Oceania is part of the world; a geographic, often geopolitical region of the world, consisting predominantly of hundreds of small islands and atolls in the central and western Pacific.
Geographical position
Oceania is the world's largest cluster of islands located in the western and central Pacific Ocean, between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern and temperate southern hemispheres. When dividing the entire land mass into parts of the world, Oceania is usually united with Australia into a single part of the world, Australia and Oceania, although sometimes it stands out as an independent part of the world.
The total area of \u200b\u200bthe islands 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). Oceania is geographically subdivided into Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia; sometimes New Zealand is singled out.
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).
Countries and dependent territories
| Name of region, countries |
Population |
Population density (people / km²) |
|||
| Australia | |||||
| Australia |
Canberra |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Ashmore and Cartier (Australia) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Cocos Islands (Australia) |
West Island |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Coral Sea Islands (Australia) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Norfolk (Australia) |
Kingston |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Christmas Island (Australia) |
Flying Fish Cove |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Australia) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Melanesia | |||||
| Vanuatu |
Port Vila |
||||
| Irian Jaya (Indonesia) |
Jayapura, Manokwari |
||||
| New Caledonia (France) | |||||
| Papua New Guinea |
Port Moresby |
||||
| Solomon islands |
SBD (Solomon Islands Dollar) |
||||
| Fiji |
FJD (Fiji Dollar) |
||||
| Micronesia | |||||
| Guam (USA) |
USD (USA Dollar) |
||||
| Kiribati |
South Tarawa |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Marshall Islands |
USD (USA Dollar) |
||||
| Nauru |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
||||
| Palau |
Melekeok |
USD (USA Dollar) |
|||
| Northern Mariana Islands (USA) |
USD (USA Dollar) |
||||
| Wake (USA) | |||||
| Federated States of Micronesia |
USD (USA Dollar) |
||||
| Polynesia | |||||
| American Samoa (USA) |
Pago Pago, Fagatogo |
USD (USA Dollar) |
|||
| Baker (USA) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Hawaii (USA) |
Honolulu |
USD (USA Dollar) |
|||
| Jarvis (USA) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Johnston (USA) | |||||
| Kingman (USA) |
uninhabited |
||||
| Kiribati |
South Tarawa |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Midway (USA) | |||||
| Niue (New Zealand) |
NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
||||
| New Zealand |
Wellington |
NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
|||
| Cook Islands (New Zealand) |
NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
||||
|
Easter Island (Chile) |
Hanga Roa |
CLP (Chilean Pesso) |
|||
| Palmyra (USA) | |||||
| Pitcairn (UK) |
Adamstown |
NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
|||
| Samoa |
WST (Samoan tala) |
||||
| Tokelau (New Zealand) |
NZD (New Zealand Dollar) |
||||
| Tonga |
Nuku'alofa |
TOP (Tongan pa'anga) |
|||
| Tuvalu |
Funafuti |
AUD (Australian Dollar) |
|||
| Wallis and Futuna (France) |
XPF (Pacific French Franc) |
||||
| French Polynesia (France) |
XPF (Pacific French Franc) |
||||
| Howland (USA) |
uninhabited |
Geology
Geologically, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Tasmania are of continental origin, forming on the site of the hypothetical mainland of Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single land, but as a result of the rise in the level of the World Ocean, 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 of New Guinea.
Most of the islands of Oceania are of volcanic origin: some of them are the tops of large underwater volcanoes, some of which are still highly volcanic (for example, the Hawaiian Islands).
Other islands are of coral origin, being atolls that 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, whose average height does not exceed three meters. Oceania has an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world - Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands archipelago. Despite the fact that its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. Miles), the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 sq. Miles). The largest atoll in terms of land area is Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line archipelago (or Central Polynesian Sporades) - 322 km². However, among the atolls there is also a special type - an uplifted (or uplifted) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m above sea level. This type of island has no lagoon or traces of its past existence. Examples of such atolls are Nauru, Niue, Banaba.
The relief and geological structure of the Pacific Ocean floor in the Oceania region has a complex structure. From the Alaska Peninsula (part of North America) to New Zealand there are a large number of marginal seas basins, deep oceanic trenches (Tonga, Kermadec, Bougainville), which form a geosynclinal belt characterized by active volcanism, seismicity and contrasting relief. 
Most of the islands of Oceania lack minerals, only the largest of them are being developed: nickel (New Caledonia), oil and gas (New Guinea island, New Zealand), copper (Bougainville island in Papua New Guinea), gold (New Guinea , Fiji), phosphates (on most islands, deposits are almost or have already been developed, for example, in Nauru, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, many islands in the region have been actively developing guano, decomposed seabird droppings that have been used as nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. 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.
Oceania climate
Oceania is located within several climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate. Most of the islands have a tropical climate. The subequatorial climate prevails on the islands near Australia and Asia, as well as east of the 180th meridian in the equatorial zone, equatorial - west of the 180th meridian, subtropical - north and south of the tropics, temperate - over most of the South Island in New Zealand.
