PENNSVALLEY
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Oceania
Lesson 34:
Oceania
Oceania is a term used to describe a huge region in the Pacific Ocean. Oceania is made up of
Australia, NewZealand, and the countries and territories in thePacificOcean.Not countingAustralia,
NewZealand, andPapuaNewGuinea, there aremore than 20,000 islands inOceania.These islands
are like stepping stones across the immense Pacific Ocean. The population among these islands is
more than sevenmillion people.
Oceania is made up of independent countries and territories. Papua New Guinea is the largest
country.However, some countries are smaller thanour towns.For example, the islandof Nauru is only
eight squaremiles.That means the country is twomileswide and four miles long!
Many islands are governed by other larger countries. These places are dependent upon France,
Britain, UnitedStates, Australia, or NewZealand for help. For example, FrenchPolynesia is governed
by the country of France.Nuie, theworld’s largest coral atoll, ismanaged by NewZealand.
Climate is the most important natural resource of Oceania. The warm, tropical climate supports
agriculture and tourism.These are the twomain economic activities of Oceania.Most products come
from the region’s primary industries.Products areharvestedmostly from farming, fishing, logging, and
mining.There is very little activity in the secondary industries.
ACTIVITY 1:
Lookat themapofOceaniaonpage65.Youwill need touseyour classroomatlas, amapof the region,
or a globe for reference.Oceania consists of threemain island groups.These island groups are north
and east of Australia.
A.Use a red color to draw a line around the area shownwith a number 1. Label this outlined area as
Micronesia.Micronesiameans small islands.
B.Use a yellow color to draw a line around the area shownwith a number 2. Label this outlined area
asMelanesia.Melanesiameans black islands.
C.Useagreen colormarker todrawa linearound thearea shownwithanumber 3.Label this outlined
area as Polynesia. Polynesiameansmany islands.
Most of the islands inOceania were formed in one of two ways. 1) Many islands were built up by
volcanic eruptions over the years. 2) Other smaller islands are coral atolls.Warm, tropical waters are
very suitable for the development of coral.Coral is a sea animal.These animals live in large colonies.
When they die, they leave a hard, rock-like skeleton. After years of build-up, coral islands, known as
atolls, emerge. Sandbars and coral also form lagoons.
An atoll is a type of island. Atolls have circle-shaped ridges of land near the surface of the water
that form a lagoon. Lagoons are shallow bodies of water that separate the ocean from an island.
There are some common features among the islands of Oceania.They are:
• Most of the islands lie in tropical or sub-tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean, making the
climate hot and humid.
•Most of the people survive through subsistence farming.
• Commonproductsgrownor harvestedareyams, taro (root plant), copra (driedcoconut), fishing
(tuna), cassava (tapioca pudding), and cocoa.
• Tourism has become increasingly popular throughout the region.
• Most countries, territories, or dependencies are archipelagoes.
• They are isolated from the rest of theworld.
• They have poorly developed transportation systems.
• Most industry is in the primary sector.
