Three regions of Oceania in Australia on the map. Oceania. Geology and climate of Oceania, soils and hydrology of Oceania, economy and culture of Oceania, Melanesia, Micronesia, New Zealand and Polynesia

Oceania is a part of the world that is a separate geopolitical region, which consists of many islands and atolls located in the western and central parts 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 geographical name- Australia and Oceania. The total area of ​​Oceania is 1.24 million km2. The population is 10.6 million people.

Oceania is divided into three geographical 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, as well as the Arafura Sea (Indian Ocean).

Oceania Climate

Most of Oceania has a tropical climate. Most of the islands of Oceania are characterized by heavy rainfall. On the islands that are located closer to the tropical zone, 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 of Oceania are negatively affected active volcanoes, tsunamis and typhoons.

This region is characterized by a sharp change weather conditions– droughts are replaced by torrential rains.

Population of Oceania

The majority of the population of the islands of Oceania is represented by indigenous people, which include Micronesians, Polynesians, and Papuans. Polynesians are mixed racial types - they show features of Caucasoids and Mongoloids.

The largest Polynesian peoples are Hawaiians, Maoris, Tongans, and Tahitians. Each nationality has its own language, which is represented by an almost complete absence of consonants.

The racial type of Melanesians is Australoid. The linguistic fragmentation of the Melanesian tribes is very large - a common occurrence is that residents of neighboring villages cannot understand each other. Papuans inhabit some regions of Indonesia and New Guinea.

All Papuan languages ​​are very similar to each other. They are based English language Therefore, often even residents of remote regions speak English perfectly.

Economy

The vast majority of Oceanian states have a very weak economy. The reasons for this are factors such as the remoteness of the islands from developed superpowers, limited natural resources, personnel shortage.

Many countries are completely economically dependent on Australia and the USA. Agriculture is the basis of the economy. Among the most common agricultural crops are coconut palms, breadfruit, bananas. Some states have fishing fleets.

Ocean islands are the most exotic and unusual travel destination. It is enough that when a fierce winter is raging in our homeland, it is the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. And even though people there don’t walk upside down, and the water doesn’t swirl in reverse side, the lands of Oceania remain a real terra incognita for many.

What is Oceania?

The boundaries of Oceania are quite arbitrary. It is essentially a cluster of islands in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Eastern point They consider Easter Island, and the western one is New Guinea. Geographers combine Oceania with Australia and consider these lands to be a separate part of the world.

The rather long list includes islands such as New Zealand, New Guinea, Fiji, Easter, Solomon, Hawaiian and many others. Most of the islands were formed due to volcanic activity, and many fire-breathing mountains still pose a danger.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea covers an area comparable in area to Sweden and actually 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 de Menezes, clearly alluding to the hair of the aborigines: “Papua” means “curly” in Malay. More than 820 languages ​​are spoken here - this is due to some isolation of the tribes from each other due to the mountainous terrain.

Fiji

Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands, of which only a third are 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 - cannibalism of the aborigines. The leader had unquestioned 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 is difficult to find more hospitable people. Here you will be treated to the most unusual dishes: boiled bat, stew in banana leaves and even fried snake. However, the beauty of the rainforests and diverse underwater world Fiji, for which it is highly valued by divers, is short-lived: due to climate change, the corals to which the island owes its origin are under threat - environmental 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. To local tribes at that time they definitely didn’t like white-skinned Europeans... Now New Zealand is considered the most safe country peace. The next person to venture here was James Cook in 1769, and he also contributed to the inclusion new country into English possessions. The symbol of the island is the wingless, timid kiwi bird - that’s what New Zealanders call themselves. Well, Tolkien fans cannot help but know that all parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed in 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 distance from others geographical objects. Meanwhile, there is a constant mild climate and uniquely beautiful nature. For example, to the list World Heritage UNESCO is about to include the Marovo salt lagoon with sparkling blue water - the largest in the world. There is also the highest coral island - East Rennell. Tengano is so big freshwater lake in the southern hemisphere, which includes 200 islands. As for the inhabitants, their manners and habits are quite curious. For example, many of them still worship sharks. The Aborigines before the arrival of missionaries were primarily headhunters. By the way, about 10% of dark-skinned Solomon Islanders are blond. The reason for this is a mutation that appeared many centuries ago - it has nothing to do with European settlements.