The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by the trade winds, so most of them receive heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 mm, although some islands (in particular, due to the relief and on the leeward side), the climate may be drier or more humid. Oceania has 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: 16,916 mm fell then). Near the tropics, the average temperature is about 23 ° C, at the equator - 27 ° C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months. 
The climate of the islands of Oceania is also greatly influenced by such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves north towards the equator; during La Niño, it moves south towards the equator. In the latter case, severe drought is observed on the islands, in the first case, heavy rains.
Most of the islands of Oceania are subject to the destructive effects of 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 in Papua New Guinea killed 2,200 people.
There are glaciers on the South Island in New Zealand and on the island of New Guinea, but glaciers are gradually decreasing due to the global warming process.
Soils and hydrology
Due to the different climatic conditions, the soils of Oceania are very diverse. The soils of the atolls are highly alkaline, of coral origin, and very poor. They are usually porous, which makes them very poor at retaining moisture, and also contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands are generally of volcanic origin and are highly fertile. On large mountainous islands there are red-yellow, mountain laterite, 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 of New Guinea, on which the largest rivers of Oceania, Sepik (1126 km) and Fly (1050 km) are located. The largest river in New Zealand is the Waikato (425 km). Rivers are primarily fed by rainwater, although in New Zealand and New Guinea, rivers are also fed by melting glaciers and snow. On the atolls, rivers are completely absent due to the high porosity of the soil. Instead, rainwater seeps through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. Larger islands (usually of volcanic origin) have small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.
The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, is located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are rare.
Flora and fauna
Oceania is part of the Paleotropic Vegetation Region, with three subregions distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian, and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants in Oceania, the coconut palm and breadfruit are distinguished, which play an important role in the life of local residents: fruits are used for food, wood is a source of heat, a building material, copra is produced from the oily endosperm of coconut palm nuts, which forms the basis of exports of the countries of this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemics (both representatives of flora and fauna) is recorded in New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, while the number of species, genera and families of plants decreases from west to east.
The fauna of Oceania belongs to the Polynesian faunal region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand stands out as an independent region, New Guinea - in the Papuan subregion of the Australian region. New Zealand and New Guinea are the most diverse. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily the 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 are home to bird colonies where seabirds nest. Among the representatives 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 sultanka). 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 has a large number of protected areas, many of which occupy significant areas. For example, the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati have been the world's largest marine reserve since January 28, 2008 (with an area of \u200b\u200b410,500 km²).
Population
The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians and Papuans.
The Polynesians living in the countries of Polynesia are of a mixed racial type: in their appearance the features of the Caucasian and Mongoloid races are visible, and to a lesser extent - the Australoid. The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans, Maori, Marquesas, Rapanui and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages: Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori, Marquis, Rapanui, and others. The characteristic features of Polynesian languages \u200b\u200bare a small number of sounds, especially consonants, an abundance of vowels.
Micronesians live in the countries of Micronesia. The largest peoples are the Carolinians, Kiribati, Marshalls, Nauru, Chamorro and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Caroline, Kusai, Marshall, Nauru and others. The Palau and Chamorro languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the West Malay-Polynesian languages, and Yapi forms a separate branch in the Oceanian languages, which also includes the Micronesian languages.
Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. The racial type is 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 grouping, and linguistic fragmentation is very large, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.
Papuans inhabit the island of New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. In anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians, but differ from them in language. Not all Papuan languages \u200b\u200bare related to each other. The national language of the Papuans in Papua New Guinea is the English-based Tok Pisin Creole. According to various sources, there are from 300 to 800 peoples and languages \u200b\u200bof the Papuans. At the same time, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between a separate language and a dialect.
Many languages \u200b\u200bof 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 the Maori make up up to 15% of the country's population. The share of Polynesians in the Northern Mariana Islands, located in Micronesia, is about 21.3%. In Papua New Guinea, the majority of the population are numerous Papuan peoples, although there is also a high proportion of immigrants from other islands in the region.
In New Zealand and Hawaii, the majority of the population is Europeans, with a high proportion also in New Caledonia (34%) and French Polynesia (12%). On the Fiji Islands, 38.2% of the population is represented by Indo-Fijians, the 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 Asia (mainly Chinese and Filipinos) has been increasing. For example, in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Filipinos account for 26.2% and the Chinese for 22.1%.
The population of Oceania is mainly Christian, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branch.
Oceania history
Pre-colonial period
The island of New Guinea and the nearby islands of Melanesia were, presumably, inhabited by immigrants from Southeast Asia who sailed by canoe about 30-50 thousand years ago. Most of Micronesia and Polynesia were settled about 2-4 thousand years ago. The colonization process ended around 1200 AD. By the beginning of the 16th century, the peoples of Oceania were going through a period of decomposition of the primitive communal system and the formation of an early class society. Crafts, agriculture, and navigation were actively developing.
