heritage Prosperous countries Relatively few people among whom to spread wealth Both owe their prosperity to wholesale transplantation of business, culture, and technology from the UK  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Australia and New Zealand Relations (Cont.) Despite their independence, they remain loyal to Britain (Australia was granted nominal independence in 1901 and New Zealand in 1907) Belong to the British Commonwealth of Nations since 1931 Political orientation Since WWII, these two countries have sought closer relations with the U.S. and British influence has waned Seeking stronger roles in the Pacific basin’s economy Australia and New Zealand Debate over whether Australians should convert the country into a republic, ending formal ties with Britain  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Australia’s Aborigines Aborigines (Australia’s indigenous inhabitants) ◦ Believed their ancestors ‘sang’ the world into existence ◦ Population ◦ An estimated 300,000 to 1 million Aborigines inhabited Australia when Europeans arrived in the 17th century ◦ Colonizers slaughtered many and drove the rest into marginal areas of the continent ◦ Today, there are an estimated 510,000 Aborigines, living mainly in the tropical north of the country Aborigines suffer from: ◦ High infant mortality rate ◦ High unemployment ◦ Low life expectancy Contention between Aborigines and white majority over land rights ◦ Aborigines increasingly enlisting aid of geographers and other social scientists to document, measure, and analyze traditional land claims  Lecture-12 Oceania Region: Exotic Species on the Island Continent  Exotic species are nonnative plants and animals introduced into an ecosystem Impact is often catastrophic to native species Islands are very sensitive to ecological disruption Exotic species that have caused problems in Australia include: Rabbits Foxes Mice Water buffalo Cane toads Prickly pear cactus Sheep Cattle Dromedary camels  Lecture-12 Now you should be able to: 1. Identify Oceania region and Sub regions 2. Mention Oceania Population, Climates and Biomes. 3. Explain Oceania Islands and Land use. 4. Explain Oceania Culture, Languages and Ethnicity. 5. Explain Oceania Economic Geography 6. Explain Oceania Indigenous people 7. Explain Oceania Exotic Species. Thank You For any questions: [email protected]