Category Archives: Oceania

About Map :-Though there is much debate over the definition of Oceania, the Pacific Islands including Australia and New Zealand are consistently included. This map of Australia and Oceania shows the many islands that dot the Pacific Ocean, such as Vanuatu, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and the Solomon Islands.

Political Map of Countries in Oceania

Top Viewed Australia Continent Map

Cities in Oceania's Countries Map

Oceania also includes the thousands and thousands of coral reef islands off the coasts of these countries. Some definitions for Oceania include all the nations and territories in the Pacific Ocean between North and South America and Asia, which would also mean Taiwan and Japan were part of Oceania rather than Asia. Oceania is a not just a geographic region and ecozone, it is also a geopolitical region, defined by the United Nations to include Australia, New Zealand, and other island nations that are not generally considered part of the Asian continent.

ACOD~20130104 Last Updated On : January 09, 2013

See original here:

Oceania Map - Maps of World

Oceania is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on June 19, 2012 through EMI, Reprise Records and Martha's Music. Produced by Billy Corgan and Bjorn Thorsrud, the album is part of the band's ongoing 44-song box set, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.[5] As of September 2012, Oceania has sold over 102,000 copies in the US.[6]

A live performance of the album, Oceania: Live in NYC, was released on September 24, 2013.[7]

On April 26, 2011, in a video on the band's Facebook fan page, frontman Billy Corgan announced plans to release Oceania as "an album within an album,"[8] relating to Teargarden by Kaleidyscope which involved releasing songs one by one, for free on the Internet from late 2009, and then releasing them in EPs after claiming that albums are a dead medium. While Oceania may appear to contradict that, Corgan explains:

"I still stand by my view that I don't think albums are particularly relevant at this time. That may change. But as far as making music...from a writing point of view, it's really going to focus me to put a group of songs together that are supposed to go together."[9]

Corgan later admitted that they switched back to the album format because he "...reached a point where I saw that the one-song-at-a-time idea had maxed itself out...I just saw we weren't getting the penetration in to everybody that I would have hoped."[10]

The band finished mixing the album on September 18, 2011.[11]

Oceania was the first full-length album recorded with guitarist Jeff Schroeder, and the only album recorded with drummer Mike Byrne and bassist Nicole Fiorentino. The band was supplemented in-studio by an unnamed session keyboardist.[12] Fiorentino had this to say about her role in recording Oceania:

"I think because we are all working together on this record it is naturally going to have a different vibe than any of the other records on which Billy played most of the instruments himself. I think we delved into new territory for sure, but what I love about this record is that it has that familiar old-school Pumpkins feel to it, with a modern twist. The cool thing is he was able to capture the energy of the old material without ripping it off. Billy's definitely found his way back to whatever he was tapping into when writing Gish and Siamese Dream."[13]

Guitarist Jeff Schroeder also hinted that the album may be less heavy than past albums, stating "In this day and age, with what's going on politically and socially, it just feels right to play something that's a little more spacey and dreamy. We want music to move people on an emotional level."[14]

In November 2011, the album's release date was pushed back to spring 2012 and announced via Twitter.[15]

Corgan has said that Oceania is the Pumpkins' "best effort since Mellon Collie". Comparing it to his previous works, he said, "it is the first time where you actually hear me escape the old band. I'm not reacting against it or for it or in the shadow of it." [16]

In describing Oceania's theme, Billy Corgan said the album is partly about "people struggling to find a social identity in today's fast-paced, technology-rich culture", adding "I think alienation seems to be the key theme alienation in love and alienation in culture," he says.[17]

Regarding the album's lyrical content, Corgan noted "If you listen to the lyrics, it was written around some serious relationship strife. When somebody breaks your heart, you can choose to accept, embrace, and forgive them, as opposed to condemn them. I got a few albums out of [sic] condemn! Now I'm working on compassion as a device."[18]

The album was tentatively scheduled to be released on September 1, 2011,[19] but the release date was pushed to June 19, 2012.[20] On March 27, 2012, EMI/Caroline Distribution announced that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Martha's Music to release the album on June 19, 2012.[21] In late May 2012, the band announced that they were holding a event called "Imagine Oceania", requesting fans to take and submit their own photos for the album.[22] On June 12, the album was made available to stream in full via iTunes.[23] The album also became available for full streaming on Spotify, Soundcloud, Spinner, and Ustream. Corgan appeared on The Howard Stern Show on June 19, performing an acoustic version of "Tonight, Tonight". Howard Stern interviewed Corgan for more than an hour and premiered "Violet Rays" from the album.[24] On June 21, 2012, "The Celestials" was released as the album's first single.[25] They performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 23, 2012.[26] "Panopticon" was released as the second single on September 15, 2012.[27] In 2014, the song "My Love is Winter" was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Watch Dogs.[28]

The album cover features the North Shore Sanitary District Tower.