Animal and vegetable world

The flora and fauna of the islands of Oceania are amazing seasoned tourists its exoticism. What a breadfruit tree is worth! “He who plants a breadfruit tree will do more to feed his descendants than a farmer who spends his whole life cultivating the field by the sweat of his brow,” wrote James Cook. One plant can produce up to 700-800 “breads” - special fruits with sweetish pulp, from which peculiar rolls are “baked”. Sago palms in New Guinea provide starch that is used to make delicious pancakes. In abundance in tropical forests you can find cake trees - the sweet taste of their fruit is truly reminiscent of confectionery. Well, there are countless bananas and coconuts - without these fruits the aborigines would not be able to 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 frightening and even causing harm. In the jungle there is a danger of stepping on a snake - or it will dive from the branch itself. In contrast to the dangers, there is the indescribable beauty of birds of paradise and the touching faces of marsupials. By the way, opossums, as many people mistakenly believe, are not found in Oceania: possums live there. This confusion arose during the research of James Cook - the expedition biologist attributed marsupials to opossums living in America.

Go diving, lie on the best coral beaches in the world, ride alpine skiing, see a parrot in natural environment habitats and have the most romantic wedding - this is not a complete list of what newly opened hotels offer tourists Oceania islands.

Pavilion “Around the World. Asia, Africa, Latin America, Australia and Oceania"

ETHNOMIR, Kaluga region, Borovsky district, Petrovo village

In the ethnographic park-museum "ETNOMIR" - amazing place. The “City” street is built inside a spacious pavilion, so Mira Street is always warm, light and good weather- just right for an exciting walk, especially since within the framework of the latter you can complete 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 the 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 certain country. The very appearance of the houses begins the story of distant lands.

Step inside and you will be surrounded by new, unfamiliar objects, sounds and smells. The color scheme and decoration, furniture, interior and household items - all this helps to plunge into the atmosphere of distant countries, to understand and feel their uniqueness.

The island groups and archipelagos of the western and central parts are united into a geographical area under the general name Oceania. Historically, all the islands have been divided into four ethnographic-geographical regions: (Tonga, Samoa, Cook, Hawaiian Islands, Easter Island, etc.), Melanesia (Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Islands, etc.), ( , Mariana Islands, etc.), Novaya. Most of the islands of Oceania are concentrated between 10° S. w. and 20° N. w.

The Russian scientist N. N. Miklouho-Maclay made a great contribution to the study of the nature and population of Oceania. He studied the life of the peoples of the island of New Guinea and left descriptions of the nature of coastal areas. The scientific research of N. N. Miklouho-Maclay was associated with his conviction of the need to protect backward and oppressed peoples. In the very late XIX V. on Hawaiian Islands Our fellow countryman, a native of the Mogilev province N.K. Sudzilovsky lived and worked.

Geological structure and relief of Oceania

Remember how continental, volcanic and coral islands were formed. The largest mainland islands of Oceania are New Guinea and New Zealand. Volcanism is a characteristic process of this region. The Hawaiian Islands are home to Kilauea Volcano, one of the most active active volcanoes on the ground. Volcanic islands form giant island arcs. They have an elongated configuration. Oceania is replete with coral islands - reefs and atolls, which form entire archipelagos (Gilbert Islands, Tuamotu).

Oceania Climate

The islands of Oceania are located mainly in the equatorial, subequatorial and. Only the northern part of the Hawaiian archipelago enters the subtropics, and South part New Zealand is located in the temperate zone. There are two climatic regions in Oceania: trade wind and monsoon. The climate of Oceania is characterized by slight temperature fluctuations: from +30 °C during the day to +21 °C at night. Winds from the ocean soften the heat. It is never too cold or too hot here, so the climate of Oceania is considered the most comfortable on the globe. The main directions are from east to west. They facilitate the dispersal of organisms.

Marine air masses dominate in Oceania. In areas where monsoon circulation prevails, precipitation falls 3000-4000 mm per year. In the Hawaiian Islands, on the windward slopes, over 12,090 mm of precipitation falls per year. This is one of the wettest places on Earth. The distribution of precipitation is related to the presence of mountains. There are areas on the island of Hawaii that receive less than 200 mm of precipitation per year.

