The%20Pacific%20Islands

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The Pacific Islands

• Preview
• Section 1 Natural Environments
• Section 2 History and Culture
• Section 3 The Region Today
• Chapter Wrap-Up

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Section 1 Natural Environments

• Read to Discover
• What are the main physical features of the
  Pacific Islands, and what physical processes
  affect them?
• How is the Pacific Islands region divided into
  subregions?
• What climates, biomes, and resources does the
  region have?

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Section 1 Natural Environments
Question What are the similarities and
differences between the Pacifics high islands
and low islands?
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Section 1 Natural Environments
LOW ISLANDS
HIGH ISLANDS

• Subject
• to natural phenomena such as volcanoes

• Formed by volcanoes or oceanic rock

Made of coral
Small and flat

• Mountainous and rocky

Often ring-shaped
Generally found in groups
Little freshwater

• Fresh water

• Rich, volcanic soils

Thin soil
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Section 1 Natural Environments
Physical Features

• High and Low Islands
• High islandsContinental or oceanic (continental
  rock or volcanic) usually mountainous
• Low islandsCoral usually small and flat
• Atolls (ring-shaped coral islands)Surround
  lagoons
• Different environmentsRicher soils, more
  vegetation on high islands

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Section 1 Natural Environments
Physical Processes

• Tectonic forces form volcanic islands and ocean
  trenches.
• Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are common
  in some areas.
• Coral islands form around volcano edges island
  sinks, leaving atoll.

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Section 1 Natural Environments
Three Island Subregions

• MelanesiaClosest to Australia (includes eastern
  New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New
  Caledonia, Fiji)
• MicronesiaEast of Philippines (includes Caroline
  Islands, Gilbert Islands of Kiribati, Northern
  Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands)
• PolynesiaLargest subregion (huge triangle from
  Easter Island to Hawaii to New Zealand includes
  Cook, Marquesas, Samoa, Society, and Tonga
  Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago)

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Section 1 Natural Environments
Climates and Biomes

• ClimatesHot and rainy only New Guinea has
  highland zones some distinct wet-dry seasons
• Trade winds play key role also typhoons
• Thick tropical rain forests in areas of heavy
  rainfall

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Section 1 Natural Environments
Resources

• Key resourcesFish and shellfish (lobster,
  octopus, shark, shrimp, tuna, oysters)
• Pearls from oysters in French Polynesia and the
  Cook Islands
• Few other resourcesSome timber (Papua New
  Guinea) some metals (gold and copper in Papua
  New Guinea nickel in New Caledonia)

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Section 2 History and Culture

• Read to Discover
• What are some important events in the history of
  the region?
• What are the traditions and culture of the region
  like?

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Section 2 History and Culture
Question What are some of the foreign influences
in the history of the Pacific Islands region?
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Section 2 History and Culture
1520sEuropeans begin to explore the Pacific
Islands.
1898United States captures Guam.
1940sPacific region becomes the site for World
War II battles and bases.
Post-World War IIMany islands move away from
colonization to independence.
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Section 2 History and Culture
History

• Early migrations settled islands thousands of
  years ago.
• Europeans arrived in 1500s first Magellan, then
  others.
• Race for colonies developed by late 1800s
  foreign powers controlled the region.
• Whale hunters disrupted life and culture, spread
  disease.

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Section 2 History and Culture
History (continued)

• Colonial rule became more organizedplantations,
  military bases.
• World War II brought sudden changes creation of
  trust territories after war.
• Islands have varied political statussome
  independent some still colonies or associated
  with outside powers.

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Section 2 History and Culture
Traditions and Culture

• Many variations in ethnicity and language
• European or pidgin languages often used between
  groups
• Traditional foodsRoot crops (taro, yams), fruits
  (bananas, breadfruit, coconut), fish
• Modern foodsDomesticated livestock, imported
  processed foods, sugarcane as cash crop

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Section 2 History and Culture
Traditions and Culture (continued)

• ReligionNative spirit religions and Christianity
• Traditional social organizationClans or tribes
• Complex rules and social ranks in Polynesia less
  rigid elsewhere
• Matrilineal descent in Micronesia
• Art linked to religion (carvings)

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Section 3 The Region Today

• Read to Discover
• What are the economies of the Pacific Islands
  region like?
• What are some demographic characteristics of the
  region?
• What challenges do the people of the region face?

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Section 3 The Region Today
Question How are the Pacific Islands economies,
demography, and challenges linked?
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Section 3 The Region Today
The Pacific Today
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Section 3 The Region Today
Economic Features

• TradeTraditional inter-island trade now more
  global
• DevelopmentSmall markets, limited resources
• Common activitiesFishing, subsistence farming
• Commercial agricultureCoconut oil, copra, cacao,
  pineapples, vanilla

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Section 3 The Region Today
Economic Features (continued)

• Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)Surround islands
  income from user fees
• MiningImportant to New Guinea, New Caledonia,
  Nauru
• ExportTextiles and clothing
• TourismImportant to Tahiti and Tonga

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Section 3 The Region Today
Demographic Features

• Small population, but high population density on
  some islands
• Few big cities, but rapid urban growth
• Substantial migration and emigration
• Cause of migrationPopulation growth (natural
  increase)
• Labor shortage caused by emigration

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Section 3 The Region Today
Challenges

• Rapid population growth
• Effects of economic development on environment
  (deforestation, mining)
• Nuclear testing (radiation and health problems)
• Climate (global warming leading to submersion and
  storm vulnerability)
• Political violence (Bougainville, Fiji)

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Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. What are the two types of islands in the
Pacific? What are their origins? 2. What
geographic factors helped a large number of
languages to develop in the region? 3. What food
crops have traditionally been important in the
region? What uses did Pacific Islanders find for
the coconut palm? 4. Why is manufacturing not a
major factor in the regions economy? 5. What are
the three patterns of human movement in the
Pacific Islands today?