Climatic zones of Oceania. Geographical characteristics of Australia and Oceania
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Australia and Oceania on the hemisphere map
Australia and Oceania on the world map
Oceania- the collective name for a vast collection of islands and atolls in the central and western parts Pacific Ocean. The boundaries of Oceania are arbitrary. The western border is considered to be the island, the eastern -. As a rule, Australia and the islands and archipelagos of Southeast Asia are not included in Oceania. Far East And North America. In the section of geography, regional studies, Oceania is studied by an independent discipline - oceanography.
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 collection 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 dividing the entire landmass into parts of the world, Oceania is usually united 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 in total area and total population to an African state.
The islands of Oceania are washed by numerous Pacific seas (Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Fiji Sea, Koro Sea, Solomon Sea, New Guinea Sea, Philippine Sea) and Indian Oceans(Arafura Sea).
The equator passes through Oceania and international line date changes. It is a broken line, most of which runs along the 180° meridian.
Sea currents
The warm Northern Trade Wind and Southern Trade Wind Currents and the Inter-Trade Wind Countercurrent pass through all of Oceania, along the equator. 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
| Name of region, countries and country flag |
Square (km²) |
Population (est. July 1, 2002) |
Population density (persons/km²) |
Capital | Currency unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7 692 024 | 21 050 000 | 2,5 | Australian dollar (AUD) | |
| 12 190 | 196 178 | 16,1 | cotton wool (VUV) | ||
| 462 840 | 5 172 033 | 11,2 | kina (PGK) | ||
| 28 450 | 494 786 | 17,4 | Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) | ||
| 18 274 | 856 346 | 46,9 | Fijian dollar (FJD) | ||
| 811 | 96 335 | 118,8 | Australian dollar (AUD) | ||
| 21 | 12 329 | 587,1 | No | Australian dollar (AUD) | |
| 268 680 | 4 108 037 | 14,5 | New Zealand dollar (NZD) | ||
| 2 935 | 178 631 | 60,7 | tala (WST) | ||
| 748 | 106 137 | 141,9 | pa'anga (TOP) | ||
| 26 | 11 146 | 428,7 | Funafuti | Australian dollar (AUD) |
Dependent territories and trustee territories
| Name of region, country and country flag |
Square (km²) |
Population (est. July 1, 2002) |
Population density (persons/km²) |
Administrative center | Currency unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | |||||
| (Australia) | 5 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Coral Sea Islands (Australia) | 7 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Norfolk (Australia) | 35 | 1 866 | 53,3 | Kingston | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Western New Guinea ( ) | 424 500 | 2 646 489 | 6 | , | Indonesian rupiah (IDR) |
| () | 18 575 | 207 858 | 10,9 | ||
| () | 541 | 160 796 | 292,9 | US dollar (USD) | |
| 181 | 73 630 | 406,8 | US dollar (USD) | ||
| 458 | 19 409 | 42,4 | US dollar (USD) | ||
| Northern Mariana Islands () | 463,63 | 77 311 | 162,1 | Saipan | US dollar (USD) |
| Wake() | 7,4 | - | - | - | |
| 702 | 135 869 | 193,5 | US dollar (USD) | ||
| () | 199 | 68 688 | 345,2 | , Fagatogo | US dollar (USD) |
| Baker() | 1,24 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| () | 28 311 | 1 211 537 | 72,83 | US dollar (USD) | |
| Jarvis() | 4,45 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| () | 2,52 | - | - | - | |
| Kingman() | 0,01 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| () | 6,23 | - | - | - | |
| () | 261,46 | 2 134 | 8,2 | New Zealand dollar (NZD) | |
| () | 236,7 | 20 811 | 86,7 | New Zealand dollar (NZD) | |
| Palmyra () | 6,56 | - | - | - | |
| Isla de Pascua () | 163,6 | 3791 | 23,1 | Hanga Roa | Chilean Peso (CLP) |
| () | 47 | 67 | 1,4 | Adamstown | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| () | 10 | 1 431 | 143,1 | - | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| () | 274 | 15 585 | 56,9 | French Pacific franc (XPF) | |
| French polynesia () | 4 167 | 257 847 | 61,9 | French Pacific franc (XPF) | |
| () | 1,62 | uninhabited | - | - | |
Geology
Mount Jaya in Western New Guinea (Indonesia) is the highest point in Oceania
From a geological point of view, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, and is of continental origin, having formed on the site of the hypothetical continent of Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single landmass, but as a result of rising sea levels, a significant part of the surface was under water. The relief of these islands is mountainous and highly 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 summits of large underwater volcanoes, some of which still exhibit high volcanic activity (for example, Hawaiian Islands).
Other islands originate as 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, average height 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. Although its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), its lagoon area is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 sq. miles). The largest atoll by land area is Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line Archipelago (or Central Polynesian Sporades) - 322 km². However, among atolls there is also a special type - a raised (or elevated) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m high above sea level. This type of island does not have a lagoon or there are traces of its past existence. Examples of such atolls are Banaba.
The relief and geological structure of the Pacific Ocean floor in the Oceania region has a complex structure. From the peninsula (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.
On most of the islands of Oceania there are no mineral resources, only the largest of them are being developed: nickel (), oil and gas (island), copper (Bougainville island), gold (New Guinea), phosphates (on most islands there are almost or have already been developed, for example, in, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, many islands in the region were heavily mined for decomposed seabird droppings, which were 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
Satellite 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. Subequatorial climate prevails on the 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 - on most of the South Island in New Zealand.
