The region of Oceania and Australia includes the continent of Australia as well as many surrounding island countries. It is located to the southeast of Asia. Australia is the smallest continent by size and the second smallest in terms of population. Oceania and Australia are surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Much of the region's land mass is desert, but there are also very lush areas. Oceania has some very unique animal life for such a small region. Some examples are the koala (which is not really a bear, but a marsupial), the platypus, and the kangaroo.

Population: 36,593,000 (Source: 2010 United Nations)

Click here to see large map of Oceania and Australia

Area: 3,296,044 square miles

Ranking: Australia is the seventh largest (smallest) and sixth most populous continent

Major Biomes: rain forest, desert, savanna, temperate forests

Major cities:

Major Rivers and Lakes: Lake Gairdner, Lake Carnegie, Lake Taupo, Lake Murray, Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, the Darling River

Major Geographical Features: Great Dividing Range, MacDonnell Ranges, Australian Alps, Great Victorian Desert, Tanami Desert, Great Artesian Basin, Great Barrier Reef (in the Coral Sea), Southern Alps, South Island

Australia was first used as a prison colony by Britain where they would send unwanted criminals and outcasts.

The name Australia means "land of the south".

There are less people that live in Australia than in the US state of Texas.

Oceania is located in the southern hemisphere. This means that it has winter during June, July, and August and summer during the months of December, January, and February.

Oceania Map Game Oceania Crossword Oceania and Australia Word Search

Other Regions and Continents of the World:

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Geography for Kids: Oceania and Australia - Ducksters