Features of the nature of oceania. Islands of oceania What is the general nature of the surface of oceania

Oceania is the largest cluster of islands located in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean (see Fig. 1).

About 10 thousand islands of Oceania are scattered over a vast territory from the subtropical latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere to the temperate latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. Most of the islands are grouped into archipelagos: New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji, Tuamotu, etc. This location plays an important role for the nature of the islands.

In Oceania, three parts are distinguished: Melanesia (translated from Greek means "Black Islands"), Micronesia ("small islands"), Polynesia ("Many Islands").

Rice. 1. Map of Oceania

Islands and their origin

The origin, geographical position and size of the islands of Oceania are closely related to the structure of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. They are a surface reflection of the underwater oceanic relief, because the islands lie at the bottom of the ocean with their foundations.

The islands of Oceania have different origins: continental, volcanic and coral.

The relief of volcanic islands is mountainous, while coral islands are low-lying. On the vast mainland islands, mountains are combined with plains.

mainland islands formerly were parts of the mainland, and separated from it due to the lowering of land areas below sea level. These islands are located on the shelf.

For example, several tens of thousands of years ago, the largest island of Oceania - New Guinea - was connected to Australia by a 150-kilometer bridge. Its descent is only

30 m led to the formation of the Torres Strait. The islands of New Zealand also have a continental origin (see Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Mainland Island (New Zealand)

Volcanic islands are surface peaks of the largest underwater volcanoes, the foot of which lie at great depths (up to 5 km) (see Fig. 3).

These islands are small, rocky, crowned with cones of extinct or active volcanoes. They are located mainly in groups. For example, the Hawaiian Islands - these are 24 islands - stretched over 2,500 km. They were formed by powerful outpourings of lava from underwater and terrestrial volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The largest of the islands - Hawaii - is formed by extinct and active volcanoes. Among them is the highest peak in Polynesia - the volcano Mauna Kea (4210 m).

Rice. 3 Volcanic Island

coral islands formed by marine organisms - coral polyps living inside limestone skeletons (see Fig. 4). Clusters of coral skeletons form reefs- elongated strips - or atolls- small ring-shaped islands.

Rice. 4 Coral Island

The foundation for corals is usually the top of an underwater volcano. Therefore, many volcanic islands are surrounded by coral reefs. All coral structures rise above the water by only a few meters. Therefore, the coral islands are low. They rarely rise above 5 m above sea level and are barely visible among the expanses of water. That is why the legends say that the inhabitants of Oceania "fished" their islands from the ocean floor.

Climate

The climate is warm and mild, since most of the islands lie in equatorial and tropical latitudes, only New Zealand enters temperate latitudes.

Air temperatures are high, but the heat is moderated by moist winds from the ocean. They cause heavy rains, so the amount of precipitation is large - more than 4,000 mm per year.

On the windward slopes of the high volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands is the wettest place on Earth, with 12,500 mm of precipitation per year. But on the leeward slopes there is very little precipitation (200 mm). Tropical cyclones originate in Oceania, which are called typhoons in the Northern Hemisphere, and hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of them happen in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. They cause great destruction. However, in general, despite these dangerous natural phenomena, the islands are never cold or hot. Therefore, the climate of Oceania is considered the most comfortable on Earth.

organic world

The isolation of the islands is the reason for the originality of their organic world. Life is poorest on small and relatively young coral islands; on the mainland it is richer and more diverse.

Due to the difference in moisture (either a lot or a little rainfall), both evergreen wet forests and dry savannas are common.

Coconut and sago palms, melon and breadfruit trees, ficuses, orchids grow in the forests. There are many useful wild plants among them - trees with valuable wood (iron and sandalwood), plants with juicy fruits (papayas, mangoes, bananas); plants that give spices (ginger, nutmeg, pepper). However, the first place undoubtedly belongs to the coconut palm (see Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Coconut tree

Coral islands with poor soils, lying in a thin layer on coral limestones, have poor grassy vegetation. Their decoration is only groves of coconut palms. Interestingly, the volcanic and coral islands were inhabited by plants with the help of wind, currents, and even birds that carried their pollen, seeds, and nuts.

There are many endemics in Oceania - plant and animal species that are not found anywhere else. For example, tree ferns and cabbage trees grow only in New Zealand. Now on the islands, natural forests are almost reduced. In their place were plantations of agricultural crops.

Animal world the islands are poor. There are almost no mammals among terrestrial animals (except for mice and rats).

