Facts For Kids

Category: Geography

  • Mount Fuji Facts For Kids | Highest Peak In Japan

    Mount Fuji Facts For Kids | Highest Peak In Japan

    Mount Fuji is situated on Honshu Island in Japan and it is by far the biggest Japanese peak. The most eye-catching feature of Mount Fuji is that the top section is covered with ice. Its shape is highly symmetrical. Now let’s explore this wonderful Japanese peak and see what it brings to us in Mount Fuji facts for kids.

    A Quick Guide To Mount Fuji Facts For Kids

    Height: 3,776 meters

    Location: Tokyo (Southwest direction)

    Rating: Highest mountain of Japan

    Year when it was first climbed: 663 (Name is unknown)

    First foreign climber: Sir Rutherford Alcock

    Basic Mount Fuji Facts For Kids

    Introduction

    1. It lies at just about 100 kilometers away from Tokyo. Due to its height, it is visible from this city.
    2. Mount Fuji is basically a composite volcano. The last time this volcano had blown up was in 1707. It is also known as stratovolcano, a highly active volcano.
    3. The three mountains of Japan are known as ‘Three Holy Mountains’. These three peaks are Mount Fuji, Mount Haku and Mount Tate.
    4. It was included in the list of World Heritage Sites on June 22, 2013. It is a cultural site.
    5. The Japanese call this mountain by the name of Fuji-san.

    Geography

    1. There are three small towns at the base of Mount Fuji. These are Fujiyoshida, Gotemba and Yamanashi Prefecture.
    2. The mountain is bordered by three lakes.
    3. Mount Fuji is located in a park known as Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
    4. In the north-west direction of Mount Fuji, there is a forest known as Aokigahara. This forest is the second most famous site in the world where people do suicide. The first location in the world for most suicides is Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
    5. At about 80 kilometers from this peak, lies an airport known as Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport.

    Climbers

    1. In 663, an unknown monk had climbed up this mountain for the very first time.
    2. In 1868, a British person named Sir Rutherford Alcock climbed Mount Fuji and became the first foreign person to do it.
    3. Alcock took 8 hours to climb this mountain and took 3 hours to come down from the top.
    4. The very first story of Mount Fuji was written by Sir Rutherford Alcock and named ‘The Capital of the Tycoon.
    5. The first woman to climb Mount Fuji was Lady Fanny Parkes. She climbed it in 1869.
    6. In the year 2009, almost 300,000 persons went up to this peak.

    More Mount Fuji Facts For Kids

    1. The two most favorite months to climb Mount Fuji are July and August.
    2. Majority of Japanese go up to Mount Fuji during the night. It is because they want to see the sunlight from the top of the hill as the Sun gets higher.
    3. In Japanese, the first light in the morning is called goraikō which means ‘Arrival of Light’.
    4. In olden times, this mountain was thought to be as a holy peak which is why women were not allowed to go to Mount Fuji. This trend ended on Meiji Period (1868 – 1912).

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  • Hurricane Katrina Facts For Kids | The Costliest US Disaster

    Hurricane Katrina Facts For Kids | The Costliest US Disaster

    Hurricane Katrina is basically a tropical cyclone that occurs mostly within a period of 6 months starting from June and ends on the last day of November. Thus, fall and summer seasons are the most likely seasons for hurricanes. It originates over North Atlantic Ocean. Such kinds of tropical cyclones are numbered according to the intensity of each cyclone. The speed of winds may vary from 39 mph to more than 74 mph. It is important for children to know more about disasters. Unfortunately, sometimes parents don’t have much time to explain many things to their child. So, the best way to save time for parents and children is to buy personal statements and learn together. Now let’s have a look at some other hurricane Katrina facts for kids. Now let’s have a look at some other hurricane Katrina facts for kids.

    Hurricane Katrina Facts For Kids

    Number of Deaths: 1,833

    Starting date of Formation: August 23, 2005

    Ending Date of Hurricane: September 3, 2005

    Highest speed of winds: 175 mph

    Total Cost of Damage: $108 billion

    Introduction

    1. When hurricanes begin over North Atlantic, the time period during which such hurricanes occur are called Atlantic hurricane season. The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season has been the most active season in the history.
    2. There were 7 main hurricanes occurred in 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Of all these, Hurricane Katrina is by far the deadliest cyclone.
    3. The destruction cost of Hurricane Katrina was 108 billion US dollars, which is by far the costliest disaster in the US history.
    4. Hurricane Katrina stands at the 7th position as the most intense hurricane of the North Atlantic Ocean.
    5. After Okeechobee hurricane in 1928, Hurricane Katrina has been the second-most deadliest tropical cyclone in American history.
    6. When this hurricane came in 2005, it was the strongest tropical cyclone in Gulf of Mexico.

     

    Intensity

    1. The tropical cyclone started on August 23, 2005 over the island country called The Bahamas.
    2. According to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS), all the tropical cyclones are classified into 5 categories depending upon the speed of winds. Category 1 hurricane has minimum 74 mph speed while category 5 hurricane has a speed of more than 156 mph.
    3. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane.
    4. On August 24, the storm was so severe that it took the name ‘Katrina’.
    5. It became Category 3 storm on August 27.
    6. Katrina turned into a Category 5 storm on August 28. The speed of sustained winds at this category had reached more than 175 mph.
    7. When Hurricane Katrina reached at Category 3, the speed of sustained winds was just about 125 mph around Louisiana.
    8. Within just 9 hours after it began, the cyclone became a Category 5 hurricane.

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    Effects

    1. On August 27, the state of emergency was announced by George W. Bush in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
    2. The number of people who died in Hurricane Katrina was from Mississippi and Louisiana. The number of deaths in Louisiana was 1,577 and 238 people died in Mississippi. These are the confirmed deaths.
    3. In Louisiana, there were 135 persons who are still missing due to Hurricane Katrina.
    4. Due to the devastating effects of Katrina, almost 3 million persons were left high and dry and had no power in their homes.

    Florida

    1. When it entered in South Florida on August 25, it was a Category 1 storm. The speed of winds was 80 mph.
    2. The cost of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in Florida was just about 2 billion US dollars.
    3. Almost 1 million people in Florida were living without power.
    4. In Florida, the number of confirmed deaths was 14.

    Learn now: Florida Facts

    More Hurricane Katrina Facts For Kids

      • Katrina had caused great damage to the bridges as well. The I-10 Twin Span Bridge was also one of them.
      • In Louisiana, just about 900,000 persons were living without power because of Hurricane Katrina.
      • In Mississippi, almost 67 persons were lost.
      • In Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina gave rise to 11 tornadoes.
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  • Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids

    Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids

    There was no route to reach San Francisco from Marin County before the completion of Golden Gate Bridge. The Ferry service was therefore, introduced in 1820 as the only way between Marin County and San Francisco. In 1916, the proposal for the construction of Golden Gate Bridge was made. Let’s discover more in Golden Gate Bridge facts for kids.

    A Quick Guide To Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids

    Starting Date of Construction: January 5, 1933

    Total Cost: $35 million

    Chief Engineer: Joseph Baermann Strauss

    Total Length: 8,981 feet

    Total Width: 90 feet

    Height: 746 feet

    Completion Date of Construction: April 1937

    Opening Date: May 27, 1937

    Number of Vehicles per day: 110,000

    Basic Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids

    Design and Construction

    1. The first suggestion for building the Golden Gate Bridge was made by an Engineer named James Wilkins in 1916.
    2. The US architect who designed the towers of this bridge, its streetlights, alleys, barrier and other decorations was named Irving Morrow.
    3. The basic design for the structure of Golden Gate Bridge was given by Leon Moisseiff.
    4. The name of the construction company that completed this bridge was McClintic-Marshall Construction Co.
    5. During its construction, 19 workers fell down but luckily they were saved because of the safety nets. Later on, they made a special club known as ‘Half Way to Hell Club’.
    6. A total of 11 workers died during the construction of this bridge.
    7. A diner is situated at the southeastern side of the bridge. It is known as Bridge Round House. It was designed by Alfred Finnila and finished in 1938.

    Opening Ceremony

    1. The bridge was opened for the first time on May 27, 1937. This opening gala was continued for about 7 days.
    2. Almost 200,000 persons strolled on this bridge just one day before Golden Gate Bridge was opened for the motor vehicles.
    3. A song was officially dedicated to this bridge by the name of ‘There’s a Silver Moon on the Golden Gate’.
    4. Unique Features
    5. Golden Gate Bridge was the only suspension bridge that had the longest main span all over the world up till 1964. The length of this main span is 4,200 feet.
    6. Today, this bridge stands at the second position that has the second-biggest main span in USA. The bridge at the first position in USA is in state of New York called Verrazano–Narrows Bridge.
    7. Until 1998, the towers of Golden Gate Bridge (standing high above water) were the biggest in the world by any suspension bridge. The height of these towers is 746 feet.
    8. Golden Gate Bridge does not come under Highway System of the state of California.
    9. Golden Gate Bridge is also the second bridge in the world from where maximum number of people commits suicide.

    More Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids

    1. The color of this bridge is ‘International Orange’.
    2. When a person dives into water from the floor of Golden Gate Bridge, it takes him 4 seconds to reach at the surface of water.
    3. The speed at which a jumper hits water surface from Golden Gate Bridge is about 75 mph.
    4. This bridge was shut down for 3 times ever since it was built. The first time was on 1st December, 1951; the second time 23rd December, 1982; the third time was on 3rd December, 1983.
    5. There are 6 lanes in this bridge.