According to Billboard, the album in its first week of release sold 54,000 copies in the US, debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and at number one on the Independent Albums chart[41]making it the band's seventh top 10 album to date.[42] The album has received generally positive reviews, with many reviewers finding Oceania to be a return to form for Corgan. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received thus far an average score of 72, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[29]RedEye gave the album three stars out of four, saying "Oceania, the first full-length Pumpkins album since 2007's Zeitgeist, is the best thing Corgan and Co. have produced in quite some time. Longtime fans will hear hints of the grungy, vicious band of the Gish era and also the mellow, almost pop Adore era. It's a mix that works."[43] Antiquiet gave album four out of five stars and called it "best Corgan work in a decade".[44]Gigwise gave the album four stars out of five and praised its production and themes.[45]Toronto Sun gave the album four stars out of five, saying "With Billy Corgan, bigger is better. And his latest projectthe ongoing 44-song Teargarden by Kaleidyscopeis his most ambitious since 2000's Machina. In keeping, this 'album-within-an-album' bears all the classic Pumpkins hallmarks: Searing guitars and busy drums, epic songs and complex arrangements, wistful romanticism and bombastic grandeur. His best work in years."[46]

PopMatters gave the album seven out of 10 stars, describing the album as "...a spinoff that doesn't hold the brilliance of an original, but is charismatic in its own right. A more grown-up manifestation of the adolescent self-obsessed gloomy beginnings."[47]BBC gave the album a positive review, saying "On Oceania Smashing Pumpkins sound energised and alive." About.com gave the album four stars out of five, saying "Corgan has claimed that friends who had heard Oceania had claimed it was his best since Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Time will tell, but for now it's clear that Oceania is the first Smashing Pumpkins record since then to fully stimulate the senses and stir the heart." Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, saying "On Oceania there are some of the most memorable and rousing songs Corgan has delivered since 1993's Siamese Dream". ARTISTdirect gave the album a five out of five stars, saying "Oceania is the year's best rock record and a milestone for the genre. Hopefully, it incites and inspires a new generation. The Pumpkins are no strangers to that concept..."[48]Ology gave the album a B+, stating it is "...simply a really good new album, one that deserves to be referenced and included in the company of the classic Smashing Pumpkins albums it delightfully demonstrates little interest in resembling."[35] The Chicago Sun-Times gave the album four out of four stars, saying "this album within an album revives Corgan's gutter-epic vision with a clarity and ferocity not seen since 1995's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness."[49]Daily Express gave the album four out of fivestars, saying "Oceania is Corgan on especially potent form". Sputnikmusic gave the album four out of fivestars, saying "SP have forged ahead to create a record that could well be the catalyst of a stellar second era for one of rock's more interesting groups".[39]

Kerrang gave the album four stars.[50] and NME gave the album six out of 10 stars and criticised the album because it doesn't feature the original band members.[51] In a brief review, Rolling Stone gave the album three out of five stars and called it "bong prog" and said that Oceania "sounds like Yes hanging in a German disco circa 1977",[52]Stereogum gave album a positive review, calling it a return to form.[53]USA Today gave the album 3.5 out of four stars, praising the production and song writing.[54]The A.V. Club gave the album a B and called it "a solid start to a new Smashing Pumpkins era".[55]Pitchfork Media rated the album 6.3 out of 10, purporting that on Oceania, Corgan plays with a "hired-via-contest crew of strangers" and that it is "difficult not to notice he's repeating himself," comparing several new songs to earlier Smashing Pumpkins hits.[36]Daily Nebraskan gave the album A and called it "one of this years best rock records".[56]Consequence of Sound gave the album four out of five stars and called it "best Corgan work in a long time".[57]CraveOnline gave Oceania an 8 out of 10 review, stating that "If Oceania is a testament of what's to come, I may need to pull my old Smashing Pumpkin t-shirt out of the closet."[58]SPIN gave a rating of 7 out of 10, declaring that it is "easily Corgan's best work since his rat-in-a-cage heyday."[59] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer scored the album with 4.5 out of five stars, stating it "is full of winners."[60] The album was listed at #48 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "The most recent dispatch from whatever far-off planet Billy Corgan currently resides on is the finest slab of cosmic prog he's thrown down since the Pumpkins' early-Nineties heyday."[61]

All songs written and composed by Billy Corgan.

Total length:

Credits adapted from Oceania album liner notes[62] and Allmusic.[63]

See original here:

Oceania (The Smashing Pumpkins album) - Wikipedia, the free ...

Order Your Free Brochures

2017-18

Voyage Collection

On April 27, 2016, Sirena, the newest member of the Oceania Cruises fleet, was christened in Barcelona, Spain. Watch the event as it happened live, including opening remarks from Oceania Cruises President Jason Montague, Sirenas Godmother Claudine Ppin, the christening of the ship, and all the festivities!

Filled with a spectacular array of diverse and exotic destinations, your world awaits your discovery. There is simply no better way to explore it than aboard the elegant ships of Oceania Cruises. Our unique itineraries are wide-ranging, featuring the most fascinating destinations throughout the world. Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena, Marina and Riviera are all intimate and luxurious, with each calling on the worlds most desirable ports, from historic cities and modern meccas to seaside villages and faraway islands. On a voyage with Oceania Cruises, each day offers the rewarding opportunity to experience the history, culture and cuisine of a wondrous new destination.

Relax on board our luxurious ships and savor cuisine renowned as the finest at sea, rivaling even Michelin-starred restaurants ashore. Inspired by Master Chef Jacques Ppin, these culinary delights have always been a hallmark that distinguishes the Oceania Cruises experience from any other. Considering the uncompromising quality, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of an Oceania Cruises voyage is its incredible value. Lavish complimentary amenities abound, and there are never supplemental charges in any of the onboard restaurants. Value packages ensure that sipping a glass of vintage wine, surfing the Internet or enjoying a shore excursion is both convenient and affordable.

Here is the original post:

Oceania Cruises - Cruise Vacations & Cruise Deals | Mid-Sized ...

Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort On behalf of all the condo owners that we represent, we welcome you to stay at this luxurious condo resort and have the most wonderful vacation experience in Aruba! The Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort (also known as Oceania Residences) is a new, and currently the only BEACHFRONT residential condominium resort in Aruba. ALL OUR CONDOS HAVE OCEAN VIEW, even though ground floor units may have ocean views through property landscaping, whereas storey floor units have unobstructed ocean views. It is located along the Eagle Beach within the high-activity resort and hotel strip of the island. The surrounding areas are all timeshare and/or hotel resorts, which are much more crowded and with much less spacious rooms.

