Oceania Geography and Culture

Flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and definitions related to the geography and culture of Oceania.

Oceania

The smallest continent by land area.

Polynesia

A vast, scattered subregion of both high and low islands in the central and southern Pacific.

Melanesia

Subregion characterized by larger, high islands; it was the first area in Oceania to be settled.

Micronesia

Subregion located north of the equator, consisting primarily of many low-lying islands.

High Islands

Islands typically of volcanic origin, often with mountainous terrain and fertile soil.

Low Islands

Islands formed from coral reefs or atolls, typically sitting just above sea level.

Atoll

A ring-shaped coral island or string of islands surrounding a central lagoon.

Great Barrier Reef

The world's largest coral reef system, located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

A massive sandstone monolith in central Australia sacred to the Aborigines.

Murray River

The longest river in Oceania, located in Australia.

Tasman Sea

The body of water that separates Australia and New Zealand.

Mount Kosciuszko

The highest mountain on the Australian mainland.

Marsupials

Mammals like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats that carry their young in a pouch.

Monotremes

Rare egg-laying mammals found in Oceania, such as the platypus and echidna.

Maori

The indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.

Kiwi

A flightless bird endemic to New Zealand and the country's national animal.