Facts For Kids

Category: Countries

  • Madagascar Facts for Kids | Fourth Largest Island in the World

    Madagascar Facts for Kids | Fourth Largest Island in the World

    Located on the shoreline of Southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is an island country. It consists of the main island of Madagascar as well as other small islands. It was separated from the Indian peninsula about 88 million years ago after the ancient supercontinent Gondwana was split up (135 million years ago). Its earlier name was Malagasy Republic. It is situated close to Mauritius, Comoros state and the French territories of Réunion and Mayotte. Mozambique is the closest country with this island. Let’s dive deep into this island in Madagascar facts for kids!

    Capital City: Antananarivo

    Official Languages: Malagasy and French

    Traditional Sport: Moraingy

    Fascinating Madagascar Facts for Kids | Madagascar History

    • Europeans first introduced the word Madagascar for this island during Middle Ages.
    • Archaeologists have found tools made up of stones that suggest hunter-gatherers may have visited this site in about 2000 BC.
    • It was one of the last landmasses of the earth where humans settled down.
    • During 7th and 9th centuries, the Arab merchants came to this island.
    • In 1000 AD, the Bantu-speaking people migrated from Southeastern Africa. They brought humped cattle or zebu to Madagascar.
    • The recorded history of this island was started in the 10th century when the Arab traders arrived here.
    • In 1500, the Europeans came here.
    • In 1883, the French attacked this island in what is called Franco-Hova War. The north port of Antsiranana was given to France as a result of this war.
    • In 1896, slavery was abolished in Madagascar by releasing 500,000 slaves.

    Madagascar Geography

    • It has a population of 22 million.
    • The six national parks of this island are declared as World Heritage Site (2007). They are collectively known as Rainforests of the Atsinanana.
    • This island exports ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves around the world. As for crops, it grows shrimp, lychees and coffee.
    • The main trading partner of Madagascar is France.
    • The highest peak of this island is Maromokotro which is 2,876 metres (9,436 feet) high. The other two peaks of slightly smaller elevation are Boby Peak and Tsiafajavona.
    • It is home to some of the devastating cyclones like tropical cyclone which destroys infrastructure as well as human lives every year. The strongest cyclone came in 2004 was known as Cyclone Gafilo killed 172 people and caused $250 million in financial losses.

    Facts about Madagascar Rainforest

    • According to Conservation International, Madagascar is the hotspot for biodiversity.
    • About 14,883 species of plants are present here. Interestingly, over 80 percent of such plant species do not exist anywhere else and are therefore unique in this island.
    • About four-fifths of the species of genus spine-bearing trees called Pachypodium are only present in this island.
    • It is home to 860 species of orchid plants. Out of these, three-fourths do not exist anywhere else in the world.
    • Out of nine species of baobab trees, six are present in Madagascar.
    • It is also home to 170 species of palm trees. Out of these, 165 species are unique in this island.
    • Some of the plant species of this island are used to treat cancers and leukemia like vinblastine and vincristine drugs. These drugs were made from Madagascar periwinkle.
    • After the arrival of humans, 17 species of lemurs have been extinct.
    • Out of 300 bird species in Madagascar, 60 percent of these are only present here.
    • About two-thirds of the Chameleon species in the world are present in Madagascar. In fact, Chameleons may have come from this island.
    • When the humans first arrived on this island 2,350 years before, they started cutting down trees. As a result, 90 percent of the forest has been destroyed until today.
    • According to some estimates, almost all of the rainforests of Madagascar will be destroyed by 2025.
    • In 2014, an Asian common toad was discovered in Madagascar.
    • Like many other birds, Elephant birds were also endemic in this island. Sorry to say, these birds became extinct until 17th century probably because of human hunting.

    Almost 90 percent of the lemur species in Madagascar are in danger of extinction particularly after the destruction of natural resources.

    Facts about Madagascar Animals

    • Madagascar is ranked fourth among the largest islands in the world.
    • It stands at the 46th position among the largest countries of the world.

    About 90 percent of all plants and animals in Madagascar are unique and exclusively exist on this island. This island has long remained isolated from other continents which is why its wildlife does not present anywhere else in the world.

    • The people of this island are known as Malagasy and this island is called Madagasikara in Malagasy language.
    • Because Madagascar is home to some of the unique animals, this island is also sometimes known as ‘eighth continent’.
    • The iconic symbol of Madagascar is Traveler’s Palm. In local language, it is known as Ravenala. It is also present in the logo of national airline, Air Madagascar.
    • According to Conservation International, the lemurs are considered as ‘Madagascar’s flagship mammal species’. About 103 species of lemurs are found on this island (2012) and out of these, 39 species were spotted during 2000 and 2008.
    • About half of the export of sapphires in the world is supplied by Madagascar.
    • It is home to one of the largest reserves of ilmenite in the world.
    • About 90 percent of the people in Madagascar earn less than $2 per day.
  • Thailand Facts for Kids | Golf Capital of Asia

    Thailand Facts for Kids | Golf Capital of Asia

    Located at the heart of continental part of Southeast Asia, Thailand was previously known as Siam which means dark or brown. It shares borders with Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia. On 20 May 2014, the military of Thailand declared Martial Law and since then it has been ruled under National Council for Peace and Order. The head of Thailans is a monarch called  King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He became king in 1946 as the ninth among the monarchs of Chakri Dynasty. Bangkok is the largest city of Thailand. The economy of the country is largely based on tourism and agriculture. It is also known for playing golf which is why Thailand is sometimes called ‘golf capital of Asia’. Let’s dive down more in Thailand facts for kids!

    A Quick Guide to Thailand Facts for Kids

    Ancient Name: Siam

    Capital City: Bangkok

    Official Language: Thai

    Highest Point (Doi Inthanon): 2,565 metres (8,415 feet)

    Religion: Theravada Buddhism

    Staple Cuisine: Rice (esp. Jasmine variety rice)

    Signature Sport: Thai Boxing (Muay Thai)

    Fascinating Thailand Facts for Kids | Thailand History

    • Thailand was adopted as a name in 1939. By that time, it was known as Siam.
    • The residents of this country have known it by the name of Mueang Thai.
    • In the Thai language, the term ‘Thai’ means ‘free man’. It is also believed that this word was traditionally used to mean ‘the people’.
    • The earliest human settlement on this country dates back to 40,000 years before.
    • From the Kingdom of Funan to the first century C.E. until the Khmer Empire, the country has had a great influence of Indian cultures and religions.
    • During the period of Ashoka of Maurya Empire, the religion of India must have been brought to this country.
    • At the fall of Khmer Empire until 15th century, some of the kingdoms of Buddhist Tai people began to emerge like Sukhothai, Lan Xang and Lanna.

    A quarter to a third of the population of some areas of Thailand and Burma were slaves in the 17th through the 19th centuries – Encyclopaedia Britannica

    • The largest temple of Thailand is known as Prasat Phimai. It was built during Khmer Empire.
    • From 1932 to 1973, Thailand was ruled by military dictators for the most part.

    Thailand Facts for Tourists

    • It has a population of 66 million.
    • About 95 percent of the people in Thailand are ethnically Tai.
    • It has a tropical wet and dry climate. The temperatures vary annually on an average high temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) and as low as 19 °C (66.2 °F).
    • Those people who have Chinese origin make up 40 percent of the country’s population. The remaining population comprises Thai Malays, Mons and Khmers.

    Thailand Facts and Information for Kids

    • The king of Thailand is the only monarch in the world who has reigned his country for the longest term.
    • By governing his country for almost 70 years, the king of Thailand has the longest term as head of state in the world.
    • In terms of production of coal, it is the second largest coal producer of Southeast Asia behind only Indonesia.
    • Among the countries of Southeast Asia, Thailand is the second biggest importer of oil.
    • After USA, Thailand is ranked second in the world among the largest consumers of pick-up trucks.
    • As for proficiency of English, Thailand is the second-lowest among the countries in Asia.
    • After Indonesia, it has the second largest economy of Southeast Asian countries.
    • In terms of quality of life, Thailand is ranked third in the list of ten countries of ASEAN.
    • In terms of GDP per capita, Thailand is ranked 4th among the wealthy nations of Southeast Asia.
    • It stands at the 20th position among the world’s most populous countries.
    • As per area-wise, Thailand is ranked 51 among the largest countries in the world. It is larger than Spain by a small margin.
    • Thailand is the only country of Southeast Asia that was never colonized by the Europeans.
    • Until 1932, the laws of the country were made by the monarch. There was no body of persons who could make new laws.
    • The first constitution of the country was drafted in 1997 and it is known as ‘people’s constitution’.
    • Elephant is the national symbol of this country. Until 1850, Thailand was home to 100,000 elephants but today there are only 2,000.
    • During 1985 to 1996, the economic growth rate of Thailand stood at an average of 12.4 percent, which was the highest in the world.
    • The automotive industry of this country is the biggest in Southeast Asia. It is also ranked 9th in the world (2012).
    • In 2013, it was the most visited Southeast Asian country (World Tourism Organization).
    • For a long time, Thailand was the world’s largest exporter of rice. Rice is cultivated in about 55 percent of the arable land area in this country.
    • About two-thirds of the GDP earnings of Thailand come through exports.
    • In 1980, 70 percent of the workforce in Thailand was employed in agriculture. Today it is reduced to 49 percent.
    • Natural gas accounts for 75 percent of the electricity generation in this country. (2014)
  • Netherlands Facts for Kids | Second Largest Exporter of Foods

    Netherlands Facts for Kids | Second Largest Exporter of Foods

    The Netherlands is a small yet thickly populated country of Western Europe. In the Caribbean Sea, there are three islands that also form part of this country i.e. islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Bonaire. The literal meaning of the word ‘Netherlands’ is ‘lower countries’. It is because of the lowland features of this country. Majority of the regions located below sea level are man-made. It shares borders with Germany and Belgium. The three most important cities of Netherlands are Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. Amsterdam is the largest city of this country. The Netherlands is one of the top ten exporters of the world. It has one of the world’s densest road networks even more dense than France and Germany. Though the word Holland (which means ‘wood land’) is used for the entire country, but in reality it only refers to the North and South of Holland, its two provinces. Let’s dive down deep into Netherlands Facts for kids to explore more about it!