The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by trade winds, so most of them receive heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 mm, although some islands (particularly due to topography and downwind areas) may have drier or wetter climates. Oceania is home to one of the wettest places on the planet: 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 average temperature is about 23 °C, at the equator - 27 °C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months.
The climate of the Oceanian islands is also greatly influenced by such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves north toward the equator; during La Niña, it moves south away from the equator. In the latter case, the islands experience severe drought, while in the former, heavy rains occur.
Most of the islands of Oceania are subject to harmful effects 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 July 1999 tsunami killed 2,200 people.
There are glaciers on the South Island of New Zealand and on the island high in the mountains, but due to global warming, their area is gradually decreasing.
Soils and hydrology
Stream on Efate Island (Vanuatu)
Due to different climatic conditions, Oceania's soils 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 little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands are usually of volcanic origin and are characterized by high fertility. On large mountainous islands there are red-yellow, mountain lateritic, mountain-meadow, yellow-brown soils, yellow soils, and red soils.
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 in Oceania, the Sepik (1126 km) and Fly (1050 km), are located. The largest river in New Zealand is the Waikato (425 km). The rivers are fed primarily by rain, although in New Zealand and New Guinea the rivers are also fed by water from melting glaciers and snow. On atolls there are no rivers at all due to the high porosity of the soil. Instead, rainwater percolates through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. For more large islands(usually of volcanic origin) there are small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.
The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, are located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are a rarity.
Flora and fauna
Kiwi - the symbol of New Zealand
Oceania is included in the Paleotropical region of vegetation, with three subregions distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants of Oceania are the coconut palm and breadfruit who play an important role in life local residents: fruits are used for food, wood is a source of heat, building material, the oily endosperm of the coconut palm nut is used to produce copra, which is the main export of the countries in this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemics (both flora and fauna) are recorded 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 faunal region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand is allocated to an independent region, New Guinea - to 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 atolls have bird colonies where seabirds nest. 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 sultana). All the islands of Oceania are home to 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 contains 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 (area 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. Miklouho-Maclay to the Head of a detachment of ships in the Pacific Ocean with a proposal to acquire areas on the islands of the Pacific Ocean suitable for coal storage, March 30, 1873.
In the Russian Empire, after the discovery of the northwestern coast of America by W. 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 make circumnavigation of the world. In the heart of the tropical Pacific Ocean there are atolls and islands of Rossiyan, Suvorov, Kutuzov, Lisyansky, Bellingshausen, Barclay de Tolly, Krusenstern Reef and many others. Another distinctive aspect of all the travels that took place is the mutual friendliness in the history of meetings between Russians and the peoples of the Pacific Ocean.
Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay's map of Russia's supposed territorial acquisitions in the Pacific Ocean, submitted in a letter to Alexander III, December 1883.
A letter to the Main Naval Headquarters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding N. N. Miklouho-Maclay’s proposal on Russian acquisitions in the Pacific Ocean with a resolution “... to consider this matter finally over. Refuse Miklouho-Maclay,” December 1886.
As the first European to settle on the shores of Astrolabe Bay in New Guinea and explore this area, N. N. Miklouho 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, and personally to Emperor Alexander III.
Colonial period
The ships of the English explorer James Cook and the canoes of the natives in Matavai 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 study of Oceania by Europeans continued, who gradually began to populate the islands. However, the process of European colonization proceeded very slowly, since the region did not arouse much interest among foreigners due to the lack natural resources, and had a negative impact on the local population: many diseases were introduced that had never existed in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, as a result of which a significant part of the natives died. At the same time, there was a Christianization of the inhabitants, who worshiped numerous deities and spirits.
In the 18th-19th centuries, the islands of Oceania were divided between 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 palms for the production of copra, sugar cane), as well as the slave trade (the so-called "Blackbird Hunt", which involved recruiting islanders to work on plantations).
In 1907 it became a dominion, but formally it became a completely 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 World War II, Oceania was one of the theaters of war where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American forces).
After the war, there were some economic improvements in the region, but in most colonies it was lopsided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: in 1962, West Irian gained independence, in 1963, and in 1968. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.
Post-colonial period
After gaining independence, the bulk of the countries of Oceania 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 one degree or another: New Caledonia Portrait of a representative of the indigenous people of New Zealand - 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, Maoris, 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. Characteristic features of 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, Kiribatis, Marshallese, Nauru, Chamorros and others. The native languages belong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Carolinian, Kusaie, Marshallese, Nauruan and others. The Palauan and Chamorro languages belong to the West Malayo-Polynesian languages, and Yapese forms a separate branch of the Oceanian languages, which also includes the Micronesian languages.
Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. Racial type - 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 great, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.
Papuans inhabit the island and some areas. In terms of 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 language. According to various data of the peoples and languages of the Papuans, there are from 300 to 800. However, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between separate language and dialect.
Many languages of Oceania are on the verge of extinction. In everyday life they are increasingly being replaced by English and French.
The situation 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 Maori make up up to 15% of the country's population. The share of Polynesians 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 share 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 immigrants 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 are 22.1%.
The population of Oceania mainly professes Christianity, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branches.
Economy
Economy of Oceania. Donation and economic unions.
Oceania is the name of a region of the world consisting of island groups in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. It covers more than 8.5 million km². Some of the countries that make up Oceania include Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. Oceania also includes several dependent territories such as American Samoa, Johnston and French Polynesia.
