Mainland Australia. Australia (Continent) Once upon a time the continent of Australia was part of

Among other continents of the globe, the continent of Australia occupies a very special place. Figuratively speaking, we can say that of all the continents, Australia is THE continent, where the superlative degree of the adjective “most” defines the unique characteristics inherent only to this continent. The oldest, smallest, greenest, driest and least studied, despite its advanced age, is Australia. What continent can still boast of such definitions?

Geographical location of Australia

Australis translated from Latin means “southern”, that is, the name of the mainland speaks for itself. The continent of Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere of the planet. It is part of one of the six parts of the world - Australia and Oceania.

According to one of the scientific versions about the origin of the earth's continents, Australia was the first to separate from the common huge continent that existed on the planet many millions of years ago. Australia is located at a considerable distance relative to other continents.

This affected the uniqueness of fauna and flora, which developed far from the rest of the world according to their own laws. There are examples of plants and animals that have not undergone significant changes since the formation of the continent and are found only here (endemics). Such a remote position of the continent was the reason that Australia became known to Europeans a full hundred years later than America.

In the north, west and south, the continent is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the east by the Pacific Coral and Tasman seas.

Not far from the mainland there are two large islands. These are Tasmania and New Guinea.

And the Australian mainland itself, based on its size, can rather be called a huge island than a continent. 3700 km long and 4000 km wide - the magnitude cannot be compared, for example, even with one country of the Eurasian continent, Russia.

Climate of Australia

The special geographical location of the Australian mainland has determined the presence of as many as six climatic zones on the small continent (according to the Köppen classification).

The tropics are dominated by two types of tropical climate: dry and wet. The trade winds dominate on the eastern edge of the continent; they bring humid air from the ocean, and with it warm and beneficial weather to Australia.

But when crossing the Great Dividing Range, the winds lose moisture. Beyond the ridge there is little precipitation.

The central subtropical part of the continent is very hot, the influence of the seas here is weak. It is not for nothing that Australia was “honored” of the status of the driest continent. A huge space is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, precipitation falls there extremely irregularly, and the hot sun instantly evaporates moisture.

The humid subtropical climate zone (the states of Victoria and South Wales) enjoys humid heat and plenty of rain, which has a beneficial effect on raising livestock and growing fruit trees.

Only the inhabitants of the southern part of the island of Tasmania enjoy a life-giving temperate climate. This is a real Eden for living and relaxation, perhaps the only one in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Where does the continent end?

Any continent has an uneven coastline, and there are parts of the land that jut sharply into the sea, the so-called capes. The extreme points of mainland Australia are Cape York in the north and Cape South Point in the south. The extreme point to the east is Cape Byron, the extreme point to the west is Cape Steep Point.

The coordinates of the extreme points of mainland Australia are determined in geographical units of latitude and longitude. So, the most northern cape lies at 10°41′21″ south latitude and 142°31′50″ east longitude.

Cape South Point (southern point) is located at 39°08′20″ S. w. 146°22′26″ E. d.

The coordinates of the extreme points in the east and west, respectively, are 28°38′15″ S. w. 153°38′14″ E. long and 26°09′05″ south. w. 113°09′18″ E. d.

Relief features of Australia

In the distant prehistoric past, Australia and Africa formed the entire continent of Gondwana. Australia broke away from it at the end of the Mesozoic period. Currently, the basis of the new continent is the Australian Platform (Precambrian). Its foundation has a crystalline structure; in some places it protrudes to the surface, forming peculiar shields. Thick layers of sedimentary rock, deposited by the sea and formed from the earth, cover the basement of the continent in the eastern part.

The relief of mainland Australia is determined by its geological structure. Plains, hills, mountains and plateaus - the continent's topography is striking in its diversity. And this despite the fact that Australia is the smallest continent on the globe.

Extinct volcanoes remain on the mainland. There are no longer any active ones, just as there is no usual mountain glaciation.

Green continent

Since the discovery, scientists and navigators have been extremely interested in Australia; descriptions of the continent have been preserved in many traveler records. Their observations surprisingly coincide with the modern view of the unique continent.