Colonial period
Ships of the English traveler James Cook and canoes of the natives in Matawai Bay on the island of Tahiti (French Polynesia), painter William Hodges, 1776
In the period from the 16th to the 18th century, the period of the 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 of natural resources, and negatively affected the local population: many diseases were brought that had never been in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, in 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 the colonial powers, primarily the British Empire, Spain and France (later the United States and the German Empire joined them). Of particular interest among the Europeans was the possibility of creating plantations on the islands (coconut palm for copra, sugar cane production), as well as the slave trade (the so-called "blackbird hunting", which involved recruiting islanders to work on plantations).
In 1907, New Zealand became a dominion, but it did not formally become a fully independent state until 1947. After the First World War, the first political organizations (“May” in Western Samoa, “Fijian Youth” in Fiji) began to emerge, fighting for the independence of the colonies. During World War II, Oceania was one of the theaters of military operations, where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American troops).
After the war, the region experienced some improvements in the economy, but in most colonies it was one-sided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: in 1962, Western Samoa gained independence, in 1963 - Western Irian, in 1968 - Nauru. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.
Postcolonial period
After gaining independence, most of the countries of Oceania have remained serious economic, political and social problems, which they are trying to solve thanks to the help of the world community (including the UN) and through regional cooperation. Despite the process of decolonization in the 20th century, some of the region's islands still remain dependent to one degree or another: New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna from France, Pitcairn Islands from Great Britain, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau from New Zealand, a number of islands (all outer minor islands except Navassa Island) from the United States.
Economy
Most of the countries of Oceania have a very weak economy, which is due to several reasons: limited natural resources, remoteness from world markets for products, a shortage of highly qualified specialists. Many states depend on financial assistance from other countries.
The economy of most countries in Oceania is based on agriculture (copra and palm oil production) and fishing. Among the most important crops are the coconut palm, bananas, breadfruit. Possessing huge exclusive economic zones and not having a large fishing fleet, the governments of Oceania countries issue fishing licenses to vessels of other states (mainly Japan, Taiwan, the USA), which significantly replenishes the state budget. The mining industry is most developed in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. 
A significant part of the population is employed in the public sector. Recently, measures have been taken to develop the tourism sector of the economy.
Culture
The art of Oceania has developed a distinctive style that makes the local culture unique.
In the visual arts of the Polynesians, the main place belongs to woodcarving and sculpture. The Maori carvings reached a high level, they decorated boats, details of houses, carved statues of gods and ancestors, such a statue stands in every village. The main motive of the ornament is a spiral. Moai stone statues were created on Easter Island and the Marquesas Islands. Of the crafts, the most important was the construction of boats, since they made it possible to fish and travel long distances (in this regard, astronomy developed among the Polynesians). Among the Polynesians, tattooing was widespread. Tapa, which was made from the bark of trees of the mulberry family, served as clothing. In Polynesia, myths, legends, fairy tales, singing and dancing were developed. Writing was probably only on Easter Island (rongo-rongo), on other islands folklore was transmitted orally.
Singing and dancing are popular among the Micronesian arts. Each tribe has its own myths. In the life of the islanders, the main place was occupied by ships - boats. There were boats of different types: dibenil - sailing, valab - large rowing boat. Megaliths are found on the Yap Islands. Of particular interest is Nan Madol, known as the "Micronesian Venice". This is a whole city on the water, in the lagoon on the island of Ponape. Stone structures have been built on artificial islands.
Among the Melanesians, woodcarving reached a special heyday. Unlike the Polynesians, the Melanesians were not so attached to the sea, they were more like inhabitants of the land. The main musical instrument is the drum, or tomtam. Folklore, songs, dances, myths are widespread among the Papuans. The songs and dances are very simple. The chant is called moon, and the melody varies very little. The cult of ancestors and skulls is of great importance. Papuans make corvars - images of ancestors. Woodcarving is well developed.
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If you look at the map of the Pacific Ocean, you can see the largest cluster of islands on our planet - Oceania. There are more than ten thousand islands - both large and small and very tiny. They are divided into Polynesia (in Greek it means "many islands"), Micronesia and Melanesia.
Many of Oceania's islands are coral atolls. However, most of them are just the tops of underwater volcanoes.
Easter Island in Oceania is known for its amazing moai statues with elongated heads and short bodies that reach twenty meters in height.
What is Oceania? wikipedia
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Oceania is the largest cluster of islands on Earth located in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Its islands are scattered from the subtropical latitudes of the Northern to the temperate latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere.
Oceania includes more than 7 thousand islands with a total area of \u200b\u200b1.3 million km2. Most of the islands are grouped into archipelagos: New Zealand, Hawaii, Fiji, Tuamotu, etc.
(see map).
Oceania became known to Europeans in the 16th century, from the time of F. Magellan's first circumnavigation of the world.
A special chapter in the history of its discovery and research is made up of the voyages of J. Cook and the voyages of the Russian navigators V. M. Golovnin, F. P. Litke, S. O. Makarov, etc. Only in the 19th century. more than 40 Russian expeditions have visited the Pacific Ocean and collected valuable scientific information.
A great contribution to the study of the nature and population of Oceania was made by N.
