Pacific Islands

The Pacific Ocean has an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 islands; the exact number has not been precisely determined. These islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania (although Oceania usually also includes Australia), and are traditionally grouped into three: (1) Melanesia, (2) Micronesia, and (3) Polynesia.

The Pacific Islands? Geography

• About 25,000 islands dot the Pacific Ocean.
• The region is divided into three areas; Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
• The region?s islands are also classified in two groups; high islands and low islands.
• Volcanoes form high islands.
• High islands support more people and have a more fertile soil.
• Low islands are reef or atolls.
• Low islands are built on coral reefs.
• Low islands are quite small.
• Melanesia is the most populated island region.
• Most of Melanesia?s large islands are high islands.
• Most of the islands of Micronesia lie north of the equator.
• Polynesia is the largest island region in the Pacific Ocean.
• The Pacific Island region has few natural resources.