The flora is unique and interesting. More than 10 thousand plants live on the mainland, most of them endemic, which include some local species of acacias, eucalyptus trees and succulents. Forced to grow in dry climates, plants and trees have long and strong roots that allow them to extract water from great depths.

The areas, generously watered by rain, are covered with evergreen forests. The settlers, the founders of the first colonies, did not find any plants and trees known in the Old World on the unfamiliar continent. Much later, trees, shrubs and herbs unusual for the continent were brought here. In the fertile climate, grapes, grains, cotton, rice, corn, and fruit trees took root.

To this day, the Australian mainland never ceases to amaze with discoveries in the field of flora and fauna.

The continent and its adjacent islands form a single state, the Commonwealth of Australia. Interest in the Green Continent has not waned for many centuries. Nature, landscapes, as if created by the hand of a skilled designer, wildlife, and the way of life of Australians attract a huge number of tourists here.

Australia is the smallest continent in the world, located in the southern hemisphere. The area of Australia with its islands is less than 8 million square meters. km, population is about 23 million people.

The western and southern coasts of the continent are washed by the Indian Ocean, the northern by the Timor and Arafura Seas of the Indian Ocean, the eastern by the Coral and Tasman Seas of the Pacific Ocean. The extreme points of Australia: in the north - Cape York, in the west - Cape Steep Point, in the south - Cape South-East, in the east - Cape Byron. The distance from the extreme northern to the extreme southern points of the continent is 3200 km, from western to eastern – 4100 km. The Great Barrier Reef stretches parallel to the eastern coast for 2,300 km.

The coast of the mainland is slightly indented. There are large Gulfs of Great Australia in the south and Carpentaria in the north. In the northern part of Australia there are two peninsulas with the largest area, Cape York and Arnhem Land. This continent includes the adjacent islands - Tasmania, Melville, Kangaroo, etc.

The continent lies on the ancient Australian platform, which passes into the East Australian fold belt. The average altitude of Australia is 215 m above sea level, with most of the continent's territory occupied by plains and up to 95% of the territory located below 600 m. In the eastern part of the continent, the Great Dividing Range stretches along the coast, which includes several flat-topped mountain systems. In the western part of the continent there is a plateau up to 500 m high with table mountains and ridges, in the central part there is a lowland with a large Lake Eyre. On the mainland there are deposits of minerals, such as hard and brown coal, copper, iron ore, bauxite, titanium, polymetallic and uranium ores, diamonds, gold, natural gas, and oil.

The main part of Australia is located in the tropical climate zone, the northern regions are in the equatorial zone (with a hot climate and frequent summer rains), the southern regions are in the subtropics (with predominant precipitation in winter). In the middle part of the continent, 70% of the territory is dominated by a desert and semi-desert climate. The east coast has a hot tropical maritime climate, where precipitation occurs mainly in the summer. The amount of average annual precipitation decreases from east to west.

Large river systems of the mainland - Murray, Darling, Flinders. A characteristic feature of Australia is the presence of creeks - rivers that fill with water only after heavy rains.

The vast interior spaces of the continent are home to the Great Gibson Desert, Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, etc. Salt lakes can often be seen here. Around the deserts there is a belt of semi-deserts with shrubs. In the northern, eastern and southeastern regions, semi-deserts give way to savannas. In the mountainous regions and along the coasts there are forests of palm trees, tree ferns and eucalyptus trees. Among the wild animals in Australia there are large numbers of rabbits, pigs, and wild dogs. Among the endemic animals there are many marsupial forms (kangaroos, wombats, marsupial wolves, marsupial moles).

The entire territory of the mainland and the island of Tasmania is occupied by the country of the Commonwealth of Australia. The state is divided into six states: Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania. The indigenous population makes up only 2% of the total population, the rest of the inhabitants are descendants of Europeans and Asians who colonized the mainland after its discovery in the 17th century. The high level of development of agriculture and the mining industry has brought the country to a leading position as a supplier of wheat, coal, gold, and iron ore to the world market.

The smallest continent on planet Earth is Australia. With an area of 7,659,861 km2 (with islands 7,692,024 km2), it occupies only 5% of the planet's total land area. At the same time, the size of the continent, when viewed from north to south, will be 3.7 thousand kilometers, and from west to east approximately 4,000 kilometers. In this case, the length of all the coasts of the continent will be approximately 35,877 kilometers.