View Condos at the Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort

The Alhambra Casinois within 5 minutes walk from the Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort. The Links Golf courseis another 5 minutes walk. Many exquisite restaurants are within a short walk distance (Las Ramblas, Chalet Suisse, Screaming Eagle, The French Steakhouse, etc.). All other major hotels, casinos as well as many other restaurants are about 5-10 minutes drive away, including the Tierra del Sol Golf community and the downtown shopping areas. The amenities of the complex include e.g.three large swimming pools (beautiful at night, too), a kiddy pool, two gyms, men's and women's saunas, a business center, a kid's play center, a racquetball court, a squash courtand two tennis courts. Click here to view a site plan of the resort.

If you are looking for an upscale, private and relaxing condo with spectacular ocean view and just a few steps from the beach, but still close to all main activities and with all the benefits from adjoining hotels and resorts; look no further! We have wonderful and luxurious condos of all sizes and at reasonable seasonal rates. The Mid-season runs from April 16 to December 17. The High-season runs from January 4 to April 15. The Super high-season are the two X-mas and New Years weeks, from December 18 to January 3. Weekly rates are already discounted by about 10%, so take advantage ofthe lower nightly rates by staying a week or more!Click here for condos

We have the largest portfolio of units at Oceania Residences, of varying sizes, sleeping capacity, design, furnitureand in-room facilities. And since the Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort is still the only beachfront residential condo resort on the island and ALL UNITS HAVE AN OCEAN VIEW, there is thus no comparable offering of luxury beachfront accommodation in Aruba! You can choose between the most economic studio condos to the largest and majestic three-bedroom condos, from groundfloor units withprivate gardens, deck, hot tub and full-size gas BBQ grill, to the most luxurious penthousetop floor units with roof terraces also with same outdoor facilities. Accommodation is adequate for singles or couples in our studio units, up to the maximum sleeping capacity for a group of 12 in one large unit! For groups that require more individual privacy, there is also the option to stay in adjacent units so that the group members are still close to each other, yet are able to enjoy their so needed moments of privacy. No matter what your accommodation requirements are, subject to availability (book early and make use of our easy payment schedule!) we are sure toprovide you with a luxury condo or combination of condos that will enjoy your utmost level of satisfaction!

This is Google Maps' most recent satellite image of Oceania Deluxe Beachfront Condominium Resort along the white-sandy Eagle Beach of Aruba, and we assure you, the white sand is not photoshopped!

1-866-940-7453 (Toll Free)

Note: Please be aware that all condominium units are privately owned and all units are very different. The interior design and the rates of each unit are at the owner's descretion.

Follow this link:

Oceania Aruba - Prestige Vacations Aruba

First-Time Visitors Click Here

Are you looking for an Oceania cruise at an unbelievably low price?

You've come to the right site! Since our opening in 1984, we have helped more than five million travelers save hundreds of millions of dollars on cruises worldwide.

Oceania brings the country club lifestyle to sea, with an onboard atmosphere that is elegant but relaxed, and never formal or stuffy. Oceania passengers are typically well-traveled and are looking for personalized service, world-class cuisine and an in-depth, destination-focused experience.

Oceania's prices fluctuate frequently, and you will always find the world's lowest prices for Oceania cruises on this site.

To scan a complete list of Oceania Cruises' sailings for early-bird discounts or last-minute markdowns, use our Find A Bargain search tool.

When you're ready to sail, call us at 800-338-4962 or e-mail us for a quote or reservation. Our Oceania specialists are ready to help you plan a fantastic vacation.

Read the rest here:

Oceania Cruises, Oceania Cruise, Cruises with Oceania, Cruise ...

Oceania Cruises was formed in 2002 by cruise industry veterans Joe Watters and Frank Del Rio. Best in class cuisine, destination oriented itineraries, and outstanding value define Oceania Cruises' five-star product and position the company as the cruise line of choice for traditional premium and luxury category cruisers. The onboard atmosphere is relaxed and reminiscent of the casual elegance of a country club. Tuxedos and gowns are never a requirement for dining so you can dress and enjoy the evening comfortably. The overall feeling is one that is never stuffy and void of any pretension. You will enjoy the flexibility of four open seating restaurants; you dine when, where and with whom you choose. Our 5 Star menus are crafted under the meticulously watchful eye of renowned master chef Jacques Ppin, our Executive Culinary Director. Host of numerous public television series, he is one of America's best known chefs, food columnists and cook book authors. He has also served as the personal chef to no less than three French heads of state, including Charles de Gaulle. Our three intimate and luxurious 684 passenger ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica feature World Wide itineraries The itineraries have been tailored to include many overnight port stays allowing passengers time to immerse themselves in the history, culture and local flavor of the region.

Read the original here:

Oceania Cruise Reviews

Oceania Cruises Overview

How it Ranks: Oceania has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings. Oceania Cruises appears on the following ranking lists:

Oceania's five ships Marina, Riviera, Regatta, Nautica and Insignia stand apart from other midsize cruise ships with their low 1-to-2 crew-to-passenger ratios, gourmet cuisine and comprehensive itineraries. Oceania sails around the world, with 2016 trips spanning Europe, Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, South Americaand the South Pacific, among other places. Oceania's shore experiences are just as varied as its sailings, ranging from active pursuits like glacier sea kayaking in Juneau, Alaska to culinary endeavors like tapas tastings in Barcelona, Spain. Should you wish to extend your time on shore, you can sign up for a pre- or post-cruise land tour with Oceania which includes lodging, dining and transportation costs. On board an Oceania cruise, you'll find plenty of ways to fill the time at sea. Wine and martini tastings and educational presentations are offered on the line's smaller Regatta, Nautica and Insignia ships, which carry up to 684 guests, and cooking demonstrations and art classes take place aboard the larger Marina and Rivieraships (which can carry up to 1,250 guests). During your voyage which can last anywhere from seven to 180 days you can also take advantage of the casino and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. And if you're a traveling foodie, you can also sample the offerings available across the fleet's numerous open-seating dining venues, including the Grand Dining Room, which serves French fare from a menu created by master chef, Jacques Ppin.

