180 likes | 344 Views
Chapter 22. Australia and New Zealand. I. Australia . Capital: Canberra “the land down under”— seasons are opposite from Europe and North America Smallest and flattest continent Driest inhabited continent—avg. rainfall only 17 inches a year! No land bridge to another continent
E N D
Chapter 22 Australia and New Zealand
I. Australia • Capital: Canberra • “the land down under”—seasons are opposite from Europe and North America • Smallest and flattest continent • Driest inhabited continent—avg. rainfall only 17 inches a year! • No land bridge to another continent • Only continent united under one flag • Biggest trade partner: Japan • Last continent to be settled by Europeans • First British colonists did not arrive until 200 years after Jamestown, VA. • One in 4 Australians have a non-English background; becoming more a part of the Asian world
Australia’s Animals • Many exotic animals that are found no where else • Kangaroos- raise young in pouch, tiny (muskrat) to larger than man (red) • Kookaburra—chirp sounds like human laughter, don’t drink any water • Platypus- pg. 543 • Koala bear- most loved marsupial, gets all water and nourishment from eucalyptus leaves
Australia’s States • 6 States total • 3 broad geographic regions • Great Dividing Range (east coast) • Rugged, low mountains and hills • 2 states located along the range • Mountains influence weather patterns of whole continent • First settlements and major cities are along the eastern coast • Central Lowlands • Western Plateau
Great Dividing Range States • New South Wales • Captain James Cook- first to map Australia and named Botany Bay—deep harbor that became the site of the first settlement • After revolt in America, King needed a place to send criminals—chose New South Wales • Small settlement named Sydney– today is Australia’s largest city pg. 546 • Australian Alps—part of GDR—home to Snowy Mts and the highest peak in Australia, Mount Kosciusko • West of mountains are plains – famous for jumpbucks(sheep), there are 10 jumpbucks for every person • Canberra is located between Sydney and Melbourne and was purposely planned and chosen in 1913, means “meeting place” • Government: Constitutional Monarchy like Canada- claims the British monarch– approves the governor general and 6 governors • Victoria • Southeast corner of Australia • Melbourne is capital and largest city- most “English” of all Australian cities
Melbourne Canberra Parliament Building Mount Kosciusko Sydney
East Australian Current • moves warm water in a counterclockwise fashion down the east coast • source is the tropical Coral Sea • Creates current vortex in the Tasman Sea • transport tropical marine fauna to habitats in sub-tropical regions along the south east coast
Central Lowlands • On the other side of the Great Dividing Range • Dry interior, depends on runoff from mountains • Murray River (most important water system on the continent) • Tasmania • Island off the coast of Victoria • Smallest and least populated state • Capital: Hobart • Known for apple orchards • Home to rainforest and waterfalls • Tasmanian Devils do live on the island pg. 550 • Queensland • Newest state, formed in 1859, split from New South Wales, still has a frontier spirit • State capital: Brisbane—originally a prison colony, now a tourist attraction • In the interior: Stockmen (cowboys) live on stations (ranches) and herd cattle—Queensland produces the most beef • Off the northeast coast is the Great Barrier Reef pg. 551- the largest coral formation in the world
Western Plateau • Desert or semiarid grassland • Few scattered mountain ranges • South Australia • Only state not settled by convicts • Along the Great Australian Bight • Coast supports 98% of population, climate similar to Mediterranean coast • Adelaide is the capital • Major industrial boom after WWII, leads the nation in lumber, shipbuilding and produces the first Australian car : the Holden • Lake Eyre: Australia’s largest lake, lowest point on the continent, most rivers drain into it, dry most of the time though • The Outback- sparsely populated areas beyond the western cities, South Australia is the “gateway to the outback”, 2 main activities: mining and ranching
Western Plateau • Western Australia • Largest but most sparsely populated state • Perth: Capital city—climate like Southern California, 1000 miles from nearest city—finally in 1970 a transcontinental railroad was completed • Hamersley Range- known for iron ore • Great Victoria Desert and other desert areas cover Western Australia
Northern Territory • Capital: Darwin • Population density: one person for every 5 sq. miles; Doctors makes house calls, school is conducted by radio • Simpson Desert- red sand, not even the hardiest stockmen live there, called The Red Center of Australia • Ayers Rock- world’s largest monolith (free standing rock) pg. 555 • The Aborigines- • “from the beginning”, tribes of dark skinned people from Asia • Speak more than 300 languages, but share basic culture • Nomadic, only domestic animal: dingo (type of dog), weapons (spear and boomerang) • Superstitious religion guides every aspect of life • Many were killed by settlers or died from diseases • About 366,500 Aborigines exist today, in 1960s the government gave them areas of land
II. New Zealand • Beautiful, isolated island country • 1200 miles from Australia across Tasman Sea • Economy relies on agricultural exports- meat, wool and dairy products • Natives call it the “land of the long white cloud” due to common clouds and constant rain • Unique flora and fauna • Kauri tree—largest tree in NZ • Monster birds or moa grow to 13 feet in height (now extinct) • Kiwi (wingless, long beak)
Historical Background • Maori- people from Polynesia (islands north of NZ) were the first to discover the islands • Hunted the moas to extinction • First white settlers were escaped convicts from Australia and deserters from British ships • In 1840, the Maori signed a treaty agreeing to the British monarchy as the government, later war broke out on the North island, the Maori power was defeated and the British colony began to grow • Today, part of the British commonwealth, has a representative government that answers to England
Geographic Divisions • North Island • Slightly smaller than South, but home to twice as many people • Known for scenic beauty and sheep stations • Auckland- largest city and seaport • Pacific Islanders have been immigrating in large numbers and the Maori still live around Auckland • On the Ring of Fire—still active volcanoes in the center • Lake Taupois NZ’s largest lake, fills the crater of a dormant volcano • Southern end of island is where the capital, Wellington is located • Cook Strait connects to South Island
Geographic Divisions • South Island • Known for country atmosphere and relaxed pace of life • Southern Alps dominate the West Coast- Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak • Canterbury Plains- east of the mountains, produce grains • Christchurch- largest city on the South Island, major industrial center, named after a college in England