The continent is located in the southern hemisphere of the planet. From the north, south and west, mainland Australia is washed by the Indian Ocean, and from the east it is washed by the Tasman and Coral Seas. Australia is also famous for the largest coral reef in the world (more than 2000 km), which is located on the northeastern coast of the continent.

The entire territory of the mainland belongs to one state, which is called Australia. Officially, this state is called the Commonwealth of Australia.

Extreme points of mainland Australia

There are four extreme points that are located on the Australian mainland:

1) The most extreme point in the north is Cape York, which is washed by the Coral and Arafura seas.

2) The westernmost point of the mainland is Cape Steep Point, which is washed by the Indian Ocean.

3) The southernmost point of Australia is Cape South Point, which washes the Tasman Sea.

4) And finally, the easternmost point of the mainland is Cape Byron.

Relief of Australia

Mainland Australia is dominated by plains. More than 90% of the continent's total land mass does not exceed 600 meters above sea level. There are also mountain ranges in Australia, which usually do not exceed a height of 1500 kilometers. The highest mountains in Australia are the Australian Alps, the highest mountain of which Kosciuszko reaches an altitude of 2230 meters above sea level. Also in Australia there are the Musgrave Mountains, the Western Australian Tablelands, the Kimberley Plateau, the Darling Range and Mount Lofty.

The entire territory of the continent of Australia is located on the Australian Plate, which includes the mainland of Australia and part of the adjacent ocean.

Australian inland waters

In terms of internal waters, this continent is characterized as the poorest continent in terms of rivers. The longest river on the mainland, the Murray, originates from the area of Australia's highest mountain, Kosciuszko, and reaches a length of 2375 km.

The rivers are fed mainly by rain or melt water. The rivers are at their fullest at the beginning of summer, and then they begin to shallow, and in some places turn into stagnant reservoirs.

Just like rivers, lakes on the mainland are also fed by rainwater. Such lakes do not have a constant level and flow. In summer, they can dry out completely and turn into depressions, the bottom of which is covered with salt. The thickness of salt at the bottom of dry lakes can reach up to 1.5 meters. Australia's fairly large lakes can be swamps for most of the year. There is a hypothesis that the south of the continent continues to rise from the ocean.

Climate of mainland Australia

Mainland Australia is located in three climatic zones at once - the subtropical zone, the tropical zone and the subequatorial zone.

The subtropical zone of the continent of Australia includes three climates - subtropical continental, subtropical humid and Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by dry and hot summers, but warm and humid winters. There are slight fluctuations between the seasons (in summer the temperature rises to 27 degrees Celsius, and in winter the air temperature drops to 12 degrees Celsius) and there is quite a lot of precipitation. This climate is typical for the southwestern part of Australia.

The subtropical humid climate is characterized by large temperature differences between different periods of the year (in summer the temperature rises to +24 degrees Celsius, and in winter it drops to -10 degrees Celsius below zero) and significant precipitation. This climate is typical for the entire state of Victoria and part of the state of New South Wales, which is located in the southwest.

The subtropical continental climate is characterized by low precipitation and large temperature differences and is characteristic of southern Australia.

The tropical zone is formed from tropical dry and tropical wet climates.

The tropical humid climate is located in the east of the continent and is characterized by little precipitation. This climate is formed due to the action of southeastern winds, which are saturated with moisture from the Pacific Ocean.

A tropical dry climate is typical for the central and western parts of the continent. The hottest climate is in the north-west of the mainland - in summer the temperature rises to 35 degrees Celsius, and in winter it drops very slightly to 20 degrees Celsius. It is worth noting the city of Alice Springs, which is located in the central part of the continent, where temperatures during the day can rise to 45 degrees and at night drop to -6 degrees Celsius below zero. At the same time, precipitation may not fall in some places for years, and then the annual norm of precipitation may fall in a matter of hours. In this case, moisture is very quickly absorbed by the ground or evaporates.

The subequatorial climate on the Australian mainland is characterized by stable temperatures throughout the year (23 degrees Celsius) and high rainfall.