But there are a lot of birds - paradise, pigeons, parrots, weed chickens. The absence of predators led to the appearance of birds without wings - kaguya and kiwi. There are no venomous snakes on the islands either. There are reptiles - geckos, iguanas, lizards, hatteria. Flying fish, sharks, sea turtles and snakes live in the waters surrounding the reefs and islands. Man played an important role in the distribution of animals. The dogs, cats, and pigs he brought in bred heavily and subsequently became feral.

Giant Moa bird, which no longer exists

Before the arrival of man, New Zealand was the kingdom of birds. Mammals, with the exception of a few species of bats, did not exist here. The queen of this feathered state was a giant bird moa ...

Its largest specimens reached two meters at the shoulder and weighed more than 200 kg. The females were almost twice as heavy as the males.

The giant moa had a natural enemy, the giant eagle, the largest bird of prey on the planet (see Figure 6).

Rice. 6. Image of a Moa bird

Bibliography

MainI

1. Geography. Earth and people. Grade 7: Textbook for general education. uch. / A.P. Kuznetsov, L.E. Savelyeva, V.P. Dronov, "Spheres" series. – M.: Enlightenment, 2011.

2. Geography. Earth and people. Grade 7: atlas. Series "Spheres".

Additional

1. N.A. Maksimov. Behind the pages of a geography textbook. – M.: Enlightenment.

1. Russian Geographical Society ().

3. Study guide for geography ().

4. Geographical directory ().

- the smallest continent in area, located in the eastern and southern hemispheres. The area of ​​Australia is 8 million km2. Extreme points of Australia: Northern: Cape York (10 ° S, 143 ° E); Southern: Cape Wilson - (39° S, 146° E); Western: Cape Steep Point (26° S, 113° E); Eastern: Cape Byron (28° S, 153° E). From the west and south, Australia is washed by the waters, from the east - by the waters of the Pacific. In the north and northeast, the coasts of Australia are washed by and, in the southeast - by the sea. The coastline as a whole is not very indented. In the north there are two large peninsulas: Cape York and Arnhemland, between them is the Gulf of Carpentaria, in the south the Great Australian Gulf protrudes into the land. In the southeast there is a large island -.

Oceania- a cluster of islands and archipelagos located in the central and southwestern parts. The largest islands in Oceania are Novaya and. There are more than 7,000 islands in Oceania, with a total area of ​​1.3 million km2. The relief of Australia is quite flat and monotonous. The center of the mainland is occupied by the Central Plain, the height of which does not exceed 100 m. In the west of the mainland is the Western Australian Plateau, 400-500 m high, in the east - the Great Dividing Range, which owns the highest point of the mainland - Kosciuszko (2230 m). These are quite old, heavily destroyed mountains, which descend sharply towards the coast, and gradually turn into a plain towards the center of the mainland.

Most of the islands of Oceania arose as a result of volcanic activity, the relief of such islands is diverse, there are mountains, hills, small ridges. Coral islands are usually flat. There are islands of mainland origin, for example,.

Australia and New Zealand are rich in deposits of iron, manganese, gold, diamonds, and oil. On the islands there are reserves of metal ores, phosphorites, however | almost all are poorly developed.

There are no major rivers in Australia. The largest river on the mainland with a large tributary, the Darling, flows into the Great Australian Gulf and belongs to the Indian Ocean basin. There are many screams - empty channels, which in the rainy season are filled with water and turn into rivers and streams. There is a large Lake Eyre, in summer it is filled with rainwater and can reach 15,000 km2. The rest of the time the lake dries up, breaks up into a number of small ones. On small lakes of volcanic origin.

Most of Australia has a tropical climate. The western edge of the mainland is well moistened, as wet from the ocean is delayed by the Great Dividing Range. In the central part, the climate is arid, with 250-300 mm of precipitation per year. On the northern coast of the mainland, the climate is humid in summer and quite dry in winter. The southern and eastern parts of Australia are in the zone. In the east, it is quite humid, precipitation falls throughout the year. On the south coast it is warm and there is little rainfall, in the southeast it is hot, and in winter it is also very humid.

All the islands of Oceania, with the exception, are located in the equatorial and tropical zones, it is warm here, temperature fluctuations are smoothed out by the influence of the ocean, so the climate is quite mild. New Zealand enjoys a temperate climate, with normal rainfall, moderately warm summers and moderately warm winters.

