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?

An Archipelago is a set of closely grouped islands, which sometimes form a curved arc. An
example of an Archipelago is the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia being a part of 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.

3. What is Oceania? About how many islands exist in Oceania?

Oceania is a group of the pacific islands, about 20,000 islands exist in Oceania.

4. What are high islands? What are low islands?

High islands are created by volcanos and low islands are made of coral reefs.

5. What resource problem exists in Oceania?

Oceania is poor in resources, the low islands have poor soil and the most of the islands
lack minerals.
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 island is running down the center and is a 300 mile long mountain range, the
southern Aps. While the North islands has fertile farm land and forests that support lumber
industry. New Zealand has few minerals sources but its rivers have allowed people to build
damns that generate electricity.

7. How is Australia different from New Zealand? (Be specific. What is found here that is
not found in New Zealand?)
Australia has very few rivers and forestry is not a major industry but it is very rich of
minerals. In New Zealand, they have many rivers that flow to better the people, very big on
forest industry and they do not have many minerals at all.

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 separate islands linked only by the ice that covers them.

9. What is interesting about Antarctica's ice sheet? What resources may lie beneath?
Antarcticas ice sheet is the largest supply of fresh water in the world. The resources that may
lie beneath it are coal, minerals, and even 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 in which some
get more than 80- 200 inches of rain each year.
2. What are the two categories that exist in the climate of South East Asia and Oceania?
Wet and dry seasons and rain all year.

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 perfect climate for vegetation to flourish because the
plants receive a lot of water due to the humid climate and plenty of sun. But, the soil in Oceania
is not so perfect for plant life because there is not much rain falls. The volcanic areas have very
rich soil which grows an abundances of flowers and trees.

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

Farming? Why would this be interesting to historians?
Terraced Farming allows farmers to grow on arid types of land like Australia. Terraced
Farming would be interesting to the historians because they have studied different types of
geography, and this 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?
In Australia the climate varies because of how large it is. However, it is usually very hot
and moist in the summer and dry and warm during winter. New Zealand has pretty much the
same. It is a very tropical place and has a lot of rain. South East Asia relates more to New
Zealands weather because it is mostly hot and humid with a lot of rain.

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 there are not
a lot of people that live there. The desert does not receive more than 10 inches of rain per
year! Also, the mountainous outer border is what 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 and is the driest, coldest continent on in the
world. The life that lives in the white desert is mosses and lichen, which are plants that dont

need much water or sun to help them survive. However, other life is made up of sea animals and
birds.