Flora and fauna of Australia

Due to the fact that the continent is isolated from other continents, the flora of this continent is very diverse. At the same time, there are plants and animals that live only on this continent and are not found anywhere else. And due to the peculiarities of the dry climate on the continent, dry-loving plants predominate among plants. For example, eucalyptus, acacia and others. In the north of the mainland you can find tropical forests.

The area of the mainland covered by forests is only 5%. Over time, many trees and plants were introduced from other continents that took root well in Australia, for example, grains, grapevines, and some types of fruits and vegetables.

But the variety of animals on the mainland is not so diverse. In total, there are just over 230 species of mammals living on the mainland, more than 700 species of birds and more than 120 species of amphibians. But most of these animals exist only on the mainland and will not survive anywhere else, since they feed on plants that also exist only on the Australian mainland. This is such a unique world that is worth seeing with your own eyes.

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Australia is a beautiful country - a continent. The only large state surrounded on all sides by the ocean. Exotic animals, original aborigines, excellent infrastructure in the cities and primitive pastoral in the outback.

Australia - how much do you know about it, besides the fact that it is the only state that occupies the territory of the entire continent, and the country where the most unusual animals are found? It is clear that some intellectuals will provide a couple more pieces of information from the geography or history of this country. I suggest adding a few more interesting facts to your existing knowledge base.

What kind of country is Australia?

The official name of the Australia we all know is the Commonwealth of Australia. Also – Commonwealth of Australia. Why "commonwealth" or "union"? Yes, because it is part of the group of states subject to the royal will of the Queen of England. Its viceroy in the Union is the Governor-General. The greatest royal power does not prevent Australia from being a modern democratic state, structured on the principle of a federation. Executive powers are vested in the elected parliament, headed by the prime minister.

Australia map and flag

Here is the map of Australia -

Australia flag

The rectangular blue cloth of the state flag of the Commonwealth of Australia contains three symbolic elements reflecting the history and geographical location of the country:

the flag of Great Britain (also called the Union Jack), which, according to the Flag Law, is located in the upper left quarter of the flag;
in the center of the lower left quarter of the flag there is a white star of the Commonwealth (otherwise the star of the Federation), also known as Hadar, symbolizing the 6 states and territories of Australia;
on the right half of the flag were scattered five white stars of various sizes, meaning the constellation of the Southern Cross;
The blue color of the flag is the ocean, washing the state on all sides.

Opposite parts of the country differ greatly in their climate. The northern side is characterized by hot and humid winters, when the monsoon comes, and long, dry and dusty summers. But Australians associate the south with cold and dangerous snow drifts. Here the change of seasons is similar to ours: warm is replaced by severe cold. The central desert part of the continent is unsuitable for habitation, so people settle mainly on the coast.

Australia is considered the flattest and driest continent on Earth. The rainfall here is 5 times less than in sultry Africa. Deserts and semi-deserts occupy three quarters of the country's total area. Over hundreds of millions of years, water and wind have transformed the surface of the continent into a monotonous, flat space.

The highest point is the peak of Mount Kosciuszko, located in the Australian Alps. Its height above sea level is 2228 m. Few people know that in fact the highest mountain in Australia is Townsend, as researchers recently found. However, out of respect for the discoverer Kosciuszko, the Union authorities made an unconventional decision - they changed the names of the mountains (!), and thereby “killed two birds with one stone”: they honored the memory of Kosciuszko, and the name of the highest point of the continent remained the same.

Australia and Oceania

Australia is often put on a par with the states scattered across hundreds of islands near the mainland, which are called Oceania. We'll talk about her later.

Australia, on the other hand, is not part of Oceania, but stands apart due to the fact that it is a continent. One thing unites them - Indian and. And their rich underwater world. Watch a video from the series “Wonders of the Blue Planet” - a film about Australia and Oceania and their rich underwater world

A very pleasant and beautiful film about a wonderful place on the planet.

I think you have heard enough about the unique flora and fauna of Australia, and maybe you also know about the park. But I would like to introduce you to some traditions.

