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A habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time to find a mate. The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area which differs somehow from the surrounding habitat.

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Habitats for Kids | Learn all about deserts, forests, grasslands, mountains, and more

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Learn About Habitats – Home of Animals & Plants!

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All living organisms, plants, and animals have a natural habitat. If we want to understand our animal friends better, we first need to know all about the different habitats found in the wild. Are you

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A habitat is the natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism. It provides the organisms that live there with food, water, shelter and space to survive.

Habitats consist of both biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living things. Abiotic factors are nonliving things

Types of Australian habitats

Coastal:

Coasts are places where the land meets the sea. Australia is an island and has a huge coastline that has many different habitats. Coastal habitats include beaches, sand dunes, rock pools, estuaries and mangroves

Coastal water is the seawater around the coast. It is usually more sheltered and shallower than the open ocean.

Beaches are very often very sandy areas. Beaches also include areas of rocks, dunes and crashing waves

Sand dunes are formed by the wind blowing off the ocean and dropping sand high along the beach. Storms and people easily damage sand dunes.

Rock pools and platforms are part of the rocky shore environment. Animals and plants in these habitats survive being flooded in high tide and drying out at low tide.

Estuaries are where the rivers and streams meet the sea. They provide important shelter for lots of young animals and plants.

Mangroves are groups of shrubs and trees that grow on the mud flats in coastal areas. These areas are often underwater at high tide

Freshwater:

Freshwater habitats include lakes, rivers, billabongs, wetlands and ponds. Many animals and plants live in or near these habitats. They rely on them to provide food, shelter and a place to breed.

Lakes are large areas of still water. Some large fresh water lakes dry up in times of drought.

Rivers are pathways of flowing water. The water can be fast flowing or flowing slowly. Some large rivers in Australia include the Murray River, the Derwent River and the Katherine River.

Streams are small flows of water. Sometimes they are called creeks or rivulets.

A pond is a small pool of still water.

Wetlands are areas with lots water plants such as reeds, grasses and lilies. Fresh water wetlands increase in size after rain. Lots of birds move into wetlands after rain.

Billabongs are small pools of water that appear next to rivers after heavy rain.

Forest:

Forests are places with tall trees and a thick canopy. In Australia the three main types of forest include dry forests, wet forests and rainforests.

The trees in dry forests usually do not grow as tall as trees in rainforests and wet forests. The trees are also not as close together, so their branches often do not overlap. This means lot of light can reach the ground. Grasses, shrubs and groundcovers often grow on the ground in dry forests.

Wet forests have very tall trees and they are usually found in areas where it rains a lot. The leaves of the trees come together to form a canopy which is quite thick. This means it is not easy to see the sky when you are standing in a wet forest.

Rainforests have trees of all different heights growing close together. Lots of the trees are tall and their leaves touch at the top to form a thick canopy. When you look up in a rainforest you can only see small patches of sky. Rainforests can be very wet and dark environments because light from the sun does not get to the ground very often.

Woodland:

Woodlands are places where the trees are spaced apart with heath and grassland in between. They often have open grassy spaces as well as clumps of trees, rocks and bushes.

Woodlands have medium sized trees that do not grow very close together. Common trees in these habitats include eucalypts. Woodlands are good habitats for many kinds of animals.

Natural grasslands are areas where the most common plants are native grasses. Tussock grass often grows in these habitats.

Cliffs and rocky areas provide important shelter for many animals and plants.

Heath areas are places where the most common plants are low shrubs. During the winter and spring these areas can be covered in wildflowers.

Arid:

Australia is the second driest continent in the world. This does not mean that areas without fresh water do not have plants and animals. In fact, arid zone habitats are full of life. Some arid zone habitats include tall shrubs, heath, grasslands, sandy areas and rocky areas.

Tall shrub areas have small eucalypt, mulga and acacia trees. These trees usually have roots that force their way deep into the soil to find water.

Heath areas are covered in bluebush and saltbush plants. These shrubs are bushy and grow close to the ground. There are many different types of heath found across Australia.

Spinifex grass often grows in arid zone grasslands. Spinifex has leaves that are hard and spiky like needles. This stops the plant from losing lots of water.

