Oceania

Oceania is a vast region made up of thousands of islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean. It includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the island groups of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Australia is by far the largest landmass, while most other countries and territories are islands.

Oceania stretches across a huge part of the Pacific, from tropical latitudes to the cooler waters of the south. Its landscapes range from Australian deserts and grasslands to volcanic mountains, coral islands, and the temperate mountains and forests of New Zealand. Oceania has a wide range of climates and ecosystems.

Tropical forests grow on some islands near the Equator, while large parts of Australia are arid and receive little rainfall. New Zealand has a generally temperate climate, with regional differences influenced by its mountains and surrounding seas. Geographic isolation allowed distinctive species to evolve, including kangaroos, koalas, kiwis, and the platypus.

Human settlement is ancient and diverse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years, while Pacific peoples developed navigation skills that allowed them to settle distant islands. Today, Oceania combines ancient cultures, modern societies, and ecosystems especially vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.