    A Quick Guide to Netherlands Facts for Kids

    Meaning: Lower countries

    Population: 16.8 million

    Capital City: Amsterdam

    Official Language: Dutch

    Largest Religion: Christianity

    Major Industry: Foodstuff

    Fascinating Netherlands Facts for Kids | History

    • The earliest evidence of human settlement in the Netherlands is found close to Maastricht and it dates back to 250,000 years before.
    • Pesse canoe is believed to be the oldest boat in the world. It was excavated in 1955 from Friesland and Drenthe and it refers to the Mesolithic period. It is 298 cm in length and 44 cm in width.
    • Mesolithic tribes began settling Friesland and Drenthe areas of this country in about 8000 BC.
    • The hunter-gatherers came here in around 5600 BC.
    • Farming was started in around 4800 to 4500 BC.
    • The Germanic tribes migrated to this country until 250 BC.
    • During 10th and 11th centuries, most of the areas of the Netherlands were governed by Holy Roman Empire.
    • The original language of the people living in the County of Holland was Frisian.
    • During 15th century, the major port of Europe was in Amsterdam for trading grain from Baltic region. Amsterdam became the center for the distribution of grain to Northern France, England and Belgium.
    • Under Habsburg rule, all the fiefs consisting parts of the Netherlands were merged to form seventeen provinces. These provinces consisted of some regions of Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
    • During much of 17th century, the Dutch Empire became the major economic power. This period is often referred to as Dutch Golden Age. The empire had 16,000 merchant vessels by the mid century.

    Geography

    • It is a low and flat territory.
    • It has a population of 16.8 million.
    • Almost 26 percent of the area of this country is situated below sea level.
    • Almost 21 percent of the country’s population lives below sea level.
    • The maximum height of the foothills in this country is 321 metres only.
    • Almost 17 percent of the land area of the Netherlands was reclaimed from the sea water and lagoons.
    • The Rhine river divides the country into North and South.
    • It has a moderate maritime climate which means summer days are cool and winters are kind.
    • In June, there is 17-hour daylight while it reduces to 8 hours during December.
    • With an area of 370 sq. km, the Eastern Scheldt is by far the largest national park in the Netherlands. It was established in 2002 and in Dutch, it is known as Oosterschelde.

    Interesting Facts about Netherlands

    • Informally, the Netherlands is also known as Holland.
    • Only about 50 percent of the land of this country is just one metre above sea level.
    • From 1962 and 2004, the port of Rotterdam was the largest port of the world. Today it is the largest in Europe.
    • It has one of the Europe’s oldest standing armies. The Maurice of Oranger was the first one to build it.
    • In 2014, it stood at the first position among 20 countries in Global Enabling Trade Report.
    • It is ranked first in the world in terms of child well-being (UNICEF).
    • After USA, it is the second largest exporter of food and farming products around the world.
    • It ranks third among the world countries that have elected parliament.
    • By attracting 4.2 million tourists worldwide, Amsterdam is ranked 5th among the busiest tourist destinations of Europe.
    • It is one of the top five investors in USA.
    • It is ranked 5th among the most competitive economies of the world (Global Competitiveness Report).
    • Due to its high quality lifestyle, it was ranked seventh among the happiest countries of the world (UN World Happiness Report – 2013).
    • In 2010, it was ranked 10th among the most democratic countries of the world (The Economist).
    • It ranks tenth among the most populous countries of Europe and 63rd in the world.
    • In 2013, the Netherlands was ranked 13th in the world in terms of highest per capita income (International Monetary Fund).
    • It is ranked 13th in the world among countries that have most free market economies
    • According to Index of Economic Freedom 2016, the Netherlands is ranked 17th in the world.
    • It is ranked 17th among the largest economies of the world.
    • The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX) is the oldest stock exchange in the world.
    • As for economy, the fastest growing region of this country is BrabantStad.
    • The Netherlands has no resources for mining activities and its last mine was shut down in 1974.
    • The Groningen gas field is one of the world’s largest gas fields of natural gas.
    • On one occasion, the Netherlands contributed 25 percent to the export of tomatoes in the world.
    • Almost one-third of the cucumbers, tomatoes and chilis are traded through the Netherlands.
    • About one-fifteenth of the apples exported in the world are supplied by this country.
    • Along with Denmark, the Netherlands is the most bike-friendly country of Europe (European Cyclists’ Federation – 2013). There are 18 million bicycles in this country.
    • In 2013, the Rotterdam port was the eighth largest container port in the world.
    • As for passengers, the Schiphol airport is ranked fifth among the busiest airports in Europe.
    • With an average height of 1.81 metres for males and 1.67 metres for females, the Dutch are by far the tallest in the world.
  • Czech Republic Facts for Kids | Popular Beer-making Country

    Czech Republic Facts for Kids | Popular Beer-making Country

    It is a landlocked country of Central Europe. It shares borders with Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Austria. The three historical regions of Czech Republic are known as Czech Lands and include Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. The name of this country comes from the Slavic tribe of Czechs known as Čechové. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia was divided into Czech Republic and Slovakia. This split is called Velvet Divorce. Most of the area of Czech Republic is a mountainous terrain. Prague is the largest city of this country. Prague is also ranked fifth among the Europe’s most toured cities. Let’s find out more in Czech Republic facts for kids!

    Date of Independence: 1 January, 1993

    Capital City: Prague

    Official Currency: Czech Crown or koruna (Kč)

    Highest point (Śnieżka mountain): 1,602 metres (5,256 feet)

    Popular Sports: Ice hockey, tennis and Football

     

    Fascinating Czech Republic Facts for Kids | Czech Republic History

    • The evidence of earliest human settlement on this region dates back to Paleolithic or Age period. It was prehistoric time period when humans used tools that were made up of stones.
    • Archeologists have found ancient female figure in Moravia known as Venus of Dolní Věstonice. This figure dates back to 29,000 to 25,000 BCE and 549 metres (1,801 feet) high. It is arguably the world’s oldest article made up of ceramic.
    • From 3rd century to 1st century BC, the tribes of Boii, Marcomanni and Quadi came to this region. The Marcomanni and Quadi are Germanic tribes.
    • The area which is now called Czech Republic is also known by its traditional name Bohemia. Historically, Bohemia was part of the Holy Roman Empire. During different time periods of 20th century (1918 – 1939) and (1945 – 1992), Bohemia came under Czechoslovakia. After the dissolution in 1993, it became part of Czech Republic. Today, it has a population of 6 million people. The first ruler of Bohemia was Maroboduus.
    • In the 9th century, Duchy of Bohemia gained independence from Great Moravian Empire, the slavic-speaking people. Great Moravia was a prominent state of this region and included areas of Czech Republic and Slovakia. It became part of Roman Empire in 1004. After another 200 years, it was declared Kingdom of Bohemia. From 14th to 17th centuries, Prague served as the imperial seat of Roman Empire. After the fall of this empire in 1806, the Kingdom of Bohemia came under Austrian Empire.
    • In October 1918, Czechoslovakia gained freedom from Austro-Hungarian Empire and became an independent country. However in 1993, it was divided into Czech Republic and Slovakia.
    • From 9th century till the beginning of 14th century, Bohemia and Moravia were ruled by Přemyslids Dynasty.
    • Since 14th century, this state was called by the name of ‘the lands of the Bohemian crown’.

    Czech Republic Geography for Kids

    • It has a population of 10.5 million.
    • The ethnic tribes living in this country are Poles, Slovaks, Moravians and Czechs. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of the population of Czech Republic consists of Czechs.
    • About 34 percent of the Czech people are Christians (2012).
    • It has an area of 78,866 square kilometers.
    • It has a temperate continental climate. Average temperature of this climate reaches 10 °C (50 °F) in the hottest days and −3 °C in coldest days.
    • Louny District is the driest place of this country and the wettest region is Bílý Potok.
    • The official language of this country is Czech. Bohemian was its previous name and it contains a lot of German and Latin words. It is similar to the Slovak language.

    Interesting Facts about Czech Culture

    • In terms of per capita consumption of beer, Czech Republic is ranked top of the world where highest percentage of people consume beer. The most popular beer in this state is pale lager, which is pale yellow to golden color.
    • Plzeň, located to the west of Bohemia in Czech Republic, is the home of Pilsner beer. Pilsner beer was produced here for the first time in 1842 by Josef Groll. It was the first such drink every produced with pale to golden color and named as Pilsner Urquell. Almost two-thirds of the beer produced around the world consists of Pils (Pilsner Urquell).
    • It is one of the top ten countries in the world that has fastest speed of internet.
    • It stands at the fifth position among the world’s most environmental-conscious states (Environmental Performance Index).
    • It is ranked at the 10th position among the most peaceful states of the world (Global Peace Index).
    • It stood at the 13th position in the world that have free press (Reporters Without Borders, 2014).
    • It is ranked 14th among the largest cities of European Union.
    • In terms of best education systems in the world, Czech Republic is ranked at the 15th position.
    • As for economic freedom, the country is ranked 24th in the world (Index of Economic Freedom, 2015).
    • Established in 1850 by the name of Schustala & Company, Tatra car manufacturing company of Czech Republic is ranked third among the oldest car making companies in the world.
    • During the early years of 20th century, Chicago ranked third among the cities that have highest percentage of Czechs. The first two are Prague and Vienna.
    • In terms of percentage, Czech Republic ranks third in the world where a large number of people do not believe in God. The first two countries with highest number of atheists are China and Japan.
    • The oldest churches of this country were built on the style of Romanesque architecture in medieval Europe.

    Did you know facts about Czech Republic

    • Czech Republic is home to 3 national parks and 46 airports.
    • Nuclear power accounts for nearly 30 percent of the energy needs of this country.
    • Built in 1895, the car manufacturing company Škoda Auto of the Czech Republic is among one of the biggest companies in Central Europe.
    • The principal airport of this country is Václav Havel Airport Prague which is ranked as the fifth busiest airport in Europe.
    • The railway networks of this country are one of the densest in Europe.
    • At the end of 2015, the economic growth rate of this country was 4.5 percent, which is the highest in Europe.
    • In March 1978, the first and only Czech to go into space was Vladimír Remek.
    • Jan Evangelista Purkyně was a Czech scientist. He coined the word ‘protoplasm’ in 1839. Protoplasm is a content of a cell covered by plasma membrane.
    • A Czech psychiatrist Jan Janský was the first person to classify blood into four types.
    • Contact lenses were invented by a Czech chemist called Otto Wichterle.
    • Aquapalace Praha is the largest of all the water parks in Central Europe.
    • Out of all the 28-members European Union states, Czech Republic has the lowest rate of unemployment (4.1 percent).
    • Czech Republic is one of the 26 countries of Europe that has removed border restrictions between them. This region is called Schengen Area. Therefore, practically there are no borders between Czech Republic and its neighbors.
  • Cuba Facts for Kids | Largest Island of Caribbean

    Cuba Facts for Kids | Largest Island of Caribbean

    Cuba is an independent state and it consists of group of small islands. It is situated at the north of Caribbean. Cuba is located at a place where two rivers meet i.e. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Cuba is ethnically diverse country and its culture is very much similar to those in Latin America. Cuba is a word of Taíno language. It is uncertain whether the original word for Cuba was coabana (‘great place’) or cubao (‘where fertile land is abundant’). When the Spanish arrived, this was the main language of the Caribbean which was spoken by Taíno people.