Physical geography of Oceania
From point of view physical geography, the islands of Oceania are often divided into four different subregions based on geological processes that played an important role in their physical development. The first one is. It stands out due to its location in the middle of the Indo-Australian plate, and the lack of mountain building during its development. Instead, the current physical features of Australia's landscape have been shaped primarily by erosion.
The second region of Oceania consists of islands located at the boundaries of the collision between the plates of the earth's crust. They are located in the South Pacific Ocean. For example, on the collision line between the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates, and includes places such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Northern part The Pacific Ocean also has similar types of landscapes along the boundary of the Eurasian and Pacific plates. Colliding tectonic plates are responsible for the formation of mountains, such as those in New Zealand, that rise more than 3,000 m above sea level.
Volcanic islands such as Fiji are the third category of landscape type found in Oceania. These islands typically rise from the sea floor in hot spots in the Pacific Ocean basin. Most of these areas consist of very small islands with high mountain ranges.
Finally, island coral reefs and atolls such as Tuvalu are the final type of landscape in Oceania. Atolls are specifically responsible for the formation of low-lying land areas, some with enclosed lagoons.
Oceania Climate
Climate map of Oceania according to Köppen
Most of Oceania is divided into two climatic zones: temperate and. Most of Australia and all of New Zealand are in the temperate zone, while most of the Pacific islands are considered tropical. Temperate regions of Oceania have high rainfall levels, cold winters and warm to hot summers. The tropical regions of Oceania are hot and humid all year round.
In addition to these climate zones, most countries in Oceania are subject to continuous trade winds and sometimes hurricanes (called tropical cyclones), which have historically caused catastrophic damage to the countries and islands of the region.
Flora and fauna of Oceania
Because most of Oceania lies in the tropical or temperate climate zone, abundant rainfall helps support the growth of tropical and temperate rainforests throughout the region. Tropical rainforests are common in some island countries, near the tropics, while temperate rainforests are found in New Zealand. Both types of forest support a variety of animal and plant species, making Oceania one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.
It is important to note that not all areas of Oceania receive high rainfall and some parts of the region are arid or semi-arid. Australia, for example, has large areas of dry land that support little diversity of flora. In addition, El Niño has caused frequent droughts in recent decades in Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The fauna of Oceania, like its flora, is also extremely beautiful. Since most of the region consists of islands, unique species birds, animals and insects evolved in complete isolation. Presence of coral reefs such as the Great barrier reef and Kingman Reef also provide areas of high concentrations of flora and fauna and are considered biodiversity hotspots.
Population of Oceania
Oceania has a population of about 40 million, with the bulk of the people (about 30 million) living in Australia and New Zealand, while Papua New Guinea has a population of about 8 million. The remainder of Oceania's population is scattered across the various islands that make up the region.
Like population distribution, urbanization and industrialization are also unevenly distributed across Oceania. About 89% of the region's urban areas are in Australia and New Zealand, and these countries also have the best developed infrastructure. Australia, in particular, has reserves of many minerals and energy feedstocks, and generates much of the region's economy. The rest of Oceania and in particular island states The Pacific Ocean is very poorly developed. Some islands are rich, but most are not. In addition, some of the island states are experiencing shortages of clean drinking water or food.
Agriculture is also important in Oceania and there are three types that are common in the region. These include subsistence agriculture, plantation crops and capital-intensive agriculture. Subsistence farming occurs on most Pacific Islands and is carried out to support local communities. Cassava, taro, yams and sweet potatoes are the most common products of this type of agriculture. Plantation crops are planted in the middle tropical islands, while capital-intensive agriculture is practiced only in Australia and New Zealand.
And finally, fishing and tourism are important sectors of the Oceanian economy and a driver of its development. Fishing serves as an important source of income because many islands have maritime exclusive economic zones that extend over 370 km. Tourism is also important to Oceania, as tropical islands such as Fiji offer aesthetic beauty, while Australia and New Zealand offer developed cities with modern infrastructure. New Zealand has also become important tourist region in the sphere.
Oceania countries
Map of Oceania countries/Wikipedia
Below is a list of the 14 independent countries of Oceania, ranked from largest to smallest country by area:
1) Australia:
- Area: 7,617,930 km²
- Population: about 25,000,000 people
- Capital: Canberra
2) Papua New Guinea:
- Area: 462,840 km²
- Population: more than 8,000,000 people
- Capital: Port Moresby
3) New Zealand:
- Area: 268,680 km²
- Population: about 5,000,000 people
- Capital: Wellington
4) Solomon Islands:
- Area: 28,450 km²
- Population: about 600,000 people
- Capitals: Honiara
5) Fiji:
- Area: 18,274 km²
- Population: about 900,000 people
- Capital: Suva
6) Vanuatu:
- Area: 12,189 km²
- Population: about 270,000 people
- Capital: Port Vila
7) Samoa:
- Area: 2842 km²
- Population: about 193,000 people
- Capital: Apia
8) Kiribati:
- Area: 811 km²
- Population: about 110,000 people
- Capital: Tarawa
9) Tonga:
- Area: 748 km²
- Population: about 107,000 people
- Capitals: Nuku'alofa
10) Federated States of Micronesia:
- Area: 702 km²
- Population: about 105,000 people
- Capital: Palikir
11) Palau:
- Area: 459 km²
- Population: about 21,000 people
- Capital: Melekeok
12) Marshall Islands:
- Area: 181 km²
- Population: about 53,000 people
- Capital: Majuro
13) Tuvalu:
- Area: 26 km²
- Capital: Funafuti
14) Nauru:
- Area: 21 km²
- Population: about 11,000 people
- Capital: No
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 coral islands located along the coasts of the countries in the region. Some definitions include all states and territories in the Pacific Ocean between the 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 geographical 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 included in the Asian region, as well as a host of coral atolls and volcanic islets of the South Pacific, including Melanesian and Polynesian groups. Oceania also includes Micronesia, a widely scattered group of islands stretching along the northern and southern region equator.