Sand dunes are made by the wind as it blows across the desert. Once a small dune forms it acts as a barrier to the wind. Sand then drops on its slopes and the dune gets bigger.

Rocky areas provide important shelter for many animals and plants. Caves, cracks and ledges make good homes and a cool place to shelter.

Antarctic:

Many animals live in and visit Antarctica and the islands around it. Antarctic habitats include pack ice, mountains and the surrounding seas.

Pack ice is often seen as huge floating pieces. It forms in the winter months when it becomes so cold that the sea surrounding Antarctica freezes.

The mountains in Antarctica are often entirely covered by an ice sheet which can be up to 4 km thick. Only the highest Antarctic mountains are seen through the top of this ice-cap. This ice covers 98% of Antarctica leaving only a few bare rocky areas.

In the sub-Antarctic region there are lots of small islands. Some of these islands like Australia's Heard Island are almost completely capped by glaciers. Others, such as Macquarie Island, are ice-free and have no permanent snow cover.

The seas around Antarctica are full of life. Whales, seals and krill, and birds such as penguins and albatross all live in or rely on these waters.

Urban:

Lots of people live in big cities and towns. Many Australian plants and animals have adapted to live with us in our gardens, buildings, parks and harbours. Find out what might live in your backyard.

Garden-Lots of animals and plants like to share our gardens with us. Some people create special habitats to encourage animals and plants to live in their yards. Ponds, bird baths and native plants are some ways to make your garden more appealing to local animals.

Harbours are sheltered ports where ships often load or unload their cargo. They can be busy places with ferries, water taxis and many other boats getting around on them.

Parks are open natural places in town and cities. There are lots of different types of parks but they all are places where plants and animals live.

High-rise buildings-Big cities often have very tall buildings. While these areas often have little native habitat left some animals still find food and shelter in the middle of the city.

Houses are not just homes for us, but animals and plants often live in them too.

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Explore seven different animal and plant habitats of Australia: Coasts, Freshwater, Antarctica, Forests, Woodlands, Arid Zone and Urban.

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A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home.

Subjects

Biology, Geography, Physical Geography

A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home. A habitat meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to survive. For an animal, that means everything it needs to find and gather food, select a mate, and successfully reproduce.

For a plant, a good habitat must provide the right combination of light, air, water, and soil. For example, the prickly pear cactus, which is adapted for sandy soil, dry climates, and bright sunlight, grows well in desert areas like the Sonoran Desert in northwest Mexico. It would not thrive in wet, cool areas with a large amount of overcast (shady) weather, like the U.S. states of Oregon or Washington.

The main components of a habitat are shelter, water, food, and space. A habitat is said to have a suitable arrangement when it has the correct amount of all of these. Sometimes, a habitat can meet some components of a suitable arrangement, but not all.

For example, a habitat for a puma could have the right amount of food (deer, porcupine, rabbits, and rodents), water (a lake, river, or spring), and shelter (trees or dens on the forest floor). The puma habitat would not have a suitable arrangement, however, if it lacks enough space for this large predator to establish its own territory. An animal might lose this component of habitat-space-when humans start building homes and businesses, pushing an animal into an area too small for it to survive.

Space

The amount of space an organism needs to thrive varies widely from species to species. For example, the common carpenter ant needs only a few square inches for an entire colony to develop tunnels, find food, and complete all the activities it needs to survive. In contrast, cougars are very solitary, territorial animals that need a large amount of space. Cougars can cover 455 square kilometers (175 square miles) of land to hunt and find a mate. A cougar could not survive in the same amount of space that a carpenter ant needs.

Plants need space, too. Coast redwood trees, like the ones in Redwood National Park in the U.S. state of California, can reach more than 4.5 meters (15 feet) in diameter and 106 meters (350 feet) in height. A tree that massive would not have enough space to grow and thrive in a typical community park or yard.

Space is not the same as range; the range of an animal is the part of the world it inhabits. Grassland, for example, is the habitat of the giraffe, but the animal's range is central, eastern, and southern Africa.

