Oceania is the largest system of island nations on the planet. Interesting events and facts are connected with the culture and history of Oceania. For example, it was here that many ghost islands were mistakenly discovered during the Great Geographical Discoveries.
Where is Oceania located
The countries of Oceania are located on islands in the waters of the west and center of the Pacific Ocean. Oceania is a collection of several thousand islands located between the Malay Archipelago and Australia. The territory is geographically divided into Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia since the time of the French navigator Dumont D'Urville.
Micronesia is a series of small islands in northwestern Oceania. The Polynesian Islands form a triangle in the east, with Hawaii at its top. Melanesia is the territory of the southwestern part.
Islands of Oceania
The total land area of the islands of Oceania is 1.26 million square kilometers. is the largest concentration of islands in the world. The climate and topography of each island is unique.
The islands are mostly of coral or volcanic origin. There are among them those that are the tops of underwater volcanoes or ridges. Volcanic activity and earthquakes are still observed on the islands. The largest objects are closer to Australia: New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Zealand.
Oceania Countries
Sovereign and dependent states are located on the islands of Oceania. The borders of states pass through the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Some of the islands are the possessions of Europe and America.
| Country | Capital |
| Kiribati | South Tarawa |
| Cook Islands | Avarua |
| Niue | Alofi |
| New Zealand | Wellington |
| Samoa | Alia |
| Tonga | Nukualofa |
| Tuvalu | Funafuti |
| Marshall Islands | Majuro |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Palikir |
| Nauru | Yaren (unofficial) |
| Palau | Ngerulmud |
| Vanuatu | Port Vila |
| Papua New Guinea | Port Moresby |
| Solomon Islands | Honiara |
| Fiju | Suva |
In foreign geographical literature, Australia and Oceania are united under the common name Oceania. Given this feature, one can also note such a sovereign state as Australia with Canberra as its capital.
There are states in Oceania associatedwith European countries and USA.
| Hawaii | Honolulu |
| Pitcairn | Adamstown |
| French Polynesia | Papeete |
| American Samoa | Pago Pago |
| Guam | Hagatna |
| Mariana Islands | Saipan |
| New Caledonia | Noumea |
Among the islands of Oceania is the Chilean province of Isla de Pascua, which includes several islands, including the famous Easter Island. The western part of Ocean Island New Guinea is a territory of Indonesia. Thus, the countries of Oceania are as unique as the cardinal direction on which they are located. Here is the smallest non-European state in the world. Nauru is a dwarf island country in Oceania with a population of about 13,000.
Tourism in Oceania
Oceania, following the Malaysian archipelago, has been actively developing the tourism market in recent years. Some islands, in particular Hawaii, have become world famous resorts. The countries of Australia and Oceania pay great attention to the development of the tourism business, improving the quality of service, and developing tourist routes. Of course, the most developed are Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and the islands belonging to the countries of Europe and America. There are many tourists from Japan, South Africa, Canada, and the USA in Oceania. From Europe, a flight to Oceania takes an average of 22 hours. Such a long flightand, accordingly, the cost of the flight - perhaps the only reasons that may be an obstacle to visiting the countries of Oceania.
The countries of Oceania are attractive for tourists, first of all, with oceanic nature and beaches.
Oceania offers a wide range of spa treatments. There are enough places for decent shopping. An active tourist will find something to their liking. In Australia and New Zealand, ski resorts with different levels of pistes are open. Diving and snorkeling in the waters of the Pacific Ocean is varied and exciting.
The most popular resorts in Oceania are Lahaina, Honolulu, Wailea (Hawaii), Bora Bora, Tahiti, Fiji.
Interesting information
A lot of interesting facts are connected with the history of discovery and the culture of the countries of Oceania. For example, exiles were the first to go to Australia for permanent residence from Europe. Europeans reached the Fiji Islands in the 17th century, but a colony was formed here only in the 19th century, since the natives of Fiji were cannibals. 10% of the population of the Solomon Islands are blondes: scientists could not give an explanation for the appearance of a special gene in their DNA. The only country in the world that is located in four hemispheres at once is Kiribati. With over 800 languages coexisting in Papua New Guinea, it is the most multilingual country in the world. Previously, in the Yap island group, money was huge stones, with a diameter of up to 3 meters.