    Learn More:

    • Golden Gate Bridge Facts For Kids
    • California Facts for Kids

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma4GMyuQ6oU&feature=youtu.be
  • Bermuda Triangle Facts For Kids | The Devil’s Triangle

    Bermuda Triangle Facts For Kids | The Devil’s Triangle

    Bermuda triangle is a loosely defined area in the western North Atlantic Ocean where everything seems to disappear. The triangle stretches from the island of Bermuda to Miami while going through the southern Florida extending through Puerto Rico to as far as 15o C North Latitude then again comes back to Bermuda. This region is commonly called Bermuda Triangle. The triangle has a long history of mystery; things like planes, boats, and people disappear without leaving any wreckage or trace.

    Bermuda Triangle Facts For Kids

    History

    1. Bermuda Triangle earned its reputation when Flight 19 was disappeared on December 5, 1945. During this flight, five aircrafts had disappeared.
    2. The Miami Herald (Associated Press) was the first ever magazine to publish an article in which the writer mentioned the mystery of Bermuda triangle.
    3. The article in the Miami Herald was published on September 17, 1945. Edward Van Winkle Jones was the writer.
    4. Larry Kusche absolutely swept all these allegations under the carpet and he refused to accept the reality of Bermuda triangle. Larry wrote a book ‘The Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved’ (1975).
    5. Larry argued that triangle is mostly under the heavy tropical storms that could lead to the destruction of objects. He said that Bermuda triangle is a mystery manufactured by many writers.

    Mystery and Explanations

    1. Even though it is hard to measure the exact boundaries of a triangle, but some say that it has a total area of 1.3 million to 3.9 million sq. kilometers.
    2. However the bizarre it may appear the fact is that the triangle gets a heavy traffic of ships travelling towards America, Europe or even Caribbean Islands each year.
    3. Scientists have given a natural explanation to this mystery. They believe the compasses have strong magnetic variations with respect to the magnetic poles.
    4. The surface velocity of the Gulf Stream (Deep Ocean current) is up to 2.5 meters per second—enough to carry with itself a small plane or boat.
    5. Human error is most likely to cause such accidents as in the case of Harvey Conover’s death on January 1 1958 when he sailed into the heart of worst storm.
    6. Powerful storms and violent cyclones are able to destroy anything comes in its way. These storms might be the reason of Bermuda accidents. The winds are able to move as fast as 140 km/h.
    7. The worst incident in the history of U.S. Navy took place on March 4, 1918 when 309 crews were disappeared as the collier USS Cyclops vanished without leaving any trace.

    Did you Know…? Bermuda Triangle Facts For Kids

    1. A single storm in the Bermuda triangle can cause 8 – 10 inches of rain within few hours.
    2. Some of the triangle’s waters are as deep as 30,000 feet.
    3. Scientists believe that the ocean currents with a depth of hundreds of feet move in the opposite direction just beneath the Gulf of Stream.
    4. The U.S. Navy has absolutely denied the existence of any such triangle. According to U.S. officials, such triangle never exists.

     

  • South America Facts For Kids

    South America Facts For Kids

    South America is the world’s fourth largest continent by area. It has the world’s largest rivers and rainforests and the continent offers a wide variety of deserts from the world’s wettest to the driest regions. The continent is situated at the south of Panama and Central America. It is often referred to as the subcontinent of America. The continent touches the Pacific Ocean on the west while on the north and east it shares borders with Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is the world’s fifth largest continent by population.

    South America Facts For Kids

    Introduction

    • Number of Countries: 13
    • Population: 385,742,554
    • Area: 17,837,248 square kilometers
    • Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, and others

     History

    1. The history of South America goes back to 225 million years ago when it merged with Africa.
    2. Some 15,000 years ago, humans discovered South America while they were going through the Bering Land Bridge. This was believed to be the first place where humans had started living.
    3. Around 9000 B.C. humans used to cultivate beans, chili peppers, and squashes in South America.
    4. Around 3500 B.C. the South Americans had begun domesticating animals including alpacas, guanacos, and Llamas.
    5. Norte Chico is believed to be the earliest known civilizations of South America. Muisca (Present-day Columbia) was also one of the oldest civilizations in South America.
    6. Spanish and Portuguese had exploited the South American natural resources in the 1530s.
    7. Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin fought the war of independence of South America and liberated the nation.
    8. In the 20th century, South America had become a battlefield of the Cold War.

     

    Geography and Size

    1. The total area of South America is 17,840,000 sq. kilometers.
    2. The population of South America is 385,742,554 as of 2011.
    3. Sao Paulo is the largest city of South America with the population of 11,316,149.
    4. Mount Aconcagua is the highest point of South America. It has an elevation of 22,834 ft (6,960 meters).
    5. Valdes Peninsula is the lowest point of South America. It has an elevation of 151 ft (46 meters).
    6. Amazon River is the longest river of South America. It is 4,080 miles (6,566 kilometers) long.
    7. The major islands of South America are; Bonaire, Tobago, Aruba, Trinidad, and Curacao.
    8. Angel Falls is the world’s largest waterfalls. It is located in Venezuela.
    9. Andes are the longest mountain ranges in the world. The highest mountain of Andes stands 6,962 meters.
    10. Amazon Rainforest is the world’s largest rainforest. It covers most of the part of Amazon Basin.
    11. Gold, iron ore, copper, silver, tin, and petroleum are the mineral resources of South America.
    12. Atacama Desert is the world’s driest place. It is a plateau and is located in the west of Andes Mountains.
    13. Brazil is the largest country of South America. It has a total population of 201,032,714. It covers a total area of 8,514,877 square kilometers.
    14. Medelin is economically the smallest country of South America. It has a GDP of $50.

    Read More: Amazon Rainforest Facts For Kids

    People and Climate | South America Facts For Kids

    1. The people of South America are generally known for their celebrations of Carnival.
    2. Scientists have made many medicines that come from South American plants. These plants are only found in this continent.
    3. The South America climate varies significantly; from hot dry climate of its deserts to the wet rainy climate of rainforests. These rainforests are surrounded by dry grasslands
    4. South America’s western coast is run by a hot desert. On mountains temperature seldom rises above freezing point.
    5. People from all over the world come to visit some of the most beautiful places and landscapes of South America. Thus the tourism industry becomes the major source of South America’s income.
    6. Around 200 million South American speak Spanish and Portuguese, thus making it the most spoken languages of the continent.
  • Layers Of The Earth For Kids | Crust, Mantle And Core

    Layers Of The Earth For Kids | Crust, Mantle And Core

    Earth is made up of three layers and each of these has different properties. These are the Crust, the Mantle and the Core. However, these layers are further broken down into sub-layers. The crust is made up of two sub-layers; oceanic crust and continental crust. The mantle is divided into two portions; upper mantle and lower mantle. Upper mantle is further sub-divided into two layers; lithosphere and asthenosphere. The core consists of two regions; outer core and inner core. So let’s have a quick overview of each of these layers in Layers of the Earth for Kids.

    Layers Of The Earth For Kids

    Introduction

    The Crust: The outer layer (Oceanic crust and Continental crust)

    The Mantle: The middle layer (Upper mantle and Lower mantle)

    The Core: The inner layer (Outer layer and Inner layer)

    layers of earth for kids

    The Crust

    1. The outer layer of the Earth is called the crust.
    2. It is a thin layer and it is composed of rocks.
    3. The crust is further divided into two types: oceanic crust and continental crust.

    Oceanic crust

    1. The thickness of oceanic crust is almost 7 kilometers.
    2. It is made up of igneous rock (a type of rock) called Basalt.
    3. The chemical composition of oceanic crust is all the same i.e. homogeneous.
    4. The density of the rocks of oceanic crust is about 5.7 g/cm3­.
    5. The age of the rocks of oceanic crust is maximum 180 million years.

    Continental crust

    1. Generally, the thickness of continental crust varies from 35 to 40 kilometers. In rocky regions, however this thickness may extend to more than 70 kilometers.
    2. Continental crust is made up of many different kinds of rocks.
    3. The density of the rocks of continental crust is about 2.7 g/cm3.
    4. The age of few of these rocks is just about 4 billion years.

    The Mantle

    1. It is a solid and rocky layer.
    2. The mantle layer is so huge that it consists more than 82 percent of the entire volume of the Earth.
    3. The thickness of the mantle layer is almost 2,900 kilometers.
    4. The mantle is made up of two portions; upper mantle and lower mantle

    Upper Mantle

    The upper mantle starts from the boundary which separates the crust from the mantle and goes deep under the Earth at about 660 kilometers. The upper mantle consists of two parts: Lithosphere and Asthenosphere.

    Lithosphere

    1. Lithosphere consists of all the crust and the topmost part of the mantle. So the topmost part of the upper mantle is actually a part of lithosphere.
    2. Lithosphere is therefore a very hard, rocky covering and it is not very hot as compare to other layers.
    3. The average thickness of lithosphere is about 100 kilometers. However, under very old parts of the continents, its thickness increases to more than 250 kilometers.

    Asthenosphere

    1. It is located under the lithosphere.
    2. It is a soft and very weak layer as compare to others.
    3. The thickness of asthenosphere goes deep under the Earth at about 350 kilometers.
    4. At the uppermost part of asthenopshere, the lithosphere is not attached rather it gets separated from the bottom layer.

    Lower Mantle

    1. The upper mantle ends at about 660 kilometers. Starting from 660 kilometers and extends to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers, lower mantle is located.
    2. Lower mantle is very deep (2,900 kilometers) and very hard because many layers of rocks above exert great pressure on it.
    3. Rocks of lower mantle are very hot. They can also move slowly.

