GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA SOUTHEAST ASIA

GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Southeast Asia: Mainland Islands � Mainland Southeast Asia lies on two peninsulas - rectangular Indochinese Peninsula is south of China - Malay Peninsula is 700 -mile strip south from mainland

Southeast Asia: Mainland Islands � Malay Peninsula bridges mainland island archipelagoes - archipelago—set of closely grouped islands, often in a curved arc - Malay Archipelago includes the Philippines & Indonesian islands

Southeast Asia: Mainland Islands � Mountains and Volcanoes - Island mountains are volcanic in origin, part of Pacific Ring of Fire - volcanic eruptions, earthquakes are common in region

Southeast Asia: Mainland Islands � � � Rivers - Several large mainland rivers run south through mountain valleys - spread out into fertile deltas near coast Natural Resources - Volcanic activity, flooding rivers create nutrient-rich, fertile soil Rivers, seas provide fish; some areas have petroleum, tin, gems

Southeast Asia: Mainland Islands � Climate - Tropical wet climate in coastal Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Oceania - also in most of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines - High temperatures— annual average of 80 degrees in Southeast Asia - Parts of Southeast Asia get 100, even 200 inches of rain annually

Southeast Asia: Mainland Isla � Tropical wet and dry climate found in parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam - weather is shaped by monsoons - Monsoon areas often have disastrous weather - typhoons can occur in region during the wet season

U. S. involvement in Southeast Asia � � � 1957 – 1975 - U. S. became involved in Vietnam War - tried to stop Communist control of South Vietnam 1973 - U. S. left & South Vietnam surrendered in 1975 Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos became Communist

An Uneven Economy � � Agriculture is region’s main income source - rice is chief food crop -Myanmar is heavily forested & produces teak wood Growth of cities is linked to industrialization— growth of industry

An Uneven Economy � � Scarcity of land—in Philippines 3% of landowners hold 25% of land 60% of rural families don’t have enough land to earn a living farming Population growth—as populations grow, land shortages increase - farmers divide land among heirs—plots become too small Southeast Asian cities have trouble dealing with numerous immigrants

An Uneven Economy � � Housing availability can’t keep pace - many immigrants live in slums Traffic increases due to workers driving, trucks hauling goods - creates more pollution, particulates - 5, 000 people a year die from breathing polluted air in Bangkok & Thailand

An Uneven Economy � People are afraid that the income gap between the rich & poor will cause social unrest & increased crime rates

Southeast Asia Review Questions What is an archipelago? What was the United States attempting to prevent in the Vietnam War? What are many people afraid that income gap in Southeast Asia will cause? How do cities suffer in times of rapid urbanization? What type of landform is abundant in the Ring of Fire?

OCEANIA

Oceania � � No one knows how many islands there are in the Pacific - some estimate there are more than 20, 000 - hard to count because islands vanish and new ones appear As a group, the Pacific Islands are called Oceania - includes New Zealand, Australia (a continent, not an island)

Oceania � � Three geographic, cultural regions: -Micronesia—“tiny islands” - Melanesia—“black islands” -Polynesia—“many islands” Volcanoes create high islands, coral reefs make up low islands - most islands are small; total land area is smaller than Alaska

Island Life � Traditional Life- fishing & farming economies (Subsistence Activities) - taro - starchy root that makes poi—a major crop - fishing villages on coasts & farming, hunting, & gathering inland

Island Life � � Few cities, but they’re growing - people move for education, jobs - fast growth means shantytowns, bad sanitation - urban dwellers giving up traditional ways Modern communication links island groups, connects Oceania to world

Nuclear Tests � � 1940 s - Nuclear arms race between U. S. , USSR began U. S. conducted 66 nuclear bomb tests on Bikini, & Enewetak atolls - atoll - ringlike coral island, or islands, surrounding a lagoon

Nuclear Tests � “Bravo” hydrogen bomb test vaporized several islands - radiation contamination injured or sickened many islanders

Nuclear Tests � � 1948 - Bikini Islanders moved to the island of Kili - conditions there don’t allow them to fish or grow enough food Late 1960 s - U. S. declared Bikini safe & some islanders return 1978 - doctors found dangerous radiation levels in islanders & islanders left again 1988 - Cleanup of Bikini Atoll began - still unknown when Bikini will be suitable for humans again

Oceania What name are the Pacific Islands known as Name three regions of Oceania? What do most people in Oceania do for a living? What does Micronesia mean? What does Melanesia mean? What does Polynesia mean? How were the high island formed? How were the low islands formed? Why were the Bikini Atoll inhabitants forced to move?