Only theirs

It must be said that Australians are fanatical patriots. Moreover, their patriotism applies simultaneously to both Australia and England. They extract historical facts and relics bit by bit, organize open-air museums, and restore ancient monuments. Their puritanical sentimentality towards Britain until the 60s of the 20th century was expressed in an ardent rejection of bikinis, Sunday movie shows, a tough fight against alcohol and other delights of a free life. It is clear that over the past decades Australians have changed their views on these things. Now they are more like cheerful Californians than reserved Englishmen. Just imagine: there are less than 1% of Australians on Earth, but they spend the most on playing cards than anyone else in the world. They account for 20% of worldwide poker spending!

It is also interesting that over the last two centuries, more than 160 thousand prisoners arrived on the continent. However, laws in Australia are violated much less frequently than in other countries.

And one more thing: voting in elections is mandatory for all adult residents of the country. There is a fine for failure to appear! Perhaps this is an example to follow?

What to see in Australia

First, you should definitely look at . This theater is a unique architectural structure, which has been the hallmark of Australia since 1973. The Opera House, built on the water, resembles a ship sailing. The spectacle, I tell you, is amazing. Probably, your imagination will be further stimulated by the fact that the grandiose theater building contains a thousand interior spaces, and every year 3 thousand performances are given there.

Next... Ayers Rock (Red Rock Ayers Rock), which is a national decoration and a place sacred to the Aboriginal people. This solid stone, the largest in the world, was truly the most created by nature in Australia. Who knows, perhaps a visit to this place will become symbolic for you too?

Watch a wonderful video from the Golden Globe series - a great film about the beauty and sights of Australia

I'm sure you liked the film. And you will probably think that it would be nice to go there))))
I think that if you are lucky enough to visit the continent, you will definitely see the Great Barrier Reef: several thousand individual ones and 900 combined into one whole. This natural wonder is 2,600 km long and is said to be visible from space.

New South Wales is home to the Blue Mountains, known for its deep depressions and steep elevations. And, if you are literally and figuratively “easy-going,” then be sure to visit there.

If everything is fine with your vestibular system, try climbing the Sydney Tower - the tallest building in Sydney, which offers a panoramic view of the entire city. A high-speed elevator will take you to a height of 260 meters in 40 seconds. And you can celebrate your victory over your fear of heights in the restaurant, which is located on one of the construction sites.

In the northwest of the mainland there is. It's worth going there and swimming with the whale sharks.

Excursion tours and programs offered by Australian agencies are very diverse. But you will lose a lot if you ignore the world's largest Sydney Aquarium, which delights every visitor. You will have to enter it through the shark’s mouth, which is open with a “sweet” smile. But I warn you, you won’t go anywhere else that day, because walking around the exhibition (even without stopping) takes about 4 hours!

Have my arguments convinced you? Then hurry up and book a tour to Australia!
And return to .

Australia was discovered at the beginning of the 17th century by the Dutch admiral Willem Janszoon. Before this significant event, the continent was inhabited by local aborigines, and after the arrival of Europeans its modern history began. Janszon, like Christopher Columbus, did not know until the end of his life that he had discovered a new continent. In 1770, navigator James Cook approached the east coast of Australia and discovered it, according to the official version.

Geographical position

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. This continent is recognized as the smallest on Earth, with an area of 7,659,861 km2. The length from north to south is approximately 3200 km, and from west to east - 4000 km. Depending on the location, the climate has its own characteristics: in the south it is subtropical, in the central part it is tropical, and in the north it is subequatorial. The western and southern parts are washed by the Indian Ocean, and the northern and eastern coasts are bordered by the Coral, Timor, Tasman and Arafura seas.

Across the Bass Strait are the Tasmanian Islands. Off the northern coast of Australia are the islands of Bathurst, Melville, and Groot Island. Off the southern coast, within the mainland shallows, are Kangaroo, Flinders and King Islands. The largest islands in the west are Derk Hartog, and in the eastern part - Fraser.

Main geographical characteristics

The main territory of the continent is located on the old Australian Plate, a former part of the Gondwana continent in the southern part of the Earth. The predominant form of relief is plains. Only 5% of the surface is above 600m above sea level. The highest point is located in the Australian Alps - Kosciuszko, with an altitude of 2230m. The lowest point belongs to Lake Eyre and is located 16m below sea level.