    Capital City: Havana

    Independence from Spain: 10 December, 1898

    Independence from USA: 20 May, 1902

    Currency: Peso

    Official Language: Spanish

    Popular Sport: Baseball

    Santa Lucia Beach
    Santa Lucia Beach

    History

    • Cuba was originally occupied by the indigenous people. They were divided into three tribes:
    • Siboney – the Taíno people
    • Guanahatabey – hunter-gatherers
    • Taíno – the Arawak people
    • During 3rd century A.D., Taíno people came from Hispanola. They were farmers.
    • The first Spanish conqueror who came here was Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. He was the first Governor of this country. In 1511, he established the city in Guantánamo called Baracoa.
    • Within just 100 years after the arrival of Europeans, almost all of the indigenous people of Cuba were killed primarily because of diseases like smallpox and measles.
    Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Church
    Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Church

    Before Cuban Revolution of 1959

    • Cuba was one of Latin America’s most advanced countries.
    • The literacy rate in Cuba was 76 percent, which was Latin America’s fourth highest percentage.
    • In terms of doctors per capita, Cuba stood at the eleventh position in the world.

    Havana was then what Las Vegas has become – Louis Perez, historian

    Interesting Facts about Cuba

    • In the Caribbean region, Cuba is the biggest of all islands.
    • It ranks second among the most populous islands of the Caribbean.
    • In 2008, Cuba ranked second in the world after China that had sent highest number of journalists to prison.
    • Isla de la Juventud ranks second among the largest islands of Cuba. In English, it is known as ‘Island of Youth’. It ranks seventh among the largest islands of West Indies. It is the largest island of Canarreos Archipelago, which consists of 350 small islands. Until 1978, this island was known as Isle of Pines.
    • Havana is the largest city of Cuba in terms of area. It is Caribbean’s third largest metropolitan city.
    • The prison system of Cuba is one of the biggest in Latin America.
    • According to area, Cuba ranks 17th among the largest islands in the world.
    • Each resident of Cuba is given a ration book which allows him to buy certain amount of food every month. This book is known as libreta.
    • Until 2008, 80 percent of the food in Cuba had to be imported.
    • In 2011, nickel accounted for 21 percent of the total exports of Cuba. In this year, Cuba contributed 4 percent of the nickel produced in the world. Thus, it is the most important mineral resource of this country.
    • The birth rates in Cuba are one of the lowest in Western hemisphere.

     

     

  • Colombia Facts for Kids | Paradise of Flora and Fauna

    Colombia Facts for Kids | Paradise of Flora and Fauna

    Located at the southwest region of South America, Colombia hosts people from all over the world and thus, the diversity of cultural heritage is the hallmark of this country. It is also home to one of the most diversified species of flora and fauna in the world. Almost 300,000 species of invertebrates are found in Colombia. It is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries where a large number of earth species exist. As for works of art in Colombia, it traces its history as far as 3,000 years ago. In 325 BCE, Tumaco people are believed to be the earliest Colombians who made objects from gold. Now let’s discover more about it!

    Date of Independence: 20 July, 1810

    Capital City: Bogotá, D.C

    Currency: Colombian Peso

    National Bird: Andean condor

    National Sport: Tejo

    Primary Language: Spanish

    Name

    • The name of this country has its origins from the surname of Christopher ‘Columbus’. A Venezuelan revolutionary called Francisco de Miranda was the first person to come up with this name. In Italian, Columbus was called Cristoforo Colombo.
    • In 1819, this name was first adopted by ‘Great Colombia’. The Great Colombia contained territories of South and Central America. It is also known as Gran Colombia.
    • In 1861, the ‘United States of Colombia’ was adopted as its name. It included nine independent states that were carved out from Panama, Colombia (present-day) and northwest Brazil.
    • In 1886, the name ‘Republic of Colombia’ was adopted.

    READ: Best 5 Bird Cages for Cockatiels

    History

    • Located 100 km to the southwest of the Colombia’s capital city, Magdalena Valley is home to the oldest sites of human settlement. The sites of this valley trace back to the periods of Paleoindian i.e. 18,000 to 8,000 BCE.
    • Another prehistoric site in Colombia is called Puerto Hormiga archaeological site. It is located close to the seashore of Caribbean and dates back to 4,000 to 3,100 BC.
    • San Jacinto archaeological site of Colombia contains the oldest pottery ever found in the Americas. It dates back to 4,000 to 5,000 BCE.
    • The indigenous people occupied Colombia by about 10,500 BCE.
    • The first city to be established firmly by the Spanish conquerors in continental America was Santa María la Antigua del Darién. It is located near Colombia’s town, Acandí. In 1510, a Spanish explorer named Vasco Núñez de Balboa founded it.
    • In 1851, slavery was brought to an end in Colombia.

    Interesting Facts about Colombia

    • Colombia ranks among one of the top 10 greenest countries of the world.
    • Colombia had the privilege to be the first South American country where government based on constitution was formed.
    • Colombia is ranked second among the world’s most biodiverse countries. The first position is secured by Brazil but Colombia is seven times smaller than Brazil too.
    • It is ranked third among the most populous Latin American countries. The first two are Brazil and Mexico.
    • It is also ranked third in the world where biggest number of Spanish speaking people lives. The first two are Mexico and USA.
    • Colombia ranks third among South America’s largest producers of oil.
    • As for the supply of renewable freshwater, Colombia is ranked sixth in the world.

    Flora and Fauna

    • Colombia is home to 40,000 species of plants. This accounts for 10 percent of plant species in the whole world.
    • Colombia is ranked number one in the world where largest number of unique species exist i.e. these species are only present in Colombia.
    • Colombia is home to 1,900 bird species, which accounts for 18 percent of the species of bird around the world. The total number of species found in North America and Europe combined are less than Colombia alone.
    • About 10 percent of species of mammals live in Colombia.
    • It is ranked second among countries where a large number of species of freshwater fish and amphibians are found. Colombia contains nearly 2,000 species fish.
    • It has 7,000 species of beetles.
    • It is ranked third in the world in terms of species of palm trees as well as reptiles.

    More Facts about Colombia

    • The two highest mountains of this country are Pico Simón Bolívar and Pico Cristóbal Colón. Both peaks have an elevation of about 5,700 metres (18,700 ft). Pico Cristóbal Colón is also ranked fifth among 125 most prominent peaks in the world. The name of this snowcapped-peak was based on the name of Christopher Columbus.
    • With an elevation of 2,640 metres, Bogotá, D.C ranks third among the highest capital cities of South America.
  • Cambodia Facts for Kids | Country of Kampuchea

    Cambodia Facts for Kids | Country of Kampuchea

    Previously known as Khmer Empire, Cambodia is situated on the south of Mainland Southeast Asia. The official name of Cambodia is ‘Kingdom of Cambodia’ and traces its origins to the Khmer word ‘Kampuchea’. Kampuchea, in turn, came from a word in Sanskrit ‘Kambujadeśa’. During French colonization, it became Cambodge which was converted to Cambodia in the western world in English. The Cambodians call their country by the name of Prateh Kampuchea which means ‘Country of Kampuchea’. Now let’s explore more about Cambodia!

    Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia

    Date of Independence: 9 November, 1953

    Capital City: Phnom Penh

    Official Language: Khmer

    Official Religion: Theravada Buddhism

    Staple Cuisine: Noodles, fruits and soups

    Popular Sport: Soccer

    History

    • Archaeologists believe that hunter-gatherer people may have occupied this place during the period of Holocene. Holocene was an era that started after the end of Pleistocene at 11,700 years before 2000 A.D. and it is still going on today. It is a time period that is calculated geologically.
    • Historically, Phonm Penh (capital city) was referred to as ‘Pearl of Asia’. It was built in 1424 by the French and it is a site of their remarkable architecture in the Indochinese Peninsula.
    • The oldest place in this country is the cave of L’aang Spean. It is located within the country’s fourth most populous province Battambang. This cave dates back to c. 10,000–2000 BCE of the Hoabinhian period.
    • One of the ancient works of this country discovered in 1950s in the Memot District of Cambodia was ‘circular earthworks’. Few of the earthworks trace back as far as 2nd millennium BC.
    • Samrong Sen and Phum Snay are prehistoric sites in Cambodia. While digging Phum Snay, Archaeologists find out 21 graves. Inside these graves, there were weapons made up of iron and also cranial trauma indicating some kinds of battle in earlier times.
    • An ancient kingdom known as Kingdom of Funan dates back to first to sixth century CE in Southeast Asia. This kingdom was merged with its successor Chenla Kingdom (dating 6th to 9th centuries) to form Cambodia along with southwestern region of Vietnam.
    • In the 12th century, the Khmer Empire was the biggest empire of Southeast Asia.
    • Angkor was the centre point of Khmer’s strength and it was probably the world’s largest city during pre-industrial times.
    • The world’s largest religious temple is situated in this country and it is called Angkor Wat. It was established by a Khmer King Suryavarman and basically, it was built for Hindus but changed to Buddhist religious temple in the 12th century.

    Interesting Facts about Cambodia

    • About 90 percent of the Cambodians trace their descendants from Khmer people.
    • The highest mountain of Cambodia is called Phnom Aural. It has an elevation of about 1,813 metres (5,949 feet).
    • Cambodia is home to 536 species of birds, 212 species of mammals and 240 reptile species.
    • Southeast Asia’s largest lake of freshwater is located in Cambodia, known as Tonlé Sap. It has a maximum length of 160 miles (250 km).
    • The Prime Minister of Cambodia is Hun Sen. He is the longest serving autocrat of Asia and one of the world’s longest leaders too. He became 34th Prime Minister of Cambodia in 1998. He has vowed to rule his country until at the age of 74 years. He was 32 years old when he became Prime Minister.
    • The GDP growth rate of Cambodia during 2001 to 2010 allowed it to rank among the top ten countries of the world with highest growth rates.
    • The biggest investor of Cambodia is China and it is also the largest source of donations received from abroad.
    • About 80 percent of the country’s exports accounts for textiles.
    • The second biggest source of revenue for Cambodia after textiles is tourism.
    • Historically, rice forms the main part of agricultural sector in Cambodia. In 1985, the agriculture contributed about 90 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 80 percent of the workforce was employed.
    • The biggest ethnic minority living in Cambodia is Vietnamese. They are estimated to be around 400,000 to 700,000.
    • At one point in time, Cambodia used to be one of those countries of the world where most number of landmines were present.

     

  • Barbados Facts for Kids | South American Island

    Barbados Facts for Kids | South American Island

    Barbados is among one of the group of islands situated in the Caribbean Sea that are collectively known as the Caribbees. It is an autonomous island country of the New World and lies within the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern side of the islands of West Indies. Geologically, Barbados lies at the edge of the Caribbean plate and the South American plate. Almost 90 percent of the Barbadians have their lineage of Afro-Caribbeans. Caribbean people who belong to sub-saharan Africa from the late 15th century are known as Afro-Caribbeans. Apart from Afro-Caribbeans, Barbados is also home to people from United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Now let’s explore this beautiful island!

