Cultural Characteristics of Australia the Pacific Islands and

Cultural Characteristics of Australia, the Pacific Islands and Antarctica Francisci WG. 4

The Pacific Islands • The Pacific Islands are sparsely (scattered) populated. • Many of the Pacific Islands are developing nations.

The Pacific Islands • Many of the people living in the Pacific Islands are subsistence farmers living in rural areas. • Traditional culture dominates these islands. • The majority of the people live in thatched roof dwellings: a house covered with dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes and heather, layering the vegetation so as to shed water away from the inner roof.

Antarctica • There are no permanent residents of Antarctica. • Countries may send teams of scientists to do research work for periods of time, but they do not permanently live there.

Australia • The population of Australia is clustered along the coasts. • The interior of Australia is sparsely populated because this region is primarily desert climate. • Australia is a very well developed country with the majority of the people living in modern cities.

Australia • The indigenous people of Australia are called the Aborigines: a person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times. • The culture of Australia reflects a mix of both European and Aborigine backgrounds. • Australia was colonized by the English as a prison colony.

New Zealand • New Zealand is also a developed country with most of the population living in modern cities • The indigenous people of New Zealand are called the Maori. • The culture of New Zealand reflects a mix of both European and Maori backgrounds.

Cultural Landscape • Research Stations (Antarctica) • Cattle and sheep stations (Australia)

Cultural Landscape • Sydney Opera House • Great Dividing Range (Australia): 4 th longest mountain range in the world.

Cultural Landscape • Great Barrier Reef (Australia): The world’s largest coral reef system; composed of roughly 3, 000 individual reefs and 900 islands that stretch for 1, 616 miles and cover an area of approximately 132, 974 sq. miles.