Oceania Cruises attracts affluent retirees looking for a refined, no-frills experience. That said, Oceania's sophisticated atmosphere also draws solo travelers and couples in their 30s who are looking for an atmosphere sans kids. Regardless of which cruise you choose, expect to sail with an American crowd.

While exploring different destinations, you choose to navigate on your own or reserve a customized shore excursion. Activities vary by voyage and itinerary, though many expeditions promote cultural immersion through art, history and cuisine. Excursions might include artisan demonstrations in Bali or embarking on Champagne and lobster catamaran adventure in ...

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship's Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship's Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

Link:

Oceania Cruises Review | U.S. News Best Cruises

Origem: Wikipdia, a enciclopdia livre.

Oceania (portugus brasileiro) ou Ocenia (portugus europeu) um continente, composto por vrios grupos de ilhas do oceano Pacfico (Polinsia, Melansia e Micronsia). O termo Oceania foi criado em 1831 pelo explorador francs Dumont d'Urville. O termo usado hoje em vrios idiomas para designar um continente que compreende a Austrlia e ilhas do Pacfico adjacentes.[1][2][3]

Os limites da Oceania so definidos de vrias maneiras. A maioria das definies reconhecem partes da Australsia como a Austrlia, Nova Zelndia e Nova Guin, e parte do Arquiplago Malaio como sendo partes da Oceania.[4][5][6]

Embora as ilhas da Oceania no formem um continente verdadeiro, a Oceania, s vezes, associada com o continente da Austrlia ou com a Australsia, com o propsito de dividir o planeta em agrupamentos continentais. o menor "continente" em rea e em populao (com exceo da Antrtica).

O topnimo Oceania foi recebido pelo continente por iniciativa do naturalista francs Ren Primevre Lesson. Lesson nasceu a 20 de maro de 1794 em Rochefort e morreu em 28 de abril de 1848. O naturalista era mdico e farmacutico naval. Quando era tripulante da corveta Coquille, viajou por um bom tempo pelo Oceano Pacfico com a misso de realizar pesquisas cientficas para servir de fonte de seus livros de anatomia e taxonomia de mamferos, pssaros, beija-flores. Alm disso, h depoimentos de viagem, livros de histria e botnica datados de 1828. Da a origem etimolgica do termo: a palavra "oceano" mais o sufixo "ia", da mesma forma que acontece com outros topnimos tais como Germnia, Betnia, Transilvnia, Tripolitnia, entre outros, porque na ortografia portuguesa, a letra "a" tem acento circunflexo, enquanto na ortografia brasileira no h acentuao, sendo utilizado com mais frequncia a ortografia brasileira.

A forma "Oceania" (sem acento circunflexo, ou seja, com a slaba tnica em "ni") usual e aceita no Brasil, sendo usual mas considerada incorreta em Portugal. A forma "Ocenia" constante na maioria das fontes consagradas, ainda que o uso prefira a pronncia "Oceania".[7][8][9][10]

Durante os Perodos Glaciais, Austrlia, Nova Guin e Tasmnia eram ligadas por pontes terrestres, formando um nico continente, conhecido como Sahul. Os australoides, primeiro povo a habitar a regio, eram os antepassados dos atuais papuas e dos aborgenes australianos, que devem ter chegado a Sahul h 60 000 anos.

A seguinte onda significativa de emigrantes s aconteceu em 6000 a.C., quando povos austronsios vindos de Taiwan se espalharam pelas Filipinas e ndias Orientais e chegaram Nova Guin, miscigenando-se com os nativos australoides, originando a heterognea populao da Melansia. Por volta de 1500 a.C., esses austronsios, os maiores navegantes da pr-histria, chegaram s Fiji - vindos de Vanuatu e, pouco depois, a Tonga e a Samoa, ponto de partida para a posterior expanso polinsia para o Pacfico Oriental, acabando na ocupao de ilhas to distantes como o Hava, ao norte, a Nova Zelndia ou Aotearoa (seu nome polinsio), ao sul e a ilha de Pscoa ou Rapa Nui, ao leste.

A povoao das ilhas da Micronsia teve origens tnicas distintas: filipinos em Palau e Yap, habitantes do arquiplago Bismarck nas ilhas Truk, tuvaluanos (que encontram origem nas Fiji ou MPI) nas Ilhas Marshall, por exemplo. Isso comprovvel por traos culturais e lingusticos. J os povos da Polinsia encontram origens tnicas, lingusticas e culturais semelhantes. Smbolos da cultura polinsia conhecidos mundialmente so as esttuas tiki e a festa lau, alm de seu estilo de tatuagem.

Os austronsios guiaram-se unicamente com a localizao dos astros, direo do vento e caractersticas das ondas - que revela a localizao de ilhas. Dominavam a cermica, que foi um dos smbolos da cultura lpita, cujo estilo singular da mesma era ricamente decorado e que, em cerca de 500 a.C., foi substituda por peas simples e sem decorao na Samoa. Tambm dominavam a agricultura, encontrando subsistncia no taro, no inhame, na batata-doce, na mandioca, na banana, no coco, na cana-de-acar e no arroz.