Australia and Oceania map
N. Miklouho-Maclay. He not only studied the life and life of the peoples of the island of New Guinea, but also made interesting descriptions of the shores of the tropical sea. Russian names on the map testify to the contribution of our compatriots to the study of Oceania: the Maclay Coast, the Russians Islands, the atolls of Suvorov, Kutuzov, Lisyansky, etc.
Features of nature. Oceania islands are very picturesque. The bizarre outlines of green mountainous islands that have emerged on the horizon, the view of flat atolls overgrown with slender palm trees, with a coastal strip of white coral or black volcanic sand amaze the human imagination.
Most of the islands of Oceania are surrounded by coral reefs, which absorb the impact of formidable ocean waves and dampen their gigantic force.
The physical and geographical position, size and origin of the islands are closely related to the structure of the Pacific Ocean floor.
Most of the islands in Oceania are volcanic and coral, some of them are the tops of underwater ridges. There are also mainland islands. The islands in the west of Oceania lie in the region of island arcs formed at the boundary of lithospheric plates (see.
The position in a huge body of water, the small size of the land and remoteness, the isolation of the islands from the mainland land and from each other had a significant impact on the nature of the islands and on the life of the peoples of Oceania.
Most of the islands are located in the equatorial, subequatorial and tropical zones.
Only New Zealand and the surrounding islands are subtropical and temperate. Oceania's climate is warm, even, mild, especially favorable for human life. Due to the position of the islands on either side of the equator, air temperatures are high, but winds from the ocean significantly mitigate the heat.
Temperature fluctuations over the seasons and during the day are insignificant. Changing air pressure over the vast ocean leads to frequent hurricanes.
The isolation of the islands has the strongest impact on their flora and fauna.
He is very peculiar. Life is poorest on small and relatively young coral islands, while on the mainland it is somewhat more diverse and richer. There are no predators or venomous snakes in the fauna of the islands. The coastal waters of the islands and especially the atolls are rich in life.
Therefore, islands in the ocean are like oases in the watery desert.
Along with common features, there are differences in the nature of the islands.
High mountainous mainland islands alternate with flat atolls, some lie on the equator and have a hot climate, others are located in the subtropical zone, where it is hot only in summer.
The natural complexes of coral islands are most closely associated with the ocean. They are inhabited by marine animals leading an amphibious lifestyle, such as crabs. Many atolls are nesting grounds for seabirds. These islands are home to coconut palms and shrubs adapted to strong, moisture and sea salt winds.
Oceania Maps
A) Fiji B) Western Samoa C) New Zealand E) Tonga E) Papua New Guinea
2 equatorial people are different
A) yellow skin color and wide open eyes B) elongated skull and light skin C) narrow nose, narrow eyes D) dark skin color, curly hair E) narrow nose and curly hair
3 the deepest ocean on earth
A) Atlantic B) South C) Indian E) Quiet E) Arctic
4.Frequent movements of the earth's crust at the bottom, great depths, many volcanoes and islands are features
A) Indian Ocean B) Arctic Ocean C) Pacific Ocean E) Southern Ocean E) Atlantic Ocean
"Homeland" of the Papuans
A) Tasmania Island B) Australia C) New Zealand E) New Guinea E) Madagascar Island
6 the navigator who made the first trip around the world
A) A. Vespucci B) H. Columbus C) J. Cook E) F. Magellan E) M. Polo
7 the deepest place, the Mariana Trench, is in the ocean
A) Arctic B) South C) Atlantic E) Quiet E) Indian
8.The area of \u200b\u200bthe smallest mainland with islands (million km²)
A) 7.7 B) 30.3 C) 9 E) 24.2 E) 17.8
9.Over 90% of Australia's residents are
A) Germans B) Dutch C) Aborigines E) Anglo-Australians E) Peoples of the Slavic group
10 Tasmania is part of
A) New Zealand B) Papua New Guinea C) Commonwealth of Australia E) Fiji E) Indonesia
11.Australia is a major exporter
A) Bauxite, coal B) Gas, nickel C) Cars, equipment E) Scaffolding, building materials E) Oil, tin
12.The main wheat regions in Australia are located on
A) South and north B) West and central C) North and northeast E) Southwest and southeast E) Northeast and south
13 oceania is called
A) Ocean Science B) Oceans Collective C) Fish Farming E) Pacific Islands and Archipelagos E) All Coastal Areas
14.New South Wales is in
A) Australia B) Argentina C) Canada E) Great Britain E) Brazil
15) The world's largest sheep farming area is considered
A) Great Plain of China B) Great Plains of the United States C) Mississippi Lowland E) Deserts and semi-deserts of Australia E) Patagonia
16 the world's largest bauxite mining area is located in
A) Australia B) France C) Argentina E) Saudi Arabia E) Japan
17 Australia's East Coast Opened
A) Vespucci B) Columbus C) N.N. Miklukho-Maclay D) Cook E) Livingstone
18. The leading place in coal reserves is
A) Australia and the USA B) Kazakhstan and Ukraine C) China and Russia E) Great Britain and Germany E) South Africa and Nigeria
19.Capital of Australia
A) Sydney B) Melbourne C) Canberra E) Bronen Hill E) Adelaide
A) 4228 B) 2528 C) 2228 E) 3778 E) 3528
21. The first place in the number of sheep is
A) New Zealand B) South Africa C) Australia E) China E) India
22. All points of mainland Australia have latitude
A) Western B) Eastern C) Northern D) Southern E) Northern and southern
23. Australia has the same natural areas as
A) Central Africa B) North Africa C) South Africa E) West African coast E) East African coast
24. The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania use this plant to build houses and boats, and use the fruits for food
A) bottle tree B) coconut tree C) eucalyptus E) baobab E) shrubs
25. The continent, on which there are no active volcanoes and modern glaciation
A) America A) Australia C) Africa E) Eurasia E) Asia
26. Permanent residence of the Papuans
A) New Guinea B) Australia C) New Zealand E) Madagascar Island E) Tasmania Island
27. State of Oceania, which is called "three times open"
A) Australia B) New Zealand C) New Guinea E) Polynesia E) Philippines
28 Part of Australia which is a mountainous country
29 Part of Australia located in the subequatorial belt
A) northern B) southern C) eastern E) western E) central
30 Australia's largest lake
A) Murray B) Pennong C) Leonora E) Air E) Australia has no lakes
Homenbsp\u003e nbsp Wiki tutorialnbsp\u003e nbsp Geography\u003e nbsp7 classnbsp\u003e nbspOceania and its geographic location: Oceania's climate and population
Geographical position
Oceania lies between the temperate latitudes of the southern hemisphere and the subtropical latitudes of the northern hemisphere.
