Physiographic Contrasts Between Australia and New Zealand

1. Describe the physiographic contrasts between Australia and New Zealand. In other words, how are the two countries geographically different? Australia is a vast, dry, low-relief interior, while the island of New Zealand is mountainous with a temperate climate. Australia is one of the oldest rock on the planet, situated in the center of the Australian Plate. New Zealand is younger, therefore less stable because of it location along the Ring of Fire, having plenty of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, however, Australia has neither of these phenomenas. The elevation differences is considerable, as Australias highest point, Mount Kosciosko is lower than the entire elevation of New Zealand, with its high point at Mount Cook. Along Australias low relief region there are plateaus, plains, and the Great Artesian Basin provides essential water to the desert country. In the southern half of Australia were are predominant river systems, which contains mineral wealth. Australias physiographic benefits the country, while New Zealand see it as obstacles, and while they both are surrounded by oceans from every angle, these two countri es vary in many ways governmental, economically, and socially. 2. In what ways is the huge Southern Ocean different or unique? The Southern Ocean is only viewed once you turn the globe upside-down, placing Australia and Argentina at the top of the globe. Viewing the globe upside-down allows us to see the vast ocean that encircles Antarctica, which is