    The Core

    1. The core is made up of iron and nickel alloys. In addition to these, there are some other elements that react with iron very quickly and develop into different compounds. These small amounts of elements are sulfur, oxygen and silicon.
    2. There is a great pressure inside the core.
    3. The core is further divided into two different parts: Outer Core and Inner Core.

    The Outer Core

    1. It is a liquid layer.
    2. The thickness of outer layer is about 2,270 kilometers.
    3. The magnetic field of the Earth is produced when the iron metal moves in the outer core. Therefore, this is actually the zone from where magnetic field originates.

    The Inner Core

    1. It has a higher temperature as compare to the outer core.
    2. The iron exists in solid form in this core region. It is because of the great pressure at the center of the Earth.

    Did you really find these ‘layers of the Earth for kids’ helpful? Is it what you’re looking for? Please comment and help us improve this article. Thanks for reading it!

    Learn more: Earth Facts For Kids

  • Grand Canyon Facts For Kids | Ancient Landscape

    Grand Canyon Facts For Kids | Ancient Landscape

    Grand Canyon is one of the most wonderful landscapes in the world. The canyon is carved by Colorado River some 6 million years ago which according to geologists is quite young landscape. Nonetheless, geologists have found some rocks in the Grand Canyon that are billion years old which means that it tells us the entire history of life on earth.

    Grand Canon Facts For Kids

    History

    1. Native American Pueblo people were the first settlers in Grand Canyon.
    2. According to Archaeologists the Native Americans had lived around 1200 B.C.E. during the era of Basketmaker II.
    3. The Cohonina people had also found their way to the Grand Canyon in between 500 to 1200 CE.
    4. In September 1540, the group of Spanish soldiers traveled towards the Canyon.
    5. John Strong Newberry had become the first ever geologist to visit the Canyon in 1858.
    6. In 1869 the first expedition led by Major John Wesley Powell while he went out to walk through the Canyon and Colorado River.
    7. The old name of Grand Canyon was ‘Big Canyon’. It was John Wesley who gave the name of Grand Canyon.
    8. The Grand Canyon had become an official monument in 1908.
    9. It was also opened as a National Park in 1919.

    Geography

    1. The length of the Canyon measures around 277 miles (446 km) with the width measuring at 18 miles (29 km) and it is 6,000 miles deep.
    2. Some of the fossils in Grand Canyon suggest the age of rocks and the oldest rocks being found are 2.5 billion years old. Few others are 1.2 million years old.
    3. Fossils are classified into sea fossils and land fossils.
    4. Sea fossils tell us few impressions of dragonflies, spiders, reptiles, scorpions, and other small animals. Some other fossils that are as recent as 11,000 years old are also found.
    5. Humans lived for about 3,200 years
    6. Ancient Pueblo are thought to be the first people to have settled in the Canyon area. Geologists have discovered around 500 ancient sites including caves. Many Native Americans found their way in Canyon and few descendants of these people are still living in Canyon.

    1. Many beautiful birds including 355 bird species feel home in the Grand Canyon. The National Park has also 89 mammals, 17 fish species, and 56 reptile species.
    2. Vascular plants 1737 species; moss 64 species; and 195 lichen species are found in the Canyon.
    3. There was a time when Colorado River had eight native species of fish but as the new species were introduced they heavily preyed these native species. The river saw
      a significant change after the building of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963.
    4. Around six rattlesnake species live in the Canyon. The most common species is the Grand Canyon pink rattlesnake. These snakes prey heavily on lizards in the Canyon.

    Did You Know?…Grand Canyon Facts For Kids

    1. John Wesley Powell was the first ever explorer to have traveled the entire Canyon in 1869 and indeed he gave the name to this landscape.
    2. The air of Grand Canyon is the cleanest air in the United States but it can get polluted sometimes when forests catch fire or during dust storms.
    3. Grand Canyon National Park is one of the major tourist attractions and it brings 4.2 million visitors each year.
    4. The weather at the Canyon is not homogenous; the forested rims are high and thus they are able to receive rainfall during winter while at the point of Colorado River the temperature is fairly high.
    5. The overall weather conditions are dry as they hardly receive precipitation more than twice a year.
    6. Average rainfall at the South is less than 35 cm but the North side experiences 59 cm of moisture.

    Read more here: Grand Canyon Facts For Kids

  • Mississippi River Facts For Kids | Third Largest Basin

    Mississippi River Facts For Kids | Third Largest Basin

    iveThe Mississippi river system is the largest drainage basin in the North America, draining 41% of the states of America. It flows through the heart of United States. The river is ranked as the third largest basin in the world—only after Amazon and Congo Basins. It starts from the Lake Itasca in Minnesota and runs almost 3,800 km south, while coming across dozens of tributaries on its way such as Red Rivers, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, finally ends up in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Mississippi River Facts For Kids

    Speed

    The speed of water is not same throughout the river. At the headquarters, the water hardly flows more than 1.2 miles per hour—just greater than the walking speed of humans. However, at the New Orleans it flows as fast as 3 miles per hour.

    Length

    The river runs as the tenth largest river in the world but the precise length is rather difficult to measure. The geologists at the source in Itasca State Park measures that the river is 2,552 miles long, however, according to the US Geological Survey the length is 2,300 miles (3,705 km).

    Width

    Like the water speed, the width of the river also varies significantly. At the source in Lake Itasca State, the width measures around 20 to 30 feet but the river channel continuously changes. At the Lake Onalaska, the Mississippi is 4 miles wide. Similarly, at some places like in LaCrosse Wisconsin, the water is seized by the dams and as it turns out the width increases.

    Depth and Water Discharge

    The Mississippi is only 3 feet deep at its headquarters but the deepest portion falls in between Algiers Point and Governor Nicholls Wharf where the water is as deep as 200 feet. During the rainy season, the Mississippi discharges the maximum water of 3,000,000 cubic feet per second while at the minimum side, it releases 159,000 cubic feet per second.

    Elevation

    At the Lake Itasca, the river is as high as 1,475 feet above sea level while at its mouth which is in the Gulf of Mexico the elevation drops to Zero above sea level. Most of the drop takes place within Minnesota.

    Fish and Animals

    The Mississippi River is home to 241 fish species alongside 292 bird species that flies across it. Around 57 mammals are found in the river along with 45 reptile species; 40 species of mussels; 45 species of amphibians, and a number of invertebrates.

    Did You Know…? Mississippi River Facts For Kids

    The river has 29 dams and locks built on it, but all are not numbered.

    Native Americans were the first settlers who establish themselves near the Mississippi River.

    The river runs through the states of Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

    Lake Itasca is the source of the river while Gulf of Mexico is the mouth.

    Mississippi covers 1,151,000 sq. miles.

    It is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Mississippi rivers.

    Alonso Alverez de Pineda, a Spanish Explorer is thought to have discovered the mouth of Mississippi in 1519.

    It has 221 bridges that go across the river.

    The first bridge on the river was built in1856 and it connected the Davenport (Iowa) to Arsenal Island.

    The total population at the Mississippi Basis is 71 million out of which 58 percent lives in urban areas. There are 6 people per square kilometer.

    The river flows at its peak (66,400 m3 per second) in the months of March and May as a result of 1,800 mm of annual rainfall. However, August and October the flow is relatively low at 2,400 m3 per second.

    The river is located in Clearwater County, MN (Lake Itasca).

    ‘Makoce Cokaya Kin’ is the place where Mississippi River meets the Minnesota River.

    Learn more: Native American Facts

  • Amazon River Facts For Kids | The Second Longest River

    Amazon River Facts For Kids | The Second Longest River

    Amazon River is in South America and is surrounded by thick amazon rainforest. The snake-like River is a magnificent river for it is home to millions of animals and plants. Almost one-third of all species in the world are found in Amazon Rainforest. Let’s discover some more amazon river facts for kids!

    Amazon River Facts For Kids

    Characteristics and Size

    The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world—after the longest River Nile. The length of the river is measured around 6,400 to 6,800 kilometers. It is quite difficult to measure the total length and is still under discussion. Besides, the geologists are not certain regarding the exact origin of the river. It runs across the North of Brazil.

    It is the largest river in terms of water discharge as the average water-flow is 209,000 cubic meters per second. The total volume of water being discharged from the Amazon River is 220,800 m3 per second

    It has the largest drainage basin in the world measuring 7,050,000 sq. kilometers and accounts for almost one-fourth of the total waterflow in the world. The river carries almost 15 percent of the world’s freshwater and discharge into the oceans. (UNEP Amazon Basin GIWA Assessment 40b). The river has the largest area of land through which the water flows and it contains 200 tributaries.

    The river can be as wide as 48 kilometers or it can be as low as 10 kilometers depending on the season.

    During wet season, the river becomes wider and rises 30 feet thus flood the surrounding rainforest habitats. The maximum water it releases into the Atlantic Ocean is great and is up to 300,000 cubic meters per second.

    Source of the River

    The source of the Amazon River is in snowcapped peak known as Nevado Mismi and Peruvian Andes. It has several primary river systems such as in Peru, Ecuador, and Columbia probably due to the fact that seven countries share the Amazon Basin including Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Guyana.

    Amazon River’s headquarters are located in the Andes Mountains while the source of many amazon tributaries remains in the Brazilian and Guyana shields. The origin in the Andes Mountains is almost 100 km from the Pacific Ocean. The central, the lower, and the mouth of the river is included in Brazil and it goes into the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem.

    Climate of the Amazon Basin

    The temperature of the amazon basin remains relatively small despite the enormous size of the basin. The temperature remains in between 24o to 26o.