Oceania is often considered a geography along with Australia.
There is even a geographical name - Australia and Oceania.
The total area of \u200b\u200bthe ocean is 1.24 million km. 2. The population is 10.6 million km.
Map - Oceania (Oceania)
Oceania is divided into three geographic regions - Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. Oceania is washed by many seas - sea coral, Solomon, New Guinea, Tasmanian Sea, Koro and Fiji, belonging to the Pacific Ocean basin and the Arafura Sea (Indian Ocean).
Oceania climate
Most oceans have a tropical climate.
Most of the islands in Oceania have heavy rainfall. On the islands closer to the tropical belt, the average annual temperature is 23 ° C, on the islands around the equator - 27 ° C.
The oceanic climate is influenced by the La Niña and El Niño streams. Most of the islands in Oceania are subject to the negative effects of active volcanoes, tsunamis and typhons.
The region is characterized by a strong change in weather conditions - droughts are replaced by rainstorms.
Oceans population
Most of the population on the islands of Oceania is represented by natives, including Micronesians, Polynesians, Papuans.
Polynesians are mixed racial types - they look at the characteristics of Europeans and Mongoloids.
The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Maori, Tongans and Tahiti. Each nation has its own language, which is almost a complete lack of unanimous sounds.
The racial species of melanesan are australolides.
The languages \u200b\u200bof the Melanesian tribes are very widespread - it is a common occurrence that the inhabitants of neighboring villages cannot understand each other. Papuans live in parts of Indonesia and New Guinea.
All Papuan languages \u200b\u200bare very similar.
They are based in English, so people from outlying areas know English well.
economy
The vast majority of countries in Oceania have very weak economies. The reasons for this are factors such as the distance of the islands from the developed superpowers, limited resources and a lack of personnel.
Many countries are completely dependent on Australia and the United States of America. The economy is based on agriculture.
Among the most common crops are the coconut palm, small fruits and bananas. Some countries have a fishing fleet.
Industry is developing in only three regions - New Guinea, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
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Oceania is a part of the world, which is a separate geopolitical region, which consists of many islands and atolls located in the western and central 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 a geographic name for Australia and Oceania.
Oceania history
The total area of \u200b\u200bOceania is 1.24 million km2. The population is 10.6 million.
Oceania is divided into three geographic regions 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 basin, and the Arafura Sea (Indian Ocean).
Oceania climate
Most of Oceania has a tropical climate. Most islands in Oceania are characterized by heavy rainfall.
On the islands that are located closer to the tropical belt, the average annual temperature is 23 C, on the islands near the equator 27 C.
Oceania's climate is also influenced by currents such as La Niña and El Niño. Most of the islands in Oceania are negatively affected by active volcanoes, tsunamis and typhoons.
This region is characterized by a sharp change in weather conditions, droughts are replaced by torrential rains ...
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Ocean islands are the most exotic and unusual travel destination. It is enough that when a fierce winter is raging at home, then in the Southern Hemisphere it is the height of summer. And although people there do not walk upside down, and the water does not swirl in the opposite direction, the lands of Oceania remain a real terra incognita for many.
What is Oceania?
The boundaries of Oceania are rather arbitrary. In fact, this is a cluster of islands in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Easter Island is considered the eastern point, New Guinea is the western one. Geographers unite Oceania with Australia and consider these lands to be a separate part of the world.