Among the very dangerous and destructive natural phenomena are tropical hurricanes. They destroy plantations, destroy homes, and sometimes the resulting waves wash away all living things. The local population is wary of settling on the Cook Islands and Tuamotu, where hurricanes are frequent. A subtropical and temperate climate is characteristic of New Zealand, where in winter there are frosts down to -13 ° C, and there is snow in the mountains.

Flora and fauna of Oceania

The isolation of the island land had the greatest impact on its and. The diversity of the plant and animal world depends on the age of the islands, their size and distance from the mainland. He is the poorest coral islands, where fresh water is scarce and soils are poor. Only a few dozen species of plants grow on them. On the islands of Oceania, mainly in Melanesia, the most ancient plants have been preserved, for example tree ferns, reaching 8-15 m in height. The flora of New Zealand is rich and unique (pine trees, palm trees).

Vegetable and animal world Oceania is distinguished by two features. Rare species that are not found on the mainland have been preserved here. At the same time, on many islands, entire groups of organisms common to the mainland are almost completely absent. Many species of flowering plants found on land are absent here, but spore-bearing plants are widespread. Ancient plants that grew on the mainland in the geological past (podocarpus, agathis (kauri), etc.) have been preserved on the islands.

The fauna of the islands is poor. There are no mammals on many islands, with the exception of rats, mice, goats and cats that were introduced here. There are many seabirds: petrels, albatrosses, gulls that nest and raise their chicks here. On the island of New Guinea there is a weed chicken, a representative of the Australian fauna.

In New Zealand, the oldest flightless bird, the kiwi, is preserved, a very cautious bird that lives in dense grasses, the Maori rail. The kiwi bird is featured on the coat of arms of New Zealand. Rare species of parrots are found in New Zealand and New Zealand - the kakapo, or owl parrot, and the kea parrot, with a strong, sharp and curved beak. The first lizard tuateria was preserved on one of the islands of New Zealand.

Only 5-7 species of seabirds nest on individual islands. At the same time, the number of bird species in New Guinea is more than 100, and the insect fauna is rich (more than 3,700 species).

Minerals of Oceania

Minerals on the islands of Oceania are distributed extremely unevenly. Farming is carried out where there are valuable minerals. Thus, New Caledonia contains up to 25% of the world's nickel reserves, and Christmas Island has phosphate reserves. Among the states of Oceania, Papua New Guinea stands out, where there is gold, silver, and reserves have been explored.

Economic activities of Oceania

The population of Oceania is about 10 million people. There are several hypotheses about the routes of settlement of Oceania. Most scientists believe that Oceania was settled by people from South-East Asia many thousands of years ago. According to Thor Heyerdahl's hypothesis, immigrants from America settled there.

The inhabitants of Oceania were skilled sailors and shipbuilders. They sailed thousands of kilometers from their home islands. Modern residents of Oceania are engaged in growing coconut palms, bananas, cocoa, and coffee. Traditional trade is fishing. The nature and life of the people of Oceania are largely subject to natural catastrophic disasters (tropical hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanism).

On many islands of volcanic and continental origin, non-ferrous metal ores, coal are mined, and phosphorite deposits are developed. Every year, the states of Oceania become targets international tourism. The nature of the islands is changing under the influence economic activity person. In place of the destroyed natural plantations, plantations have been created where sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, tea, coffee, rubber and other crops are cultivated.

Oceania political map

Modern political map Oceania emerged as a result of a long struggle between the colonial powers to divide the oceanic archipelagos among themselves. Until the beginning of the 60s. XX century There was one independent state in Oceania - New Zealand. By the end of the twentieth century. more than 10 were formed in Oceania independent states. A number of islands and archipelagos remain politically and economically dependent on the world. Most of the Hawaiian Islands archipelago has formed the 50th state of the United States since 1959.

The formation of the nature of Oceania is influenced by the Pacific Ocean, its distance from other continents, and its location in tropical latitudes. The basis of the economy of most countries in Oceania is agriculture. Mining is carried out on many islands.

Oceania is a part of the world; a geographical, often geopolitical region of the world consisting primarily of hundreds of small islands and atolls in the central and western parts Pacific Ocean.

Geographical position

Oceania is the world's largest collection of islands located in the western and central parts Pacific Ocean, between the subtropical latitudes of the Northern and temperate Southern hemispheres. When dividing the entire landmass into parts of the world, Oceania is usually united with Australia into a single part of the world, Australia and Oceania, although sometimes it is separated into an independent part of the world.