Oceania, the planet's smallest continent, is without a doubt one of the most diverse and amazing regions on the planet.
Islands of Oceania
Geographical 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 surrounding 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 ones will be listed below. geographical features and attractions of Australia.
Relief and landscape of Australia
Australia is very dry, with only 35 percent of the country receiving little (sometimes no) rainfall. Almost 20 percent of the country is desert in one form or another.
Lake Eyre Basin
Lake Eyre itself is 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 dry conditions in the country, it has no water at all. The Lake Eyre basin is considered the world's largest inland drainage system, covering an area of one-sixth of the country's total area. Rivers in this region flow depending on rainfall, and because there is very little rainfall, isolated water wells are essential to life.
Great Sandy Desert
On this arid steppe Western Australia, located south of the Kimberley Plateau, covers an area of almost 300,000 sq. km., and features scattered shrub vegetation and rocks. It has miles of red sand ridges (dunes) and very few people live in its area.
Great Victoria Desert
Known for its red sand dunes, native wildlife and isolation, the Victoria Desert (nearly 350,000 sq km in area) is almost 750 km wide and is a mostly barren area of red sand hills and ridges. , dry salt lakes, with very little greenery.
Great Artesian Pool
It is one of the largest artesian groundwater basins in the world and is also a vital source of water for Australian agriculture.
Great Barrier Reef
This picturesque coral reef, approximately 2,000 km long, contains the largest coral deposits in the world. It is not a single reef, but rather an unusual mosaic of over 2,800 independent coral reefs. Known throughout the world for its beauty and wildlife(there are over 1,500 species of fish here alone), it became the first Australian site World Heritage in 1981
Great Dividing Range
Situated along the eastern/south-eastern edge of the country, and extending all the way to Tasmania, these mountain ranges and ridges separate Australia's dry interior from its coastal regions. The most highest point– Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) in the Australian Alps. National Park Blue Mountains, a World Heritage Site located in New South Wales, two hours' drive from Sydney, is one of the most... beautiful places in the world, and one of Australia's most visited places.
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is one of only 14 places on the planet that meet all four natural criteria to be designated a World Heritage Site. These criteria include outstanding examples of earth evolution, biological and ecological processes, outstanding natural beauty, and significant natural habitats for animals and plants. This bay has the largest number of seagrass species for one location, and supports rich aquatic life for dolphins, dugongs, sea snakes, turtles, whales, and of course, sharks.
Fraser Island
Situated along the Australian Coral Sea, north of Brisbane, Fraser Island is Australia's fourth largest island (after Tasmania, Melville, and Kangaroo), and second largest sand island in the world. Created thanks to the efforts of 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, extensive mangrove forests, grasslands, marshes, and fast-flowing rivers.
Kimberley Plateau
The Kimberley, much of which is still unexplored, is famous for its dramatic red landscapes of cliffs and gorges, and for the very strong ocean tide that occurs twice daily, which accelerates river flows 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 by small sand dunes and a few rocky hills, this 156,000 sq. km. The desert is home to many Aboriginal reserves. Lack of rain makes farming and raising livestock difficult here.
Simpson Desert
This desert, measuring 176,500 square kilometers, is drifting. Its windswept dunes are starved of rain and the summer heat can be brutal. High temperatures in the desert often exceed 50ºC, and while people are advised to exercise extreme caution in the region during the summer, the desert itself is certainly not lifeless. Tourists often visit here during winter and they often visit the spectacular scenery national park Queensland Simpson Desert.
Tanami Desert
Similar to Big sandy desert, this desert also has many red sandy plains, it is also dominated by shrubby vegetation, and lonely hills are scattered throughout its territory. The desert is generally uninhabited, except for a few mines and a small livestock farm.
Nullarbor Plain
This sparsely populated area of southwestern Australia is very dry and has very little water. It can only be reached through the intersection of Air Highway, named after famous explorer Edward John Eyre, who became the first person to cross Australia from east to west in the mid-1800s. Along south coast The local topography of the Great Australian Bight has no equal. Huge stretches of pure white sand, which can be found at the Baxter Rocks along the Bay, 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 Gulf, immediately west of Adelaide. This longest river in Australia, and it is a vital source of irrigation for the country's largest agricultural region.
Darling Range
This low mountain range lies off the southwestern coast of Australia. Its highest point is Mount Cook (580 m).
MacDonnell Range
Famed for Ayers Rock, and as a favorite destination for hikers and rock climbers, this range of hills, ridges, and valleys is very popular for its consistently good weather and beautiful scenery. The highest point is Mount Zil (height - 1,531 m).
Hamersley Ridge
A reddish-brown low mountain range located in Western Australia, home to many Aboriginal people. This national park famous for its red rock gorges and waterfalls.