On a rather long list are islands such as New Zealand, New Guinea, Fiji, Easter, Solomon, Hawaiian and many others. Most of the islands are formed by volcanic activity, and many fire-breathing mountains are still dangerous.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea covers an area comparable in area to Sweden, and in fact connects Australia and Asia. Long before European sailors and Miklouho-Maclay, Indonesian rulers sent their envoys here to hunt for exotic birds and labor. The name of the island was given by the Portuguese Don Jorge di Menezes, clearly alluding to the hair of the aborigines: "Papua" in Malay means "curly". More than 820 languages \u200b\u200bare in use here - this is due to some isolation of the tribes from each other due to the highlands.
Fiji
Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands, with only a third of them inhabited. Europeans discovered the Fiji Islands in the 17th century, but did not risk establishing colonies there until the 19th century. There was only one reason - Aboriginal cannibalism. The leader possessed indisputable authority and power. In the villages, a respectful attitude towards the head of the tribe is still preserved: only he is allowed to wear sunglasses and hats. But as for tourists ... it's hard to find more hospitable people. Here you will be treated to the most unusual dishes: boiled bat, stew in banana leaves and even a fried snake. However, the beauty of Fiji's rainforests and diverse underwater world, for which divers highly value it, is short-lived: due to climate change, the corals to which the island originated are threatened - eco-communities are sounding the alarm.
New Zealand
New Zealand (or "Land of the Long White Cloud") was discovered in 1642 by the Dutch sailor Abel Tasman. Local tribes at that time definitely did not like the white-skinned Europeans ... Now New Zealand is considered the safest country in the world. Only James Cook in 1769 dared to sail here next, he also contributed to the inclusion of the new country in the English possessions. The island's symbol is the wingless, timid kiwi bird - that's what New Zealanders call themselves. Well, Tolkien fans must know that all parts of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy were filmed among local landscapes, and during special tours you can see Hobbiton and the Baggins' home with your own eyes.
Solomon islands
The Solomon Islands are little known in the world. This is due to the remoteness from other geographic objects. Meanwhile, there is a constant mild climate and nature, unique in its beauty. For example, the salt lagoon Marovo with sparkling blue water - the largest in the world - is about to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is also the most elevated coral island - East Rennell. Tengano is such a large freshwater lake in the southern hemisphere that its water area includes 200 islands. As for the inhabitants, their manners and habits are quite curious. For example, many of them still worship sharks. Aboriginal people before the arrival of missionaries were predominantly bounty hunters. By the way, about 10% of the black inhabitants of the Solomon Islands are blond. This is due to a mutation that appeared many centuries ago - it has nothing to do with the settlements of Europeans.
Fauna and flora
The flora and fauna of the islands of Oceania amaze the imagination of experienced tourists with their exoticism. What is a breadfruit! “Whoever plants a breadfruit will do more to feed his descendants than a grain grower who sweats his brow all his life working in the field,” wrote James Cook. One plant can produce up to 700-800 "breads" - special fruits with a sweetish pulp, from which a kind of rolls are "baked". Sago palms in New Guinea produce the starch that makes delicious pancakes. In the abundance of rainforests, you can find cake trees - the sweet taste of their fruits really resembles confectionery. Well, bananas-coconuts are innumerable at all - without these fruits, the aborigines could not survive.
People with entomophobia - fear of insects - have nothing to do on the islands of Oceania. Huge spiders, poisonous flies and giant butterflies are quite capable of scaring and even causing harm. In the jungle there is a danger of stepping on a snake - well, or it itself dives down from a branch. In contrast to the dangers - the indescribable beauty of birds of paradise and the touching faces of marsupials. By the way, possums, as many mistakenly believe, are not found in Oceania: possums live there. This confusion arose during the research of James Cook - the biologist of the expedition attributed the marsupials to the possums living in America.
Diving, lounging on the world's best coral crumb beaches, going downhill skiing, seeing a parrot in their natural habitat and playing the most romantic wedding - this is not a complete list of what the recently opened tourists offer oceania islands.
Pavilion “Around the World. Asia, Africa, Latin America, Australia and Oceania "
ETNOMIR, Kaluga Region, Borovsky District, Petrovo village
There is an amazing place in the ethnographic park-museum "ETNOMIR". The "City" street is built inside a spacious pavilion, so it is always warm, light and good weather on Peace Street - just right for an exciting walk, especially since within the framework of the latter you can make a whole trip around the world. Like any street popular with tourists, it has its own attractions, workshops, street artisans, cafes and shops located inside and outside 19 houses.
The facades of the buildings are made in different ethnic styles. Each house is a "quote" from the life and traditions of a particular country. The very appearance of the houses begins the story of distant lands.
Go inside and you will be surrounded by new, unfamiliar objects, sounds and smells. Colors and finishes, furniture, interior and household items - all this helps to plunge into the atmosphere of distant countries, to understand and feel their uniqueness.
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Australia and Oceania on hemisphere map
Australia and Oceania on world map
Oceania - the collective name for a vast cluster of islands and atolls in the central and western parts of the Pacific Ocean. The boundaries of Oceania are conditional. The island is considered to be the western border, the eastern one. Typically, Oceania does not include Australia, as well as the islands and archipelagos of Southeast Asia, the Far East and North America. In the section of geography, regional studies, Oceania is studied by an independent discipline - ocean studies.
