Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Melanesia (UK: / ˌ m ɛ l ə ˈ n iː z i ə / ⓘ, US: / ˌ m ɛ l ə ˈ n iː ʒ ə /) is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It extends from New Guinea in the west to the Fiji Islands in the east, [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] and includes the Arafura Sea .
Melanesians are the predominant and indigenous inhabitants of Melanesia, in an area stretching from New Guinea to the Fiji Islands. [1] Most speak one of the many languages of the Austronesian language family (especially ones in the Oceanic branch) or one of the many unrelated families of Papuan languages.
According to Dixon, Melanesia falls into two geographic divisions: New Guinea with its adjacent smaller islands forming one; and the long series of islands lying to the north and east of it, from the Admiralty group to New Caledonia and Fiji, constituting the other.
The umbrella term Pacific Islands has taken on several meanings. [1] Sometimes it is used to refer only to the islands defined as lying within Oceania. [2] [3] [4] At other times, it is used to refer to the islands of the Pacific Ocean that were previously colonized by the British, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, or Japanese, or by the United States.
Melanesia is the great arc of islands located north and east of Australia and south of the Equator. The name derives the Greek words melas ('black') and nēsos ('island') for the predominantly dark-skinned peoples of New Guinea island, the Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides), New Caledonia, and Fiji.
Map of Melanesia, showing its location within Oceania (from Melanesia) Image 51 Micronesia is one of three major cultural areas of the Pacific Ocean islands , along with Melanesia and Polynesia . (from Micronesia )
Cassius, the world’s largest saltwater crocodile in captivity, has died.The 18ft Australian crocodile, who lived on Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef, was thought to be more than 110 years old.
Acèh; Afrikaans; العربية; Asturianu; Azərbaycanca; تۆرکجه; বাংলা; Башҡортса; Беларуская; Български; Bosanski