    Annual Rainfall

    The total annual rainfall on the Amazon River varies throughout the coastal regions; the mouth of the river experiences the total annual rainfall of 3,000 mm, whereas in the less rainy parts ranging from Roraima all through the State of Goiaz (Brazil), the rainfall varies in between 1,500 mm to 1,700 mm.

    Fish Diversity and other Species

    Although the exact number of fish species in the Amazon River is difficult to predict yet the total number of fish in South America is 5,000 to 8,000 most of which belongs to the Amazon River. Of all the freshwater dolphins, Amazon River dolphins are the largest as they can grow up to 8 feet in length. Alongside river dolphins, Tucuxi dolphins are also found in the Amazon waters. Other mammals such as Amazonian Manatee also live; and the largest snake species Anaconda often swims in these waters.

    Learn more: Amazon Rainforests Facts For Kids

  • Boxing Day Tsunami Facts | Deadliest disaster

    Boxing Day Tsunami Facts | Deadliest disaster

    On Dec 26, 2004 earthquake occurred under the Indian Ocean and strikes different countries that were situated on the coastal areas. The magnitude of the tsunami was measured at 9.1 on Richter scale. The quake is referred to as “Boxing Day Tsunami”.

    Boxing Day Tsunami Facts

    The depth of the quake was 30 km beneath the floor.

    All these countries were badly hit by the tsunami: Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Maldives, Somalia.

    It killed almost 280,000 people and destroyed everything on its way. The 2004 tsunami is one of the biggest natural disasters claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.

    It is by far the third largest earthquake ever recorded on seismograph and the worst part of it was its long durations. The quake lasted for about 8.3 to 10 minutes. According to geologists, the longest duration shook the whole earth and as much as 1 cm.

    The epicenter of 2004 tsunami was in between Indonesia and Simeulue.

    People from all over the world donated for tsunami victims as the total amount of donation calculated was 14 billion US dollars.

    Indonesia was most severely hit as compared to other countries.

    The megathrust earthquake was followed by several other aftershocks, some of which were even as high as of 6.1 magnitudes. This was quite unusual earthquake and could never be predicted because three days before the day when it struck, an earthquake of 8.1 magnitude occurred in the subantarctic Auckland islands of New Zealand. Geologists believe that the earthquake of 8 magnitude can only occur once a year but few others were of the view that earthquake occurring in New Zealand might have triggered the Indian Ocean’s tsunami. These speculations soon came to an end when US Geological Survey released a report showing no relation between the two earthquakes.

    Thanks to the radar satellites which were able to record the height of tsunami waves two hours after the hit. This was believed to be the initial observation and the height recorded was 2 feet.

    The waves struck right at 00:58.

    The total energy tsunami waves created was twice the energy produce by two atomic bombs. The energy calculated was 20 petajoules. However, the entire energy is not consumed in the Indian Ocean as some of it escaped into the Pacific Ocean.

    Sadly speaking, there is no way one can predict the tsunami waves in the Indian Ocean even though authorities have tried to build different warning systems but none prevailed. It goes without saying that tsunami waves are hard to predict simply because the deep water waves (that creates a greater impact) attains a little height and thus a large network of sensors is required to detect it which is quite impossible.

  • Deforestation Facts For Kids | Facts About Deforestation For Kids

    Deforestation Facts For Kids | Facts About Deforestation For Kids

    Deforestation is an extremely important concept to be familiar with because it has had huge impacts on everyday lives of people all over the world. So let’s explore this concept in deforestation facts for kids and see why this matter is gaining so much importance these days.

    Deforestation Facts For Kids

    What Does Deforestation Mean

    Deforestation means cutting down a lot of trees from vast areas in the forest.

    What Are The Effects Of Deforestation

    Deforestation affects environment, weather, people as well as animals and birds. So let us look at some of the horrible effects of deforestation are:

    Does Deforestation Cause Global Warming

    Yes indeed, it is one of the biggest causes of global warming.

    How Does Deforestation Affect The Environment

    As you are well aware, humans and other living creatures on earth need oxygen to survive and they consume this oxygen from the air. Forests release oxygen in the air and inhale carbon dioxide through the process known as photosynthesis. When we chop down trees, oxygen level in the air decreases and creates unfavorable conditions for all living things to survive. Also as the trees are cut down and burned, the burning process emits carbon in the air that changes into carbon dioxide (when carbon reacts with oxygen in the air). Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides are called greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases do not allow sunlight to escape into the space which is why they are called ‘greenhouse’ gases since they act like a greenhouse. When the amount of these harmful gases increases in the atmosphere, it results in the increase in temperature level (leading to global warming) as well as other violent weather conditions.

    Does Deforestation Cause Flooding

    There is a continuous flow of water from land to the atmosphere and back to land. This process is known as water or hydrologic cycle. When trees are cut down, this cycle is disturbed which keeps the natural flow of water at the required level. As a result of this imbalance, the flow of river water changes rapidly along with precipitation levels in the atmosphere.

    Does Deforestation Cause Soil Erosion

    Trees play a critical role by holding the soil in place. Without these trees, soil would erode much faster and the entire piece of land may be removed falling into the river waters.

    Does Deforestation Affect Human Life

    Deforestation also affects the lives of millions of people. A large number of people derive their income from the products made out of wood like rubber. Trees also provide shelter to animals and birds and in the absence of forests; these animals will flock to other far areas. What’s more, those people who survive on hunting also suffer due to lack of wildlife in the forests.

    More Deforestation Facts For Kids

    What Are The Causes Of Deforestation

    1. First of all, illegal cutting of trees have been one of the major causes of deforestation. Many people throughout the world cut down trees unlawfully and do business with them.
    2. When the weather becomes extremely hot, sometimes fire takes place in a forest destroying trees over a large scale.
    3. Farmers cut down vast areas of forest trees for either growing new crops or grazing their farm animals.
    4. The wood of a tree is very important fuel choice and majority of trees are chopped down because of household usages like cooking or heating purposes.

    What Are The Consequences Of Deforestation

    The consequences of deforestation can be highly destructive. Some of the severe consequences are:

    1. Animals and birds lose their habitat;
    2. People who survive on hunting also suffer due to lack of animals;
    3. The temperature of the earth continues to rise due to deforestation (which ultimately causes global warming).

    Where Is Deforestation Happening

    Deforestation is a global concern and it is taking place all over the world. However, tropical rainforest has suffered severely on account of cutting down of trees. According to a study by UN organization Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 44 percent of the trees in tropical rainforest have been cut down until today.

    When Did Deforestation Start

    Deforestation has been taking place for many centuries. Man has been using wood for igniting fire and for shelter. It is now a global worry however as it is increasing each day at an alarming rate.

    How To Stop Deforestation

    It is not possible to completely finish off deforestation because population is growing at a faster rate across the world. They need to be adjusted somewhere. However by means of properly planned forest management and programs for planting new trees along with preserving the old ones, we can certainly reduce the harmful effects caused by deforestation.

    Why Is Deforestation Bad

    Without a shadow of doubt, deforestation is indeed not a healthy activity and for good reasons. It leaves many species of animals and birds living in the forests without any home and above all, it affects atmosphere and causes severe changes in the climate leading to rise in temperature called global warming.

    Did you find these deforestation facts for kids interesting or not? Please take a second to give us a feedback.

  • Tsunami Facts for Kids | Facts about Tsunami

    Tsunami Facts for Kids | Facts about Tsunami

    Tsunami is a series of gigantic waves that are caused due to the underwater earthquake. It so happens that the earthquake under water pushes the water upward because the plates collide with each other and as it turns out the wave gets bigger and bigger and travel at a high speed. Unlike regular waves, tsunami waves are completely unbreakable with longer wavelengths. It has to take place under water in order to qualify as tsunami and the magnitude must be greater than 6.75 on Richter scale. Tsunamis for most part take place in the Pacific Ocean and coastal areas.

    Tsunami Facts for Kids

    Is it possible to Detect Tsunami before it hits?

    With the advancement in modern technology one would expect that it’s possible but still it is extremely difficult to detect the coming of huge death waves until when it comes. Do not forget that even a simple earthquake is least likely to be detected even though devices like seismographs are used to serve the purpose.

    What does Tsunami Mean?

    Tsunami is a Japanese word which means “harbor wave”. These are not merely tidal waves that are caused by the gravitational force of the moon. You can say that it is an abnormal behavior of waves rising above 100 feet.

    How High the Tsunami is?

    The height of the waves caused by tsunami goes up to 100 feet but the average height is rarely above 40 to 50 feet as it depends on how shallow the water is. Under shallow waters, the height is greater.

    At what Speed Tsunami waves move?

    The tsunami moves at the speed of 200 to 600 miles per hour at the deepest point of water. However, their speed is much lesser as they approach near the shore (30 – 40 mph). The waves in the shallow water travels at much lesser speed but the height is greater than deep water waves.

    Which country suffered the most?

    Japan is the only country that is hit (by tsunami) as many times as no other country.

    What do Tsunami waves look like?

    These are not like regular waves which are breakable or perhaps curled over one another. In fact tsunami is a gigantic wave of water that looks like a big wall constantly rising like a flood.

    How Tsunami forms?

    An earthquake under water forces the water to rise upward. As it turns out the waves created by the push travel fast to the coast and on the way they become bigger. Finally on reaching the shore, these gigantic waves smash against the coast and flood the land.

    Which Country is at a Greatest risk for Tsunami?

    Hawaii is most likely to be under the greatest threat of tsunami than any other country. Often do they come across once a year though the intensity is not so great.