Geographical position
Physical map of Australia and Oceania (eng.)
Regions of Australia and Oceania
Australia and Oceania political map
Oceania is the world's largest cluster of islands located in the southwestern and central Pacific Ocean, between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern and temperate Southern hemispheres. When dividing the entire land mass into parts of the world, Oceania is usually united with Australia into a single part of the world, Australia and Oceania, although sometimes it stands out as an independent part of the world.
Geographically Oceania is subdivided into several regions: (northwest), (west), and (east); sometimes isolated.
The total area of \u200b\u200bthe 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 in terms of total area and total population is comparable to the 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 and the international date line pass through Oceania. It is a broken line, most of which runs along the 180 ° meridian.
Sea currents
Throughout Oceania, along the equator, there are warm North trade winds, South trade winds and counter-trade currents. In the southwestern part of Oceania, the warm East Australian Current passes. Oceania is characterized by the absence of cold sea currents (with the exception of the Pacific Ocean to the 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 |
Area (km²) |
Population (estimate as of 1 July 2002) |
Population density (people / 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 | kin (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 | paanga (TOP) | ||
| 26 | 11 146 | 428,7 | Funafuti | Australian dollar (AUD) |
Dependent Territories and Trusteeship Territories
| Name of region, country and country flag |
Area (km²) |
Population (estimate as of 1 July 2002) |
Population density (people / 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 Pasqua () | 163,6 | 3791 | 23,1 | Anga 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 | pacific franc (XPF) | |
| French polynesia () | 4 167 | 257 847 | 61,9 | pacific franc (XPF) | |
| () | 1,62 | uninhabited | - | - | |
Geology
Mount Jaya in Western New Guinea (Indonesia) - the highest point in Oceania
From the point of view of geology, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, and have a continental origin, formed on the site of the hypothetical continent of Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single land, but as a result of the rise in the level of the World Ocean, 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 tops of large underwater volcanoes, some of which are still highly volcanic (for example, the Hawaiian Islands).
Other islands have their origin 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, whose average height does not exceed three meters. Oceania has an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world - Kwajalein in the archipelago of the Marshall Islands. Despite the fact that its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 square miles), the area of \u200b\u200bthe lagoon is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 square miles). The largest atoll in terms of land area is Christmas Island (or Kiritimati) in the Line Archipelago (or Central Polynesian Sporades) - 322 km². However, among the atolls there is also a special type - an uplifted (or uplifted) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m above sea level. This type of island has no lagoon or 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 it) to New Zealand, there is a large number of basins of the marginal seas, deep oceanic 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 minerals, only the largest of them are being developed: nickel (), oil and gas (island,), copper (Bougainville island), gold (New Guinea,), phosphates (on most islands, deposits are almost or already developed, for example, in, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, decomposed seabird droppings were actively developed on many islands in the region and were used as nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. 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
Space shot 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. The subequatorial climate prevails on the islands near Australia and Asia, as well as east of the 180th meridian in the equatorial zone, equatorial - west of the 180th meridian, subtropical - north and south of the tropics, temperate - over most of the South Island in New Zealand.
The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by the trade winds, so most of them receive heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 mm, although some islands (in particular, due to the relief and on the leeward side), the climate may be drier or more humid. Oceania has 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: 16,916 mm fell then). Near the tropics, the average temperature is about 23 ° C, at the equator - 27 ° C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months.
The climate of the islands of Oceania is also greatly influenced by such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves north towards the equator; during La Niño, it moves south towards the equator. In the latter case, severe drought is observed on the islands, in the first case, heavy rains.
Most of the islands of Oceania are subject to the destructive effects of natural disasters: volcanic eruptions (Hawaiian Islands, New Hebrides), earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones accompanied by typhoons and heavy rains, and droughts. Many of them lead to significant material and human losses. For example, the tsunami in July 1999 killed 2,200 people.
There are glaciers on the South Island in New Zealand and on the island high in the mountains, but due to the process of global warming, their area is gradually decreasing.
Soils and hydrology
Stream on Efate Island (Vanuatu)
Due to the different climatic conditions, the soils of Oceania are very diverse. The soils of the atolls are highly alkaline, of coral origin, and very poor. They are usually porous, which makes them very poor at retaining moisture, and also contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands are generally of volcanic origin and are highly fertile. On large mountainous islands there are red-yellow, mountain laterite, 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 of Oceania are located, Sepik (1126 km) and Fly (1050 km). The largest river in New Zealand is the Waikato (425 km). Rivers are primarily fed by rainwater, although in New Zealand and New Guinea, rivers are also fed by melting glaciers and snow. On the atolls, rivers are completely absent due to the high porosity of the soil. Instead, rainwater seeps through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. Larger islands (usually of volcanic origin) have small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.
The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, is located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are rare.