    Date of independence: 30 November, 1966

    Nicknames: Teeth, Bimshire

    Capital City: Bridgetown

    Official Language: English

    Traditional Music: Calypso and Soca music

    Popular Sports: Cricket, Basketball and Polo

    History

    • Between 4th and 7th centuries A.D., the indigenous peoples arrived in Barbados for the first time. This group of people was known as Saladoid-Barrancoid.
    • It is not certain which one of the two European communities i.e. Spanish or Portuguese may have colonized this island first.
    • The word Barbados may have come from Spanish or Portuguese language. Its meaning is ‘the bearded ones.’
    • The indigenous people of Barbados spoke a group of languages known as Arawakan or Maipurean. In this language, Barbados was originally called Ichirouganaim which means ‘Red land with white teeth’.
    • During 13th century, the indigenous people who settled in Barbados were known as Kalinago. They came from South America and used to speak a Cariban language called Island Carib. This language is also known as Igneri and became extinct in 1920. Thus, these people were also known as mainland Caribs or simply the Kalina people.
    • When Spanish arrived, the Kalina people were one of the principal communities living in Barbados.
    • During 19th century, Arawaks are believed to have come from Guyana and settled on this island.
    • From 1627 to 1966, Barbados was under the control of the British.
    • During the Great Hurricane of 1780, nearly 4,000 people died in Barbados.
    • The people from Guyana who trace their origin from India also live in Barbados. They are collectively known as Indo-Guyanese.
    • The people who came here during 17th century from United Kingdom and Ireland are known as Euro-Bajans.
    • In 1643, almost 86 percent of all Barbadians were whites. Thus, they were called ‘White Bajans’.
    • The Chinese-Bajans migrated to Barbados during World War II. The names of these Barbadians end in words like Lee, Chin and Chynn.

    Interesting Facts about Barbados

    • The people of Barbados are known as ‘Bajan’.
    • As for population of hawksbill turtles, Barbados ranks second in the Caribbean.
    • As for countries having largest stock exchanges, it ranks third in the Caribbean.
    • In terms of population density, it ranks at the sixth position among island countries of the world.
    • Barbados is one of the two countries of the world where highest percentage of people reaches 100 years of age. The other country is Japan.
    • In terms of GDP per capita, Barbados is ranked 53rd among the richest countries of the world.
    • It is ranked by the World Bank among the world’s 66 high-income economies.
    • The literacy rate of this country is almost 100 percent.
    • Built in 1654 in the capital city of Barbados, the Nidḥe Israel Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in the Americas. It was restored in 1833.
    • Those Barbadians who were born in the United States are sometimes designated as ‘Bajan Yankees’. However, it is seldom used in that it is an indecent term to call the children of Barbados.

     

    More Facts

      • There are four species of turtle living in this island namely leatherback sea turtle (largest turtle), hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead and Pacific green turtle. The sabaeus monkey (green monkey) also lives in Barbados.
      • Almost 10 percent of the population does not have money to meet their basic needs.
      • The ancient festival of Barbados is called Crop Over. Previously, it was known as ‘Harvest Home’ because this carnival began in 1688 during British rule when sugar cane was cultivated.
    • Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer who is widely considered as one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She is the youngest soloist to earn 14 Billboard Hot 100’s number-one singles. She is also the winner of Grammy awards for 8 times.

     

  • Philippines Facts for Kids | Island of Gold and Copper Deposits

    Philippines Facts for Kids | Island of Gold and Copper Deposits

    Located at the western part of the Pacific Ocean, Philippines is an island country of Southeast Asia. Philippines is situated at the Ring of Fire of the Pacific Ocean. Ring of Fire is a region in the Pacific which contains 452 volcanoes and thus, Philippines is always in danger of a large number of earthquakes. However, it is also home to some of the greatest species of animals and plants in the world. The largest island of Philippines is called Luzon. It ranks 15th among the largest islands of the world. In terms of population, it is ranked at the fourth position in the world. Now let’s discover more about it in Philippines facts for kids!

    A Quick Guide to Philippines Facts for Kids

    Capital City: Manila

    Largest Island: Luzon

    National Bird: Philippine Eagle

    Currency: Philippine Peso (₱)

    Official Languages: Filipino and English

    Philippines Facts and Information | History

    • The name ‘Philippines’ was given by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos. He called this country ‘Las Islas Filipinas’ by honoring Philip of Austria who soon after became King Philip II of Spain.
    • The earliest evidence of humans on this island dates back to 67,000 years ago.
    • It is believed that Negritos are one of the first humans to settle in Philippines.
    • According to archaeologists, Austronesian-speaking peoples from Taiwan came here in about 4000 BC.

    Philippines Geography Facts

    • It has 7,500 islands.
    • Geographically, Philippines is divided into three main regions i.e. Mindanao, Luzon and Visayas.
    • The seashore of Philippines has a length of about 22,549 miles. Thus, in terms of longest shoreline of countries, this island ranks at the 5th position in the world.
    • With a height of 2,954 meters (9,692 feet), Mount Apo is the highest mountain of Philippines.
    • The Galathea Depth of the Philippine Trench is the deepest point of this country. The depth of this point is 10,540 metres (34,580 feet). This point ranks third among the deepest points in the world.

     

    Fascinating Philippines Facts for Kids

    • In terms of population density, Manila is ranked top of the list of cities in the world.
    • It ranks second in the world among the countries having largest deposits of gold. South Africa has the world’s largest gold deposits.
    • As for production of geothermal energy, Philippines ranks second in the world after USA.
    • It ranks at the seventh position among the most populated countries of Asia.
    • It ranks at the twelfth position in the world in terms of population.
    • The economy of Philippines is ranked 39th in the world.
    • About 12 million Filipinos live outside the Philippines which makes it the largest dispersed population of any country in the world.
    • Philippines is home to about 1,100 species of land vertebrates. Out of these, 100 species of mammals and 170 species of birds are not present anywhere else in the world.
    • During the last decade, 16 new species of mammals have been discovered.
    • The great Philippine eagle is the largest eagle in the world. It is one of the world’s most powerful birds. Its length is 2.82 to 3.35 feet and it is ranked as critically endangered bird.

    5 Facts about Philippines

    1. Philippine Airlines is the oldest airline in Asia.
    2. Philippine is home to 182 different languages.
    3. The longest river of Philippines is Cagayan River.
    4. Every day 20 earthquakes occur in this country.
    5. It has one of the world’s largest deposits of copper.

     

  • Iceland Facts for Kids | Second Largest Island of Europe

    Iceland Facts for Kids | Second Largest Island of Europe

    Located between the Arctic ocean and the North Atlantic ocean, Iceland is essentially a Nordic island country. Nordic are those countries of North Atlantic and Northern Europe that are geographically and culturally linked to each other. Apart from Iceland, the other two Nordic countries are Finland and Scandinavia. The population of this country is spread out over a large area which makes it the only country of Europe where people are sparsely populated. It has an extremely rich and diverse cultural heritage which began in about 12th century. The wood carving, silversmithing and weaving of Iceland are some of the arts that are practiced here for centuries. The literacy rates of this country are one of the highest in the world. Now let’s explore more in Iceland facts for kids!

    A Quick Guide to Iceland Facts for Kids

    Capital city: Reykjavík

    Official Language: Icelandic

    Traditional cuisine: Þorramatur

    Local delicacy: Puffin

    Traditional Sport: Glíma

    Fascinating Iceland Facts for Kids | Iceland History Facts

    • Before Norsemen came to this island, it was inhabited by Scottish monks. These monks were known as Papar which means ‘Pope’. Norsemen are those people that came from the north.
    • The two historical books of Iceland are Landnáma and Íslendingabók.
    • Íslendingabók means ‘Book of Icelanders’ and it is about the history of Iceland. It was written in about 12th century.
    • Landnáma means ‘Book of Settlements’ and it refers to the period when Norsemen arrived on this island. This was a period between 9th and 10th centuries. This book narrates how Norsemen came to know about this island and began settling there.
    • The first person who came from Scandinavia and lived in Iceland was Garðar Svavarsson. However, he did not settle here for too long and headed off after staying for one winter only. In 870 A.D. he sailed around Iceland and discovered it.
    • Húsavík became the first site of Iceland where a Norseman was settled. Garðar also constructed a house at this place.
    • The first person who settled on this island permanently was Náttfari. He came here along with Garðar but when Garðar went away, he decided to stay with his two slaves. The place where he stayed is now known as Náttfaravík.
    • The first permanent Nordic settlers of this island are Ingólfr Arnarson and his wife. He came here and constructed his homestead. In 874, he established Reykjavík and gave it its name. However, according to Ari Thorgilsson, Papar were already there when Norsemen arrived on this island.
    • Today only one percent of this island is a wooded area. During 10th century, the forest existed on almost 25 percent of Iceland.
    • In the 18th century, various natural disasters and diseases killed most of the people in Iceland. Almost a quarter of the people living on this island were disappeared due to smallpox and famine.

    Iceland Facts and Statistics | Iceland Geography Facts

    • There are three national parks in Iceland.
    • Out of hundreds of volcanoes in Iceland, thirty volcanoes are active.
    • Iceland is composed of 30 small islands.
    • The largest lake of Iceland is Þórisvatn. The reservoir is about 88 square kilometers and gets water from Þjórsá River. The river Þjórsá in turn takes water from Hofsjökull, a glacier.
    • Located at the southwestern part of this island, Þingvallavatn lake is Iceland’s largest natural lake. It is a rift valley lake and has a surface area of 84 square kilometers. This lake is about 114 metres deep. It is named after Þingvellir.
    • With the length of 143 miles (230 kilometers) and situated at southern Iceland, Þjórsá river is the longest river of this island.
    • The deepest glacial lake of Iceland is Jökulsárlón. With a surface area of 18 square kilometers, this lake is about 248 metres (814 feet) deep.