The total area of ​​the 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). Geographically, Oceania is divided into Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia; New Zealand is sometimes 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

Geology

From a geological point of view, Oceania is not a continent: only Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Tasmania are of continental origin, having formed on the site of the hypothetical continent of Gondwana. In the past, these islands were a single landmass, but as a result of rising sea levels, a significant part of the surface was under water. The relief of these islands is mountainous and highly dissected. For example, highest mountains 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 still exhibit high volcanic activity (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, the average height of which does not exceed three meters. In Oceania, there is an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world - Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands archipelago. Although its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), its lagoon area 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 atolls there is also a special type - a raised (or elevated) atoll, which is a limestone plateau up to 50-60 m high above sea level. This type of island does not have a lagoon or there are traces of its past existence. Examples of such atolls are Nauru, Niue, and 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 located a large number of basins of marginal seas, 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 have no mineral resources, 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 the deposits are almost or already developed, for example, in Nauru, on the islands of Banaba, Makatea). In the past, many islands in the region were heavily mined for guano, the decomposed droppings of seabirds, which were used as nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. 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. Subequatorial climate prevails on the islands near Australia and Asia, as well as east of the 180th meridian in the equator zone, equatorial - west of the 180th meridian, subtropical - north and south of the tropics, temperate - on most of the South Island in New Zealand.

The climate of the islands of Oceania is determined mainly by trade winds, so most of them receive heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 mm, although some islands (particularly due to topography and downwind areas) may have drier or wetter climates. Oceania is home to 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: then 16,916 mm fell). Near the tropics average temperature is about 23 °C, at the equator - 27 °C, with little difference between the hottest and coldest months.

The climate of the Oceanian islands is also greatly influenced by such anomalies as the El Niño and La Niña currents. During El Niño, the intertropical convergence zone moves north toward the equator; during La Niña, it moves south away from the equator. In the latter case, the islands experience severe drought, while in the former, heavy rains occur.

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 tsunami in Papua New Guinea in July 1999 killed 2,200 people.

There are glaciers high in the mountains on the South Island of New Zealand and on the island of New Guinea, but due to global warming, their area is gradually decreasing.

Soils and hydrology

Due to various climatic conditions Oceania's soils are very diverse. The soils of the atolls are highly alkaline, of coral origin, and very poor. They are usually porous, which is why they retain moisture very poorly, and also contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium, sodium and magnesium. The soils of volcanic islands are usually of volcanic origin and are characterized by high fertility. On large mountainous islands there are red-yellow, mountain lateritic, mountain-meadow, yellow-brown soils, yellow soils, and red soils.

Large rivers are found only on the South and North Islands of New Zealand, as well as on the island of New Guinea, which contains the largest rivers in Oceania, the Sepik (1126 km) and Fly (1050 km). Largest river New Zealand - Waikato (425 km). The rivers are fed primarily by rain, although in New Zealand and New Guinea the rivers are also fed by water from melting glaciers and snow. On atolls there are no rivers at all due to the high porosity of the soil. Instead, rainwater percolates through the soil to form a lens of slightly brackish water that can be reached by digging a well. For more large islands(usually, volcanic origin) there are small streams of water that flow towards the ocean.

The largest number of lakes, including thermal ones, are located in New Zealand, where there are also geysers. On other islands of Oceania, lakes are a rarity.

Flora and fauna

Oceania is included in the Paleotropical region of vegetation, with three subregions distinguished: Melanesian-Micronesian, Hawaiian and New Zealand. Among the most widespread plants of Oceania are coconut palm and breadfruit, which play an important role in life local residents: the fruits are used for food, the wood is a source of heat, a building material, and copra is produced from the oily endosperm of coconut palm nuts, which forms the basis of exports for the countries of this region. A large number of epiphytes (ferns, orchids) also grow on the islands. The largest number of endemics (both flora and fauna) are recorded in New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, while from west to east there is a decrease in the number of species, genera and families of plants.