Ayers Rock (Uluru)
If you look closely at the map of the Pacific Ocean, you will notice some peculiarity in the location of the islands in the southern part of the ocean: the closer you are to the southwest, to Australia, the denser the islands cover the ocean and the larger they are in size; The further you go from Australia to the east and northeast, the smaller the islands and the more widely scattered they are across the ocean. Taking a closer look, we will notice other features in the location of the islands: most of them, and in particular the large ones, are elongated in a certain direction, and chains of small islands stretch in the same direction, continuing each other. These lines form, as it were, wide concentric arcs, covering the Australian continent from the east and approximately parallel to the mountain range that stretches along the eastern coast of this continent. Three such concentric arcs can be outlined: the first, internal, is composed of the largest island - New Guinea (Irian), and its continuation is New Caledonia and New Zealand; the second arc is formed by the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, the islands of Santa Cruz, Banks and the New Hebrides; third arc, outer and less correct, - o-va Caroline, Marshall, Gilbert, Ellis, Fiji, Tonga and Kermadec.
This arrangement of the islands is not accidental and is explained by the geological history of Oceania. These three concentric arcs of islands probably represent the remnants of the mountain ranges of an ancient continent that once occupied a much larger area than present-day Australia. The eastern, outer arc may have been the edge of this continent. Most of the islands mentioned above are formed by rocks of continental origin.
Further to the east and northeast the picture changes. We are entering here into a real oceanic expanse. Small islands, exclusively of volcanic or coral origin, do not show any connection with any continent.
Volcanic islands are mostly high and mountainous. These are the Mariana Islands and Hawaii in northern Oceania and Samoa G Tahiti, Marquesas and Tubuai in the southern part. They are rich in picturesque and varied landscapes. In the Hawaiian Islands there are active volcanoes- Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Vertex extinct volcano Mauna Kea (4212 m) is the highest point in all of eastern Oceania. The crater of the extinct volcano Mauna Halealakala (on the island of Maui) is considered the largest in the world: its circumference is 45 km.
Coral islands are low-lying, they barely rise above the surface of the water. These are the islands (some of those mentioned above) Marshall, Gilbert, Ellis, Phoenix, Tokelau, Tuamotu (Paumotu) and Cook. The Tonga and Caroline groups consist of islands of both categories. Among the coral islands there are ring-shaped atolls with an internal shallow lagoon. These low-lying islands, devoid of trees, are little picturesque, and sometimes present a dull appearance. Coral polyps, the builders of these islands, cannot live at great depths; Therefore, it is suggested that the coral islands are also built on a volcanic pedestal, which gradually sank into the depths. Be that as it may, there are no traces of any ancient continent in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The islands of Oceania are grouped into archipelagos. Within each archipelago, the distances between the islands are not great and are usually measured in tens of kilometers. The distances between archipelagos are much greater - on the order of hundreds and thousands of kilometers. 1 Therefore, the living conditions of humans on the islands of the same archipelago are for the most part homogeneous, and the connection between them is quite close. The connection between the archipelagos is much weaker and the living conditions on them are different.
However, communication even between individual archipelagos and isolated islands is partly facilitated by constant sea currents. These currents, associated with the rotation of the earth, have a latitudinal direction - along the equator from east to west, north and south of it - in the opposite direction. Currents bring pieces and whole tree trunks, fruits and seeds from island to island; There were cases when boats with their crew were carried by sea currents (or a storm) to distant islands.
Climate
Almost all the islands of Oceania are located between the tropics, therefore in a hot equatorial climate. Annual temperature fluctuations are very small - usually do not exceed 5°. But there is no particularly great, depressing heat there, since the ocean moderates the temperature. The average annual temperature ranges from +23.5° (New Caledonia, Hawaiian Islands) to +28° (Marshall Islands), the average temperature of the coldest month does not drop below + 20°. New Zealand alone, located outside the tropical zone (34 - 47° S), is distinguished by other climatic conditions. Here the climate is moderately warm, even cool, and the difference between winter and summer temperatures is already quite noticeable: in Christchurch on the South Island, the average January temperature (southern summer) is +16.2°, the average July temperature (winter) is +5.5° , the difference is 10.7°. High mountains New Zealand is covered with eternal snow and glaciers.
Irrigation of the islands of Oceania is quite sufficient, even abundant, although not the same everywhere. Particularly generous tropical rains fall over the western archipelagos - over 200 cm per year; the further east you go, the fewer there are. There are different seasons - rainy and drier. Large rivers no, except for several rivers in New Guinea (Fly, Sepik) and New Zealand. This last island has wonderful hot springs.
On most islands the climate is quite healthy and favorable for humans. Only on the western islands are the natural conditions worse. Here, especially in New Guinea, malaria and yellow fever are rampant. On other islands, endemic diseases include leprosy and elephantiasis.
Vegetation
Most of the islands of Oceania are covered with evergreen tropical vegetation, very rich and lush on the western islands, especially New Guinea, but the further east you go, the more monotonous and sparse it is. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that only a very small part of the vegetation of Oceania has been preserved from the time when a large continuous continent is supposed to have existed here. Seeds and fruits of plants are carried by sea, wind and birds, and the vast majority of plant species are brought to the islands from outside. But there is much less chance of them getting into this way small islands eastern Oceania, separated from each other by vast distances.