Australia is located quite isolated from other continents, it previously separated from the ancient common continent of Gondwana, therefore it has a unique flora and fauna. Many species are endemic here - that is, they are not found on any other continent. In Australia, the last types of egg-laying have survived: the platypus and echidna, there are many marsupials here. Many animals originated from wild domestic animals brought to the mainland from: Dingo dogs, rabbits.

Many plants have adapted to the arid continent, in particular, eucalyptus trees turn their leaves edgewise during daylight hours to reduce evaporation. The bottle tree has a thick trunk in which moisture accumulates.

Savannahs are also located in the center of the mainland, red-brown soils are formed here. Eucalyptus, evergreen shrubs grow here, ostriches, kangaroos, dingoes, wombats are found. In the northeast, east and west of the mainland there are zones of humid tropical and subtropical forests, red ones are formed. Palm trees, ficuses, beeches, eucalyptus trees grow in this zone, marsupial bears and many birds are found.

On most of the islands, wet ones grow: palm trees, bananas, breadfruit, etc., there are practically no predators from animals, there are a lot of birds.

Ocean islands are the most exotic and unusual travel destination. It is enough that when a fierce winter rages in the homeland, then in the Southern Hemisphere it is the height of summer. And although people there do not go upside down, and the water does not spin in the opposite direction, the lands of Oceania remain for many a real terra incognita.

What is Oceania?

The boundaries of Oceania are rather arbitrary. In fact, this is a cluster of islands in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean. Easter Island is considered the eastern point, New Guinea is considered the western point. Geographers unite Oceania with Australia and consider these lands a separate part of the world.

A rather long list includes islands such as New Zealand, New Guinea, Fiji, Easter, Solomon, Hawaii and many others. Most of the islands are formed by volcanic activity, and many fire-breathing mountains are still dangerous.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea occupies an area comparable in area to Sweden, and actually connects Australia and Asia. Long before European sailors and Miklouho-Maclay, Indonesian rulers sent their envoys here to hunt for exotic birds and labor. The name of the island was given by the Portuguese don Jorge de Menezes, clearly alluding to the hair of the natives: "Papua" in Malay means "curly". More than 820 languages ​​are used here - this is due to some isolation of the tribes from each other due to the mountainous terrain.

Fiji

Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands, of which only a third are inhabited. Europeans discovered the Fiji Islands in the 17th century, but did not venture to establish colonies there until the 19th century. There was only one reason - the cannibalism of the natives. The leader had unquestioned authority and power. In the villages, a respectful attitude towards the head of the tribe is still preserved: only he is allowed to wear sunglasses and hats. But as for the tourists… it is difficult to find a more hospitable people. Here you will be treated to the most unusual dishes: boiled bat, stew in banana leaves and even a fried snake. However, the beauty of Fiji's tropical forests and diverse underwater world, for which divers greatly appreciate it, is short-lived: due to climate change, the corals to which the island owes its origin are under threat - eco-communities are sounding the alarm.

New Zealand

New Zealand (or "Land of the Long White Cloud") was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch sailor Abel Tasman. The local tribes at that time clearly did not like the white-skinned Europeans ... Now New Zealand is considered the safest country in the world. The next to venture here was only James Cook in 1769, who also contributed to the inclusion of the new country in the English possessions. The symbol of the island is a wingless timid bird kiwi - New Zealanders call themselves that. Well, Tolkien fans cannot help but know that all parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed among local landscapes, and during special tours you can see Hobbiton and the Baggins dwelling with your own eyes.

Solomon islands

The Solomon Islands are little known in the world. This is due to the remoteness from other geographical objects. Meanwhile, there is a constant mild climate and nature, unique in its beauty. For example, the salty lagoon of Marovo with sparkling blue water, the largest in the world, is about to enter the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is also the most elevated coral island - East Rennell. Tengano is such a large freshwater lake in the southern hemisphere that its water area includes 200 islands. As for the inhabitants, their manners and habits are rather curious. For example, many of them still worship sharks. Aboriginal people before the arrival of the missionaries were predominantly bounty hunters. By the way, about 10% of the dark-skinned inhabitants of the Solomon Islands are blond. This is due to a mutation that appeared many centuries ago - this has nothing to do with the settlements of Europeans.