Os britnicos incorporaram a Austrlia aos seus domnios em 1770. No ano da incorporao oficial, habitaram a ilha-continente cerca de 300 mil nativos, divididos em mais de 600 tribos, que falavam mais de 500 dialetos. Viviam num estgio cultural bastante primitivo, desconhecendo at a prtica agrcola.

No sculo XVIII, a ocupao britnica restringiu-se implantao de colnias penais, a mais importante delas nas proximidades da cidade de Sydney, e fixao de um pequeno nmero de colonos, que constataram as grandes possibilidades de se desenvolver a pecuria com sucesso na colnia.

A pecuria e o coito, principalmente a ovina, cresceu em imponncia no sculo XIX, bem como a atividade agrcola, principalmente voltada produo do trigo. O que provocou um grande surto populacional na colnia ao longo desse sculo foi, no entanto, a descoberta de ouro na provncia de Vitria. Na virada do sculo, a populao australiana era de aproximadamente trs milhes de habitantes. Em 1901, a Austrlia transformou-se numa federao autnoma, a Comunidade da Austrlia, iniciando um acelerado processo de expanso da agropecuria e da indstria. Isso determinou a necessidade de se incrementar, particularmente no ps-guerra, as correntes migratrias. De 1945 a 1970, o pas recebeu aproximadamente trs milhes de imigrantes, cerca de 50% de origem britnica. Atualmente a Austrlia um dos pases que exercem maior controle sobre a imigrao estrangeira.

Quando a Nova Zelndia foi formalmente ocupada pelos britnicos em 1840, as suas ilhas eram habitadas pelos maoris, povo de origem polinsia. De 1845 a 1870, com a intensificao da colonizao, ocorreram pesados conflitos entre britnicos e maoris, contrrios ocupao de suas terras.

Derrotados, os maoris, que foram reduzidos de 300000 para pouco mais de 40000, assinaram uma srie de acordos com os colonizadores. Assim, teve incio uma era de paz e prosperidade na Nova Zelndia.

A atividade agropecuria foi a mais importante para o sucesso da colonizao. Destacaram-se a criao de ovinos para produo de l e o cultivo de trigo, na frtil plancie de Canterbury. A partir de 1860, foi a extrao do ouro que funcionou como importante fator de atrao populacional, garantindo a continuidade do processo de colonizao.

A Nova Zelndia passou condio de colnia britnica em 1870, alcanando sua autonomia poltica aps a Primeira Guerra Mundial. Com o fim da Segunda Guerra Mundial, a Nova Zelndia deixou de pertencer esfera de influncia britnica, passando esfera de influncia dos Estados Unidos.

O Novssimo Mundo - assim chamado por ter sido descoberto apenas em 1770, pelo ingls James Cook - est localizado entre os oceanos ndico e Pacfico e formado por milhares de ilhas de diversas extenses, desde pequenos atis coralgenos at a Austrlia, pouco menor que o Brasil. Ocupa ao todo uma rea de mais de 8.900.000 quilmetros quadrados nos quatro hemisfrios: estende-se de 21 graus de latitude norte a 50 graus de latitude sul e de 111 graus de longitude leste a 119 graus de longitude oeste.[11] Limita-se ao norte com o Estreito de Torres e os mares de Timor e Arafura, a leste com o Mar de Coral e o Mar da Tasmnia, ao sul com o Estreito de Bass e o Oceano ndico e as "Kamangas" a oeste novamente com o Oceano ndico."

Atravessada pela linha do Equador e pelo Trpico de Capricrnio, a Oceania localiza-se nas zonas climticas intertropical e temperada do sul. Devido sua grande extenso de leste para oeste, abrange oito fusos horrios, inclusive a linha que determina a mudana de data (Linha internacional de mudana de data).[11]

Alm de inmeras possesses no independentes, administradas por pases europeus, pelos Estados Unidos ou por naes desenvolvidas do continente, a Oceania inclui 14 Estados soberanos, entre os quais se destacam a Austrlia e a Nova Zelndia, pelo grande desenvolvimento econmico, e a Papua-Nova Guin, o segundo pas do continente em populao e rea territorial.[11]

Os demais, de extenso reduzida, populao numericamente inexpressiva e economia subdesenvolvida, so: Fiji, Samoa Ocidental, Nauru, Tonga, ilhas Salomo, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Palau, Estados Federados da Micronsia e Tuvalu.[11] Devido ao grande nmero de ilhas, costuma-se dividir o continente em:[12]

Embora grande parte das ilhas seja de origem vulcnica ou formada por atis coralgenos, as caractersticas fsicas do continente ocenico so muito variadas. Por isso, faremos um estudo setofizado de seus traos dominantes.[13]

Trata-se um continente sem nenhuma fronteira terrestre entre seus 14 pases constituintes. A nica linha divisria poltica terrestre entre sia e Oceania, a fronteira entre a Indonsia e a Papua-Nova Guin. Cultural, lingustica e etnicamente, o estado indonsio de Irian Jaya, tido como sendo asitico, semelhante Papua-Nova Guin, habitados pelos povos papuas. Geograficamente a ilha de Nova Guin, inteira, faz parte da Australsia, portanto Oceania. Os motivos para classificar seu lado ocidental como asitico so meramente polticos.

