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World Cultures

Unit III: S.E. Asia

Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________

Physical Geography of South East Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica


pgs. 689-692

1.
What is an archipelago and identify an example?
Archipelago- a set of closely grouped islands that commonly takes the shape of an arc. The
Philippines and Indonesia are examples of archipelagos. They belong to the Malay Archipelago.
2. What rivers and resources exist in South East Asia? Why is this important?
The mainland has several large rivers that run from the north though the valleys, between
mountain ranges. These rivers are important because they spread out into fertile deltas. Also
millions of people rely on the Mekong River for farming and for fishing. The resources in South
East Asia, are the fertile soil, plentiful fish, petroleum, tin, and gems.
South East Asia has many important rivers. These rivers run through the valleys from the north
and spread out into fertile, soil rich deltas. Some of the many resources in South East Asia are:
fish, petroleum, tin, rich soil, and gems. The Mekong River is used by millions of people for
fishing and farming.
3. What is Oceania? About how many islands exist in Oceania?
Oceania is a group of the pacific islands. There are approximately 20,000 islands in Oceania.
4. What are high islands? What are low islands?
High Islands are islands created by volcanoes, and Low Islands are made up of coral reefs.
5. What resource problem exists in Oceania?
Oceania has little amounts of resources. For example, high islands lack minerals, and low islands,
being made of coral, have poor soil.
6. Describe the difference in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Even though it
has limited natural resources, what has allowed New Zealand to thrive?
The South Islands run down the center and is a mountain range that is 300 miles long, called the
southern Aps. And the North Islands have fertile farm soil and forests that improve the lumber
industry. New Zealand has few mineral sources but its rivers have allowed people to make

hydroelectricity.
7. How is Australia different from New Zealand? (Be specific. What is found here that is
not found in New Zealand?)
Australia does not have many rivers and forestry, the industry of caring for plants and forests,
is not a major industry, but Australia is very rich in minerals.
In New Zealand, they have many rivers that provide resources for the people, and forestry is a
huge industry unlike Australia. And New Zealand is low on minerals.
8. The 5th largest continent is Antarctica. Compare East and West Antarctica (underneath
the ice).
East Antarctica is a plateau surrounded by mountains and valleys and West Antarctica is a
group of individual islands linked by the ice that shelters them.

9. What is interesting about Antarctica's ice sheet? What resources may lie beneath?
Antarcticas ice sheet is the Worlds largest supply of fresh water. And the resources that lie
beneath it are coal, many different minerals, and petroleum.

Climate and Vegetation


pgs. 694-701
1.
What sort of climate exists in most of South East Asia and Oceania?
The climates in these areas varies from tropical wet to tropical wet and dry. Some get more
than 80- 200 inches of rain per year.
2. What are the two categories that exist in the climate of South East Asia and Oceania?
Wet and Dry Seasons, and Year round rains.

3. Describe a monsoon.
A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind that carries water and drenches large regions of land.

4. How does the climate affect the tropical plants and vegetation that exists in South East
Asia and Oceania?
South East Asias climate is the ideal climate for vegetation to flourish. The plants receive
much water, due to the humid climate, and much sunlight. However, the soil in Oceania is not
deal for plant life and not much rain falls. The volcanic areas have rich soil which grows an
abundances of flowers, and trees such as the coconut palm.

5. Look at the 5 Themes Box (Human-Environment Interaction). What is Terraced


Farming? Why would this be interesting to historians?
Terraced Farming is a type of farming that allows farmers to grow on very arid types of land,
such as Australia. This would be interesting to historians because they study types of
geography, and terrace farming is a revolutionary way to grow crops.

6. Describe the climate in Australia and New Zealand. How is Australias climate similar to
South East Asia and also New Zealand?
The climate in Australia varies because of its huge size, however mostly it is hot and moist in
the summer and dry and warm in the winter. New Zealand is almost the same. It is tropical and
receives moderately high rainfall. South East Asia relates more to New Zealands weather. It is
mostly Hot, humid and wet.

7. Why is of Australia a dry desert? What is the outback?


The outback is the arid, dry portion of Australia. It is called the outback because not a lot of
people live there. The desert receives less than 10 inches of rain per year, and the mountainous
outer border blocks most of the winds and precipitation from this region.

8. What is the White Desert? What sorts of life lives in it?


The white desert is the open land of Antarctica. It is the driest, coldest continent on earth.
The life that thrives on the white desert is mostly mosses, and lichen. These are plants that

dont need much water or sunlight. The other life is made up of sea animals and birds. Many
species of penguin live in this area.

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