    When did the First Tsunami take place and how many people killed?

    The first tsunami had occurred way back in Nov. 1, 1755 in the waters of Portugal and it claimed 60,000 lives.

    When was the Deadliest Tsunami occurred?

    The deadliest tsunami occurred in the human history was in December 26, 2004 as it killed 227,898 people. The magnitude of the earthquake recorded at 9.1 on Richter scale. It hit many countries in South Asia and East Africa including 14 countries with Sumatra and Indonesia on the forefront.

    When was the most Recent Tsunami?

    It was in the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 with the magnitude of 9.0 killing 15,880 people on its way.

    What makes Tsunami different from Regular waves?

    Tsunami is quite from regular waves in that it has very long wavelengths that can run up to hundreds of kilometers; whereas regular waves have wavelengths of 30 to 40 meters only. It is because of this reason that tsunamis create a great impact causing a greater damage.

    Regular waves are the combinations of many waves but tsunami is a single wave that is absolutely unbreakable.

    The height of tsunami is not so great as they reach up to 100 feet but still it is bigger than the regular waves’ amplitude of 300 millimeters. The height of the wave is primarily determined by the distance between the floor from the surface of water; the lesser the distance the greater the height.

  • Mountain Facts for Kids | Interesting Facts

    Mountain Facts for Kids | Interesting Facts

    Mountains are formed when tectonic plates collide with each other and the planet’s crust is subjected to great forces. Unlike few that can stand independently in summit, most mountains are part of the ranges. Mountains are generally eaten away by rivers, weather conditions, and glaciers even though the erosion takes place very gradually.

    Mountain Facts For Kids

    What is the Highest Unclimbed Mountain?

    Gangkhar Puensum is the highest unclimbed mountain with the elevation measuring at 7570 m (24,836 feet). The mountain is in Bhutan at the border with China.

    Tallest Mountain in the Solar System

    The Olympus Mons on Mars is the tallest mountain in the solar system in comparison to the Mount Everest and Mauna Kea on Earth. The height of Olympus Mons is 21.9 km and it was discovered in 1971.

    How many Mountains are there with the height over 7,000 meters?

    There are more than 100 mountains with the height over 7,200 m above sea level. These mountains stand in the central and southern Asia.

    The highest climbed Mountain on Earth

    Mount Everest is the highest climbed mountain with the height measuring at 29,029 ft.

    What is the other name of K2?

    Godwin Austen is the other name of K2.

    The Smallest Mountain on Earth

    Mount Wycheproof is the smallest mountain with the height of only 47 m. It stands in Victoria, Australia.

    How much area do Mountains cover?

    Mountain facts for kids

    Mountains cover almost one-fifth of the world’s surface and they exist in every continent except on oceans.

    People living in Mountains

    Around 12 percent of world’s population lives in mountains.

    The most Dangerous Mountain

    Eiger is the most dangerous mountain with the height of 3,970 m in the Swiss Alps. No one successfully ascent the mountain and since 1935, 64 climbers had attempted but none survived. It has earned a nickname of “Murder Wall”.

    The Longest Mountain Range

    The Ocean Ridge is the world’s largest mountain range with the length measuring at 65,000 km (40,400 mi)

    Smallest Mountain Range

    The Californian Sutter Buttes is the world’s smallest mountain range covering only 75 square miles.

    Highest Mountain in Africa

    Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa with the height of 5,895 m (19,340 ft). It is located in Tanzania.

    The Function of Mountains

    These mountains provide a major force to prevent the earth from unnecessary shocks. Had there been no mountains there would hardly be any balance on earth. It serves the same purpose as a nail that holds down a tent so that the tent never flies off.

    Why is life tougher on Mountains?

    Life is quite tough on mountains precisely due to the less oxygen and less carbon dioxide. One could hardly find any animals or plants surviving at the peak of mountains.

    The Tallest Mountain Underwater

    Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain underwater with the height of 13,803 feet. It is located in Hawaii.

    Barberton Greenstone Belt

    Barberton greenstone belt are the oldest mountains on earth with the age of 3.6 billion years ago. These ranges are situated in South Africa.

    Types of Mountains

    Volcanic

    Fold

    Block

     

     

  • Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids | The Bell Tower

    Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids | The Bell Tower

    The leaning tower of Pisa is certainly one of the wonderful structures that stands out in its unique and strange appearance. What’s more exciting about it is the fact that despite its slanting look, it is as good as any other building that can stand the test of time. It is just the tip of the iceberg. Explore more in leaning tower of Pisa facts for kids.

    Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids

    What Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The leaning tower of Pisa is a part of the plan to construct a huge complex having four gigantic buildings. This plan is known as the Field of Miracles. It includes the leaning tower of Pisa (bell tower), a cemetery, a baptistery and a Cathedral.

    What Was The Original Purpose Of The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The tower was basically constructed to attract the tourists to the city of Pisa, which was previously a seaport only.

    Names | Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids

    How The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Get Its Name

    The tower derives its name from the Greek word that means ‘marshy land’. This name dates back to 600 B.C.

    What Is The Italian Name For The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The tower is known as ‘Torre Pendente di Pisa’ in Italian language.

    What Is The Other Name Of The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The tower is also known as campanile or bell tower.

    Location | Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids

    Where Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    It is located in Italy.

    Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa In Rome

    No, the leaning tower of Pisa is not in Rome.

    What City Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa In

    The tower is located in the city of Pisa.

    Construction | Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids

    When Was The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Built

    The tower was started in August 1173.

    Who Built The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The real names of architects who had actually started constructing this tower are still unknown. The leaning tower of Pisa is however, thought to be built by a number of engineers like Bonanno Pisano, Giovanni di Simone, Gherardo di Gherardo and Giovanni Pisano. Gherardo and Bonanno have started its construction followed by Giovanni Pisano and Giovanni di Simone. The tower was eventually finished by Tommaso Pisano.

    How Long Did It Take To Build The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    It took 200 long years to complete it. The construction was delayed due to the number of wars that put the work on hold. As a matter of fact, if these wars had not suspended the work, the tower of Pisa would certainly have fallen down because during this time period (in which no work was done), the soil underneath the tower got time to squeeze. Thus, the tower is still standing despite its leaning structure.

    When Was The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Completed

    The tower was completed in the year 1399.

    More Interesting Leaning Tower Of Pisa Facts For Kids

    When Did The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Start To Lean

    The tower of Pisa began leaning just after its first story was completed and even though architects made several efforts to fix the problem, it kept on leaning more and more until today with over 5 meters titled from the point where it should be standing.

    Why Does The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Lean

    The architects didn’t build the slanted design of tower on purpose. It was just by chance. The tower leans because the foundation of this building is laid on a soft portion of the soil that is made of clay and fine sand. The sand is softened due to the presence of a large amount of water beneath the ground.

    Will The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Ever Fall

    At first, the soil under the tower was very soft but as the construction was stopped, it made it possible for the soil to compress and become hardened with the passage of time. Therefore, now it is certain that the tower will probably never collapse.

    How Old Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    Today the tower is about 614 years old.

    How Many Steps Are There In The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    There are 297 steps in the leaning tower of Pisa.

    What Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Made Out Of

    The tower is made up of white marble having weight of just about 14,000 tonnes.

    Why Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Famous

    It is famous because the tower is not straight but leaning from the south and still standing.

    How Tall Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    The leaning tower of Pisa is 60 meters tall.

    How Many Stories Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    There are 8 stories in the tower of Pisa. The bell chamber is in the eighth story. These stories contain 207 columns.

    Leaning Tower Of Pisa History | How Did The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Lean

    The bell tower or the leaning tower of Pisa was leaning even after the completion of the first story. At the time, the architects felt that the south side of the tower was leaning, so they started building columns on the south side. They built these arches and columns almost 1 inch bigger than on the north side in order to give the tower a fine look even after leaning. The tower however, kept on leaning from the south with the addition of stories until today.

    Did you find these leaning tower of Pisa facts for kids exciting and interesting? Please take a second to tell us how you feel?

  • Facts About Alaska For Kids | The Largest State of USA

    Facts About Alaska For Kids | The Largest State of USA

    Alaska is situated at the northwest of Canada and is the largest U.S. state. Alaska has a diverse geography with wide-open spaces, mountains, lakes and forests. The flora and fauna if this state is very unique, abundant and amazing, which attracts thousands of tourists who seeks wildlife adventures. Here we have many facts about Alaska for kids to let you know all about this amazing state of USA.

    Facts About Alaska for Kids

    Ranking

    According to area, Alaska is by far the biggest US state.

    Alaska is the biggest exclave of the world (and naturally America’s as well). An exclave is the part of a country which is not connected to that country in geographical or physical terms.

    In terms of crude oil extraction, Alaska stands at the second position in USA.

    According to the Tax Foundation reports of 2008, Alaska stood at 4th position due to its relaxed business-oriented policies.

    Alaska stands at the 4th position among the least-inhabited states of America.

    Alaska stands at the 5th position among the highest number of millionaires per capita in the US.

    It ranks at the 10th position among the richest states of USA.

    According to per capita personal income of 2007, Alaska ranked 15th in USA.

    According to Gross Regional Product (GRP) of 2007, Alaska ranked 45th in USA.

    As per population in 2010, Alaska stood at the 47th position in USA.

    Alaska ranks 49th position among all other US States.

     

    Facts About The Cities of Alaska

    The biggest city of Alaska is Anchorage.

    The second biggest city after Anchorage is Fairbanks.

    Juneau is the third biggest city.

    The biggest city in ‘The Bush’ (rustic areas of Alaska) is Bethel.

