Global Studies 8 - Australia and Oceania
Polynesia
Sub-region of Oceania
station
The Australian term for a ranch
North Island
The Northern Island of New Zealand
South Island
The Southern Island of New Zealand
Tasman Sea
The body of water between New Zealand and Tasmania
Legislature
The branch of government that makes laws for Australia.
tourism
The business of using the physical and cultural characteristics of a place to "sell" it to people that visit - or so that people WANT to visit. This has become a big part of the economies of some microstates like Fiji and Tahiti.
desertification
The deterioration of land into a desert due to factors such as lack of rain, lack of trees, and soil erosion.
gold
The discovery of this element drew other European immigrants to Australia
Dutch
The first Europeans to explore Australia
Mount Cook (Aoraki)
The highest point in New Zealand
Oceania
The islands of the S. Pacific and the 3 sub-regions of Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia
Pacific Ocean
The large body of water to the north and east of Australia.
Indian Ocean
The large body of water to the south and west of Australia
Great Barrier Reef
The largest coral reef in the world; It is the ONLY living organism that can be seen from space! Located off the eastern coast of Queensland, it is 12,500 miles long. Home to 400+ species of coral and 1500+ species of fish.
Great Dividing Range
The mountain range on the Eastern side of Australia.
Southern Alps
The mountain range that runs through New Zealand; it has peaks that are more than 12,000 feet.
mining
The process of removing elements/minerals/resources from the ground. It is the most important business in Australia's outback.
Outback
The remote parts of Australia.
traditional economy
The type of economy used by the Aborigines
Constitutional Monarchy
The type of government in Australia
Northern Territory
This Australian territory lies in the north central part of the continent; Western Australia is on the west of it and Queensland to the east.
Hawaii
This collection of American Islands in the Pacific is an example of high islands. They are also an example of an archipelago. People from these islands are known to have migrated to Australia around 800 AD.
Ayers Rock
This physical feature is also known as Uluru; a sacred place of the Aborigine.
market economy
Type of economy in Australia. Economic questions answered by individuals based on supply and demand.
kangaroo
A largest of the four marsupials native to Australia.
Western Australia
Australian state on the west coast of Australia.
Tasmania
Is an island state of Australia, just south of the state of Victoria.
Coral Sea
Sea off the north-east coast of Australia
South Australia
Australian state in south central Australia. It is between Western Australia (on the west) and New South Wales on the east.
Queensland
Australian state on north east coast of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is just of the coast of this Australian states.
New South Wales
Australian state on the southeast coast of Australia; Sydney is in this state.
Victoria
Australian state on the very south-eastern corner of Australia.
kookaburras
A bird native to Australia; known for it's "song"
archipelago
A chain (cluster) of islands. Examples: Hawaii, and the Florida Keys
sharks
A common fish in the waters of Oceania.
Marshall Islands
A group of islands just east of Micronesia
Solomon Island
A group of islands just east of Papua New Guinea
monotreme
A mammals that lay eggs. Examples: echidna, platypus
marsupial
A mammals whose immature offspring complete their development in an external pouch. Some examples are: kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombat, opossum, Tasmanian devil
Tasmanian devil
A marsupial native to Australia.
wombat
A marsupial native to Australia.
wallaby
A marsupial native to Australia. Looks like a smaller version of a kangaroo.
koala
A marsupial native to Australia; often called a "koala bear" even though it is not in the same "family" as a bear.
spiny anteater
A montreme native to Australia.
platypus
A montreme native to Australia. Has a "bill" like a duck and webbed feet, but is a mammal, despite the fact that it lays eggs.
indigenous
A person, plant or animal native to a region.
Ring of Fire
A region in the Pacific that contains volcanoes.
crocodile
A reptile that is found in Australia
atoll
A ring shaped island, chain of islands, or reef made of coral.
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
A sacred place for the Aborigines
billabong
A small water spring
cyclone
A violent storm with strong winds and torrential rain.
dingo
A wild dog of Australia. Originally brought there from Asia by people that migrated.
desert
An area with very little rainfall.
microstate
An independent state with a small land area and population size
Micronesia
An island group of small independent states in the northern part of Oceania
Fiji
An island nation just east of Australia and north of New Zealand
Guam
An island territory of the United States in the northern part of Oceania.
low island
An island that was once a "high island", but has eroded and has low elevation.
high island
An island with higher elevation & formed by "recently" active volcano.
APEC
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operative
Canberra
Capital of Australia
Samoa
Country in Oceania
Aborigines
Descendants of the first settlers in Australia. They are the equivalent of Native Americans in the United States. Comes from Latin - "ab origine" which means from the beginning.
Great Victoria Desert
Desert in Central and Western Australia
Capital Territory
Is the home of the Australian capital city, Canberra. It is in southeastern part of the country; northeast of Melbourne and southwest of Sydney.
New Zealand
Island Country in the Pacific Ocean
Australia
Island continent and country in the Pacific
Papua New Guinea
Island country north of Australia; just south of the equator.
Tahiti
Island in Oceania
Darling River
Key River in Australia; W. of the Great Dividing Range and N. of the Murray River.
Murray River
Key River in Australia; W. of the Great Dividing Range and S. of the Darling River.
digeridoo
Large traditional wooden instrument that produces a low pitched sound. Traditionally, they were carved out by insects (ants).
Capt. James Cook
Man who claimed the coastal lands of Eastern Australia for Great Britain
mutton
Meat from a sheep. A key piece of the diet of people in Australia.
extinct
No longer existing
exotic species
Non-native plants and animals that were brought to an area by human migration. Some examples of non-native species in this region dingo, cane toad, sheep, cattle, horses, rabbits
Sydney Opera House
One of the best-known buildings in the region (perhaps THE most well known building).
Dreamtime
Part of the Aborigine belief system; creation story
Maori
People with Polynesian origins that settled New Zealand before the Europeans. Arrived in New Zealand around 800AD. Today they make up about 15% of the population.
farming
a key part of the economy of the region and source of food
feral (animals)
animals which were originally domesticated, now are wild and nomadic.
ranching
business of raising animals for food. Key part of the economy of Australia.
