What do the inhabitants of the ocean. Geography of Oceania. Geographic description of Oceania. Geological structure and relief of Oceania

Population of Australia and Oceania

Australia and Oceania - the most sparsely populated part of the world. About 30 million people live here, more than half of which are in Australia.

Oceania - the area of ​​\u200b\u200bsettlement Papuans Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians. The most numerous groups modern population form natives(Papuan peoples and peoples speaking languages ​​of the Austronesian family) and immigrants and them descendants(Anglono-Zealanders, Americans, British, Indians, French, Anglo Australians Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, etc.).

Most countries in Oceania are characterized by high birth rate, natural growth and low mortality. In most countries men outnumber over women, a high proportion of young people. Significant migration flows of people between countries. In terms of average population density (8.1 people per 1 km 2), Oceania is almost four times larger than Australia. The population is distributed unevenly - along with densely populated islands (Tuvaku, Nauru, Mbau, etc.), there are also uninhabited islands.

population of Oceania. The total population of Oceania is about 12 million people. Of these, about 6 million live in Melanesia, 5.5 million in Polynesia and about 0.5 million in Micronesia.

The population consists of three components: indigenous people, migrants, groups of mixed origin.

Anthropologically, most of the natives belong to the Australoid large race. Within it are four anthropological type:

Papuan, Negrito, Melanesian, New Caledonian.

Linguistically, the natives form 2 large groups: Papuan peoples and peoples speaking languages ​​of the Austronesian family. Total number There are more than 700 Papuan peoples (of which about 500 are in Papua New Guinea). The Austronesian family is represented by more than 100 ethnic groups. In addition, a significant part are mestizos, and from immigrants:

Indians - 300 thousand,

Americans - 300 thousand,

British - 200 thousand,

The Japanese - 250 thousand.

Most countries in Oceania are characterized by a high birth rate (20-40 ppm). Maximum - to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea (over 40 ppm). The minimum is on Norfolk Island (9 ppm). Mortality is usually less than 10 ppm. In a number of countries (Tonga, Fiji, Eastern Samoa) less than 5 ppm. In most countries, men outnumber women.

Average density population of about 8 people per km 2. But on some islands of the Fiji archipelago, it reaches 5 thousand people. km 2. Mainly rural population. So many uninhabited islands and archipelagos (pirates like to base on them).

75-80% of Oceania's population lives in rural areas. The proportion of the urban population is high only in New Zealand (over 80%), Hawaii (85%) and New Caledonia (60%). Major cities are found only in New Zealand and Hawaii.

Australia has an area of ​​7.7 million sq. km, population 21 million people. The capital is Canberra. Official language- English. The majority of the population professes Christianity.

Area and population of Oceania (population as of 07/01/2002)

Australian states and dependencies (6 countries)

The main population of Australia is made up of Anglo-Australians (descendants of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland) and immigrants from different countries peace. australian aborigines form less than 1% of the country's population.

Australia is characterized by significant immigration, which gives up to 20% of population growth. The average population density of Australia is 2 people per 1 km 2. Most of the population (over 2/3 of the country's inhabitants) is concentrated in the eastern and southeast coast favorable in nature. Here the density in some places reaches 10-50 people per 1 km2. The rest of the territory is sparsely populated.

Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world: more than 85% of its population are city dwellers. Largest cities- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle. Almost all of them are ports.

States and dependencies of Melanesia (6 countries)

States and Dependent Territories of Micronesia (8 countries)

Only the Gilbert Islands and Banaba Island are located in Micronesia, where most of the country's population lives. The Phoenix and Line Islands are in Polynesia. The area of ​​Polynesia without New Zealand is only 26 thousand km 2, and 17 thousand of them are Hawaiian Islands.

States and dependent territories of Polynesia (21 countries)

The ratio of the shares of the owners of the islands of Oceania by area,%

Oceania is a part of the world that is a separate geopolitical region, which consists of many islands and atolls located in the western and central part Pacific Ocean.

