The Pacific Australia Environment Smallest and least populated 22 million of major continents Interior is mostly desert Outback Houses the world s largest single rock Ayers Rock World s longest coral reef Only continent with one country Largest island continent in the world 80 of the population lives along the coast Climate South of the equator Seasons are opposite January and February are the hottest months Rainy in June and August The People First inhabitants from Asia Traveled over land bridges Aborigines Spanish and Portuguese sailors explored in the 1500s 1700s Captain James Cook claimed the land for Great Britain Named it New South Wales Britain sent convicts to the new land Established a penal colony in New South Wales had both male and female convicts Aborigines were treated badly About 750 000 Aborigines lived in Australia before the British came today less than 1 of the population are Aborigine 1942 1972 over 2 million immigrants came to Australia Most were from Europe trying to escape WWII The Land Became a commonwealth 1901 Australia became independent Australia is almost the size of the U S 6 states and 2 territories 1 Northern Territory 2 Canberra Capital Canberra Sydney is the country s largest city Northern Territory Capital Darwin Tropical environment Home of the Kakadu National Park Park is the home of aboriginal tribes as well as wildlife Australian Capital Territory 1900s Australia needed a new capital A compromise was reached between Sydney and Melbourne Midway between the two cities was Canberra that became the capital In aborigine Canberra means the meeting place New South Wales Is the gateway to Australia Harbor dominates the landscape Sydney is the capital of New South Wales Developed from a penal colony Victoria Smallest state Capital Melbourne Phillips Island is to the south Place to visit to see the penguins Sports minded city Football soccer cricket horse racing etc NE to Melbourne are Australian Alps contain ski villages Tasmania Island state 30 protected world heritage national park Remains of the last convict s prison South Australia Self reliant state German immigrants established oldest vineyards Kangaroo Island is to the south Longest river Miri flows through the city Kangaroos Emus Koalas in natural habitat Western Australia Mostly desert Western State Bigger than Texas and Alaska combined Capital Perth Along the coast became a mining center Mining for pearls and gold Queensland Capital Brisbane Great Barrier Reef Gold coast resorts is where many casinos are found Popular nightlife The city of Cairns is the gateway to the reef Popular area for tourists New Zealand Standard of living is very high in New Zealand Maoris were the original inhabitants North Island Known for beaches volcanoes geysers Maori culture and grapes Auckland is the largest city Where most flights come into City of Sails Maori art and skilled boat builders Wellington Capital Ferries connect Wellington on the north island with the south island People travel there to be transported to the South Island Travel Destinations on North Island Rotorua Geysers and hot springs Small spa town Center for Maori culture Waitomo Caves Central Northern end Glowing insects on ceiling Tube rafting South Island Tourism is most popular here Christchurch Largest city Most English city outside England New Zealand s 3rd largest Mount Cook National Park Tasman glacier is one of the longest in the world Queensland Fiordland Adventure capital of New Zealand South Island s most popular city Bungee jumping began here in 1988 Where the mountains meet the sea and have created many fiords Country s National Park located here Mount Cook National Park Tasman glacier is one of the longest in the world Oceania Not many visitors Fiji Fiji Guam and French Polynesia bring in the most tourists Crossroads of the Pacific Capital Viti Levu Suva 2 3 of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand Fishing fire walking and surfing French Polynesia 118 islands Most beautiful islands Largest Island Tahiti 70 of population lives there Bora Bora volcano encircled by a reef and lagoon Territory of France Guam U S Territory U S naval base Residents are U S citizens Other Destinations Melanesia Includes islands in western pacific Named for color of skin people with dark skin Papua New Guinea Consists of eastern half on New Guinea Anthropologists paradise Vanuatu Micronesia 13 islands and dozens of smaller ones Low coral islands Several small islands Northern Marianas Stretch from Guam to Japan Mariana trench is the deepest of oceans canyon Federal States of Micronesia 4 states 2 000 miles Attracts many divers Polynesia South Pacific Many islands Tonga Samoa Claim to be the first country to greet the new day SW Pacific American Samoa make up 7 eastern islands Was once controlled by Germany Independent now
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