    Anchorage is also the most heavily populated city of Alaska.

    The top four biggest cities of USA are found in Alaska.

    At the northernmost part of US, is an Alaska’s city named Barrow. It is also known as Top of the World due to its geographical location.

    There is no road that leads to Alaska’s capital Juneau and thus it is literally out-of-the-way city.

    Physical, Human and Economic Geography of Alaska

    Alaska’s Mount Mckinley is the biggest mountain of North America.

    With only 1.2 people per square mile, Alaska is certainly among the most thinly inhabited regions across the globe.

    Among all the states of America, Alaska is the only state where biggest percentage of Quaker inhabitants live.

    Unimak Island of Alaska is the biggest of the Aleutian Islands.

    Mount Shishaldin is a blazing volcano in Alaska. This volcanic cone is the most balanced and perfect across the globe.

    There are 3 million lakes in Alaska.

    About 50 percent of the world’s glaciers are found in Alaska (i.e. 100,000).

    With the daily production of 400,000 barrels, Prudhoe Bay oil field of Alaska is the largest in USA in terms of production.

    Alaska was struck with a deadly tremor in 1964 called ‘Great Alaskan Earthquake’ or ‘Good Friday Earthquake’. The duration of this earthquake was about 3 minutes with a magnitude of 9.2 on Richter scale. Even now it is the strongest earthquake in US history; third strongest and second biggest in the world too. The number of people perished amounted to 139.

    Over 80 percent of the Alaska’s economy derives its income from oil mining.

    Seafood (like crab and salmon) forms a large portion of the state’s export.

    Alaska pipeline or TAPS (Trans-Alaska Pipeline System) is among the biggest pipeline arrangements in the world. It travels in a zigzag fashion and extracts daily 2.1 million barrels of oil.

    Since there are quite a number of rivers in this state, Alaska has one of the greatest resources of hydropower in US.

    As compare to other nearby states, Alaska has a comparatively higher cost of living.

    When it comes to pilots per capita, Alaska again exceeds all other US states by having one pilot in every 78 persons and thus the only region with maximum pilots in all other states of US.

    The people of Alaska enjoy least tax amount to be paid as compare to other US states thanks to its proceeds from petroleum extraction.

    There are five US states that do not levy Sales Tax on their inhabitants and Alaska is one of them.

    There are seven US states that do not charge Income Tax on person’s income and Alaska is one of them.

    There are only two US states that do not charge either Sales Tax or Income Tax on its people and Alaska is clearly one of them.

    There are 34 recording districts in this state.

    According to per capita income, Halibut Cove is the most affluent area in this state.

    Alaska is home to over 12 educational institutions.

     

    Relative Size Of Alaska

    The seashore of Alaska is larger than the collective shorelines of the fifty US states.

    Alaska is two times bigger than Texas, which stands at the second position among the biggest states of America.

    It is bigger than eighteen autonomous countries of the world.

    The collective area of 22 smallest American states is less than the area of Alaska.

    Alaska’s ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) is the biggest wildlife sanctuary of the world.

    An Alaska’s tunnel known as Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel has a length of about 2.5 miles and is North America’s biggest road-rail arrangement.

    Located on the south central area of this state is a region called Anchorage metropolitan area, where nearly 50 percent of local people are inhabited.

    Unlike many of the other American states, Alaska comprises of boroughs (sixteen of them) instead of counties.

    Politics of Alaska

    When it comes to elections for US Presidents, Alaska has always been in Republican’s camp. That’s why Barack Obama lost here both in 2008 elections as well as in 2012’s because he was a Democrat.

    Though he was routed in 2012 elections but by clinching 40 percent votes from Alaska, Barack Obama became the first Democrat ever since 1968 to have achieved such high percentage of Alaskan votes.

    Due to lower population in Alaska compared to the rest of the states, the United States House of Representatives comprises of only 1 Alaskan member.

    More Facts About Alaska

    This state was previously under the supremacy of Russia.

    America had acquired it on 30th March, 1867 at the cost of 7.2 million dollars.

    Alaska’s at-large Congressional District is the biggest US congressional district.

    St. Gabriel is believed to be the very first ship from Europe that arrived in Alaska back in August 1732.

    When Alaska was under the control of Russia, Sitka used to be the capital of this state.

    It was in 1912 that Alaska was declared as a planned territory.

    Cessna 208 Caravan is a famous Alaska’s nine-seat airliner.

    Lake Hood Seaplane Base of Alaska is the busiest base in the world.

    Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (which is a dog team race held in winter) is a well-known amusement in Alaska.

    Alaska’s Stikine River is 610 km long and receives the biggest number of Bald Eagles that are united in one place.

    • The song of this state is called Alaska’s Flag.
    • It was included on January 03, 1959.
    • Other name of Alaska is: The Last Frontier
    • Juneau is the capital of Alaska.
    • The motto of this state is North to the Future.
    • Willow Ptarmigan is the bird of this state.
    • Four-spot skimmer dragonfly is Alaska’s hallmark insect.
    • Alaskan Malamute is the dog of this state.
    • Moose is the land mammal of this state while Bowhead Whale is its maritime mammal.
    • A gigantic Woolly Mammoth is the fossil present in this state.
    • Chinook salmon is the fish of Alaska.
    • Forget-me-not is the flower of this state.
    • Dogteam racing is the sport of Alaska.
    • Jade is the precious stone that is found here.
    • Gold is the mineral of this state.
    • Sitkta spruce is the tree of Alaska.
  • Mount Rushmore Facts For Kids | The Biggest Work of Art in the World

    Mount Rushmore Facts For Kids | The Biggest Work of Art in the World

    There couldn’t be a better way to pay a mark of respect to those who changed the course of history than by building a monument that was to become a hallmark for the entire country. Located on the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is certainly one such feat that stands out in terms of design and skillfulness involved in its construction. What’s more, the presence of illustrious figures makes it even more enticing for the visitors which is why nearly three million people flock toward this very site every year and thus realizing the goal for which it was primarily intended. The mastermind behind its making was Doane Robinson, a state historian. But the one who gave real life to his plan was an ingenious sculptor named Gutzon Borglum who built something with no precedent in its making. No wonder during the first 150 years of the country’s history, four US Presidents that demand higher respect than others are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Borglum rightly picked out these four for his carving. Well, it’s just a tip of the iceberg! To find out more in Mount Rushmore facts for kids, let’s explore it in detail.

    Mount Rushmore Facts for Kids | A Brief History

    It all began in 1923 when Robinson came up with an idea of turning one of the South Dakota’s hills into something that has never been attempted before. He therefore sought the help of Peter Norbeck (a US Senator) who liked his idea so much that he told him to find a sculptor that would turn his dream into reality. In 1924, Robinson sent a proposal to Gutzon Borglum. Borglum agreed to his proposal right away. After passing through few bumpy rides on its way due to lack of appropriate funding as well as environmentalists’ fear, the bill was eventually passed by Federal legislature in 1925 sanctioning its construction. However the project was accelerated by the arrival of President Calvin Coolidge in 1927, when he stretched his 3-week short tour into a 90-day voyage and formally announced Mount Rushmore as a “National Shrine”.

    Fascinating Mount Rushmore Facts for Kids

    The carving of this mountain is indeed the biggest artistic work across the globe so far.

    The mountain was named in 1885 after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York attorney.

    The four Presidents on Mount Rushmore are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

    The entire project took 14 long years to complete.

    Nearly 400 laborers were involved in its making.

    Luckily, no worker passed away during construction.

    Borglum was 60 years old when he started carving Mount Rushmore.

    These workers were so talented that almost 90 percent of Mount Rushmore was carved by means of dynamite.

    450,000 tons of hard granite was actually taken out from the hill.

    Other Mount Rushmore Facts For Kids

    One of the reasons why Borglum chose Mount Rushmore is the fact that the hill is positioned in such a way that it receives maximum sunlight and thus illuminating Presidents’ faces for most of the daytime.

    The granite of Mount Rushmore is really smooth and also resistant to erosion so much so that even after 10,000 years it is estimated to wear away by only one inch. That’s why Borglum chose this very site.

    Initially Borglum modeled all four US Presidents on a scale of inches such that one inch on the model correspond to one foot on the mountain. In this way, it was quite easy for the workers to carve out faces with utmost precision simply by following the model.

    George Washington rightly earned the first place in Mount Rushmore (he was the first to be carved out) as he represents the birth of our nation by liberating us from the supremacy of England.

    With an aim of saving records of Mount Rushmore in a vault, Borglum started making a cave on a stony hill in 1938. This vault is situated right at the back of Mount Rushmore and is named as ‘Hall of Records’. However it couldn’t be completed because Borglum had died and also the Second World War was started afterwards.

    Borglum died during construction in March 1941 and his son, Lincoln took over the ongoing work of his father.

    Lincoln spent only seven months on the project and ended it on October 31, 1941.

    The project had to be called off due to lack of funds since it was time of Great Depression.

    Had the project was carried out according to the original plan (which included the face as well as body and down to the toes); the height of each President would’ve been 465 feet high.

    At the foot of Mount Rushmore lie flags of 56 states.

    Today National Park Service is in charge of this historical monument.