Flora and fauna
Kiwi is a symbol of New Zealand
Oceania is part of the Paleotropic Vegetation Region, with three subregions distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian, and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants in Oceania, the coconut palm and breadfruit are distinguished, which play an important role in the life of local residents: fruits are used for food, wood is a source of heat, a building material, copra is produced from the oily endosperm of coconut palm nuts, which forms the basis of exports of the countries of this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemics (both representatives of flora and fauna) is recorded in New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, while the number of species, genera and families of plants decreases from west to east.
The fauna of Oceania belongs to the Polynesian faunal region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand stands out as an independent region, New Guinea - in the Papuan subregion of the Australian region. New Zealand and New Guinea are the most diverse. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily the 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 are home to bird colonies where seabirds nest. Among the representatives 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 (Latin 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 has a large number of protected areas, many of which occupy significant areas. For example, the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati have been the world's largest marine reserve since January 28, 2008 (with an area of \u200b\u200b410,500 km²).
History
Main article: Oceania history
Pre-colonial period
Island and nearby islands Names of Russians on the map of the tropical Pacific Ocean. A source:.
Letter from N.N. Miklukho-Maclay to the Chief of the Ships' Detachment in the Pacific Ocean with a proposal to acquire areas on the Pacific Islands, convenient for coal storage, March 30, 1873.
In the Russian Empire, after V. Bering discovered the north-western coast of America 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 Russian-American Company (1799-1867) was established by the state to deal with administrative matters 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 sail around the world. In the heart of the tropical Pacific Ocean there are the atolls and islands of Russians, Suvorov, Kutuzov, Lisyansky, Bellingshausen, Barclay de Tolly, Kruzenshtern's 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 Miklukho-Maclay's map of Russia's alleged territorial acquisitions in the Pacific Ocean, filed in a letter to Alexander III, December 1883.
Letter to the Main Naval Headquarters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the proposal of N. N. Miklukho-Maclay on Russian acquisitions in the Pacific Ocean with a resolution “... consider this matter finally finished. Refuse Miklouho-Maclay ", December 1886.
As the first European who settled on the shores of the Astrolabe Bay in New Guinea and explored this area, N. N. Miklukho Maclay repeatedly proposed to peacefully occupy or take under Russian protection a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Russian scientist sent letters to the Naval Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, personally to Emperor Alexander III.
Colonial period
Ships of the English traveler James Cook and canoes of the natives in Matawai Bay on the island of Tahiti (French Polynesia), painter William Hodges, 1776
In the period from the 16th to the 18th century, the period of the 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 of natural resources, and negatively affected the local population: many diseases were brought that had never been in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, in 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 the colonial powers, primarily the British Empire, and (later the German Empire joined them). Of particular interest among Europeans was the possibility of creating plantations on the islands (coconut trees for the production of copra, sugarcane), as well as the slave trade (the so-called "Hunting for blackbirds", involving the recruitment of 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 (“May” in Western Samoa, “Fijian Youth” in Fiji) began to emerge, fighting for the independence of the colonies. During World War II, Oceania was one of the theaters of military operations, where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American troops).
After the war, the region experienced some improvements in the economy, but in most colonies it was one-sided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: in 1962 it gained independence, in 1963 - West Irian, in 1968 -. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.
Postcolonial period
After gaining independence, most of the countries of Oceania have 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 decolonization process in the 20th century, some islands still remain dependent to one degree or another: New Caledonia A portrait of a representative of the indigenous people of New Zealand - Maori
The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians and Papuans.
The Polynesians living in the countries of Polynesia are of a mixed racial type, combining the features of the Australoid and Mongoloid races. The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans, Maori, Marquesas, Rapanui and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages: Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori, Marquis, Rapanui, and others. The characteristic features of Polynesian languages \u200b\u200bare a small number of sounds, especially consonants, an abundance of vowels.
Micronesians live in the countries of Micronesia. The largest peoples are the Carolinians, Kiribati, Marshalls, Nauru, Chamorro and others. The native languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Caroline, Kusai, Marshall, Nauru and others. The Palau and Chamorro languages \u200b\u200bbelong to the West Malay-Polynesian languages, and Yapi forms a separate branch in the Oceanian languages, which also includes the Micronesian languages.
Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. The racial type is 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 grouping, and linguistic fragmentation is very large, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.
Papuans inhabit the island and some areas. In their anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians, but differ from them in language. Not all Papuan languages \u200b\u200bare related to each other. The national language of the Papuans in Papua New Guinea is Tok Pisin, an English-based Creole. According to various sources, the peoples and languages \u200b\u200bof the Papuans number from 300 to 800. At the same time, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between a separate language and a dialect.
Many languages \u200b\u200bof 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 the Maori make up up to 15% of the country's population. The share of Polynesians located in Micronesia is about 21.3%. The majority of the population is made up of numerous Papuan peoples, although the proportion of immigrants from other islands of the region is also high.
In New Zealand and Hawaii, the majority of the population is Europeans, whose share is also high in (34%) and French Polynesia (12%). On the islands, 38.2% of the population is represented by Indo-Fijians, the 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 Filipinos account for 26.2% and the Chinese for 22.1%.
The population of Oceania is mainly Christian, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branch.
Economy
Economy of Oceania. Donation and economic unions.