    Interesting Iceland Statistics

    • The consumption rates of Coca-Cola in Iceland are one of the highest in the world.
    • One of the world’s most famous destinations for travelers in Iceland is Þingvellir. In 930, the parliament of Iceland was established in this area and continued until 1798. In 1930 (1000th birthday), it was declared as the Þingvellir National Park.
    • In Iceland, fishing contributes 40 percent to the earnings from exports.
    • About 1,300 species of insects are present on this island.
    • Iceland is home to just one indigenous land mammal i.e. Arctic Fox. It was the only mammal that was present before the arrivals of humans in Iceland. As for indigenous reptiles, Iceland has none.
    5 Facts about Iceland
    1. Icelanders do not use species or herbs in their cuisines. The traditional cuisines of this island rely mainly on meats of lamb, mutton, fish and some dairy products.
    2. The tallest tree of this island is Kirkjubæjarklaustur. This tree is about 25 metres high and it was cultivated in 1949.
    3. About two-thirds (200,000) of the population of Iceland is clustered around the capital city and its suburbs.
    4. The national parliament of Iceland is Alþingi (in English: Althing) which was established in 930. Thus, Iceland became the oldest parliamentary democracy in the world.
    5. Almost 75 percent of Iceland lack vegetation.
  • Cyprus Facts for Kids | Popular Island of Mediterranean

    Cyprus Facts for Kids | Popular Island of Mediterranean

    Cyprus is an island country. It is located off the seashores of Turkey and Syria and at the eastern region of the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus is one of the three leading countries of European Union that spends most on education as a percentage of GDP i.e. 7% of GDP. The first two countries are Denmark and Sweden. One of the most famous carnival events of the world is Limassol Carnival Festival, which is celebrated every year in Cyprus. This festival is being celebrated on this island for the last one hundred years. On the final day of this 12-day event, nearly 50,000 people join in the celebration. It is held in Limassol which is Cyprus’ most heavily populated city. Cyprus is also famous for desserts like Turkish delight and Churchkhela. Now let’s discover more about this beautiful island of Mediterranean!

    Date of Independence: 16 August, 1960

    Capital city: Nicosia

    First President: Makarios III

    Official languages: Turkish and Greek

    Highest Point: 1,952 metres (6,404 feet)

    Traditional instrument of music: Lute

    History

      • Before humans got there, this island was home to Cyprus dwarf elephant. This elephant was species of today Asian elephant but it was extremely small in size, measuring 1 meter (40 inches) high. It was the only mammal on this island and became extinct in about 11,000 BC.
      • Cyprus dwarf hippopotamus is another animal that became extinct with the arrival of humans. It was the largest animal on this island and became extinct between 9,000 to 11,000 years before. Its length was 121 cm and height 76 cm and there were no natural predators of Cyprus dwarf hippo in Cyprus.
      • The water wells of this island are among one of the world’s oldest and their history traces back as far as 9,000 to 10,500 years before.
      • Archaeologists have also excavated a cat from this island. This cat was about 8 months old and it dates back to 7500 BC.
      • The history of arts on this island can be traced back as far as 10,000 years.
      • The best preserved ancient site on this island is Khirokitia. This site dates back to New Stone Age (Neolithic) which began around 10,200 BC and ended about 4,500 to 2,000 BC. Khirokitia traces its history to 6800 BC and it is also UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
      • Learn more: Stone Age People
      • The earliest evidence of humans on this island dates back to 10,000 BC. They were hunter-gatherers and they settled at the southern part of this island on a rock shelter called Aetokremnos. It is a Greek word which signifies ‘Cliff of the eagles’.
      • The communities in the form of villages were started in about 8200 BC.
      • The word ‘Cyprus’ was used for the very first time in 15th century BC.
      • As trade with other regions increased over time, this island was given the Latin name ‘aes Cyprium’ which means ‘metal of Cyprus’. With time, this Latin phrase was squeezed to become Cuprum.
      • In 395, the division of Roman Empire occurred resulting in Cyprus being part of East Roman.
      • The constitution of this country was made on the basis of London and Zürich Agreements. These agreements were signed between Cypriot leaders and leaders from United Kingdom, Turkey and Greece.
      • The highest point of Cyprus is Mount Olympus. It is also known as Chionistra. It is located on Troodos Mountains, the largest range of mountains in Cyprus.
      • The largest dam of Cyprus is Kouris Dam. It was opened in 1988 after almost four years of construction. This dam gets water from Kryos, Limnatis and Kouris rivers.
    • Nicosia is the largest city of this island country. Since 10th century, this city has continued to be the capital of this country.

    Interesting Facts about Cyprus

      • Cyprus ranks third among the largest islands of Mediterrranean Sea. The first two are Sardinia and Sicily of Italy.
      • It is also ranked third among the most populated islands of Mediterranean.
      • As for ownership of private vehicles, Cyprus ranks 29th in the world among countries that have highest percentage of ownership of cars.
      • Russian is ranked third among the most widely written languages on this island. The first two are Greek and English.
      • According to area, this country is ranked at the 81st position in the world.
      • According to population, Cyprus ranks 51st position in the world.
      • The busiest harbor of Cyprus is the Port of Limassol which hosted around one million passengers in the year 2000 alone.
      • The cars drive on the left-hand side of the road in just four nations of the European Union. Cyprus is one of them.
      • A Greek philosopher named Zeno of Citium, who founded Stoic school of philosophy, belonged to the southern city of Cyprus called Kition. The Latin name of this city is Citium but today it is known as Larnaca. Built in 13th century BC, it is the third largest city of Cyprus.
      • Another Greek philosopher named Ioannis Kigalas was born in Nicosia at the time of Ottoman Empire. Later on, he traveled to Italy in the 17th century.
    • The most popular and traditional cuisine of Cyprus is Halloumi (Hellim) cheese. This cheese was invented on this island and it is normally used as an appetizer.
  • Costa Rica Facts for Kids | Coffee-producing Country

    Costa Rica Facts for Kids | Coffee-producing Country

    The literal meaning of the word ‘Costa Rica’ is ‘rich coast’. It was probably Christopher Columbus who first named this region. Located in Central America, Costa Rica holds great variety of species. In fact, one of the greatest diversities in species around the world is found in Costa Rica. Almost 5 percent of biodiversity in the world exists in this country. For that reason, 25 percent of the country’s land area is named as ‘protected areas’, which is the world’s highest percentage. It is also popular for coffee production and Tarrazú beans of Costa Rica are one of the world’s finest. It is the most favorite place for tourists in Central America. Now let’s find out more in Costa Rica facts for kids!

    Capital City: San José

    Currency: Costa Rican colon (CRC)

    Primary Language: Spanish

    Highest Point: 3,820 metres (12,533 feet)

    Fascinating Costa Rica Facts for Kids | Amazing Facts Costa Rica

    • The very first evidence of human settlement is found in Costa Rica’s small city called Turrialba. They were hunter-gatherers and lived about 10,000 to 7,000 BCE.
    • About 2,000 to 3,000 BCE, they began using pottery and carved out gourds, shards of pots, cylindrical vases and the like.
    • About 5,000 years before, the inhabitants of Costa Rica practised agriculture and cultivated crops like tubers.
    • It is believed that Christopher Columbus named this country la costa rica, which means ‘rich coast’. He traveled around the eastern shores of this country in 1502 and this was his last voyage. He found out that natives had a great quantity of gold jewelry.
    • During Spanish Empire, Costa Rica remained very poor and inhabited by a very small number of people. It is because this region lacked gold, silver and also, it was not allowed by the Spanish to trade with its neighbors in the south.

    Costa Rica Geography Facts

    • In 2009, it was ranked the world’s most environmental-friendly country.
    • According to happy Planet Index of NEF, Costa Rica has been ranked the world’s best performing country for two times.
    • As for tourism, Costa Rica ranks second in Latin America.
    • As per Environmental Protection Index, it is ranked third in the Americas and also stands at the 42nd position all over the world.
    • During the early years of 19th century, the plant of coffee was cultivated for the first time in Costa Rica.
    • The highest mountain of Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripó. It ranks fifth among the Central American highest peaks. This peak has not witnessed any snowfall during the last century.
    • Located close by Cartago (city in Costa Rica), Irazú Volcano is the highest active volcano of the country. Its height is 3,431 metres (11,257 feet).
    • Lake Arenal is the largest lake of the country. It is about 30 to 60 metres deep (100 to 200 feet).
    • The largest island of the country is Isla Calero, which means ‘Calero Island’. It is also the largest along San Juan River.
    • About 2.4 percent of the residents are Native Americans.
    • The traditional cuisine of Costa Rica is Tamale. It consists of fruits and vegetables, cheese, meat and so on. All these ingredients are wrapped up in banana leaf or corn husk. It is a famous Mesoamerican dish.
    • San José (the capital city of Costa Rica) is ranked sixth among the most important destination cities of Latin America.

    Costa Rica Fact File for Kids

    • The three main cash crops of Costa Rica are coffee, bananas and pineapples.
    • Costa Rica has more than 840 species of birds.
    • In 2012, Costa Rica prohibited hunting for fun and thus it became the first country in Americas to do so.
    • The country’s literacy rate of 96.3 percent is one of the highest among the countries of Latin America.
    • Around 10.7 percent of Costa Ricans aging more than 18 years of age, speaks English.
    • Costa Rica is home to 14 known volcanoes. Out of these, six volcanoes are active as they have erupted during the last 75 years.

     

  • Belgium Facts for Kids | Home of Chocolates

    Belgium Facts for Kids | Home of Chocolates

    Belgium is widely known for its chocolates, waffles and beer all over the world. Not only this, French fries were made for the first time in Belgium. As for its size and population, it is a small yet heavily populated country of Western Europe. Belgium is also one of the Low Countries i.e. countries located in coastal areas of Western Europe. Netherlands is another coastal country. Belgium was popularly known as ‘Battlefield of Europe’ because most of the battles between great powers were fought on this land. Now let’s find out more about this small but wonderful European country!

    Capital City: Brussels

    Currency: Euro

    Official Languages: Dutch, German and French

    National Cuisines: ‘mussels with fries’ and ‘steak and fries with salad’

    History

    • When Romans attacked this region, they called the entire part of Western Europe as Gaul. Located in the northernmost part, Belgium was one of the three provinces of Gaul.
    • The Romans named their province of Belgium as Gallia Belgica. Thus, this name became the origin of the word ‘Belgium’.
    • At the time of Roman invasion, the two ethnic groups living in Belgium were Germanic and Celtic tribes.
    • In the Belgian Revolution of 1830, southern provinces were seceded from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Thus, it eventually resulted in the formation of Kingdom of Belgium.
    • On May 1940, the German forces invaded Belgium. This war, lasted for about 18 days, ended in the victory of Germany. That is why it is known as 18 Days’ Campaign.

    Interesting Facts about Belgium

    • In 2007, Belgium was ranked 15th among the largest trading nations of the world.
    • The standard of education in Belgium is ranked 19th among the best countries of the world.
    • Eddy Merckx is a former Belgian cyclist. He is widely known as one of the greatest riders in the history of cycling.
    • The Port of Antwerp (Antwerp, city of Belgium) is ranked among the top twenty largest seaports of the world. It ranks second among European seaports.
    • The number of Jews in Belgium’s Antwerp is among one of the biggest in Europe.
    • Belgium is home to 180 breweries that produce more than 1100 different varieties of beer. The Trappist Beer of Westvleteren Brewery in Belgium is considered to be the best in the world.
    • The largest brewer in the world is Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is located in Leuven, Belgium.