    Quick Guide To Mount Rushmore Facts for Kids

    Name of sculptor: Gutzon Borglum

    Person who conceived the idea: Doane Robinson

    Starting date of construction: October 4, 1927

    Ending date of construction: October 31, 1941

    Total cost of project: $989,992.32 (or nearly $1 million)

    Height of Mount Rushmore: 5,725 feet

    Height of each face: 60 feet

    Length of each nose: 20 feet

    Width of each mouth: 18 feet

    Span of each eye: 11 feet

    Formal years to announce dedication to four Presidents:

    George Washington: 1930

    Thomas Jefferson: 1936

    Abraham Lincoln: 1937

    Theodore Roosevelt: 1939

  • Mount Vesuvius Facts For Kids | The Most Active Volcano in Europe

    Mount Vesuvius Facts For Kids | The Most Active Volcano in Europe

    The Vesuvius is probably the most active volcano in the entire Europe which is believed to have caused as much damage as any other volcanic eruption. The volcano has long been admired for its silent yet deadly nature to the inhabitants of Europe and to the residents of Southern Italy in particular.

    Mount Vesuvius Facts For Kids

    The Vesuvius is a distinctive cone-shaped mountain the height of which is measured around 4000 feet on the north-eastern side of the Bay of Naples.

    While Mount Vesuvius is commonly seen as a regular cone-shaped mountain, it nevertheless consists of two peaks that are almost equal in elevation. One of these peaks is called Monte Somma while the other that seems properly applicable is known as Vesuvius. Both these peaks stand on the great mountain called Mount Vesuvius.

    The Mount Vesuvius measures around 30 miles in circumference and is almost entirely circular in shape.

    The mountain seems to have a circular base that indeed supports the two small mountains—one is cone-shaped and is comparatively taller whereas the other one is semicircular ridge little less in elevation.

    The Vesuvius was formed when two tectonic plates collided with each other. These two plates were Eurasian and African.

    Although the Mountain has undergone many different eruptions in the last 17,000 years, the worst ever was 79 A.D. eruption that took the entire city of Pompeii and killed everyone on its way. The eruption led to the demise of 16,000 people who indeed turned into Ash, mud, and rocks. This is believed to be the worst ever disaster in the history of the world. The recent scientific studies suggest that the height of the primary eruption of ash measured in between 49,000 – 98,000 ft.

    According to the Roman poet, Pliny the Younger, who was the only eyewitness of the disaster, there was a cloud of ash and fumes all around with the height reached 20 miles above the ground. The speed of molten rocks was 1.5 million tons per second. The intensity of the disaster was so much so that it released a thermal energy that was hundred thousand times than that discharged by Hiroshima bombing.

    The 79 A.D. eruption underwent two different phases: Plinian Phase and Pelean Phase. In the Plinian phase, all the ashes and fumes were expelled in the upward direction then immediately falling on earth like a rain. In Pelean phase which was possibly the most destructive phase, these ashes move as fast as possible down the sides of the volcanoes. They had run like an avalanche of smoke and dust leaving little time to react.

    The 79 A.D. eruption had continued for at least 48 hours.

    Beginning in 1631, Vesuvius had seen an array of volcanic activities and the late 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, saw several volcanic eruptions. These eruptions could at times kill people while sometimes it destroyed the whole town.

    The volcanic eruption of 1906 killed 100 people.

    The most recent and last eruption took place in the World War II in 1944 when the volcanic ashes and mud took away with it all the Allied forces in Italy. It devastated all fighter planes.

    Since 1944, the Mount Vesuvius had been quiet and silent. However, the region had experienced quite a number of minor earthquakes since 1944.

    The mountain is deemed to have formed some 25,000 years before.

    Learn more: Mount Vesuvius Facts

  • Taj Mahal Facts for Kids | Rare Facts about Taj Mahal

    Taj Mahal Facts for Kids | Rare Facts about Taj Mahal

    Now this is where I would share my personal experiences together with the amazing facts about this “crown of palaces”, a white marble beauty and one of the seven wonders in the world. So kids here we are with the assimilated Taj mahal facts for kids about the biography and eternal beauty of this Indian monument which is the embodiment of the love of an emperor for his wife.

    Taj Mahal Facts For Kids

    Impact on the map…

    Needless to remind that it is a renowned UNESCO world heritage site since the year 1983.

    In July 2007, it made an important mark of its popularity over the globe as it was chosen among the Seven Wonders of the World.

    One of the universally admired masterpieces it speaks highly about Muslim architecture under imperial supervision of Shah Jahan and today is recognized as “The jewel of Muslim art in India”.

    It won’t be an exaggeration if we call it the most beautiful and costly tomb on the planet.

    Biography of a monument – The Taj Mahal

    This is a famous mausoleum situated in Agra, India stands on the southern bank of Yamuna.

    It celebrates Indian culture and spreads the message of love in this world.

    The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan ordered the building of this magnificent mausoleum at the bank of river Yamuna after the tragic death of his third wife Mumtaz Mahal following the birth of their 14th child.

    Around 1632, the construction began and continued for the next two decades.

    If a frightful story is to believe the emperor Shah Jahan, had his flatterers cut off their hands of architects and his workers after the structure was completed, making sure that no another monument of this kind could ever be built again.

    Few stunning Taj Mahal facts for Kids

    Beside the stunning beauty of the tomb, its garden is also another man made marvel which uses raised pathways which divide it in four quarters or flower beds.

    At the centre of the lush green garden there stands a massive white marble water tank halfway between the tomb and the gateway with a pool of crystal clear water reflecting the most beautiful example of human architecture.

    The decor of the white marble beauty has been accomplished with precious white stones which add to the royalty of the palatial tomb.

    A speculation speaks that most probably the mind behind such an intricate design was Ustad Ahmed Lahouri, an Indian of Persian descent who also hold credits for the making of the Red Fort.

    More than 20,000 labourers were employed in the project belonging to Perssia, Ottoman Empire, India, and Europe along with some 1000 elephants.

    Though the spectacular beauty of the place creates a magical imprint in viewers mind but still the centre of focus remains to be the tomb.

    There are 99 names of god in calligraphic inscriptions found on the sides of the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal .

    As an exterior spangle, passages from the Quran are used in complex throughout.

    Taj Mahal Under the full moon

    It is needless to praise its beauty a thousand times. But the panoramic view of Taj Mahal showering under moonlight on a full moon could make anyone fall in love with the symbol of love itself.

    Not to forget that its mesmerizing beauty is not only limited to full moon night but its horizon is much wider than that. You can catch a glimpse of this earthly unparallel beauty daily during sunset and sunrise which could be most cherished moment for any painter or photographer striving to trap the mystic picture.

    Tourism and Taj Mahal

    This Indian monument have a huge fan following and so is among the prime centre of attraction for tourists.

    As earlier we mentioned that it spots a remarkable place in the world heritage site’s list and is a prominent revenue fetcher in tourism industry.

    The Taj Mahal attracts 7 to 8 million visitors annually with more than 0.8million from foreign land.

    Taj Mahal An incomplete dream

    We all know that it’s a timeless saga but little did we know about the concept of Shah Jahan which as fate had its way is not completed till date.

    Though for us t is an uphill task even to imagine building of another Taj Mahal but it was on plans for Shah Jahan.

    The emperor, who often fulfilled the wishes of his beloved, somehow could not fulfil his own wish of making a black Taj Mahal in front of the white marble beauty to express his grief and mourning for his wife Queen Mumtaz Mahal even after his death.

    The Black Taj Mahal was intended to build just opposite to the original one with only use of black marble.

    Shah Jahan was put under house arrest by his own son and heir by muscle power, Aurangzeb. The latter obviously did not agree with his father on most issues and was particularly not willing to him building a black Taj as his own mausoleum.

    In the last days of Shah Jahan , when he was arrested by his own son Aurangzeb it is believed that he used to see Taj all day with the help of a diamond making an angle from his bed. Well! may be there are many more hidden emotions behind the structure which we could never know but the serenity of his love for his beloved queen still continues to be a matter of pride for the Indians.

    Threats to Taj Mahal

    As my personal experience says no cellulosic prints or painting could catch the real pure love story of the emperor behind building this wonder on earth.

    So this has to be a sophisticated one and is adversely damaged due to acid rain which is a resultant of rising pollution level near the region.

    It’s a sad part of the story that the shine of Taj is being diminished because of the high sulphur dioxide content in air.

    Another shocking fact prevails that many visitors who come to see a glimpse of this world famous monument take away a part or a small piece of marble as a memento of the trip which seems to be lame and would damage the Taj in the long run severely.

  • Amazon Rainforest Facts for Kids – Tropical Rainforest Facts

    Amazon Rainforest Facts for Kids – Tropical Rainforest Facts

    The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most interesting places on Earth. These amazon rainforest facts for kids will give you an insight about its flora, fauna and its people. Amazon rainforest covers an enormous area in South America, roughly 7,000,000 square kilometres (2,700,000 square miles).  It forms a jagged circle that has nine different countries in it. They are: Brazil; Peru; Columbia; Bolivia; Suriname; French Guiana and Venezuela.  There are an estimated 16,000 tree species that make up a mass of about 390 billion individual trees. The Amazon Rainforest is so very important because, by its self, it is half of all the rainforest ecosystems in the world. The famous Amazon River runs through the rainforest.

    Amazon Rainforest Facts For Kids

    What is a Rainforest?

    A rainforest is just as the name means: it is a forest that gets a lot of rain. The Amazon Rainforest receives an average of 250 centimeters (98inches) to 450 centimeters (180 inches) of rain every year. There are several things that all rainforests have in common. They usually have moderate climates that never get too cold. They can be very hot and humid.  Most rainforests have layers of trees: very short to very tall. This is called stratified. There is basically four layer or strata of trees. Starting on the forest floor, there are small plants, along with tiny versions of what will be the forest giants. Next, in the strata is the understory. These trees are the homes for most of the rainforest’s animals. The trees in the understory are shrubs and bushes. The next layer is the canopy.  These are the largest trees that give the rainforest a dense shade and create a thick tree cover. These trees are usually 30 meters (8 feet) to about 45 meters (148 feet) tall. Above the canopy is the emergent layer. These are the trees that have grown taller than the other trees in the canopy layer.

