Oceania encompasses over 10,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. For many people, these islands represent the most idyllic locations in the world. The natural beauty and tropical weather make them highly popular vacation destinations.
Oceania is divided into three areas:
Melanesia (southwestern Pacific): New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Micronesia (western Pacific): Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Marshall Islands
Polynesia (central Pacific): Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu
In addition to the sovereign island nations listed above, many other islands are federal territories of their mainland countries. Here are just a few:
New Caledonia (France) Tahiti (France) Easter Island (Chile)
Hawaii (US) Guam (US) American Samoa (US)
There are two main types of islands: continental and oceanic. Continental islands are part of a continental shelf but have been separated from the continent by water. Tasmania and New Zealand are examples of continental islands. Oceanic islands are those that rise to the surface from the floors of the ocean basins, forced upwards by volcanic activity. All oceanic islands are known as "high islands" even though they may have high mountains on them.
Most of the large islands of Oceania are continental islands and most of the region has a tropical rainforest climate. New Zealand's two main islands have beaches, ancient forests, snow-mountains, and lowlands and plateaus that support crops and livestock. Although most of New Zealand has a marine west coast climate, mountains can experience fierce winds and blizzards year-round. The country's geographic isolation has led to unique plants such as kauri trees and manuka.
Physical geography often makes developing natural resources difficult in the South Pacific region. In addition, weather conditions can severely affect island nations, such as the 1997 El Nino which caused droughts that damaged Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut crops. A typhoon can decimate crops and containment water supplies. Earthquakes and tsunamis pose threats to life and property.
The islands of Oceania were probably first settled by peoples from Asia more than 30,000 years ago. Many different languages are spoken in Oceania. Some experts believe that roughly 40% of the 3,000 languages used worldwide are found in the Pacific islands. Family groups in Oceania settled along island coasts. Increased trade among these groups led to migrations among the islands.
The indigenous peoples in the region developed lifestyles and traditions in harmony with their natural environment. These blended with European and later Asian elements. While in many parts of the region people have modern, urban lifestyles, in other parts traditional ways remain. Many Pacific islanders work at subsistence farming and live in traditional houses. Education and health care are easily available in urban areas, but access to them can be difficult in rural areas. Indigenous Pacific Islanders today are actively working to preserve traditional knowledge and identity while trying to develop their natural resources, improve living standards, and strengthen global ties.
However, high costs of fuel imports, a limited range of agricultural exports, heavy dependence on food imports, and overreliance on foreign aid make island economies vulnerable to changes in the global marketplace. Coconut products form the principal export. Farming is based on family-owned agriculture and cash crop plantations. Larger island countries or territories - such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia - benefit from the export of mineral deposits, such as gold, copper, and nickel. Since the 1970s, tourism has opened up new sources of revenue and opportunities for employment.
Pacific island countries have reason to be particularly concerned about their environment. Toxic waste threatens the reefs and the ocean's food web. During the Cold War, Western countries tested nuclear weapons in parts of Oceania. Environmental concerns and increased awareness of long-term effects of radiation brought international protests. The Unite States and Great Britain discontinued nuclear testing in this region in the 1960s. The United States, in fact, paid millions of dollars to residents of Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands as compensation for damages done to their area and their people during nuclear testing. However, France continued nuclear testing in Oceania into the mid-1990s. Since the 1980s, an increase in cases of cancer and stillbirths has alarmed Tahiti's people.
The region also faces challenges by global atmospheric and climate changes. The ozone layer has developed a hole over the Antarctic, and the seasonal El Nino Southern Oscillation weather pattern can cause droughts in Australia and cyclonic storms in the South Pacific. Like the rest of the world, the countries of Oceania are looking for ways to reconcile the need for economic growth with concerns for the health and safety of their people and their environment.
LEARNING:
Read Geography of the Human and Physical World pages 797-816
Countries and capitals of Oceania
Types of islands
Oceania’s indigenous peoples
Nuclear testing in Oceania
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Lord of the Rings filming locations
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