In this sense, the distribution of palm trees is especially indicative: in Indonesia there are up to 200 species, in the Solomon Islands there are 18, and in Hawaii there are only three species. The most important and widespread are: the coconut palm, found throughout Oceania, except for the southern part of New Zealand, and is especially characteristic of the coral islands; rattan (palm vine), which provides a flexible and durable material for crafts, growing in the western part of Oceania; The sago palm, which is especially abundant in New Guinea, has the same distribution area, as does the areca palm. Pandanus and breadfruit (Artocarpus) are found almost everywhere. It is difficult to list the various types of evergreen plants: araucarias, rhododendrons, crotons, acacias, ficuses, bamboo and many others. In coastal and swampy areas, in the tidal zone, coastal mangroves are characteristic. A major role is played by cultivated plants brought by man himself: banana (Musa), papaya (melon tree, Carica papaya), root vegetables - yams (Dioscorea sativa), tarot (Colocasia antiquorum) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). One of the characteristic features of the flora of Oceania is its endemicity and “insularity”: each group of islands has its own species that are not found anywhere else, and the number of such species reaches 30% of the total number of all local plants. Some of them are very archaic, they are like living fossils of the plant world, preserved in unique natural museums.
Typical landscape of large western islands- virgin a tropical forest, covering the slopes of mountains and the coast, generated by a hot and humid climate. Giant trees rise to 40-60 m in height. Solid foliage, intertwining branches, climbing rattans and other vines create perpetual shade below. The trunks and branches are covered with epiphytes. This forest is damp and dark, and it is almost impossible to get through the forest without an axe. Many trees send out dozens of aerial roots and, resting them on the ground, hang in the air like giant spiders.
A completely different type of vegetation cover on the low-lying coral islands of eastern Oceania. Monotonous thickets of coconut palms and pandanus trees represent modest groves. Among the coral islands there are some completely devoid of trees and overgrown only with bushes.
In New Zealand, the vegetation is somewhat special. Its general character is subtropical, but the further to the south, the fewer tropical species: palm trees disappear, there are no bamboos. But a huge kauri pine and tree ferns appear; New Zealand flax is typical among herbs ( Phormium tenax), giving good fiber.
Animal world
The fauna is distributed in Oceania similarly to the flora: the further west, the richer, the further to the east, the poorer. The fauna of New Guinea is the most diverse, partly similar to that of Australia. Here, in addition to the wild pig, the oviparous echidna and marsupials are found: tree kangaroos, cuscus (Phalangista), marsupial anteater, marsupial squirrel; Among placentals - a flying dog and a huge carnivorous bat. Of the birds, parrots (cockatoos), birds of paradise (more than 50 species are known), and the New Guinea ostrich-cassowary are especially interesting. There are numerous snakes, including poisonous ones. There are many different insects, among them there are very large butterflies; A particular scourge is the devouring ants and termites.
On the Bismarck Archipelago animal world already poorer, and further to the east - even poorer. On the small coral islands, mammals, apart from the human-imported dog and domestic pig, are represented only by rats and bats. Birds, of course, cross the waters and are found everywhere, but the further you go to the east, the fewer of them. There are even few insects on the coral islands, and therefore few insect-pollinated flowering plants.
The fauna of New Zealand is so unique that it stands out as a special zoogeographical region. The most characteristic of it are various flightless birds, for example, the wingless kiwi, the owl parrot, etc., and in the past the giant moa, which reached a height of 4 meters; there are no snakes, crocodiles, or turtles in New Zealand; The only mammals there are rats and bats.
Marine fauna is richer and more evenly distributed. In addition to various species of fish, it should be noted the presence of marine mammals - dugongs, dolphins, sperm whales, and in more southern waters - toothless whales; There are turtles and numerous mollusks that play a major role in the economy of the population. A characteristic feature is the large sea worm palolo, which is used as food. In contrast to terrestrial fauna, marine fauna is richer just near coral islands, on shallows and in lagoons.
Population of Oceania
Man inhabits all of Oceania, right up to the extreme limits, to the most remote and small islands, and it is divided into regions with the exception of very few. Modern population Oceania consists of two main elements: indigenous and alien. The newcomer population - immigrants from Europe, Asia and America who settled in Oceania over the past century and a half - will be discussed below. As for the indigenous population, their habitation on the islands is measured in thousands of years. Through centuries of labor and cultural activity, man has influenced the natural environment of Oceania and changed it in many ways. The flora and fauna on many islands is partly created by man.
That is why the island world of Oceania is usually divided into regions not so much according to physical and geographical characteristics, but rather according to the types of population and their culture. Oceania is usually divided into three main cultural and geographical regions: Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia (see map page 20).
Melanesia, covering the southwestern part of Oceania, is inhabited by dark-skinned Negroid peoples of the Papuan-Melanesian group, hence its name (Greek “melas” - black, “nesos” - island). It includes the islands: New Guinea with adjacent small islands, the Admiralty Islands, Bismarck, Solomon, Santa Cruz, Torres, Banks and New Hebrides, New Caledonia. The Fiji archipelago, inhabited by Melanesians, constitutes a geographical and cultural transition to Polynesia. The population of Melanesia, anthropologically quite homogeneous, is sharply divided by language into two groups: Melanesians proper and Papuans. Papuans inhabit the extreme northwestern part of Melanesia, primarily the largest island, New Guinea, except for the coastline of its eastern half, and are also interspersed in small groups here and there on other islands: Papuan tribes and languages are known in New Britain and the Solomon Islands . The rest of the space is occupied by the Melanesians themselves. The difference between the languages of the Papuans and Melanesians is very great. The Melanesian languages are closely related to the languages of the Polynesians and Micronesians and are included with them in the large Malayo-Polynesian family of languages; Papuan languages are completely independent and do not show kinship with any other languages of the world; Moreover, the Papuan languages are very different from each other. The third element of the population of Melanesia can be considered pygmy (short) tribes living here and there in the depths of big islands, both among the Papuans and among the Melanesians; their relationship to both has not yet been sufficiently clarified.