The fauna of Oceania also belongs to the Polynesian faunal region with a subregion of the Hawaiian Islands. The fauna of New Zealand is allocated to an independent region, New Guinea - to the Papuan subregion of the Australian region. New Zealand and New Guinea are the most diverse. On the small islands of Oceania, primarily 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 have bird colonies where seabirds nest. Of the fauna of New Zealand, the most famous are the kiwi birds, which have become national symbol countries. Other endemics of the country are kea (Latin: Nestor notabilis, or nestor), kakapo (Latin: Strigops habroptilus, or owl parrot), takahe (Latin: Notoronis hochstelteri, or wingless plume). 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 contains a large number of protected areas, many of which occupy large areas. For example, the Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati have been the world's largest marine reserve since January 28, 2008 (area 410,500 km²).

Population

The indigenous inhabitants of Oceania are Polynesians, Micronesians, Melanesians and Papuans.

Polynesians living in the countries of Polynesia have a mixed racial type: in their appearance, features of the Caucasian and Mongoloid races are visible, and to a lesser extent - Australoid. The largest peoples of Polynesia are Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans, Maoris, Marquesans, Rapanui and others. Native languages ​​belong to the Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages: Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Maori, Marquesan, Rapanui and others. Character traits Polynesian languages ​​- a small number of sounds, especially consonants, an abundance of vowels.

Micronesians live in the countries of Micronesia. The largest peoples are Carolinians, Kiribatis, Marshallese, Nauru, Chamorro and others. The native languages ​​belong to the Micronesian group of the Austronesian family of languages: Kiribati, Carolinian, Kusaie, Marshallese, Nauruan and others. The Palauan and Chamorro languages ​​belong to the West Malayo-Polynesian languages, and Yapese forms a separate branch of the Oceanian languages, which also includes the Micronesian languages.

Melanesians live in the countries of Melanesia. Racial type - 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 group, and the linguistic fragmentation is very great, so that people from neighboring villages may not understand each other.

Papuans inhabit the island of New Guinea and some areas of Indonesia. In terms of anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians, but differ from them in language. Not all Papuan languages ​​are related to each other. The national language of the Papuans in Papua New Guinea is the English-based Tok Pisin creole language. According to various sources of peoples and languages, the Papuans number from 300 to 800. However, there are difficulties in establishing the difference between an individual language and a dialect.

Many languages ​​of 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 Maori make up up to 15% of the country's population. The share of Polynesians in the North Mariana Islands located in Micronesia is about 21.3%. In Papua New Guinea, the majority of the population is made up of numerous Papuan peoples, although there is also a high proportion of people from other islands in the region.

In New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands, the majority of the population is European, whose share is also high in New Caledonia (34%) and French Polynesia (12%). On the Fiji Islands, 38.2% of the population is represented by Indo-Fijians, descendants of Indian contract workers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century.

Recently, the proportion of immigrants from Asia (mainly Chinese and Filipinos) has been increasing in the countries of Oceania. For example, in the Northern Mariana Islands, the share of Filipinos is 26.2%, and the Chinese are 22.1%.

The population of Oceania mainly professes Christianity, adhering to either the Protestant or Catholic branches.

History of Oceania

Pre-colonial period

The island of New Guinea and the nearby islands of Melanesia were supposedly settled by people from Southeast Asia who arrived by canoe approximately 30-50 thousand years ago. About 2-4 thousand years ago, most of Micronesia and Polynesia were inhabited. The colonization process ended around 1200 AD. By the beginning of the 16th century, the peoples of Oceania were experiencing a period of decomposition of the primitive communal system and the formation of an early class society. Crafts, agriculture, and navigation actively developed.

Colonial period

The ships of the English explorer James Cook and the canoes of the natives in Matavai Bay on the island of Tahiti (French Polynesia), artist William Hodges, 1776

In the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the period of 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 natural resources, and had a negative impact on local population: many diseases were introduced that had never existed in Oceania, and this led to epidemics, 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 colonial powers, primarily the British Empire, Spain and France (later joined by the USA and the German Empire). Of particular interest to Europeans was the possibility of creating plantations on the islands (coconut palms for the production of copra, sugar cane), as well as the slave trade (the so-called “blackbird hunt,” which involved recruiting islanders to work on plantations).

New Zealand became a dominion in 1907, but it did not formally become a fully independent state until 1947. After the First World War, the first political organizations began to emerge (“May” in Western Samoa, “Fiji Youth” in Fiji), which fought for the independence of the colonies. During World War II, Oceania was one of the theaters of war where many battles took place (mainly between Japanese and American forces).