Geographical position

The islands of Oceania are located between the temperate latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere and the subtropical latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Often in geography, Oceania is considered together with Australia.

There is even geographical name- Australia and Oceania. total area Oceania is 1.24 million km 2. The population is 10.6 million people.

Oceania is divided into three geographic region- Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. Oceania is washed by numerous seas - the Coral, Solomon, New Guinea, Tasman Seas, the Koro and Fiji Seas, which belong to the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Arafura Sea (Indian Ocean).

Climate of Oceania

Most of Oceania is dominated by tropical climate. Most of the islands in Oceania are characterized by heavy rainfall. On the islands that are closer to the tropical zone, the average annual temperature is 23 ° C, on the islands near the equator - 27 ° C.

The climate of Oceania is also influenced by currents such as La Niña and El Niño. Most of the islands in Oceania are affected active volcanoes, tsunamis and typhoons.

This region is characterized by a sharp change weather conditions Droughts are replaced by heavy rains.

Population of Oceania

The majority of the population of the islands of Oceania is represented by indigenous people, which include Micronesians, Polynesians, Papuans. Polynesians are mixed racial types - they show features of Caucasians and Mongoloids.

The largest peoples of the Polynesians are Hawaiians, Maori, Tongans, Tahitians. Each nationality has its own language, which is represented by an almost complete absence of consonants.

The racial type of the Melanesians is the Australoids. The linguistic fragmentation of the Melanesian tribes is very large - a frequent occurrence is that residents of neighboring villages cannot understand each other. Papuans inhabit some regions of Indonesia and New Guinea.

All Papuan languages ​​are very similar to each other. They are based on English language, therefore, often, even residents remote regions speak English perfectly.

Economy

The vast majority of the states of Oceania have a very weak economy. The reasons for this are such factors as the remoteness of the islands from the developed superpowers, the limited natural resources, shortage of personnel.

Many countries are in complete economic dependence on Australia and the United States. The basis of the economy is agriculture. Among the most common crops are coconut palms, breadfruit, bananas. Some states have a fishing fleet.

Oceania is the name of a region of the world made up 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 distinct sub-regions based on the geological processes that played a major role in their physical development. The first one is . It stands out because of 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 in the South Pacific. For example, on the line of collision of 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 landscape types along the boundary of the Eurasian and Pacific plates. Collisions tectonic plates responsible for the formation of mountains, such as those in New Zealand, towering over 3,000 m above sea level.

Volcanic islands such as Fiji are the third category of terrain type found in Oceania. These islands tend to rise from the bottom of the sea in the hotspots of the Pacific basin. Most of these areas consist of very small islands with high mountain ranges.

And finally Coral reefs islands and atolls such as Tuval are the last type of landscape in Oceania. Atolls are specifically responsible for the formation of low-lying land areas, some with enclosed lagoons.

Climate of Oceania

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 is in the temperate zone, and most island territories The Pacific Ocean is considered tropical. The 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 climatic 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

Since most of Oceania lies in the tropical or temperate climate zone, abundant rainfall supports the growth of wet and temperate rainforest throughout the region. Tropical rainforests are common in some island countries, near the tropics, while temperate rainforests are found in New Zealand. In both forest types, there are many 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 heavy 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 in flora. In addition, El Niño has caused frequent droughts over the past decades in Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The fauna of Oceania, like its flora, is also extremely . Because much of the region is made up of islands, unique species of birds, animals, and insects have evolved in complete isolation. The presence of coral reefs such as Great barrier reef and Kingman Reef are also areas of high concentration of flora and fauna and are considered biodiversity hotspots.

Population of Oceania

The population of Oceania is about 40 million people, with the bulk of the people (about 30 million people) living in Australia and New Zealand, while Papua New Guinea has a population of about 8 million people. The rest of the population of Oceania 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 many mineral and raw energy resources and also generates most economy of the region. The rest of Oceania and, in particular, the island states of the Pacific Ocean are very poorly developed. Some islands are rich but most of them are not. In addition, some of island states experiencing a shortage of clean drinking water or food.