    More Facts

    • About 60 percent of the population speaks Dutch language. They are known as Flemish. The remaining 40 percent are French-speaking people. They are often referred to as Walloons.
    • The three regions into which Belgium is divided are: Flemish Region, Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region.
    • The impact of the Industrial Revolution in 1820s was felt first by Belgium, the first country of Europe to experience it.
    • Belgian Franc was Belgium’s national currency during the time from 1832 to 2002. In 2002, the euro became its currency.
    • Flanders is the most heavily populated region of Belgium.
    • With a population of 450,000, Morrocans are by far the biggest group of immigrants in Belgium.
    • Every year Belgians drink about 84 liters of beer.

     

  • Austria Facts for Kids | Mountainous Terrain

    Austria Facts for Kids | Mountainous Terrain

    The word Austria is derived from the German word Österreich, which means ‘eastern relm’. It was recorded for the first time in the 12th century. Located in central Europe, Austria is a landlocked country. The region is situated within the most extensive mountain range of Europe known as the Alps. That is why territory of Austria is extremely mountainous and just about 32 percent of Austria is below 1,640 feet (500 metres). Vienna is the largest as well as the capital city of Austria. It is one of the world’s richest countries and most of the Austrians have therefore, a high standard of living. Let’s explore more in Austria facts for kids!

    A Quick Guide to Austria Facts for Kids

    Largest city: Vienna

    Official Language: German

    Currency: Euro

    Famous Sport: Alpine Skiing

    Highest point: 3,798 metres (12,461 ft).

    Austria Facts and History

    • Before Romans turn up in Austria, it was occupied by the tribes of Celtic people.
    • Following the decline of the Holy Roman Empire, the region was occupied by Avars, Bavarians and Slavs.
    • Charles the Great was the first ruler to introduce Christianity in Austria when he invaded the country in 788 A.D.
    • In 1804, the Austrian Empire was founded from the Habsburg Monarchy in Central Europe and lasted till 1867. It was really one of the great powers of Europe.
    • In the 19th century, Austria was involved in a war with France (in what is known as the French Revolution) but it was defeated by Napoleon. Thus, it was the end of the Roman Empire in 1806. However, in 1814 Austria along with other allied forces successfully defeated the French and thus put a stop to Napoleonic Wars.
    • Austria along with Prussia had waged a war against Denmark and ultimately gained freedom from it in 1864.
    • Austria left German confederation as a result of Battle of Königgrätz which was fought with Prussia. In this battle, Austria was defeated.
    • After World War II, Austria was divided between countries that were victors in WWII. The countries that divided Austria into different zones were United Kingdom, United States, France and Soviet Union. They ruled Austria collectively by the name of Allied Commission for Austria.

    Fascinating Austria Facts for Kids | Austria Facts and Figures

    • Austria ranks 12th among the richest countries of the world as per GDP per capita.
    • As for revenue from international tourists, Austria stood at the 9th position in 2007 among the countries of the world that receive maximum receipts from the tourism industry.
    • Austria stood at the 12th position in terms of number of tourists from all over the world arriving in the country.
    • In the Human Development Index of 2014, Austria stood at 21st position in the world.
    • Historically, most of the country’s imports and exports were carried out with Germany. But following the membership of European Union, other European countries contribute more than 67 percent to the imports of Austria.
    • Tourism plays a vital part in the country’s economy. It contributes about 9 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Austria.
    • About half of the country’s electricity is generated through water power.
    • About quarter of the population of Austria lives in its capital city, Vienna.
    • About 15 percent of the population is estimated to be born overseas.
    • The biggest single ethnic groups of immigrants that are living in Austria are Kurds and Turks.
    • The males who reach 18 years of age are required to do 6-month military training in Austria compulsorily.
    • The Christians living in Austria have to pay about one percent of their income to the church. This payment is called Kirchenbeitrag, which means ‘Church contribution’.
    • As per the European Commission survey (2012), about 86 percent of the residents are Christians. Out of these, 77 percent people are Roman Catholic.
    • 20 percent of Austrians do not follow any religion.
    • During Holocaust, 65,000 Jews in Austria were assassinated.
    • Niki Lauda is a former champion of Formula One racing car. He is an Austrian and won the race three times in 1975, 1977 and 1984. He is also considered to be the only driver to become champion on both Mclaren and Ferrari.

  • Singapore Facts for Kids | The Lion City

    Singapore Facts for Kids | The Lion City

    Singapore is not a country but a global city. It is also called world city. Singapore is the only city-state which consists of islands and thus came to be known as island country. The names of other city-states are Vatican City and Monaco.  Singapore is among one of the Four Asian Tigers. The names of other three are Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Singapore is the financial hub and world’s most business-friendly state. It is also one of the top tourist destinations worldwide. So what makes this state unique and fascinating? Let’s check out more in Singapore facts for kids!

    Largest town (Population-wise): Bedok New Town

    Currency: Singapore Dollar

    Official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

    Interesting Facts about Singapore History

    • The term Singapore comes from Singapura, which is a Malay word. Singapura was formed by combining two Sanskrit terms i.e. Singa meaning Lion and Pura meaning city. Thus, Singapore means the ‘Lion City’.
    • The founder of Singapore is Thomas Stamford Raffles. He was a British statesman. He arrives here in 1819 and by negotiating treatises with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor (Johore, a Malaysian state), he manages to capture the entire island of Singapore.
    • At a time when British East India Company gets there, Singapore was home to just about one thousand people. Majority of these were indigenous people of Malaysia (known as Orang Asal) but there were also small number of Chinese.
    • In 1870s, the main purpose of most of the travelers was to find work in the cultivated areas of rubber. With time the plantation of rubber became so flourishing that before long Singapore became the most important island for the export of rubber.
    • Before the start of World War II, Singapore was the most important military base for the British troops in South-East Asia.
    • During the time of British, Singapore was known as ‘Gibraltar of the East’
    • The Empire of Japan attacked Singapore on February 8, 1942 and defeated the British troops. This battle is known as Fall of Singapore.
    • When the Japanese occupied Singapore, they called it by the name of ‘Syonan-to’ which means ‘Light of the South’.
    • The British troops re-conquered Singapore on September 12, 1945.
    • The Federation of Malaya consisted of 11 states and gained freedom in 1957. In 1963, the federation included Singapore and came to be known as Malaysia. The other two British colonies included in the federation were North Borneo and Sarawak.
    • Singapore gained freedom from Malaysia on August 9, 1965.
    • The first Prime Minister as well as the founding father of Singapore is Lee Kuan Yew (or LKY).

    Simple Facts about Singapore

    • The main island of Singapore is shaped like a diamond.
    • It consists of 62 islets (very small islands).
    • The biggest and most important island of Singapore is Pulau Ujong, which means ‘island at the end’.

    Cool Singapore Facts for Kids

    • Singapore is the biggest producer of oil-rig in the world.
    • According to a World Bank’s survey of ‘Ease of Doing Business’, Singapore ranks top of the list of countries where business is very easy to start up.
    • In terms of technology, Singapore tops the list of countries according to World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report.
    • Singapore ranks top of the list among countries where maximum number of international meetings are held.
    • It ranks at the second position among the world’s most competitive countries as per the WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR).
    • Singapore is home to second biggest market for casino gambling activities.
    • The Port of Singapore ranks at the second position among the busiest ports of the world in terms of containers. It is also the largest centre for ship refueling in the world. The world’s busiest port is in Shanghai, China.
    • It ranks at the third position among the foreign exchange centres of the world.
    • It ranks at the fourth position among the leading financial centres of the world.
    • The healthcare system of Singapore is ranked sixth in the world by World Health Organization.
    • It ranks at the eleventh position among states having biggest foreign reserves.
    • It is the world’s 14th biggest exporter.
    • It is the world’s 15th biggest importer.
    • The military of Singapore is the most advanced in Southeast Asia
    • Singapore Airline has received world’s maximum number of awards.
    • Out of eight airfields of Singapore, Changi Airport is the best landing field in the world.

    Strange Facts about Singapore

    • In terms of millionaires, Singapore has highest percentage of millionaires in the world.
    • Nearly 44 percent of people working in Singapore are foreign workers.
    • There is no minimum wage for a worker in Singapore.
    • Singapore ranks at the fourth position among countries that have longer life expectancies.
    • The fares of taxicab are cheaper in Singapore as compare to other advanced countries.
    • Singapore is home to the highest penetration rates of smartphones in the world.
    • The vehicles are comparatively more expansive than in other developed countries.
    • About 23 percent of the inhabitants of Singapore have been born outside their country (2010-census).
  • Australia Information for Kids – History, Government, Geography, Climate, People, Plants and Animals

    Australia Information for Kids – History, Government, Geography, Climate, People, Plants and Animals

    Australia is an amazing country and this Australia information for kids page will give you all that you want to know about Australia. Australia is the smallest continent among the seven continents of the world and is the only continent that is also a country. According to land area, Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It is situated below the equator and is an island continent. Australia has a rich history, different climate conditions, amazing culture, landscapes, unique plants and many indigenous animals. With such an immense area, Australia has a huge variety of breath taking landscapes, mountain ranges, rainforests and deserts.

    Australia Information for Kids

    Introduction

    Official Name: Commonwealth of Australia
    Capital City: Canberra
    Official Symbol: Coat of Arms of Australia
    National Anthem: Advance Australia Fair
    Currency: Australian Dollar
    Independence Day: 1 January, 1901

     

    History

    • The first people to arrive in Australia were the Aboriginal Australians, who came to Australia between 40,000 to 60,000 years ago from the South-East Asia. These people established a rich culture of traditions that are still practiced nowadays.
    • The Dutch were the first among the Europeans who to land on Australia back in the year 1606.
    • The British came to this continent in 1770 and made settlement at Sydney.
    • The first British penal colony was established in 1788.
    • Various conflicts aroused among the indigenous people and the foreign visitors in which the indigenous people were defeated.
    • The number of indigenous people was greatly reduced due to the introduction of the diseases brought by the foreign visitors.
    • The first parliamentary democracy was established in the mid of 19th century when Australia began to prosper due to the industrialization of agriculture and the gold rush.
    • In the year 1901, all the British colonies through a referendum voted for a united federation and thus modern Australia was formed.

    Government – Australia Information for Kids

    • Australia is a democratic country.
    • Australian government is a constitutional monarchy which means that parliamentary system of government is practiced with Queen Elizabeth II as the Queen of the country. The queen is represented by her viceroys as she lives in the United Kingdom.
    • The Constitution of Australia is the ultimate authority and the Governor General has the authority to exercise its power.

    Geography – All About Australia for Kids

    Australia has a very diverse geography including high snow covered mountains, vast deserts and tropical rain forests.

