The Pacific Islands

Physical Geography (20.3)

Objectives1. Examine features of high

islands and low islands.

2. Learn about the three main island groups.

3. Find out what kind of climate and vegetation the islands have.

4. Discover how land is used in the Pacific Islands.

Key Terms1. High Island2. Low Island3. Atoll4. Coral

High IslandAn island

formed from the

mountainous top of an ancient volcano.

Low IslandAn island formed

from coral reefs or atolls.

Atoll

A small coral

island in the shape of a ring.

Coral

A rock-like material made

up of the skeletons of

tiny sea creatures, most

plentiful in warm ocean

water.

The Pacific Islands

The thousands of islands in the Pacific Ocean are divided into three groups.Melanesia “Black Islands”Micronesia “Small Islands”Polynesia “Many Islands”

The Pacific Islands

High IslandsHigh islands are

mountainous and have been formed by volcanoes.

The soil is very fertile and they can support more people than low islands.

Low IslandsLow Islands are made up of

coral reefs or atolls.Atolls are are small coral

islands in the shape of a ring.

The ring of an atoll encloses a shallow pool of ocean water called a lagoon.

Low Islands Low islands have this shape and low

elevation because they are coral reefs.

Coral is a rocklike material made up of the skeletons of tiny sea creatures.

A reef develops until it nears the surface, then sand and other debris accumulate on the reef’s surface and raises the island above the level of the water.

Low islands have poor soil.

MelanesiaMelanesia is the island

group with the most people.

Melanesia is north and east of Australia.

Most of Melanesia’s islands are high islands.

Melanesia

Micronesia Micronesia is made up of mostly low

islands.

Most of Micronesia’s islands are north of the Equator.

Micronesia’s islands are divided into several groups: Caroline Gilbert Marshall, and Mariana

Micronesia

PolynesiaPolynesia is the largest

island group in the Pacific.Polynesia includes Hawaii.Dense rain forests cover

the islands’ high volcanic mountains.

Polynesia

ClimateThe Pacific islands lie in the

tropics, so temperatures are hot year-round.

The ocean winds keep the temperatures from getting too high.

Most islands receive heavy rainfall all year long.

Vegetation Because of the high temperatures,

plentiful rainfall, and fertile soil, high islands have rich vegetation.

Tropical rain forests cover the hills and savanna grasses grow in the lowlands.

Low islands, have little vegetation because of the poor soil.

VegetationSavanna

Tropical Rain Forest

Natural Resources The Pacific island region has few

natural resources.

The coconut palm is the most important resource.

Some Pacific islands grow cash crops such as sugar cane and copra.

Taro, yams, and sweet potatoes are grown on subsistence farms.

Natural ResourcesSugar Cane Copra

TourismThe Pacific islands’

most valuable resource may be their natural beauty.

Tourism provides a key source of income in the region.