The total number of the indigenous population of Melanesia in 1952 was about 2.5 million. Before the arrival of Europeans, according to rough estimates, about 2.2 million people lived there.
Polynesia occupies a much larger expanse of the Pacific Ocean, to the southeast, east and northeast of Melanesia. The word itself means “numerous islands” (Greek “polyu” - many), and in fact there are a lot of these islands and they are very diverse. Southern Polynesia is made up of the large double island of New Zealand; western - the archipelagos of Tonga, Samoa and several small islands; central and eastern - the Cook Islands, Tubuai, Tahiti, Tuamotu, Marquesas and several isolated islands, including the small Easter Island (Rapanui), the most distant to the east; Northern Polynesia consists of the Hawaiian (formerly called Sandwich) Islands. Despite the enormous distance of the islands of Polynesia from one another (between Hawaii and New Zealand 7.5 thousand km, from Tonga to Easter Island 5.8 thousand km) and despite the diversity of natural conditions, the population of Polynesia is relatively homogeneous in physical type , language and culture. What brings Polynesians together in particular is their language, which is almost the same on different islands. It is this unity of the population that makes it possible to classify such distant and different natural conditions archipelagos to one geographical area.
The indigenous population of Polynesia is now about 450 thousand. Before the arrival of Europeans, about 1.1 million people lived here.
Micronesia (which means “small islands”, from the Greek “micros” - small) occupies the northwestern part of Oceania, closest to the shores of Asia. It consists of the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands (Ralik - Ratak), the Caroline Islands, and their adjacent the islands of Palau (Pelau), and the Marianas (“Robbers”, according to the old name). The first two archipelagos belong to eastern Micronesia, the rest - to western Micronesia. Indigenous people Micronesia is of mixed origin, its ancestors probably included Polynesians, Melanesians, and Indonesians. In western Micronesia, Indonesian elements are more noticeable; in eastern Micronesia, Polynesian elements are more noticeable. However, despite these local differences, the culture of the Micronesians is fundamentally homogeneous, as are their languages.
Geographically, Oceania is the world's largest collection of islands, which are located in the western and central parts of the Pacific Ocean. Far from us, between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern and temperate Southern hemispheres. Many classifications usually combine Oceania with Australia, although Australia, as we know, is a continent.
Oceania is a world of great contrasts, many interesting plants grow here, unique nature and an unforgettable culture.
The total area of the islands is 1.26 million square kilometers (and together with Australia 8.52 million km²). Population: almost 11 million people. (for the company with Australia - 32.6 million people).
Oceania is divided into three geographical regions, the names of which alone evoke thoughts of adventure and pristine nature. Their names are Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. The islands of Oceania are washed by many seas of the Pacific Ocean - the Coral Sea, Solomon, New Guinea, Tasman Sea, Koro and Fiji, as well as the Arafura Sea, which belongs to the Indian Ocean basin.
Origin of land in Oceania
From a geological point of view, only Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Tasmania are of continental origin. They were once part of the proto-continent Gondwana, which broke apart. At that time, these islands were solid land, but the waters of the World Ocean rose to a considerable height and part of the surface was flooded. Now the highest parts of the land that belonged to Gondwana protrude above the water.
The topography of most islands is mountainous and highly dissected. There are in Oceania and truly high peaks, including Mount Jaya (elevation 5029 m), on the island of New Guinea.
Types of islands
Colossal transformations apparently took place once in these places. It is determined that most of the islands of Oceania arose as a result of volcanic activity. Some are the tops of large underwater volcanoes, some of which still exhibit high volcanic activity (for example, on the Hawaiian Islands). 
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There are also many islands of coral origin in this region. These are atolls that arose as a result of the growth of corals around submerged volcanoes (for example, the Gilbert Islands, Tuamotu). On such islands there are often large lagoons that are protected from open sea numerous islands, the average height of which above the water level does not exceed three meters. 
In Oceania there is an atoll with the world's largest lagoon - Kwajalein (Marshall Islands archipelago). The ratio of its land area is striking - 16.32 km², but the area of the lagoon is 2174 km². This is what it says in the reference books, I had no idea before that the area of the island could be less area bay (lagoon).
There is another breakthrough atoll in Oceania. This time the largest in terms of land area. It is called Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line archipelago and has an area of 322 km². 
Among atolls there is also a special type - raised (or elevated) atoll. Such an atoll is a limestone plateau with a height of up to 50-60 m above sea level. This type of island does not have a lagoon or there are traces of its existence in the past. Examples of such atolls are Nauru, Niue, and Banaba. 
In the Oceania region, the bottom of the World Ocean has a complex structure. The region is characterized by active volcanism, seismicity and contrasting topography.