    • Australia is an island continent and a country as it is surrounded by oceans.
    • The total land area of Australia is 2.97 million square kilometres making it the smallest continent and the sixth largest country in the world.
    • The neighbouring countries of Australia include New Zealand in the south-east, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia in the east, and Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Indonesia in the north.
    • It is situated between the South Pacific Oceans and the Indian Ocean.
    • The total coast line of Australia mainland is 22,292 miles and that of the island coastline is 14,825 miles.
    • In the centre of Australia lies the dry desert, mountains are in the east, south-west and south-east while the rainforests are in the north-east.
    • It is the flattest continent among the seven continents of the world.
    • At the north-east coast of Australia lies the 1240 miles long world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef.
    • In western Australia there is the world largest single rock mountain, the Mount Augustus.
    • The highest mountain is the Mount Kosciuszko which is 7310 feet high.

    Climate

    Australia has a climate that varies according the geographical location, ranging from equatorial, tropical, sub-tropical to desert,grassland  and temperate climate.

    • Largest part of Australia is desert which is situated in the middle of the continent where the climate is hot.
    • Temperate climate is only at the south-west and south-east.
    • At the northern part of the country the climate ranges from equatorial, tropical, sub-tropical and desert.
    • Australia receives very less rainfall as compared to the other continents. It receives more rain in winter than in summer.
    • Snow falls in the highland situated in the states of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Capital Territory.

    Plants and Animals – Australia Information for Kids

    When it comes to plants and animals, Australia hosts nearly about 1 million native species of which more than 80% are only found in Australia.

    • There are about 27700 plant species and 250,000 species of fungi  in Australia.
    • Some of the species of the plants are pre-historic dating back to the time of dinosaurs.
    • There are 4000 different species of fish and 50 different types of marine mammals and huge variety of sea-birds.
    • The animal species count in Australia is as under:
      Mammals: 378,  Birds: 828,  Lizards: 300,  Snakes: 140,  Crocodiles: 2
    • Half of all the mammals in Australia are marsupials i.e. they carry their young ones in pouch attached to their body
    • Australia is famous for Kangaroo, Wallaby, Wombat, Dingo, Koala, Echidna and Duck-bill Platypus.

    Population and People – All About Australia for Kids

    Australia has a population of about 23 million consisting of the original inhabitants, descendants of migrants and new migrants from about 200 countries.

    • The original inhabitants were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander whose culture and traditions are considered to be one of the oldest in the world.
    • The original inhabitants have been living in Australia for 40,000 to 60,000 years ago.
    • The population of the original inhabitants was about 548,370 in 2011 census.
    • The population of Australia mainly consists of English, Australian, Irish, Scottish, Italian, German,  Chinese,  Indian, Greek, and Dutch.
    • English is spoken by 81% of the population and  the other languages spoken include Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Vietnamese and Hindi.
    • 70 indigenous languages have survived till now.
    • Australia has no state religion and according to the 2011 census 61% of the population is Christian, 22% has no religion, 2.5% are Buddhists, 2.2% are Muslims, 1.3% are Hindus and 0.5% follow Judaism.
    • The literacy rate of Australia is 99% while that of Tasmania is 50%.
    • It ranks fourth in the world in life expectancy.

    Learn more: Australia Facts

  • Argentina Facts for Kids | Second Largest South American Country

    Argentina Facts for Kids | Second Largest South American Country

    Argentina is among one of the most economically stable countries of Latin America. During the early part of the 20th century, Argentina was also one of the world’s wealthiest economies. Since it lies in South America, the Spanish language is the widely spoken language here. The Spanish came to Argentina in the early years of 16th century and settled here permanently. The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, is one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

    Capital City: Buenos Aires

    Official Language: Spanish

    Currency: Peso

    National Game: juego del pato (meaning ‘Duck Game’)

    National Cuisine: Locro and Asado

    History

    • The fossils of very first humans show that people have been living here since Paleolithic age.
    • In 1502, the first Europeans showed up in Argentina when an Italian voyager named Amerigo Vespucci landed here.
    • The Spanish first settled in this country in about 1512.

    Geography

    • The highest peak of this country is called Mount Aconcagua. It has a height of about 6,959 meters above sea level.
    • The lowest point of Argentina is known as Laguna del Carbón.
    • With a length of about 4,880 kilometers, Paraná River stands at the second position among the longest rivers of South America. It navigates through Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
    • The biggest natural salt water lake of Argentina is Mar de Ansenuza.
    • Latin America’s biggest railway station is also located in Argentina. The rail track has a length of about 48,000 kilometers.
    • Most of the industrial buildings in Argentina lie in Córdoba.
    • Almost 92 percent of the people here live in towns.
    • There are 30 national parks in Argentina.

    Interesting Facts about Argentina

    • It is the world’s biggest country in terms of the number of Spanish-speaking people.
    • Argentina is the top country in the world where consumption of red meat is highest.
    • By area, Argentina is the second biggest South American country. Brazil is the first biggest country.
    • Argentina stands at the third position among the biggest economic countries of Latin America.
    • By population, Argentina stands at the third position in South America.
    • The power generation sector of Argentina is the third biggest in Latin America.
    • Argentina stands at the fifth position among the biggest producers of wine in the world.
    • In the beginning of twentieth century, Argentina ranked at the seventh position among the world’s wealthiest countries.
    • Argentina stands at the eighth position in the list of biggest countries around the world.
    • In terms of area, it stands at the eighth position among the biggest countries of the world.
    • Until 1950s, Argentina was among the fifteen wealthiest nations of the world.
    • Argentina stands at the ninth position among the countries that have maximum biocapacity in the world.

     

     

    More Facts

    1. The flag of Argentina was designed by Manuel Belgrano in the year 1812.
    2. The Latin America’s biggest ‘ski’ location lies in Argentinean city named Bariloche.
    3. The biggest airfield of this country is named as Ezeiza International Airport.
    4. There are 23 provinces in Argentina.
    5. Argentina is home to three Nobel Prize winners namely César Milstein, Bernardo Alberto Houssay and Luis Federico Leloir.
    6. The person who is known as the founder of animated cartoons in the world is named Quirino Cristiani. He was from Argentina. He created cartoons using cardboards during 1917 – 18.
  • Chile Facts for Kids | Largest Producer of Copper

    Chile Facts for Kids | Largest Producer of Copper

    It is a country in South America. It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains. According to Chile, almost 1,250,000 square kilometers of region in Antarctica is also part of Chile. In the South, there are many forests and farmlands. In the North lies the driest desert of the world called Atacama Desert. The Spanish came here and invaded this country in 1541. In 1818, Chile got freedom from Spanish and surfaced as an independent nation. It is also among those South American countries that has stable economy. This country has one of the highly developed systems of telecommunication in South America.

    Capital/Biggest City: Santiago

    National Language: Spanish

    Currency: Peso

    National Bird: Andean Condor

    National Sport: Rodeo

    History

    • Native Americans came here at almost 10,000 years before.
    • The first person to show up in Chile from Europe was Ferdinand Magellan. He was a Portuguese discoverer and came to Chile in 1520.
    • The name of the first governor of this country was a Spanish soldier named Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia. He attacked Chile in 1540. On February 12, 1541, Valdivia established the largest city of Chile named Santiago.
    • In the first half of 19th century during the Chilean War of Independence, the leader from Chile, Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme, got freedom for his country by driving out the Spanish conquerors.

    Geography

    • The most abundant minerals of Chile are copper, sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3).
    • It is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. A Ring of Fire is a location in the Pacific Ocean that stretches to about 40,000 kilometers and carries a lot of earthquakes including 452 volcanoes.
    • All four seasons occur in Chile.
    • The longest river of Chile is Loa River. It is about 440 kilometers long.
    • In the South of Chile, there exists a glacier called Brüggen Glacier. It is 66 kilometers long and the longest one in southern hemisphere. Another name for this glacier is Pío XI Glacier.

    Interesting Facts about Chile

    • The biggest mine of copper around the world is Escondida. It is located in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
    • Chile stands at the second position in the world as the biggest country of north-south direction. Brazil is the world’s longest north-south country.
    • Chile is home to about one-third of the copper produced in the world.
    • The flag of the Texas state looks a lot like the flag of Chile. It is because the flag of Chile was designed on the basis of the US flag.
    • More than 60 percent of the people in Chile use internet. This percentage is the highest in the entire South America.
    • Almost eighty five percent of the inhabitants of Chile live in towns or cities.
    • Chile ranks seventh in the world in terms of economic freedom.
    • Almost sixty percent of the exports of Chile comprise of copper.

    More Facts

    • Every year 2 million visitors around the world travel to Chile. Majority of these visitors came from Argentina.
    • The first person from whole Latin America to have Nobel Prize in Literature was Gabriela Mistral. She was from Chile.
    • The most popular poet of Chile is Pablo Neruda. He also received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971.
    • The best-selling author of Chile is Isabel Allende.
    • Football is the most famous sport in Chile. Tennis is also a thriving sport in this country.
    • The first female President of Chile was Michelle Bachelet Jeria. She was elected on January 2006.
    • Majority of people in Chile are Roman Catholic.
    • There are 15 administrative divisions in Chile.
    • There are 372 airfields in Chile.
    • Chile had a severe earthquake on February 27, 2010. The magnitude of this tremor on Richter Scale was 8.8 and killed almost 500 people.
    • There are almost 3,000 fungi species in this country.
    • Some of the large mammals of Chile are Puma, Guanaco and Chilla.
    • There are no diseases of Phylloxera, fruit fly or Mad Cow in this country.
  • Switzerland Facts For Kids | Wealthiest Country Of Europe

    Switzerland Facts For Kids | Wealthiest Country Of Europe

    It is a landlocked country and has a temperate climate. The economy of Switzerland is one of the most stable economies around the world. Switzerland has had no military conflict with any other country. It has largely adopted a policy of being a ‘neutral’ nation even in two world wars which is why its ground forces are mainly used for peacekeeping tasks. It has also got one of the strongest economies around the world. Now let’s have a brief look at this wonderful European country in Switzerland facts for kids.

    Switzerland Facts For Kids

    Official Name: Swiss Confederation

    Official Date of Formation: August 1, 1291

    Biggest City: Zürich

    Official Languages: Romansh, French, German, Italian

    Population: 7.9 million

    National Airlines: Swiss International Airlines

    History of Switzerland

    1. There are evidences of the oldest humans or species relating to humans that probably lived in Switzerland some 150,000 years before.
    2. The oldest agricultural villages in this country dates back to 5300 BC. They are discovered in Gächlingen.
    3. The oldest ethnic tribes of Switzerland that we know today are people from Hallstatt culture. This culture dates back to 8 century BC to 6 century BC of Iron Age. Another oldest people were from the La Tène culture of 450 BCE to first century BCE of Iron Age.

    States (Cantons) in Switzerland

    1. There are 26 states of Switzerland that are known as Cantons of Switzerland.
    2. The biggest canton of Switzerland is Canton of Graubünden. It is also known as Grisons and is located at the easternmost part of the country.
    3. The newest canton of Switzerland is the Canton of Jura. It was made in 1979.