Animal and plant world

The flora and fauna of the islands of Oceania amaze the imagination of seasoned tourists with their exoticism. What is a breadfruit worth! “He who plants a breadfruit tree will do more to feed his descendants than a grain grower who works his field all his life by the sweat of his brow,” wrote James Cook. One plant can produce up to 700-800 "breads" - special fruits with sweetish pulp, from which peculiar rolls are "baked". The sago palms in New Guinea provide the starch that is used to make delicious fritters. In the abundance of rainforests you can find cake trees - the sweet taste of their fruits really resembles confectionery. Well, bananas-coconuts cannot be counted at all - without these fruits, the natives could not survive.

People with entomophobia - fear of insects - have nothing to do on the islands of Oceania. Huge spiders, poisonous flies and giant butterflies are quite capable of scaring and even harming. In the jungle there is a danger of stepping on a snake - well, or she dives herself from a branch. In contrast to the dangers - the indescribable beauty of birds of paradise and the touching muzzles of marsupials. By the way, possums, as many mistakenly believe, are not found in Oceania: possums live there. This confusion arose back in the days of James Cook's research - the biologist of the expedition attributed marsupials to opossums living in America.

Go diving, lie on the world's best beaches made of coral chips, go skiing, see a parrot in its natural habitat and play the most romantic wedding - this is far from a complete list of what the newly opened tourists are offered. islands of oceania.

Pavilion “Around the World. Asia, Africa, Latin America, Australia and Oceania"

ETHNOMIR, Kaluga region, Borovsky district, Petrovo village

In the ethnographic park-museum "ETNOMIR" - an amazing place. The "City" street is built inside a spacious pavilion, so it is always warm, light and good weather on Mira Street - just right for an exciting walk, especially since within the framework of the latter you can make a whole trip around the world. Like any tourist street, it has its own sights, workshops, street artisans, cafes and shops located inside and outside the 19 houses.

The facades of the buildings are made in different ethnic styles. Each house is a "quote" from the life and traditions of a certain country. The very appearance of the houses begins the story of distant lands.

Step inside and you will be surrounded by new, unfamiliar objects, sounds and smells. The color scheme and decoration, furniture, interior and household items - all this helps to plunge into the atmosphere of distant countries, to understand and feel their uniqueness.

Geography of Australia and Oceania
Click to enlarge

Oceania is divided into several large regions: Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

In addition, Oceania includes thousands and thousands of coral islands located along the coasts of the countries of the region. Some definitions include in the region all states and territories in the Pacific Ocean between North and South America and Asia, in which case Taiwan and Japan would also be part of Oceania, not Asia.

Oceania is not only a geographic region and ecozone, it is also a geopolitical region defined by the United Nations, and includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and other island nations that are not part of the Asian region, as well as a host of coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific, including the Melanesian and Polynesian groups. Oceania also includes Micronesia, a highly scattered group of islands stretching along the northern and southern edges of the equator.

Oceania, the smallest continent on the planet, is without a doubt one of the most diverse and amazing regions on the planet.

Islands of Oceania

Geographic diversity of Oceania

Oceania is represented by a variety of landforms, the most significant of which are located in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. And, since most of the islands of Oceania are represented only by simple points on the map, it is impossible to display their relief and landscape features.

Many of these small islands are the result of ancient volcanic activity, or are coral atolls that surround part or all of the lagoon. Only a few islands have rivers of any significant size, and the same applies to lakes. Therefore, only recognized geographical features and landmarks of Australia will be listed below.

Relief and landscape of Australia

Australia is very dry, with only 35 percent of the country receiving little rainfall (sometimes not at all). Nearly 20 percent of the country is desert in one form or another.

Lake Eyre Basin

Lake Eyre itself is located at 16 m below sea level, and is located in the driest part of Australia. It usually contains some water, but recently, due to the harsh arid conditions in the country, it has no water at all. The Lake Eyre Basin is considered the world's largest inland drainage system, covering one-sixth of the country's total area. The rivers in this region flow in response to rainfall, and because of the very little rainfall, isolated water wells are essential to life.

Great Sandy Desert

This arid Western Australian steppe, south of the Kimberley Plateau, covers nearly 300,000 square kilometers of scattered shrubs and rocks. Red sand ridges (dunes) stretch for miles, and very few people live on its territory.

Great Victoria Desert

Known for its red sand dunes, native wilderness and isolation, the Victoria Desert (almost 350,000 sq. km.) is almost 750 km wide and is mostly a barren area of ​​red sand hills and ridges. , dry salt lakes, with very little greenery.

Great Artesian Basin

It is one of the largest artesian ground basins in the world and is also a lifeblood of water for Australian agriculture.