After the war, there were some economic improvements in the region, but in most colonies it was lopsided (the predominance of the plantation economy and the almost complete absence of industry). Since the 1960s, the process of decolonization began: Western Samoa gained independence in 1962, and in 1963 West Irian, in 1968 - Nauru. Subsequently, most of the colonies became independent.

Post-colonial period

After gaining independence, most countries in Oceania still have serious economic, political and social problems, which they are trying to solve with the help of the world community (including the UN) and through regional cooperation. Despite the process of decolonization in the 20th century, some islands in the region still remain dependent to one degree or another: New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna from France, the Pitcairn Islands from Great Britain, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau from New Zealand, a number islands (all minor outer islands except Navassa Island) from the United States.

Economy

Most countries in Oceania have a very weak economy, which is due to several reasons: limited natural resources, remoteness from world markets for products, and a shortage of highly qualified specialists. Many states depend on financial assistance from other countries.

The basis of the economy of most countries in Oceania is agriculture (copra and palm oil production) and fishing. Among the most important agricultural crops are the coconut palm, bananas, and breadfruit. Possessing huge exclusive economic zones and not having a large fishing fleet, the governments of the countries of Oceania issue licenses for the right to catch fish to ships of other countries (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 fine arts Among the Polynesians, the main place belongs to wood carving and sculpture. Among the Maori, carving reached a high level; they decorated boats, parts of houses, carved statues of gods and ancestors; such a statue stands in every village. The main motif of the ornament is a spiral. Stone moai statues were created on Easter Island and Marquesas Islands. Of the crafts, the most important was the construction of boats, as they made it possible to engage in fishing and travel over long distances (in connection with this, astronomy developed among the Polynesians). Tattooing is widespread among Polynesians. The clothing used was tapa, which was made from the bark of trees of the mulberry family. Myths, legends, fairy tales, singing and dancing were developed in Polynesia. Writing was probably only on Easter Island (rongo-rongo); on other islands folklore was transmitted orally.

Singing and dancing are popular forms of art among Micronesians. Each tribe has its own myths. In the life of the islanders, the main place was occupied by ships - boats. There were boats different types: dibenil - sailing boat, valab - large rowing boat. Megaliths are found on the Yap Islands. Of particular interest is Nan Madol, known as the “Venice of Micronesia.” This the whole city on the water, in the lagoon on the island of Ponape. Stone structures were built on artificial islands.

Wood carving reached a special peak among the Melanesians. Unlike the Polynesians, the Melanesians were not so tied to the sea, they were more land dwellers. The main musical instrument is the drum, or tom-tom. The Papuans have widespread folklore, songs, dances, and myths. The songs and dances are very simple. The singing is called mun, the melody varies very little. The cult of ancestors and skulls is important. Papuans make korvars - images of ancestors. Wood carving is well developed.

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Oceania is the name of a region of the world consisting of island groups in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. It covers more than 8.5 million km². Some of the countries that make up Oceania include Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. Oceania also includes several dependent territories such as American Samoa, Johnston and French Polynesia.

Physical geography of Oceania

From point of view physical geography, the islands of Oceania are often divided into four different subregions based on geological processes that played an important role in their physical development. The first one is. It stands out due to its location in the middle of the Indo-Australian plate, and the lack of mountain building during its development. Instead, the current physical features of Australia's landscape have been shaped primarily by erosion.

The second region of Oceania consists of islands located at the boundaries of the collision between the plates of the earth's crust. They are located in the South Pacific Ocean. For example, on the collision line between the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates, and includes places such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The North Pacific Ocean also has similar types of landscapes along the boundary of the Eurasian and Pacific plates. Colliding tectonic plates are responsible for the formation of mountains, such as those in New Zealand, that rise more than 3,000 m above sea level.

Volcanic islands such as Fiji are the third category of landscape type found in Oceania. These islands typically rise from the sea floor in hot spots in the Pacific Ocean basin. Most of these areas consist of very small islands with high mountain ranges.

Finally, island coral reefs and atolls such as Tuvalu are the final type of landscape in Oceania. Atolls are specifically responsible for the formation of low-lying land areas, some with enclosed lagoons.

Oceania Climate

Climate map of Oceania according to Köppen

Most of Oceania is divided into two climatic zones: temperate and. Most of Australia and all of New Zealand are in the temperate zone, while most of the Pacific islands are considered tropical. Temperate regions of Oceania have high rainfall levels, cold winters and warm to hot summers. The tropical regions of Oceania are hot and humid all year round.