Oceania countries
The all-knowing Wikipedia gives the following classification:
| Name of region, countries and country flag |
Square (km²) |
Population (est. July 2002) |
Population density (persons/km²) |
Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | |||||
| Australia | 7 692 024 | 21 050 000 | 2,5 | Canberra | AUD (Australian Dollar) |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands (Australia) | 5 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Coral Sea Islands (Australia) | 7 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Norfolk Island (Australia) | 35 | 1 866 | 53,3 | Kingston | AUD (Australian Dollar) |
Melanesia |
|||||
| 12 190 | 196 178 | 16,1 | Port Vila | VUV (Vatu) | |
| Irian Jaya() | 421 981 | 2 646 489 | 6,27 | Jayapura, Manokwari | IDR (Rupiah) |
| New Caledonia (France) | 18 575 | 207 858 | 10,9 | Noumea | |
| Papua New Guinea | 462 840 | 5 172 033 | 11,2 | Port Moresby | PGK (Kina) |
| Solomon islands | 28 450 | 494 786 | 17,4 | Honiara | SBD (Solomon Islands Dollar) |
| Fiji | 18 274 | 856 346 | 46,9 | Suva | FJD (Fiji Dollar) |
Micronesia |
|||||
| Guam (USA) | 541 | 160 796 | 292,9 | Hagatna | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Kiribati | 811 | 96 335 | 118,8 | South Tarawa | AUD (Australian Dollar) |
| 181 | 73 630 | 406,8 | Majuro | USD (USA Dollar) | |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 702 | 135 869 | 193,5 | Palikir | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Nauru | 21 | 12 329 | 587,1 | AUD (Australian Dollar) | |
| Palau | 458 | 19 409 | 42,4 | Ngerulmud | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Northern Mariana Islands (USA) | 463,63 | 77 311 | 162,1 | Saipan | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Wake Atoll (USA) | 7,4 | - | - | - | |
Polynesia |
|||||
| Baker Island (USA) | 1,24 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Hawaii (USA) | 28 311 | 1 211 537 | 72,83 | Honolulu | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Jarvis Island (USA) | 4,45 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Johnston Atoll (USA) | 2,52 | - | - | - | |
| Kingman Reef (USA) | 0,01 | uninhabited | - | - | |
| Kiribati | 811 | 96 335 | 118,8 | South Tarawa | AUD (Australian Dollar) |
| Cook Islands (New Zealand) | 236,7 | 20 811 | 86,7 | Avarua | NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
| Midway Islands (USA) | 6,23 | - | - | - | |
| Niue (New Zealand) | 261,46 | 2 134 | 8,2 | Alofi | NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
| New Zealand | 268 680 | 4 108 037 | 14,5 | Wellington | NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
| Palmyra Atoll (USA) | 6,56 | - | - | - | |
| Isla de Pascua (Chile) | 163,6 | 5806 | 23,1 | Hanga Roa | CLP (Chilean Pesso) |
| Pitcairn Islands (UK) | 47 | 47 | 10 | Adamstown | NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
| French Polynesia (France) | 4 167 | 257 847 | 61,9 | Papeete | XPF (French Pacific Franc) |
| American Samoa (USA) | 199 | 68 688 | 345,2 | Pago Pago, Fagatogo | USD (USA Dollar) |
| Samoa | 2 935 | 178 631 | 60,7 | Apia | WST (Samoan tala) |
| Tokelau (New Zealand) | 10 | 1 431 | 143,1 | - | NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
| Tonga | 748 | 106 137 | 141,9 | Nuku'alofa | TOP (Tongan pa'anga) |
| Tuvalu | 26 | 11 146 | 428,7 | Funafuti | AUD (Australian Dollar) |
| Wallis and Futuna (France) | 274 | 15 585 | 56,9 | Mata-Utu | XPF (French Pacific Franc) |
| Howland Island (USA) | 1,62 | uninhabited | - | - | |
Oceania. Climate
The prevailing climate is tropical. Oceania is characterized by high rainfall. On the islands located closer to the tropical zone, the average annual temperature is +23 °C, on the islands near the equator – +27 °C.
Oceania's climate is influenced by currents such as La Niña and El Niño. Most of the islands of Oceania are negatively affected by active volcanoes. Tsunamis and typhoons also happen here.
Drastic changes are happening here weather conditions– heavy rains give way to droughts.
Population of Oceania
Although colonialists from Europe and America actively tried to exploit these territories, most local population are indigenous people. Such as Micronesians, Polynesians, Papuans. Polynesians are mixed racial types - they show features of Caucasoids and Mongoloids.
The largest groups of Polynesians include Hawaiians, Maoris, Tongans, and Tahitians. Each nationality has its own language, the peculiarity of which is the almost complete absence of consonants. 
Among the Melanesians, the linguistic fragmentation of the tribes is very large. Often residents of even neighboring villages cannot understand each other. The Papuans, as in Cook's time, inhabit some regions of Indonesia and New Guinea. 
All Papuan languages are very similar to each other. But now they are based on the native language of the same Cook who, according to legend, was eaten, i.e. English. So if you speak English, you can speak fluently and easily with a Papuan. 
Flora of Oceania
Oceania has a large extent both in latitude and meridian. That's why vegetable world The islands are very diverse. There are representatives here that are completely surprising to us, such as:
- breadfruit,
- coconut palm,
- ferns
- orchids.
Animal world
The fauna of the islands of Oceania is less diverse, because mammals are practically absent.
New Zealand and New Guinea have the greatest diversity in Okenia. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily atolls, there are almost no mammals: many of them are inhabited only by rats, and even then only a few (they are probably protected there!?).
But the islands are very rich in bird colonies, where seabirds nest. Of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are the kiwi birds, which have become the national symbol of the country. Other common bird species are kea (or nestor), kakapo (or owl parrot), takahe (or wingless parakeet).
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