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA

New Zealand � � New Zealand has two main islands, North Island Southern Alps— 300 -mile mountain range down center of South Island - 16 peaks over 10, 000 feet; over 360 glaciers North Island has hilly ranges, volcanic plateau - fertile farmland; forests for lumber; natural harbors Few mineral resources, but dams generate electricity

New Zealand’s History � � � Originally settled by Maori - migrated from Polynesia 1, 000 years ago 1769 - Captain James Cook explored New Zealand 1840 - Treaty of Waitangi gave Great Britain control of New Zealand 1861 – Gold Rush 1907 - New Zealand became independent

New Zealand’s Economy � � Major industry in Australia, New Zealand is food-product processing New Zealand sells butter, cheese, meat, & wool 1998 - had 15 times more sheep and cattle than people New Zealand also produces wood, paper products

Australia � � � Australia is earth’s smallest & flattest continent Great Dividing Range—chain of highlands parallel to east coast West of range are plains and plateaus

Australia � Climate - One-third of Australia is desert, located in the continent’s center - under 10 inches of rain annually; too dry for agriculture - Few live in dry inland region called the outback

Australia � � Murray River is largest of continent’s few rivers Little forestry, but rich in bauxite, diamonds, opals, lead, coal

Australia � Great Barrier Reef— 1, 250 -mile chain of 2, 500 reefs, islands

Australia’s History � Original Inhabitants were Aboriginal people - hunter-gatherers with complex religious beliefs, social structures

Australia’s History � � 1770 - Captain James Cook explored Australia 1788 - Britain colonized Australia - Sydney founded as a penal colony - a place to send prisoners

Australia’s History � � 1901 - Australia became independent 1909 to 1969 - 100, 000 mixed-race children were taken (Assimilation) - raised by white families to promote assimilation (minority group gives up culture & adopts majority culture) -Aborigines angrily call these children the Stolen Generation

Economy � � � 60% of Australia’s jobs are in service industries Australia’s sheep ranching makes it the world’s largest wool exporter Mining - Australia has diamonds, lead, zinc, opals - also bauxite, coal, copper, gold, iron ore

Modern Life in New Zealand & Australia � Both countries highly urbanized: 85% of people live in cities, towns - Australia’s large cities have pollution, traffic problems - New Zealand’s cities are quiet, uncrowded & pollution- free

Modern Life in New Zealand & Australia � � In both countries, ranchers live far from cities Recreation - Tennis, rugby, soccer, Australian rules football are popular - New Zealand has skiing, mountain climbing

Invasion of the Rabbits � � � European colonizers brought animals to Australia, including rabbits 1859 - Thomas Austin released 24 rabbits into Australia to hunt - one pair can have 184 descendents in 18 months Australia has over one billion rabbits by 1900

Invasion of the Rabbits � � � Rabbits stripped sparse vegetation & ruined sheep pastures, caused erosion - resulted lack of food endangers native animals Foxes were imported to prey on them ( but also endanger native wildlife) 1950 s - they were intentionally infected with myxomatosis; 90% die - ranches then able to support twice as many sheep - rabbits become immune to disease; back to 300 million by 1990 s - Today a combination of poisons, diseases, fences are used

New Zealand & Australia The overpopulation of what animal damaged Australia’s’ agriculture? What happened to the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children? What did the British want to assimilate the Aboriginal people? What is the smallest continent? What purpose did Great Britain originally establish Sidney Australia for? What was the name of the original inhabitants of New Zealand? What is the Great Barrier Reef?

Global Warming � � � Industry damages environment; factories pollute air, water, soil Damage to the Environment - Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO 2) into atmosphere - CO 2 is greenhouse gas—traps sun’s heat Some scientists fear atmosphere now has too many greenhouse gases - atmosphere might trap too much heat, raising temperatures (Global Warming)

Global Warming � � Many disagree with global warming theory - say temperature increases are natural Ozone Hole - Ozone layer is high in the atmosphere - absorbs most of sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays

Global Warming � � In 1970 s, scientists found thinning of ozone layer over Antarctica - called it a hole in the ozone Chemicals like chlorine in CFCs destroy ozone - many governments restrict use of such chemicals - others delay passing laws because they are costly for industry

Long-Term Effects � � � Global warming fear: small temperature increase could melt ice caps - rising seas may swamp coastal cities, Oceania’s low islands Warming might change evaporation, precipitation patterns - create violent storms like typhoons and increase droughts - shift climate zones and agricultural regions, upset economies Ozone hole lets in more ultraviolet rays - cause skin cancer, eye damage, & crop damage