    Switzerland Geography

    1. Switzerland is divided into 3 major landscapes. These are Swiss Alps, Swiss plateau and Jura mountains.
    2. One of the great European mountain ranges is the Alps. It is about 1,200 kilometers long and covers 8 countries. Almost 60 percent of Switzerland’s area is covered by the Alps.
    3. There are more than 1,500 lakes in Switzerland.
    4. About 6 percent of its area is covered with glaciers and lagoons.
    5. In Switzerland, there are almost 100 mountains that are as high as 4,000 meters or even more.
    6. Monte Rosa is the highest peak in Switzerland. The Italian word ‘Monte Rosa’ means ‘Pink Mountain’. It is also the second-biggest in the Alps mountain range. It is also called Mont Rose which is a French word.
    7. Located on the Pennine Alps is peak named The Matterhorn. It is the most popular mountain of Switzerland. It is 4,478 meters high and is also known as Monte Cervino.
    8. In the north of Switzerland, there are mountainous regions, having vast lagoons and it also contains the largest cities of the country.
    9. Lake Geneva is the largest lake in Switzerland. It is also known as Lake Léman.

    General Facts about Switzerland

    1. Out of 132 countries that are committed to protect environment, Switzerland is the first country in Environmental Performance Index of 2012.
    2. In 2002, Switzerland was the first country that became a member of United Nations by referendum.
    3. There is no navy of Switzerland because it has no coastline.
    4. Zürich is the biggest city of Switzerland.
    5. Some of the dams of Switzerland are the tallest in the whole Europe.
    6. During 2012, the rate of life expectancy in Switzerland was the highest around the world. For males, it was 80.4 years and for females 84.7 years.
    7. It has no officially recognized state religion. However, Christianity is the dominant religion of this country.

    Economy of Switzerland

    1. The biggest business partner of Switzerland is Germany.
    2. It stands at the 15th position as the biggest exporter of the world.
    3. In terms of skilled labor force, Switzerland ranks at the top of the world.
    4. It was the richest nation around the world in 2011.
    5. During 20th century, Switzerland was the richest nation of Europe.
    6. According to nominal GDP, it is the 19th biggest economy of the world.
    7. According to Purchasing Power Parity, Switzerland ranks at 36th position among the biggest nations of the world.
    8. In 2013, Switzerland had a biggest average around the world in terms of average wealth per adult.
    9. As per GDP per capita, Switzerland stands at the 8th position of the world.
    10. According to a report by World Economic Forum, the economy of this country is the world’s most competitive.
    11. According to the Index issued by World Bank called ease of doing business index, Switzerland is at the 28th position of the world.
    12. In Switzerland, only 37 percent of Swiss people hold possession of their houses.
    13. Switzerland stands at the 17th position as the biggest importer of goods around the world.

    Education Facts about Switzerland

    1. Switzerland has 12 universities.
    2. University of Zurich is the largest university of the country. It consists of 25,000 students.
    3. University of Basel is the oldest university of the country. It was established in 1460.
    4. In tertiary education, Switzerland comes next to Australia as the second country that has a highest percentage of foreign students. In 2003, the rate of foreign students was 18 percent.
    5. About 113 Nobel Prize laureates are linked to this country.
    6. European Organization for Nuclear Research is the biggest laboratory for particle physics in the world. It is located in the Swiss city named Geneva. It is also called CERN.
    7. The most popular physicist Albert Einstein made his Special Theory of Relativity in the city of Bern, Switzerland.

    More Switzerland Facts For Kids

    1. The official national holiday of Switzerland is celebrated on August 1. It is known as Swiss National Day. It was started in 1994.
    2. It is a landlocked country.
    3. Switzerland shares 6 percent of the fresh water of Europe.
    4. More than 50 percent of the country’s electricity is generated through hydroelectricity.
    5. The Federal Constitution of Switzerland is one of the oldest constitutions around the world.
    6. There are two houses in the Swiss Parliament. These are the Council of States and the National Council.
    7. There are 1000 museums in Switzerland.
    8. There are 4 official languages in Switzerland. These are German, French, Italian and Romansh languages.
    9. Roger Federer is a Swiss tennis player who made a world record of winning 17 Grand Slam in singles.

    Did you really find these Switzerland facts for kids helpful? Is it what you’re looking for? Please comment and help us improving this article. Thanks for reading it!

  • Kenya Facts For Kids | Cradle of Mankind

    Kenya Facts For Kids | Cradle of Mankind

    Kenya is arguably one of the most well-known countries in the world. The country is rich in mountains, deserts, forests, coastlines, along with the huge Lake Victoria and Rift Valley. It stands as one of the major tourist resorts in Africa. It is home to many different wildlife species. Kenya lies in the middle of eastern coast of Africa. It is almost the size of Texas, the U.S. State and it is also the most developed countries of Africa. The country has got a significant place in the history of Africa as it had played its part in the struggle for independence.

    Kenya Facts For Kids

    Introduction

    • Official Name: Republic of Kenya (Jamhuri ya Kenya)
    • Official Language: Swahili-English
    • Capital City: Nairobi
    • Nickname: Cradle of Mankind
    • Location: Eastern Africa
    • Currency: Shilling
    • Motto: Let us all pull together

    History

    • Kenya has a fairly rich history as the land offered many fossils that are million years old. On August 2004, scientists discovered Giant Crocodile fossils which were 200 million years old.
    • Some other findings suggest that primates had started living around 20 million years ago.
    • The hunter-gatherers were the first people to have lived in Kenya.
    • Around 500 BC, Nilotic people had migrated from southern Sudan to Kenya.
    • Bantu-people had also showed themselves in Kenya in the first millennium. They introduced many agricultural developments in the country.
    • Omani Arabs had rules the Swahili in the 17th century.
    • In 1930s around 30,000 white people had settled in Kenya and they played a significant role in the country’s economy.
    • Kenya emerged as an independent nation on Dec 12 1963.

    Geography & Size

    • The total land area of Kenya is 581,309 sq. kilometers.
    • The total population is 44,037,656 as of 2013.
    • Kenyan border touches Tanzania to the south, Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Uganda to the west, and Somalia to the northeast.
    • About three fifths of the total land area is desert which is too hot to sustain a population.
    • About two fifths receive plenty of rainfall and thus have a mild climate.
    • Kenya is divided into four different geographical regions.
    • It has five agricultural and climatic zones.
    • Kenya has a low-lying fertile and hot coast.
    • The Kenyan coast mixes into the eastern highland which is mostly semi-arid and it runs many hundred miles.
    • The north and north-west part of the country is almost entirely desert or semi-desert.
    • Kenya’s land is not suitable for agriculture as less than 20% of land serves for agricultural purposes. About 10% is partially agricultural while the remaining 70% is complete desert and semi-desert.
    • The highland plateau that lies at the southwest of Kenya contains two major mountain ranges—the Mau Escarpment and the Aberdares Range. These two ranges stand 10,000 to 11,000 feet (3,048 to 3,353 meters) in height.
    • The Great Rift Valley rises to more than 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) above sea level at Lake Naivasha.
    • Mount Kenya is the highest peak of Kenya. It has the height of 17,058 feet (5,199 meters). Mount Kenya is one of the highest mountains in Africa—second only to Mount Kilimanjaro.

    People

    • The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the worst of Kenya as in these years the country underwent ethnic violence leading to hundreds of deaths.
    • About 83% of Kenyans are Christians.
    • The country has got the highest number of Quakers in the world with over 133,000 members.
    • In Kenya the most popular musical instrument is ‘guitar’.
    • Kenya was declared the most successful nation in Africa in 2008 Olympics.

    Rivers, Lakes and Climate

    • Tana River is the longest river in Kenya and it runs 440 miles on the eastern edge of Rift Valley.
    • Lake Victoria in Kenya is the second largest lake in the world. It has a length of 250 miles (402 km) along with the width of 200 miles (322 km). Lake Victoria is 265 feet deep at its deepest point.
    • The average temperature along the coast measures around 69o F to 90o F all year-round.
    • The temperature near Nairobi averages 45o F to 80o F. It depends on the time of day. The temperature changes too frequently in between afternoon and evening.
    • Kenya is an agricultural country so the amount of rainfall affects the country’s economy. It receives long showers from April to June while in October and December the rainfall is fairly low. The rest of the months experience little or no rain and January, February, August, and September are the driest months of Kenya.
    • Kenya experiences rainy season almost every year. The northern region of Kenya receives very little rain while the central, coastal, and western parts receive more than 40-inch of rainfall each year.

    Flora

    • About two-thirds of southern Kenya contains thousands of cultivated and wild flowers.
    • On the coast, plants are mostly lush green, diverse, and tropical.
    • On the coast of Indian Ocean trees like teak and sandal-wood are grown. Coconut palms and dense mangrove forests are also grown near Indian Ocean.
    • The coastal vegetation also consists of thorny scrubs, acacia, baobab, and other kinds of thorn trees.
    • Those areas which receive greater rainfall are likely to have sprouts of giant bamboo.
    • Flowering trees are found in the south central highlands near Nairobi. Jacaranda is one such tall flower-tree which grows in springtime. Similarly, Bougainvillae in this part of Kenya can be as big as 16 feet (5 m).
    • Giant lobelias and groundsels are fairly common in the west at higher altitudes.
    • Dense forests of deciduous and pine trees are found at an altitude of 6,000 feet (1,829 m).

    Fauna

    • Kenya is rich in varied wildlife and authorities have established several game parks to make sure animals enjoy their natural habitats.
    • Kenya is the habitat of many large mammals such as giraffes, elephants, rhinoceroses, and buffaloes—these animals roam around in large numbers. Apart from large mammals many other antelopes like zebras, impalas, hartebeests, wildebeests, and gazelles also live in Kenya.
    • As far as beasts of prey are concerned lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs, and jackals form the rest of animal kingdom in Kenya.
    • In the highland plains and forestlands, small animals like tree hyraxes and monkeys are found.
    • Humans have long hunted elephants and rhinoceroses for ivory horns and tusks.
    • The country is also a place for many birds including ostriches, kites, eagles, and vultures. Pelicans, ibis, cranes, flamingos, and egrets swim in the coastal waters and lakeshores. The southern Kenya is covered two-thirds by different colored parakeets songbirds and parrots.
    • Kenya is also home to many large and poisonous reptiles. Crocodiles are fairly common in this part of the world.
    • The largest member of the stork family, Marabou is also found in Kenya.

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    Did You Know…? Kenya Facts For Kids

    • The population of Kenya was 8.6 million at independence which is less than one-quarter of its population of today.
    • Jomo Kenyatta was the founding father and the first president of Kenya.
    • Kenya heavily relies on tourism industry for revenue generation.
    • Most of the Kenya’s population is young as 73% of Kenyans aged below 30 years.
    • In 1858, John Hanning Speke discovered Lake Victoria as he was searching the source of River Nile. Speke named the lake after Queen Victoria. Previously the lake was called Ukerewe.