Banhada ao sul e a oeste pelo oceano ndico, a noroeste pelo mar de Timor e a leste pelos mares de Coral e da Tasmnia, a Austrlia uma ilha-continente (assim chamada devido sua vasta extenso).[14]

Contornando todo o territrio australiano, encontram-se as plancies, que se tornam bastante largas no norte, junto ao Golfo da Carpentria, e no sudeste, prximo aos rios Murray e Darling. As montanhas que formam os Alpes Australianos localizam-se no leste e no sudeste; so de altitudes modestas, alcanando o mximo de 2.230 metros (Monte Kosciuszko).[14]

A maior parte do pas constituda por planaltos geralmente baixos e relativamente planos, dos quais se destacam, entre outros, os montes MacDonell e Musgrave, bem como os desertos Vitria, Gibson, Simpson e outros menores, que ocupam todo o centro-oeste do territrio australiano.[14]

A distribuio do relevo australiano, mais elevado no leste, influencia a drenagem dos maiores rios do continente - Darling e Murray -, que correm em direo ao sudoeste. H ainda os rios Flinders, Vitria, Cooper, Ashburton e outros, localizados no leste e no norte do pas. Em alguns desses manifesta-se uma caracterstica da hidrografia australiana: o regime intermitente, determinado pelas condies climticas.[14]

Pontilham o territrio australiano lagos cuja origem se deve depresso relativa do relevo, inclinado para o interior, existindo grandes formaes lacustres at mesmo em meio ao deserto.[14]

Verifica-se na Austrlia, cortada pelo Trpico de Capricrnio, a presena de climas tropicais e subtropicais, com temperaturas elevadas no norte e mais amenas no sul, onde ocorrem chuvas com maior freqncia. O clima do tipo mediterrneo, com vero seco, manifesta-se em reas do sudoeste e do sul. Nas vastas extenses semiridas e desrticas do centro-oeste o clima apresenta-se bastante quente.[15]

A nordeste do pas localiza-se a Grande Barreira de Coral, que se estende no mar de Coral, por mais de 2000 km.[15]

Em decorrncia do clima, recobrem quase totalmente essa ilha as savanas e as estepes (l denominadas scrubb), alm das grandes extenses semiridas e desrticas. H tambm, entretanto, manchas de florestas tropicais e subtropicais ocupando as reas midas do norte, leste e sudoeste.[15]

Como a Austrlia foi separada dos demais continentes h mais de 50 milhes de anos, desenvolveu uma fauna nica, em que se destacam o ornitorrinco, um mamfero com bico e pelo, e os marsupiais, como os cangurus e os coalas, animais cujos filhotes so criados numa bolsa existente no corpo da me durante o perodo de amamentao.[15]

Esse pas formado por duas ilhas principais, a do Norte e a do Sul, separadas pelo estreito de Cook. De origem vulcnica, a Ilha do Norte apresenta vulces ativos, fontes termais e giseres (fontes quentes com erupes peridicas), enquanto a ilha do Sul caracteriza-se pelo relevo acidentado que contorna todo o litoral. Os Alpes Neozelandeses, que tm como ponto culminante o monte Cook, com 3.764 metros, so a mais destacada elevao.[16]

A plancie litornea ou costeira, conhecida por Canterbury, aparece em estreitas faixas ao redor de toda a ilha e alarga-se no extremo leste da ilha do Sul.[16]

Devido reduzida extenso do arquiplago neozelands, os rios que percorrem suas ilhas so de pequeno curso, no chegando a formar grandes bacias. As formaes lacustres existentes so todas de origem glacial.[16]

Em termos climticos, a Nova Zelndia encontra-se na zona subtropical sul, com temperaturas amenas e chuvas bem distribudas pelo ano todo. Deriva da influncia desse clima uma vegetao representada pela floresta aciculifoliada e por formaes arbustivas e herbceas. Uma curiosidade: a Nova Zelndia possui a maior floresta artificial do globo, Kaingaroa.[16]

Espalhadas por uma enorme rea do Oceano Pacfico, essas milhares de ilhas tm origem vulcnicas ou coralgena.[16]

Seu relevo apresenta, em geral, planaltos baixos e desgastados, embora haja muitos exemplos de formaes geolgicas mais recentes. Algumas ilhas encontram-se no Crculo de fogo do Pacfico, que abrange os pontos da Terra mais sujeitos a vulcanismo e a abalos ssmicos. Somente no arquiplago do Hava h trs grandes vulces: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa e Kilauea.[17]

Nas ilhas recobertas por depsitos de coral o solo geralmente arenoso, nem sempre propcio agricultura, mas muitas vezes fonte de recursos minerais importantes, como o fosfato.[17]

A hidrografia, em virtude da pequena extenso dos territrios, insignificante, havendo casos de ilhas que nem sequer possuem rios ou lagos de gua doce. A maior parte dos arquiplagos est sob influncia do clima tropical, cujas caractersticas, no entanto, so amenizadas pela proximidade do oceano, o que propicia chuvas abundantes e amplitudes trmicas reduzidas.[17]

Em virtude dessas condies, h ilhas, ou parte delas, recobertas por densa floresta equatorial, ao passo que em outras a nica vegetao existente so esparsos coqueiros ou uma pequena cobertura herbcea.[17]

A Oceania chamada de Novssimo Mundo, pois foi o ltimo continente a ser descoberto pelos europeus, que l chegaram no sculo XVII. S no fim do sculo XVIII teria incio a colonizao, com a chegada de prisioneiros britnicos obrigados a trabalhar na lavoura.[17]

Quase todas as ilhas da Oceania tm a populao composta majoritariamente por indgenas. Excetuam-se a Austrlia e a Nova Zelndia, em que os brancos europeus - entre os quais predominam os de origem britnica - constituem a maioria dos habitantes.[17]

Os grupos humanos melansios, micronsios e polinsios costumam migrar de um arquiplago para outro em busca de melhores condies de trabalho, havendo, por isso, alto grau de miscigenao. Em algumas ilhas verifica-se a presena de grandes parcelas de indianos e chineses.[18]