Great Barrier Reef

This picturesque coral reef, approximately 2,000 km long, contains the world's largest coral deposits. It is not a single reef, but rather an unusual mosaic of over 2,800 independent coral reefs. Renowned throughout the world for its beauty and wildlife (there are over 1,500 species of fish alone), it became Australia's first World Heritage Site in 1981.

Great Dividing Range

Lying along the eastern/southeastern edge of the country and extending all the way to Tasmania, these mountain ranges and ranges separate the dry Australian interior from the coastal regions. The highest point is Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m) in the Australian Alps. The Blue Mountains National Park, a World Heritage Site located in the state of New South Wales, two hours drive from Sydney, is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and one of the most visited places in Australia.

Shark Bay

Shark Bay is one of only 14 places on the planet that meet all four natural criteria for the title of World Heritage Site. These criteria include outstanding patterns of earth evolution, biological and ecological processes, incredible natural beauty, and a significant amount of natural habitat for animals and plants. This bay has the largest number of seagrass species for a single site, and supports a rich aquatic life for dolphins, dugongs, sea snakes, turtles, whales, and of course sharks.

Fraser Island

Located along the Australian Coral Sea, north of Brisbane, Fraser Island is Australia's fourth largest island (after Tasmania, Melville, and Kangaroo), and the second largest sand island in the world. Created thanks to the efforts of the winds over thousands of years, this island is 120 km long and 15 km wide.

Cape York Peninsula

Considered one of the "last remaining undeveloped areas on Earth", Cape York contains a large number of jagged mountains, rainforests, vast mangrove forests, grasslands, swamps, and fast-flowing rivers.

Kimberley Plateau

The Kimberley, most of which is still unexplored, is known for its dramatic red landscapes of cliffs and gorges, and for the very strong ocean tide that occurs twice a day, which accelerates the currents in the rivers to dangerous levels, and creates whirlpools. Dozens of islands and coral reefs line the coastline, and access to this region of Australia is very difficult, as there are few roads leading here.

Gibson Desert

Covered with small sand dunes and a few rocky hills, this 156,000 sq. km. The desert is home to many Aboriginal reservations. Due to the lack of rain, farming and raising livestock are difficult here.

Simpson Desert

This desert, measuring 176,500 square kilometers, is drifting. Its windswept dunes lack rain, and the summer heat can be very brutal. High temperatures in the desert often exceed 50ºC, and while people are advised to exercise extreme caution in this region during the summer months, the desert itself is certainly not lifeless. Tourists often come here in the winter and they often visit the spectacular scenery of Queensland's Simpson Desert National Park.

Tanami Desert

Similar to the Great Sandy Desert, this desert also has many red sand plains, it is also dominated by shrub vegetation, and lonely hills are scattered across its territory. In general, the desert is uninhabited, except for a few mines, and a small ranch.

Nullarbor Plain

This sparsely populated area of ​​southwestern Australia is very dry and has very little water. It can only be reached via the Air Highway crossing, named after the famous explorer Edward John Air, who became the first person to cross Australia from east to west in the mid-1800s. Along the southern coast of the Great Australian Bight, the local topography is second to none. The vast stretches of pure white sand that can be found at the Baxter Rocks, along the Gulf, are very impressive.

Darling/Murray river system

The Darling River, 1,879 km long, flows southwest from the banks of the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River. The Murray originates in the Australian Alps and flows for 1,930 km. to Spencer Bay, immediately west of Adelaide. It is the longest river in Australia and is the lifeblood of irrigation for the country's largest agricultural area.

Darling Ridge

This low mountain range runs off the southwestern coast of Australia. Its highest point is Mount Cook (580 m).

McDonnell Ridge

Made famous for Ayers Rock, and as a favorite destination for hikers and rock climbers, this range of hills, mountain ranges, and valleys is very popular for its consistently good weather and beautiful scenery. The highest point is Mount Zil (height - 1531 m.).

Hamersley Range

A reddish-brown low mountain range located in Western Australia, home to many Aboriginal peoples. This national park is known for its gorges and red rock waterfalls.

Ayers Rock (Uluru)

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Australia and Oceania on a hemisphere map

Australia and Oceania on the world map

Oceania- the collective name for a vast cluster of islands and atolls in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean. The boundaries of Oceania are conditional. The western border is considered to be the island, the eastern -. As a rule, Oceania does not include Australia, as well as the islands and archipelagos of Southeast Asia, the Far East and North America. In the section of geography, regional studies, Oceania is studied by an independent discipline - ocean studies.

