Life in Australasia and Oceania
This region was one of the last parts
of the world to be settled by
people. The Maori, for example,
arrived in New Zealand only a
thousand years ago. The region is
still sparsely populated, with an
average of just 10 people per square
mile (4 per square kilometer).
SYDNEY Australia’s biggest city is
built around a large harbor. The
Harbour Bridge is one of the country’s
most famous landmarks.FAMOUS AUSTRALASIANS
OHoward Florey (1898–1968)
Australian pharmacologist who was
awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in
developing the drug penicillin.
OCathy Freeman (born 1973) Australian
sprinter. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000
she became the first Aboriginal Australian
to win a gold medal in running.
OErnest Rutherford (1871–1937)
New Zealand scientist and Nobel Prize
winner whose investigations revealed the
structure of the atom.
OJonah Lomu (born 1975) New Zealand
rugby player. Lomu is the all-time top try
scorer in the Rugby World Cup.TAKE A PICTURE
The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than
1,500 species of fish and 400 species of
coral, as well as thousands of plants.WILDLIFE
The region’s unique wildlife
includes marsupials (pouched
mammals), such as kangaroos
and koalas, and flightless birds,
such as emus and kiwis.TAKE A PICTURE
New Zealand’s southwest coast is punctured
by many long, narrow inlets, known as fjords.
The most famous is Milford Sound.CONTINENTS OF
THE WORLD KOALA These
marsupials rarely
drink, obtaining
moisture from the
leaves they eat.Kiwi(c) 2012 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.(c) 2012 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.