A densidade demogrfica dos arquiplagos varia. Por exemplo, Austrlia - 2,2 hab/km - e Papua-Nova Guin - 7,7 hab/km - apresentam taxas de ocupao baixssimas, enquanto Nauru e Tonga respondem pelas duas maiores concentraes da Oceania: mais de 380 e mais de 163 hab/km, respectivanente.[18]

A distribuio populacional est ligada, geralmente, ao grau de desenvolvimento econmico. Assim, Austrlia e Nova Zelndia tm 85% ou mais de sua populao estabelecidos nas zonas urbanas, enquanto o restante das ilhas a maioria dos habitantes ocupa as reas rurais, o que indica uma industrializao inexpressiva. A agricultura e o extrativismo constituem a base de sua economia. Os primitivos habitantes da Austrlia, conhecidos como aborgenes, habitam o pas h pelo menos 5.000 anos.[18]

As principais cidades da Oceania so: Sydney, Melbourne e Brisbane, na Austrlia; Auckland e Wellington, na Nova Zelndia; Port Moresby, capital da Papua-Nova Guin.[18]

Com exceo da Austrlia e da Nova Zelndia, todos os demais pases da Oceania apresentam caractersticas de subdesenvolvimento. Suas principais atividades econmicas so o extrativismo e, com raras excees, a agricultura.[20]

No que se refere aos recursos minerais, ocupa posio privilegiada a ilha de Nauru, cuja nica fonte de divisas so suas grandes jazidas de fosfato. Em virtude do pequeno nmero de habitantes, a receita obtida com a exportao desse produto assegura a Nauru um PIB per capita que figura entre os mais altos do mundo. Por outro lado, o pas importa quase tudo de que precisa, desde alimentos at remdios e artigos manufaturados. Alm disso, a julgar pelo atual ritmo de consumo, suas reservas de fosfato devero extinguir-se dentro de 30 anos.[20]

Devem-se citar tambm Papua-Nova Guin, com suas jazidas de minerais no-ferrosos, ouro e cobre, exploradas, entretanto, por companhias australianas, e as ilhas Salomo, que possuem grandes reservas, ainda pouco exploradas, de ouro, prata, cobre, fosfato, asbesto e bauxita. A Austrlia, por sua vez, tem uma indstria extrativa atuante, que exporta minrio de ferro e produz 70% petrleo consumido internamente.[20]

No plano do extrativismo vegetal, a copra (amndoa seca do coco, de que se extrai leo) importante fonte de divisas para quase todos os pequenos pases da Oceania. As Ilhas Salomo e Samoa exportam tambm madeiras finas.[20]

A pesca significativa nas Ilhas Salomo, em Fiji e em Kiribati; este ltimo tem no guano (depsitos de fosfato derivados do excremento de aves marinhas) outro importante recurso econmico.[20]

Como, em geral, o solo se mostra pouco propcio, a atividade agrcola na maioria das ilhas no alcana grande envergadura, produzindo quase sempre apenas para consumo interno. So excees: Papua-Nova Guin, com suas colheitas de caf, cacau e ch; em menor grau, Samoa, onde se cultiva cacau,milho,frutas citricas, coco, banana e abacaxi, e Tonga, que exporta bananas e sementes oleaginosas. A pecuria nas pequenas ilhas insignificante ou inexistente.[20]

J os dois maiores e mais desenvolvidos pases apresentam outro panorama. A Austrlia, alm de exportar trigo, possui grandes rebanhos ovinos e bovinos, que, fornecendo l e carne, constituem outra fonte de divisas. Na economia da Nova Zelndia, cuja produo agrcola abastece o mercado interno, destaca-se a pecuria, que propicia carne, l e laticnios exportados em larga escala.[21]

Nas pequenas ilhas e na Papua-Nova Guin, as indstrias, quando existem, so em geral instaladas para beneficiar algum produto originado do extrativismo. Enquadram-se nesse caso Papua-Nova Guin (azeite de dend e borracha) e Fiji (acar e pescado em conserva).[21]

Condies totalmente diferentes so as encontradas na Austrlia e na Nova Zelndia, cujo amplo parque industrial compreende desde as indstrias de base at as de bens de consumo. So os nicos pases do continente que integram o bloco dos pases desenvolvidos segundo o IDH.[21]

Na Austrlia, a indstria responde por cerca de 20% do Produto Interno Bruto. Destacam-se as indstrias de ao, de automveis, mecnicas, de produtos qumicos e as refinarias de petrleo, concentradas no sudeste.[21]

Para a Nova Zelndia, menos industrializada que a Austrlia, a atividade industrial representa tambm cerca de um quarto do Produto Interno Bruto, sendo significativa a produo de alimentos, seguida dos setores txteis, de construo, siderrgicos e outros.[21]

A importncia mundial da economia japonesa vem tornando o leste asitico uma regio cada vez mais destacada, tornando-se um dos polos econmicos mundiais. Na Oceania, devido ao seu grau de desenvolvimento social e industrializao, a Austrlia vem adquirindo maior destaque em toda a rea do Pacfico.[22]

A tradicional influncia britnica vem-se mesclando norte-americana e japonesa e as relaes comerciais regionais tornam-se cada vez mais fortes. Alm disso, Austrlia e Nova Zelndia tm procurado uma posio poltica e diplomtica independente, assumindo pequenos papeis de liderana em relao aos pequenos pases do continente.[22]

See original here:

Oceania Wikipdia, a enciclopdia livre

Oceania brings the country club lifestyle to sea, with an onboard atmosphere that is elegant but relaxed, and never formal or stuffy. Oceania passengers are typically well-traveled and are looking for personalized service, world-class cuisine and an in-depth, destination-focused experience.

