Transcript 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 Great Barrier Reef 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 Taupo is 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 CoastMount 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