Geographical position

Physical map of Australia and Oceania (English)

Regions of Australia and Oceania

Political map of Australia and Oceania

Oceania is the world's largest cluster of islands located in the southwestern and central parts of the Pacific Ocean, between the subtropical latitudes of the northern and temperate southern hemispheres. When all the land is divided into parts of the world, Oceania is usually combined with Australia into a single part of the world Australia and Oceania, although sometimes it is separated into an independent part of the world.

Geographically, Oceania is divided into several regions: (in the northwest), (in the west), and (in the east); sometimes isolated.

The total area of ​​the islands of Oceania, the largest of which is, is 1.26 million km² (together with Australia 8.52 million km²), the population is about 10.7 million people. (together with Australia 32.6 million people). Excluding Australia, Oceania is comparable to an African state in terms of total area and total population.

The islands of Oceania are washed by numerous seas of the Pacific (Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Fiji Sea, Koro Sea, Solomon Sea, New Guinea Sea, Philippine Sea) and Indian Oceans (Arafur Sea).

The Equator and the International Date Line pass through Oceania. It is a broken line, most of which runs along the 180° meridian.

sea ​​currents

Through the whole of Oceania, along the equator, there are warm North trade winds and South trade winds and the Inter-trade countercurrent. The warm East Australian Current passes through the southwestern part of Oceania. Characteristic of Oceania is the absence of cold sea currents (with the exception of the Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand), which largely determines the climate of this region.

Independent States

Main article: List of states and dependent territories of Oceania

Dependencies and Trust Territories

Geology

Mount Jaya in Western New Guinea (Indonesia) - the highest point in Oceania

From the point of view of geology, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, and are of continental origin, having formed on the site of the hypothetical continent Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single land, but as a result of the rise in the level of the World Ocean, a significant part of the surface was under water. The relief of these islands is mountainous and strongly dissected. For example, the highest mountains of Oceania, including Mount Jaya (5029 m), are located on the island.

Most of the islands of Oceania are of volcanic origin: some of them are the tops of large underwater volcanoes, some of which still show high volcanic activity (for example, the Hawaiian Islands).

Other islands have their origin, being atolls, which were formed as a result of the formation of coral structures around submerged volcanoes (for example, the Gilbert Islands, Tuamotu). A distinctive feature of such islands are large lagoons, which are surrounded by numerous islets, or motu, the average height of which does not exceed three meters. In Oceania, there is an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world - Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands archipelago. Despite the fact that its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), the area of ​​​​the lagoon is 2174 km² (or 839.3 sq. miles). The largest atoll in terms of land area is Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line Archipelago (or Central Polynesian Sporades) - 322 km². However, among the atolls there is also a special type - an elevated (or elevated) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m above sea level. This type of island has no lagoon or traces of its past existence. Examples of such atolls are Banaba.

The relief and geological structure of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in the Oceania region has a complex structure. From the peninsula (it is part of) to New Zealand, there are a large number of basins of marginal seas, deep ocean trenches (Tonga, Kermadec, Bougainville), which form a geosynclinal belt characterized by active volcanism, seismicity and contrasting relief.

There are no minerals on most of the islands of Oceania, only the largest of them are being developed: nickel (), oil and gas (island,), copper (Bougainville island in), gold (New Guinea,), phosphates (on most islands, deposits are almost or already developed, for example, in, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, decomposed seabird droppings were actively mined on many islands in the region, which was used as nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. On the ocean floor of the exclusive economic zone of a number of countries there are large accumulations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt, but at the moment no development is being carried out due to economic inexpediency.

Climate

Space image of Kwajalein Atoll

Coast of Caroline Atoll (Line Islands, Kiribati)

Oceania is located within several climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate. Most of the islands have a tropical climate. The subequatorial climate dominates on islands near Australia and Asia, as well as east of the 180th meridian in the equator zone, equatorial - west of the 180th meridian, subtropical - north and south of the tropics, temperate - in most of the South Island in New Zealand.

The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by the trade winds, so most of them experience heavy rainfall. The average annual rainfall varies from 1500 to 4000 mm, although on some islands (due to topographical features and on the lee side in particular) the climate can be drier or wetter. One of the wettest places on the planet is located in Oceania: on the eastern slope of Mount Waialeale on the island of Kauai, up to 11,430 mm of precipitation falls annually (the absolute maximum was reached in 1982: then 16,916 mm fell). Near the tropics, the average temperature is around 23°C, near the equator - 27°C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months.