In addition to these climate zones, most countries in Oceania are subject to continuous trade winds and sometimes hurricanes (called tropical cyclones), which have historically caused catastrophic damage to the countries and islands of the region.

Flora and fauna of Oceania

Since most of Oceania lies in tropical or temperate climatic zone, abundant rainfall supports the growth of humid and temperate rainforests throughout the region. Tropical rainforests are common in some island countries near the tropics, while temperate rainforests are found in New Zealand. Both types of forest support a variety of animal and plant species, making Oceania one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.

It is important to note that not all areas of Oceania receive high rainfall and some parts of the region are arid or semi-arid. Australia, for example, has large areas of dry land that support little diversity of flora. In addition, El Niño has caused frequent droughts in recent decades in Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The fauna of Oceania, like its flora, is also extremely beautiful. Because much of the region is made up of islands, unique species of birds, animals and insects have evolved in complete isolation. The presence of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kingman Reef also provide areas of high concentration of flora and fauna, and are considered biodiversity hotspots.

Population of Oceania

Oceania has a population of about 40 million, with the bulk of the people (about 30 million) living in Australia and New Zealand, while Papua New Guinea has a population of about 8 million. The remainder of Oceania's population is scattered across the various islands that make up the region.

Like population distribution, urbanization and industrialization are also unevenly distributed across Oceania. About 89% of the region's urban areas are in Australia and New Zealand, and these countries also have the most well-developed infrastructure. Australia, in particular, has reserves of many minerals and energy feedstocks, and generates much of the region's economy. The rest of Oceania and, in particular, the Pacific island states are very underdeveloped. Some islands are rich, but most are not. In addition, some of island states are experiencing a shortage of clean drinking water or food.

Agriculture is also important in Oceania and there are three types that are common in the region. These include subsistence agriculture, plantation crops and capital-intensive agriculture. Subsistence farming occurs on most Pacific Islands and is carried out to support local communities. Cassava, taro, yams and sweet potatoes are the most common products of this type of agriculture. Plantation crops are planted in the middle tropical islands, while capital-intensive agriculture is practiced only in Australia and New Zealand.

And finally, fishing and tourism are important sectors of the Oceanian economy and a driver of its development. Fishing serves as an important source of income because many islands have maritime exclusive economic zones that extend over 370 km. Tourism is also important to Oceania, as tropical islands such as Fiji offer aesthetic beauty, while Australia and New Zealand offer developed cities with modern infrastructure. New Zealand has also become an important tourism region in the field.

Oceania countries

Map of Oceania countries/Wikipedia

Below is a list of the 14 independent countries of Oceania, arranged in order from largest to smallest country by area:

1) Australia:

• Area: 7,617,930 km²
• Population: about 25,000,000 people
• Capital: Canberra

2) Papua New Guinea:

• Area: 462,840 km²
• Population: more than 8,000,000 people
• Capital: Port Moresby

3) New Zealand:

• Area: 268,680 km²
• Population: about 5,000,000 people
• Capital: Wellington

4) Solomon Islands:

• Area: 28,450 km²
• Population: about 600,000 people
• Capitals: Honiara

5) Fiji:

• Area: 18,274 km²
• Population: about 900,000 people
• Capital: Suva

6) Vanuatu:

• Area: 12,189 km²
• Population: about 270,000 people
• Capital: Port Vila

7) Samoa:

• Area: 2842 km²
• Population: about 193,000 people
• Capital: Apia

8) Kiribati:

• Area: 811 km²
• Population: about 110,000 people
• Capital: Tarawa

9) Tonga:

• Area: 748 km²
• Population: about 107,000 people
• Capitals: Nuku'alofa

10) Federated States of Micronesia:

• Area: 702 km²
• Population: about 105,000 people
• Capital: Palikir

11) Palau:

• Area: 459 km²
• Population: about 21,000 people
• Capital: Melekeok

12) Marshall Islands:

• Area: 181 km²
• Population: about 53,000 people
• Capital: Majuro

13) Tuvalu:

• Area: 26 km²
• Capital: Funafuti

14) Nauru:

• Area: 21 km²
• Population: about 11,000 people
• Capital: No