Physical Geography of Oceania, Australia, & Antarctica
SSWG9 The student will describe the interaction of physical and
human systems that have shaped contemporary Oceania, including
Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica. a. Describe the location of
major physical features and their impact on the region.
Slide 2
Mountains Major Features: Great Dividing Range, Transantarctic
Mountains, Southern Alps Great Dividing Range is in the east and
source of most riversremnants of old mountains Mt. Kosciusko is
highest point on continent Western Plateau is also known as the
outback and covers 2/3 of Australia. Southern Alps are on the south
island of New Zealand
Slide 3
Mountains & Plateaus Great Dividing RangeTransantarctic
Mountains
Slide 4
Deserts Major Features: Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy
Desert, Gibson Desert, Simpson Desert Simpson Desert has sand dunes
up to 120 feet high Great Victoria Desert is named for Queen
Victoria & is actually a protected wilderness area This is
essentially the Outback
Slide 5
Deserts Great Victoria DesertGreat Sandy Desert
Slide 6
Plains Major Features: Central Lowlands, Nullarbor Plain,
Canterbury Plains Nullarbor Plain is actually an arid flat land
Central Lowlands lie over the Artesian Basin Canterbury Plains are
in New Zealand and are used for livestock & farming
Slide 7
Plains Nullarbor PlainCanterbury Plains
Slide 8
Rivers Major features: Murray River, Darling River Murray is
the main river system of Australia Darling is a tributary of the
Murray Valley of Murray River is one of the most populated areas in
Australia Used for hydroelectric power & irrigation
Slide 9
Rivers Murray RiverDarling River
Slide 10
Seas Major Features: Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, Weddel
Sea, Ross Sea Tasman divides Australia from New Zealand Weddell Sea
is part of the Southern Ocean and said to have clearest water of
any sea Many cyclones in Coral Sea
Slide 11
Seas Weddell SeaCoral Sea
Slide 12
Additional Water Features Major Features: Great Barrier Reef,
Lake Tuapo, Lake Eyre, Pacific Ocean, Great Australian Bight,
Southern Ocean Great Barrier Reef is a long strip of coral covered
land Lake Eyre is a salt lake that in many years is completely dry
Great Australian Bight is a bay
Slide 13
Additional Water Features Lake TuapoPacific Ocean
Slide 14
Additional Land Features Major Features: Great Artesian Basin,
Antarctic Peninsula Great Artesian Basin is the only reliable
source of freshwater in Australia and is the deepest basin in the
world People get water with similar technology as people drill for
oil. Antarctic Peninsula is claimed by Argentina, Chile & the
UK and used for research
Slide 15
Additional Land Features Great Artesian BasinAntarctic
Peninsula
Slide 16
Islands 3 categories in Oceania: Micronesia Melanesia Polynesia
Many islands were created by volcanoes and earthquakes Three major
types of islands High Low Continental