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Where is Oceania?

A map of Oceania
Image caption,
Map of Oceania

Oceania is made up of Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and other islands.

It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the north and east, the Southern Ocean to the south and the Indian Ocean to the west.

Parts of Oceania can be very warm. Australia gets a lot of sun all year round. The middle of this country can be very hot and dry. The north of Oceania, such as Papua New Guinea, is a tropical climate.

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What is in Oceania?

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Image caption,
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
  • The largest country in Oceania is Australia. It has the biggest population in Oceania.
  • Australia is famous for its animals, including kangaroos and koalas.
  • The highest mountain in Oceania is Mount Kosciuszko in Australia.
  • The longest river in Oceania is the Murray River. It is 7 times longer than the UK’s River Severn!
  • The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef. A coral reef is full of fish and underwater plants.
  • Big cities in Oceania include Auckland (in New Zealand), Port Moresby (in Papua New Guinea), Sydney and Melbourne (in Australia).
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Image caption,
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
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Watch: What are children's lives like?

Let’s look at the lives of Reenie in Papua New Guinea and Judah in Wales

  • In Cardiff, Judah rides the bus to school. In Port Moresby Reenie walks to school. Both children wear a uniform and learn with a teacher.
  • Judah in Cardiff speaks English and Welsh. In Port Moresby, Reenie speaks English and her lessons are in English. Reenie also speaks Pidgin and Motu.
  • In Cardiff there are small shops, markets and supermarkets. In Port Moresby food like fish fresh from the sea and vegetables can be bought outside in a market. Reenie collects wood for a fire which might be used to cook outside.
  • Papua New Guinea has big and busy cities and towns like the UK.
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Let's compare Oceania and the UK

Koki in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Image caption,
Koki in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and Port Moresby is the capital city of Papua New Guinea. Cardiff is near the Irish Sea. Port Moresby is near the Pacific Ocean.

The climate in Port Moresby is tropical. It is sunnier and warmer than Cardiff. There are beaches and palm trees.

The UK has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Papua New Guinea has a wet season and a dry season. The rain can be very heavy in the wet season and it is warm.

People have to keep buildings cool in Papua New Guinea because it is so hot. In the UK, buildings are made for different sorts of weather.

Koki in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Image caption,
Koki in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
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Activity: Oceania quiz

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