Agriculture also has importance 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 in most of the Pacific Islands and is done to support local communities. Cassava, taro, yams and sweet potatoes are the most common products of this type of agriculture. Plantation crops are planted on 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 stimulus for its development. Fishing is an important source of income because many of the islands have maritime exclusive economic zones that stretch for 370 km. Tourism is also important to Oceania, as tropical islands such as Fiji offer aesthetic beauty, while Australia and New Zealand attract developed cities with modern infrastructure. New Zealand has also become an important tourism region in the area.

Oceania countries

Map of countries in Oceania/Wikipedia

The following 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 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

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Oceania is the name of the largest cluster of large and small islands on our planet in the western and central Pacific Ocean. The islands of Oceania occupy about 1.3 million square kilometers of the Earth's surface and there are almost 7 thousand of them, large and small.

Regions of the islands of Oceania

Traditionally, the islands of Oceania are divided by geographers, historians and ethnographers into three groups: Melanesia with the most big island New Guinea, Micronesia, Polynesia with the second largest island in Oceania, New Zealand.

The region of the islands of Oceania Melanesia ("black island")

Melanesia is located in the west of Oceania and, in addition to New Guinea, it includes the Bismarck and Louisiade archipelagos, as well as the D "Anrtcastro Islands, the Santa Cruz Islands, the Solomon Islands, the New Herbid Islands, the New Caledonia Island, the Fiji Islands, Loyalty and several others .

The main part of the territory of Melanesia falls on the island of New Guinea. He owns 829 of the 969 thousand square kilometers occupied by this area of ​​the islands of Oceania.

Region of the islands of Oceania Polynesia ("multi-island")

Polynesia stretched from the southwest to the east of Oceania. Most major islands Polynesia is New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Wallis, Tokelau, Horn, Cook, Tuvalu, Tubuai, Societies, Marquesas Islands and Easter Island.

265 thousand square kilometers of the total area of ​​Polynesia falls on New Zealand, 17 thousand on the Hawaiian Islands and 9 thousand on all the rest.

Ocean Islands Region of Micronesia ("small islands")

Micronesia is located in the northwest of Oceania. The total area of ​​its islands is only 2.6 thousand square kilometers, but these tiny islands are scattered over an ocean area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 14 million square kilometers.

The main island groups of Micronesia are the Marshallese, Caroline and Mariana Islands and the Gilbert Islands.

Islands of Oceania by type of origin

The islands of Oceania differ in their origin and on this basis they are usually divided into four types: volcanic, coral or atoll (biogenic), continental, and also geosynclinal.

Volcanic islands of Oceania

The volcanic islands of Oceania are the peaks of dormant or active underwater volcanoes. Among them there are islands ranging from ten square kilometers to several thousand and they are the main type of islands in Oceania.

The most famous of volcanic islands are the Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island, Tahiti and Samoa.

Coral islands of Oceania (biogenic)

Entire colonies of small marine animals - corals - usually settle in the oceanic shallow water. For centuries, when corals die, their skeletons cover the bottom of the ocean, are pressed and form rock. Over time, coral reefs and entire islands appear above the surface of the water, and if coral deposits occurred along the contour of the vent underwater volcano, then atolls appear - coral islands with a lagoon in the center.

There are hundreds of coral islands (atolls) in Oceania, both single and forming entire archipelagos. These are the Caroline, Mariana, Marshall Islands, as well as the Gilbert and Tuamotu Islands. The largest atoll in Oceania is Kwajalein. The area of ​​​​its territory is 2.3 thousand square kilometers (including the area of ​​​​the lagoon) and it belongs to the Marshall Islands archipelago.

Mainland islands of Oceania

The mainland islands of Oceania were once part of the mainland and became islands as a result of the movement of the earth's crust. So New Guinea is separated from mainland Australia only by a strait, the bottom of which until recently was land, and New Zealand is part of a huge mainland that once existed, which included both Australia and Antarctica.

To share mainland islands Oceania accounts for 90% of its territory. They have both lowlands and mountain systems, and long mountain plateaus.