Physical Geography of Australia and the Pacific Islands
Physical Features of Australia and the Pacific Islands
Australia and the Pacific Islands make up a region that is also known as Oceania. This region is composed of thousands of islands. Some of these islands are very small, while others are large landmasses. In this interactivity, you will explore the physical and environmental features of Australia and the Pacific Islands. You will also learn about the physical geography of Antarctica. Click the player to begin.
Oceans and other bodies of water separate Australia and the Pacific Islands from much of the world. This separation has allowed unique plants and animals to develop in isolation. When this happens, new species develop that are genetically different from the original species. This process is known as speciation. It happens when a group of plants or animals are physically divided for a very long period of time. This can occur because a physical barrier, like a mountain or waterway, separates part of the species from the rest. Over many generations, the separate groups evolve in different ways, creating two distinct species.
As an example of speciation, consider that there are more than one thousand species of fruit fly that are unique to the Hawaiian Islands. These fruit flies do not exist anywhere else in the world. Australia is home to several unique animal species including koalas, kangaroos, and echidna. Eucalyptus trees are also native to Australia. The leaves from Eucalyptus trees are the only food that koalas eat. Humans use these trees to make medicines and oil.
There are a wide variety of climate regions found in Australia and the Pacific Islands. The islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia are mostly tropical, and rainforest vegetation is common. Volcanic and continental islands can support more vegetation than sandy coral islands. The largest area of rainforest can be found on the island of New Guinea.
Australia is a dry continent with a mostly arid climate. Desert covers the interior of the continent and extends to the western coast. The vegetation in this region mostly consists of small desert shrubs and some dry grasses. The arid interior is surrounded by a band of semiarid climate. Semiarid climate regions are able to support more vegetation. However, these plants are still able to withstand dry conditions and drought.
Desert shrubs and dry grass in the Australian Outback
Although Australia is mostly desert, it also contains a variety of climate zones and types of vegetation. The northern coast of Australia has a tropical wet and dry climate. This type of climate is characterized by savanna vegetation. The southern coast of Australia has a Mediterranean climate. Chaparral vegetation is common in this climate zone. The eastern coast of the Australia has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate supports mixed forest vegetation. There is also a small area of marine west coast climate located on the southeastern coast of Australia. This climate region receives heavy rainfall and has dense middle latitude forest. New Zealand also has a marine west coast climate.
Frozen sheet of ice in Antarctica
Most of Antarctica has an icecap climate. This is the coldest climate region on Earth. This extreme cold forms a thick layer of ice that covers the continent. Snow is rare in an icecap climate, because the cold air is unable to hold moisture. The interior of the continent drops below -100˚ Fahrenheit during the winter. Some of Antarctica’s coastal areas have a tundra climate that is warmer than the interior of the continent. These areas are also extremely cold, but experience temperatures slightly above freezing during the brief summer. Summer occurs in January, since Antarctica is in the southern hemisphere. There is no vegetation on the icecap, but some mosses and lichens can survive near the coast.
Physical Geography of Australia and the Pacific Islands Review
Now that you have learned about the major physical regions, landforms, and water features of Australia and the Pacific Islands, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player to get started.
Now that you have learned about the major physical regions, landforms, and water features of Australia and the Pacific Islands, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player to get started.