Main landforms:

Western Australian plateau, with elevated edges in the form of the Musgrave Mountains (1440m) and the MacDonnell Range (1511m) in the east, the Kimberley Massif (936m) in the north, the Hamersley Sandy Range (1251m) in the west and the Darling Range (571m) in the southwestern part;
Central lowland, the heights of most of which do not exceed 100m;
The Great Dividing Range has flat, steep peaks that grade into hilly foothills in the western parts.

Countries of Australia and Oceania

The federal state of Australia is included in the commonwealth, led by Great Britain. The Commonwealth of Australia unites 6 states (South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania) and 2 territories (Capital Territory and Northern Territory). The country's area of 7.7 million km 2 is home to 18.2 million people, the bulk of whom preach Christianity. English has been adopted as the official language. The capital is the city of Canberra. A characteristic feature of the country is its significant distance from other continents; all its borders are washed by the waters of the World Ocean.

Oceania countries

Oceania is the largest and most numerous collection of islands in the world. In total, it consists of more than 10 thousand islands. Located on an area of 1.26 million km 2 in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean. In this part of the world, in addition to Australia, there are sovereign and independent states located on the islands of Oceania. State borders pass through the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Conventionally, all states in the region can be classified according to the degree of independence:

Absolutely sovereign: Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau;
Practically independent states, members of the commonwealth founded by Great Britain: New Zealand, Australia, Western Samoa, Tonga, Popua New Guinea, Tuvalu;
Semi-colonies associated with the United States of America: Micronesia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands;
Colonies: French - New Caledonia, French Polynesia; American - Eastern Samoa.

List of countries in Australia and Oceania

Major countries of Australia:

(with detailed description)

Nature

Nature, plants and animals of Australia

Australia received the title of the most environmentally friendly continent. Approximately 5% of the land area is occupied by national parks and reserves, which are of particular importance for the entire population of the planet. Some elements of Australia's ecosystem share similarities with the flora and fauna of South Asia, Antarctica and South America...

The fauna of Australia is not very diverse, especially on the island territory. This is explained by the isolated location of the continent, the fauna on which was forced to develop independently of other land areas. In total, there are 235 species of mammals, 720 species of birds, 420 species of reptiles and 120 species of amphibians on the continent and islands. Interesting fact: in the wild fauna of New Zealand there are completely no mammals; 93% of bird species and subspecies are found nowhere else except in this area.

The calling card of the animal world of Australia is monotremes and marsupial mammals. Monotremes are preserved exclusively in this territory in the form of two families: platypus and echidnaceae. Despite the general poverty of animal species, marsupials are represented here in as many as 150 species: marsupial anteaters, carnivores, marsupial moles, wombats, couscous, kangaroos and many others.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of Oceania

The countries of Australia and Oceania are located at the latitudes of several climatic zones: temperate (a significant part of the South Island of New Zealand), subtropical (in the north and south of the tropics), tropical, subequatorial (the islands close to Asia and Australia, as well as east of the 180th meridian) and equatorial (west of the 180th meridian)...

The average annual temperature in the tropics is approximately +23 o C, in the equatorial part - +27 o C. At the same time, the difference between the months and seasons is practically not felt. The climate of the islands of Oceania is largely determined by the action of trade winds, so the local population is accustomed to heavy and frequent precipitation. On average, between 1500 and 400 mm of heavy tropical rain falls per year. The wettest place on the planet is located here - the island of Kauai, on the Eastern slope of Mount Waialeale. The absolute record for this area was set in 1982: 16,916 mm of precipitation fell here in 365 days. It is worth noting that some islands, due to relief anomalies, have an arid climate.

Peoples of Australia

Peoples of Australia and Oceania: culture and traditions

According to the latest data, the population of the mainland exceeds 23.5 million people, of which 95% belong to the Caucasian race. These are the descendants of the Irish, Scots and English who immigrated here in the 18th-19th centuries. A slightly smaller share is occupied by the descendants of Germans, Dutch, Greeks, Italians, Poles and Scandinavians. The census found that some Australians also claim Arab, Chinese and African ancestry...

A separate Australoid race is represented by the small tribes of the indigenous peoples of Australia - the Aborigines. They live in small settlements in the northern, northwestern and central parts of the continent. The most common language of the continent is the official language of Australia - English. In addition to it, Italian, Arabic, Chinese and Greek speech is heard in the vastness of Oceania.