The climate of the islands of Oceania is also greatly influenced by such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves northward towards the equator; during La Niña, it moves southward away from the equator. In the latter case, a severe drought is observed on the islands, in the first case, heavy rains.

Most of the islands of Oceania are subject to the destructive effects of natural disasters: volcanic eruptions (Hawaiian Islands, New Hebrides), earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones accompanied by typhoons and heavy rains, droughts. Many of them lead to significant material and human losses. For example, the tsunami in July 1999 killed 2,200 people.

There are glaciers on the South Island in New Zealand and on an island high in the mountains, but due to the process of global warming, their area is gradually shrinking.

Soils and hydrology

Stream on the island of Efate (Vanuatu)

Due to the different climatic conditions, the soils of Oceania are very diverse. The soils of the atolls are highly alkaline, of coral origin, and very poor. They are usually porous, which is why they retain moisture very poorly, and also contain very few organic and mineral substances, with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands, as a rule, are of volcanic origin and are highly fertile. On large mountainous islands, red-yellow, mountain lateritic, mountain-meadow, yellow-brown soils, yellow soils, and red soils are found.

There are large rivers only on the South and North Islands of New Zealand, as well as on the island, on which the largest rivers of Oceania, the Sepik (1126 km) and the Fly (1050 km), are located. The largest river in New Zealand is the Waikato (425 km). The rivers are predominantly fed by rain, although in New Zealand and New Guinea, rivers are also fed by water from melting glaciers and snow. On the atolls, there are no rivers at all due to the high porosity of the soils. Instead, rainwater seeps through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. On larger islands (usually of volcanic origin) there are small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.

The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, is located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are a rarity.

Flora and fauna

Kiwi - a symbol of New Zealand

Oceania is included in the Paleotropical region of vegetation, while three sub-regions are distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants of Oceania, the coconut palm and breadfruit stand out, which play an important role in the life of local residents: the fruits are used for food, wood is a source of heat, a building material, copra is produced from the oily endosperm of coconut palm nuts, which is the basis of the export of countries of this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemics (both representatives of flora and fauna) was registered in New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, while from west to east there is a decrease in the number of species, genera and families of plants.

The fauna of Oceania belongs to the Polynesian faunistic region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand stands out in an independent region, New Guinea - in the Papuan subregion of the Australian region. New Zealand and New Guinea are the most diverse. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily atolls, mammals are almost never found: many of them are inhabited only by the small rat. But the local avifauna is very rich. Most of the atolls have bird markets where seabirds nest. Of the representatives of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are the kiwi birds, which have become the national symbol of the country. Other endemics of the country are kea (lat. Nestor notabilis, or nestor), kakapo (lat. Strigops habroptilus, or owl parrot), takahe (lat. Notoronis hochstelteri, or wingless sultan). All the islands of Oceania are inhabited by a large number of lizards, snakes and insects.

During the European colonization of the islands, alien species of plants and animals were introduced to many of them, which negatively affected the local flora and fauna.

The region has a large number of protected areas, many of which occupy large areas. For example, the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati have been the world's largest marine reserve since January 28, 2008 (the area is 410,500 km²).

Story

Main article: History of Oceania

Pre-colonial period

Island and nearby islands Names of Russians on the map of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Source:.

Letter from N. N. Miklukho-Maklai to the Head of the detachment of ships in the Pacific Ocean with a proposal to acquire areas on the islands of the Pacific Ocean, convenient for coal depots, March 30, 1873.

In the Russian Empire, after the discovery of the northwestern coast of America by V. Bering in 1741, merchant companies, with the support of the Siberian administration, organized about 90 fishing expeditions to the Pacific Ocean until the end of the 18th century. The state established the Russian-American Company (1799-1867), which dealt with administrative issues and trade in Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. In May 1804, two ships Nadezhda and Neva approached the Hawaiian Islands. These were the first Russian ships to circumnavigate the world. In the heart of the tropical part of the Pacific Ocean there are atolls and islands of the Russians, Suvorov, Kutuzov, Lisyansky, Bellingshausen, Barclay de Tolly, the Krusenstern reef and many others. Another distinctive side of all the travels that took place is mutual friendliness in the history of meetings between Russians and the peoples of the Pacific Ocean.

Map of Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho-Maclay of the alleged territorial acquisitions of Russia in the Pacific Ocean, submitted in a letter to Alexander III, December 1883.