Oceania delivers on these requirements by offering exotic itineraries to remote destinations worldwide, frequently offering overnight stays so guests can fully immerse themselves in the history, culture and cuisine during port calls. Oceania's Executive Culinary Director, acclaimed master chef Jacques Pepin, has assembled a menu of culinary delights that are the highlight of every guest's evening.

The sophisticated ambiance of Oceania Cruises extends to the entertainment offered onboard. You can listen to a 12-piece orchestra or jazz band, watch a cabaret show or enjoy local and regional entertainment from the ports you visit. Oceania regularly hosts guest lecturers, from famous authors to former ambassadors, who provide onboard enrichment. Oceania combines the best of new and old pastimes, preserving classic traditions like afternoon tea while providing contemporary services like 24-hour Internet access aboard all of its cruise ships.

Browse through our discounts and discover "your world, your way" with Oceania Cruises.

Officers: European Crew: European

Read more here:

Oceania Cruises, Oceania Cruise Line, Oceania Cruise, Oceania ...

By Matt Rosenberg

Updated January 20, 2016.

Oceania is the name of the region consisting of island groups within the central and South Pacific Ocean. It spans over 3.3 million square miles (8.5 million sq km). Some of the countries included in Oceania are Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Palau, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Nauru. Oceania also includes several dependencies and territories such as American Samoa, Johnston Atoll and French Polynesia.

Physical Geography of Oceania

In terms of its physical geography, the islands of Oceania are often divided into four different sub-regions based on the geologic processes playing a role in their physical development. The first of these is Australia. It is separated because of its location in the middle of the Indo-Australian Plate and the fact that due to its location there was no mountain building during its development. Instead, Australia's current physical landscape features were formed by mainly by erosion.

The second landscape category in Oceania is the islands found on the collision boundaries between the Earth's crustal plates. These are found specifically in the South Pacific. For example at the collision boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates are places like New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The North Pacific portion of Oceania also features these types landscapes along the Eurasian and Pacific plates. These plate collisions are responsible for the formation of mountains like those in New Zealand which climb to over 10,000 feet (3,000 m).

Volcanic islands such as Fiji are the third category of landscape types found in Oceania. These islands typically rise from the seafloor through hotspots in the Pacific Ocean basin. Most of these areas consist of very small islands with high mountain ranges.

Finally, coral reef islands and atolls such as Tuvalu are the last type of landscape found in Oceania. Atolls specifically are responsible for the formation of low-lying land regions, some with enclosed lagoons.

Climate of Oceania

Most of Oceania is divided into two climate zones. The first of these is temperate and the second is tropical. Most of Australia and all of New Zealand are within the temperate zone and most of the island areas in the Pacific are considered tropical. Oceania's temperate regions feature high levels of precipitation, cold winters and warm to hot summers. The tropical regions in Oceania are hot and wet year round.

In addition to these climatic zones, most of Oceania is impacted by continuous trade winds and sometimes hurricanes (called tropical cyclones in Oceania) which have historically caused catastrophic damage to countries and islands in the region.

Flora and Fauna of Oceania

Because most of Oceania is tropical or temperate there is an abundant amount of rainfall which produces tropical and temperate rainforests throughout the region. Tropical rainforests are common in some of the island countries located near the tropics, while temperate rainforests are common in New Zealand. In both of these types of forests there is a plethora of plant and animal species, making Oceania one of the world's most biodiverse regions.

It is important to note however, that not all of Oceania receives abundant rainfall and portions of the region are arid or semiarid. Australia for example, features large areas of arid land which have little vegetation. In addition, El Nio has caused frequent droughts in recent decades in Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Oceania's fauna, like its flora is also extremely biodiverse. Because much of the area consists of islands, unique species of birds, animals and insects evolved out of isolation from others. The presence of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kingman Reef also represent large areas of biodiversity and some are considered biodiversity hotspots.

Humans and Oceania

Most recently in 2005, Oceania's population was around 33 million people, with the majority centered in Australia and New Zealand. Those two countries alone accounted for more than 24 million people, while Papua New Guinea had a population of over five million. The remaining population of Oceania is scattered around the various islands making up the region.

Like its population distribution, urbanization and industrialization also vary in Oceania. 89% of Oceania's urban areas are in Australia and New Zealand and these countries also have the most well established infrastructure. Australia in particular has many raw minerals and energy sources, and manufacturing is a large part of its and Oceania's economy. The rest of Oceania and specifically the Pacific islands are not well developed. Some of the islands have rich natural resources, but the majority do not. In addition, some of the island nations do not even have enough clean drinking water or food to supply to their citizens.

Agriculture is also important in Oceania and there are three types which are common in the region. These include subsistence agriculture, plantation crops and capital intensive agriculture. Subsistence agriculture occurs on most of the Pacific islands and is done to support local communities. Cassava, taro, yams and sweet potatoes are the most common products of this type of agriculture. Plantation crops are planted on the medium tropical islands while capital intensive agriculture is practiced mainly in Australia and New Zealand.

Finally, fishing and tourism are important to Oceania's economy and its development. Fishing is a significant source of revenue because many islands have maritime exclusive economic zones that extend for 200 nautical miles and many small islands have granted permission to foreign countries to fish the region via fishing licenses. Tourism is also important to Oceania because many of the tropical islands like Fiji offer aesthetic beauty, while Australia and New Zealand are modern cities with modern amenities. New Zealand has also become an area centered on the growing field of ecotourism.

To learn more about Oceania and its countries visit the Countries of Oceania page on this website.

Read more:

The Geography of Oceania - Pacific Islands