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Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Jan 03, 2016

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Jodie Jenkins
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Page 1: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Pacific IslandsPacific Islands

Page 2: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Polynesia – many islandsMicronesia – tiny islands

Melanesia – black islands

Page 3: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

• Over twice the size of the AtlanticOver twice the size of the Atlantic• 1/3 of the earth1/3 of the earth• 64 million square miles64 million square miles• 20,000-30,000 islands ?????20,000-30,000 islands ?????• Three types of islandsThree types of islands• 13,000 species of fish13,000 species of fish• Supplies 60% of fish consumed by peopleSupplies 60% of fish consumed by people• Sea life is used in medicinesSea life is used in medicines• Pearls, manganese, copper, nickel, oil, natural gasPearls, manganese, copper, nickel, oil, natural gas• TourismTourism

Page 4: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Winds and CurrentsWinds and Currents• Move in circles bringing cooler water Move in circles bringing cooler water

and air to the equator and warmer and air to the equator and warmer air and water to the poles.air and water to the poles.

• Shape the climate of most Pacific Shape the climate of most Pacific IslandsIslands

Page 5: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Continental IslandsContinental Islands

• Once part of a continentOnce part of a continent

• Separated because of erosion, Separated because of erosion, tectonic plate movement, or water tectonic plate movement, or water levels risinglevels rising

• New ZealandNew Zealand

• Fertile soilsFertile soils

• MountainousMountainous

Page 6: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Volcanic Volcanic IslandsIslands

• Begin with volcanic eruptions under Begin with volcanic eruptions under the oceanthe ocean

• Lava and ash build upLava and ash build up

• Cone shaped, steep sided, high peakCone shaped, steep sided, high peak

• Fiji, Samoa, Hawaiian IslandsFiji, Samoa, Hawaiian Islands

Page 7: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

AtollsAtolls

• Form when a volcanic island Form when a volcanic island surrounded by a coral reef sinks surrounded by a coral reef sinks beneath the sea beneath the sea

• Surrounds a lagoonSurrounds a lagoon

• Common in Indian and Pacific IslandsCommon in Indian and Pacific Islands

Page 8: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

New New ZealandZealand

A continental IslandA continental Island

North Island has many river, lakes, geysers, hot springs

South Island

About the size of California , mountainous

1000 miles N-S

280 miles E-W

Fjords

Southern Alps

Wellington

Isolated, over 1,000 miles from Australia

Marine west coast climate, fertile farmland

Population: 4 million, mostly on North Island, urban, developed

Rain shadow

Page 9: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Tahiti – Tahiti – A Volcanic IslandA Volcanic Island

• Formed from two volcanoesFormed from two volcanoes• IsolatedIsolated• French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia• 402 sq miles402 sq miles• Land rises steeply, Land rises steeply,

waterfalls, cliffswaterfalls, cliffs• Two seasons = wet and dry, Two seasons = wet and dry,

temps in 80stemps in 80s• Breadfruit, coconuts, palmsBreadfruit, coconuts, palms• Imports foodsImports foods• Tourism, black pearls, Tourism, black pearls,

commercial fishingcommercial fishing• Modern, crowded city of Modern, crowded city of

Pepeete and traditional Pepeete and traditional villagesvillages

Page 10: Pacific Islands. Polynesia – many islands Micronesia – tiny islands Melanesia – black islands.

Kwajalein Island – Kwajalein Island – an atollan atoll

• Largest island on the Kwajalein AtollLargest island on the Kwajalein Atoll• 97 islands in the atoll have a total area of 6.5 sq 97 islands in the atoll have a total area of 6.5 sq

miles, they surround 600 sq miles of oceanmiles, they surround 600 sq miles of ocean• Highest points are 12-15 feet above sea levelHighest points are 12-15 feet above sea level• Flood easily, no rivers or streamsFlood easily, no rivers or streams• Collect rain water, desalination plantCollect rain water, desalination plant• Tropical wet climateTropical wet climate• Coral reefs protect island from storm surges, full of Coral reefs protect island from storm surges, full of

lifelife• Farming is very limited – coconuts, breadfruit, fish, Farming is very limited – coconuts, breadfruit, fish, • US military base, tourismUS military base, tourism• 13,500 Marshall islanders, 3000 Americans13,500 Marshall islanders, 3000 Americans• Cars, bicycles, ferries, planesCars, bicycles, ferries, planes• Dome homes, water sports, volleyball, softball, Dome homes, water sports, volleyball, softball,

movies, bowlingmovies, bowling