Letter to the Main Naval Headquarters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding N. N. Miklukho-Maclay’s proposal on Russian acquisitions in the Pacific Ocean with the resolution “... to consider this matter finally over. Miklukho-Maclay to refuse”, December 1886.

As the first European who settled on the shores of the Astrolabe Bay in New Guinea and explored this area, N. N. Miklukho Maclay repeatedly made a proposal to peacefully occupy or take under the protection of Russia a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Russian scientist sent letters to the Naval Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, personally to Emperor Alexander III.

colonial period

The ships of the English traveler James Cook and the canoes of the natives in Matawai Bay on the island of Tahiti (French Polynesia), artist William Hodges, 1776

In the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the period of exploration of Oceania by Europeans continued, which gradually began to populate the islands. However, the process of European colonization was very slow, since the region did not arouse much interest among foreigners due to the lack of natural resources, and negatively affected the local population: many diseases were introduced that had never been in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, in which resulted in the death of a significant part of the natives. At the same time, there was a Christianization of the inhabitants, who worshiped numerous deities and spirits.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries, the islands of Oceania were divided between the colonial powers, primarily the British Empire, and (later the German Empire joined them). Of particular interest to Europeans was the possibility of creating plantations on the islands (coconut palm for the production of copra, sugar cane), as well as the slave trade (the so-called "blackbird hunting", suggesting the recruitment of islanders to work on plantations).

In 1907 it became a dominion, but formally it became a fully independent state only in 1947. After the First World War, the first political organizations began to emerge ("May" in Western Samoa, "Fiji Youth" in Fiji), which fought for the independence of the colonies. During the Second World War, Oceania was one of the theaters of war, where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American troops).

After the war, there were some improvements in the economy in the region, but in most colonies it was one-sided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: in 1962 it gained independence, in 1963 - West Irian, in 1968 -. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.

Post-colonial period

After gaining independence, most of the countries of Oceania have retained serious economic, political and social problems, the solution of which is carried out with the participation of international organizations (including the UN) and within the framework of regional cooperation. Despite the process of decolonization in the 20th century, some islands still remain dependent to some extent: New Caledonia Portrait of a representative of the indigenous people of New Zealand - the Maori

The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians and Papuans.

Polynesians living in the countries of Polynesia have a mixed racial type, combining features of the Australoid and Mongoloid races. The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans, Maori, Marquesans, Rapanui and others. Native languages ​​belong to the Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages: Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori, Marquesan, Rapanui and others. The characteristic features of the Polynesian languages ​​are a small number of sounds, especially consonants, and an abundance of vowels.

Micronesians live in the countries of Micronesia. The largest peoples are Carolinians, Kiribati, Marshallese, Nauru, Chamorro and others. Native languages ​​belong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Caroline, Kusaie, Marshallese, Nauruan and others. The Palauan and Chamorro languages ​​belong to the Western Malayo-Polynesian languages, while Jap forms a separate branch within the Oceanic languages, which includes the Micronesian languages.

Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. The racial type is Australoid, with a small Mongoloid element, close to the Papuans of New Guinea. Melanesians speak Melanesian languages, but their languages, unlike Micronesian and Polynesian, do not form a separate genetic group, and the linguistic fragmentation is very large, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.

Papuans inhabit the island and some areas. In anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians, but differ from them in language. Not all Papuan languages ​​are related to each other. The national language of the Papuans in Papua New Guinea is the English-based Tok Pisin Creole. According to various sources of peoples and languages, the Papuans number from 300 to 800. At the same time, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between a separate language and a dialect.

Many languages ​​of Oceania are on the verge of extinction. In everyday life, they are increasingly being replaced by English and French.

The position of the indigenous population in the countries of Oceania is different. If, for example, in the Hawaiian Islands their share is very low, then in New Zealand the Maori make up to 15% of the country's population. The proportion of Polynesians located in Micronesia is about 21.3%. The majority of the population is made up of numerous Papuan peoples, although there is also a high proportion of people from other islands in the region.

In New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, the majority of the population is European, whose proportion is also high in (34%) and in French Polynesia (12%). On the islands, 38.2% of the population is represented by Indo-Fijians, descendants of Indian contract workers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century.

Recently, in the countries of Oceania, the proportion of people from (mainly Chinese and Filipinos) has been increasing. For example, in the Northern Mariana Islands, the share of Filipinos is 26.2%, and the Chinese - 22.1%.

The population of Oceania is mainly Christian, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branches.

Economy

Economy of Oceania. Donation and economic unions.