    Animal Species in the Amazon

    Amazon Rainforest is home to estimated 3000 species of fish; 400 species of amphibians, including the poison dart frogs; 378 reptile species; 1300 species of birds; 427 species of mammals, including Jaguar and Anteater; and at least 40,000 different plant species.

    The rainforest is two different habitats that occupy the same area. There are some species that stay in the canopy layer and there or many species that stay on the forest floor and the understory. Coati, Monkeys and Toucan and among the species that stay in the canopy where they are safe from predators. The forest floor and the understory are home to deer, wild pigs and tapirs.

    Human History in the Amazon Rainforest – Amazon Rainforest Facts for Kids

    Human history in the Amazon Rainforest can be traced to about 13,000 years ago. There are still signs of these early people. Anthropologist and archaeologist are professionals who dig for evidence of past people and study how they lived.

    Francisco de Orellana was the first European to travel the Amazon River in 1542. He was amazed at all the people he found and was surprised that they were living in villages. The indigenous or native people were semi-nomadic surviving on hunting, fishing and gathering food from the rainforest. As more European people came to the rainforest many of the indigenous people began to die from diseases that had never come into contact with before.

    Threat to Amazon Rainforest

    There are many changes happening the Amazon Rainforest that is having terrible effects of the land, animals and people that live there. Climate change is threatening this unique area. One significant problem is that the Amazon Rainforest has been suffering from a drought starting in 2005. In moist, humid habitat that depends on large amounts of rain, drought can be very damaging.

    Another problem is the amount of deforestation that is happening every day. Humans are cutting the canopy trees down or burning them to clear the land for growing crops and grazing livestock. With the canopy layer removed all life, the either lived in the canopy or lived under it is being disturbed. It is becoming very difficult for some of the animals to find the food and shelter they have depended on now that their habitat is so different.

    The indigenous people who have lived in the Amazon Rainforest for thousands of years are also suffering as the landscape of their homeland is changing. In the past 40 years, it is estimated that 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has been cut down. Trees are being removed for two reasons. First the giant trees are very valuable to the logging industry. Mahogany and other unique hardwoods bring a very high price when they are exported and sold all over the world. The other main reason the trees are being removed it so the land can be used for farming and grazing. More land is needed all the time to feed a hungry world.

    How to Save the Rainforest?

    It is going to be very difficult to save the Amazon Rainforest for several reasons. There are 9 countries that share the rainforest and each one has a different policy in regards to deforestation; that is removing the trees for wood or to create more soy fields and grazing land for cattle. To save the rainforest there needs to be a cohesive policy that every country agrees to follow.

    Currently, the land is valued for what can be taken from it. To protect the Amazon Rainforest, the value must be placed on the importance of leaving it as it has been for thousands of years. Money can be made for the local economies through tourism. People from all over the world are currently visiting the rainforests.

    To save the Amazon Rainforest value must also be placed on how it functions as a “carbon sink.” A “carbon sink” is any land or forest that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. The rainforest can create weather patterns and actually pull in extra carbon that is currently playing a major role in climate change. If the Amazon Rainforest continues to be removed and destroyed the overall conditions on Earth will become worse. By saving the Amazon Rainforest, we will be saving ourselves.

    Share these amazon rainforest facts for kids with your class mates, friends and family.

  • Great Barrier Reef Facts For Kids – The Largest Reef System in the World

    Great Barrier Reef Facts For Kids – The Largest Reef System in the World

    The Great Barrier Reef is one of the largest reef systems in the world so we have gathered some amazing great barrier reef facts for kids. It is called a system because it is made up of almost 3000 small reefs and 900 small islands that stretch about 2600 Kilometers (1600 miles) long along the north east coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea. It is so large, it can be seen from outer space and there are many satellite pictures taken of it. In 1981, is was named a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site because it supports such a massive and diverse amount of life. No other World Heritage site contains such biodiversity. According to the UNESCO in the Great Barrier Reef “there are over 1500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4000 species of mollusk and some 240 species of birds, plus many other species of sea life.”

    Great Barrier Reef Facts For Kids

    History of Reef

    The Great Barrier Reef has a very long history and it is very old. The formation of the Great Barrier Reef is related to the location of the continent of Australia. As the landmasses were moving to their current positions on the Earth, Australia moved northward to the more tropical waters that are warmer. Volcanoes in Queensland helped form the Coral Sea Basin about 25 million years ago. The combination of the warmer water and the more shallow water in the Coral Sea allowed the conditions to be perfect for coral to begin growing. Coral needs water temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius (about 65 degrees Fahrenheit). Coral needs a lot of sun light so it does not grow deeper than about 30 meters (about 99 feet). Most coral reefs are found around the world in clear, clean, shallow, warm water.

    Corals are marine invertebrates that live in tightly formed colonies. These corals live and die, creating special places around the shallow waters of landforms where many species of fish and sea creatures can live. The reefs are formed by coral that has died and turned into calcium carbonate called aragonite. This aragonite or coral skeletons become a base in which more coral can grow.

    Significant Ecological Role of the Great Barrier Reef

    The Great Barrier Reef  is so important to ecology because it is the home for so many different species of life. And many of the species are only found in the Great Barrier Reef area. Some are endangered of becoming extinct so it is very important that this valuable area is protected. There are 30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises that either live in the great Barrier Reef year around or travel through there as they migrate from summer birthing grounds to winter feeding areas.

    One reason the Great Barrier Reef is in the World Heritage site is because of the presence of the Dugongs, Sea Cows. They are in the same family as the Manatee that live off the coast of Florida. They are endangered, and even though they probably won’t totally disappear they are losing habitat all over the world.

    There are over 200 species of birds that call the Great Barrier Reef home. Some are true sea birds like the White-breasted sea eagles, but many live along the coast of Queensland eating fish, snails or insects.

    One very important member of the Great Barrier Reef community is the six species of sea turtles: Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Flatback and Olive Ridley. The Green turtle is endangered. All of the turtles lay their eggs on the sandy beaches of Queensland. When the tiny turtles emerge they run into the warm water before they are eaten by circling birds. They can travel thousands of miles around the oceans before they return to the place of their birth to lay their own eggs and continue the cycle of life.

    There are 14 species of sea snakes that call the Great Barrier Reef home. There are only 50 species in the entire world. All sea snakes are air breathing and prefer the warm shallow waters to feed and rest in.

    There are over 1500 species of fish in the Great Barrier Reef as well. Just the fish alone make this area a rich and vibrant community.  And if that isn’t enough, there are over 5000 species of mollusks in the Great Barrier Reef. These include clams, octopus and squid.

    The star of the Great Barrier Reef and the builders of the reef are the over 400 species of coral. The coral is the keystone species that makes it desirable for all the other species to live there. These coral have many different shapes and colors that allow fish to hide from predators.

    Best things to See in Reef

    There are beautiful and unusual things to see in the Great Barrier Reef, such as the Giant Clams that can reach over 3 feet long (1 meter) and live into their 70’s.  The turtles are always very popular to see gliding through the water or grazing on the sea grass. These lovely creatures can live to be 100 years old or more.

    Animals and Fishing in Reef

    Commercial and private fishing is allowed on the Great Barrier Reef. It is a business that generates over $1 Billion annually and employs several thousand people along the Queensland coast. There are places within the Great Barrier Reef where no fishing or hunting is allowed by anyone.

    Tourism Development

    The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most popular places in the world to scuba dive and snorkel because of the diversity of sea life and the clear warm waters.  But there are also numerous boat excursions to watch whales from or glass bottom boats that allow an underwater view of the reef without even getting wet. Helicopters fly over the reef to allow tourist a birds-eye view of the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef. It is estimated that 1.4 million tourist visit the Great Barrier Reef every year.

    Tourism in the Great Barrier Reef generates about $4 Billion dollars per year. There are strict controls on the activities allowed in the reef area so that the coral isn’t damaged by boats and the sediment isn’t stirred up, clouding the water and damaging the coral. However, many advocates of the Great Barrier Reef argue that it should be closed to all human visitors in order to truly protect the species that call it home. There are places that are preserved and no one is allowed to be in those areas.

    Humans causing pollution in Reef

    Even in the vast Great Barrier Reef humans are causing pollution and contamination that is having a terrible effect on the coral. Some of the coral are suffering from diseases that are causing them to die. It is believed , and the research supports, that human activity in these areas are having a direct effect on the health of the coral. Where tourist “platforms” are located the coral is suffering from more disease than in other places in the Great Barrier Reef. These “platforms” are places where tourist boats drop off the visitors. From these platforms tourist can snorkel, scuba dive, eat, relax and take pictures.  It is believed that high amounts of sunscreen is settling in these areas as well as large amount of bird droppings, from birds resting on the platforms and in some cases, hoping to steal food for the distracted tourists.

    Another factor in certain areas is the agricultural runoff of chemicals from farms and ranches near the coastline in Queensland. This run-off contains fertilizers and pesticides that is changing the pH in some areas and upsetting the delicate balance needed for the coral to live.

    References:

    1.  UNESCO website: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154

    2. Australia Government: Department of Environment, Link to State Party report on the GBR, 2013

    3. http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/projectnet/how-the-gbr-twenty-thousand.html

    4. http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/plantsanimals/facts_plantanimal.htm