Food

The availability of food is a crucial part of a habitat's suitable arrangement. For example, in the northern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, black bears eat mostly plants, like clover, dandelions, and blueberries. If there were a drought, plants would become scarce. Even though the habitat would still have space (large forest), shelter (caves, forest floor), water (streams and lakes), and some food, it wouldn't have enough to eat. It would no longer be a suitable arrangement.

Too much food can also disrupt a habitat. Algae is a microscopic aquatic organism that makes its own food through the process of photosynthesis. Nutrients like phosphorous contribute to the spread of algae. When a freshwater habitat has a sharp increase in phosphorous, algae "blooms," or reproduces quickly. Algae also dies very quickly, and the decaying algae produces an algal bloom. The algal bloom can discolor the water, turning it green, red, or brown. Algal blooms can also absorb oxygen from the water, destroying the habitat of organisms like fish and plants. Excess nutrients for algae can destroy the habitat's food chain.

Water

Water is essential to all forms of life. Every habitat must have some form of a water supply. Some organisms need a lot of water, while others need very little. For example, dromedary camels are known for their ability to carry goods and people for long distances without needing much water. Dromedary camels, which have one hump, can travel 161 kilometers (100 miles) without a drink of water. Even with very little access to water in a hot, dry climate, dromedary camels have a suitable arrangement in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Cattails, on the other hand, are plants that grow best in wet areas, like marshes and swamps. Dense colonies of these tall, spiky plants grow directly in the mud beneath lakes, stream banks, and even neighborhood ponds. A cattail habitat's suitable arrangement depends on water. Imagine a pond at the bottom of a dirt-covered cliff. If enough loose dirt slid down into the pond, it could fill up the pond and absorb the water, not leaving enough for the cattails to grow.

Shelter

An organism's shelter protects it from predators and weather. Shelter also provides a space for eating, sleeping, hunting, and raising a family. Shelters come in many forms. A single tree, for example, can provide sheltered habitats for many different organisms. For a caterpillar, shelter might be the underside of a leaf. For a mushroom fungus, shelter might be the cool, damp area near tree roots. For a bald eagle, shelter may be a high perch to make a nest and watch for food.

Fast Fact

Red-Eyed Tree Frog
The red-eyed tree frogs habitat is in tropical areas from southern Mexico to northern South America. Although they are not endangered, their habitat is growing smaller. If their rainforest home continues to shrink, the red-eyed tree frog will not have the space it needs to survive.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrators

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

Editors

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home.

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What are forest and woodland habitats?

Forests and woodlands are places where there are mostly trees. There are many different kinds of forests in different climates, but trees are the one thing they have in common!

Forests provide everything that the creatures who live there need - food, water and shelter. Forests can be hot or cold, with different kinds of trees in different climates around the world. There are deciduous forests, coniferous forests, and rainforests - just to name a few!

Top 10 facts

The main thing to know about forest and woodland habitats is that they are areas that have a lot of trees pretty close to each other.

Woodlands are a little more open than forests - woodlands have space to let a bit of light in between trees, while forests have so many trees that it's actually pretty dark when you walk around.

Trees can grow pretty much anywhere in the world, as long as it's in a spot that has enough water for them. Because of that, forest habitats can be very different depending where in the world they are.

There are many different kinds of trees, but a couple of the main groups are coniferous trees and deciduous trees.

Coniferous trees are trees that produce seeds in cones, like pine trees and spruce trees (Christmas trees!)

Deciduous trees are trees that lose their leaves in the winter, but grow them back in the summer.

Fruits and nuts found in the forest make a perfect meal for animals who live there, so they don't have to search too far to find food.

Forests also provide shelter for animals, whether it's within the tree roots or trunks, or high up in the branches.

Animals that live in forests and woodlands include big animals like bears, moose and deer, and smaller animals like hedgehogs, raccoons and rabbits.

Because we use trees to make paper, we need to be careful about what that does to forest habitats. One way to care for forests is to recycle paper.

Did you know?

Forest and woodland habitats are places that have a lot of trees. If you can see more trees around you than patches of grass and open spaces, chances are you're in a forest!

Trees grow pretty much everywhere, but not all trees are the same. Two main groups of trees are:

Coniferous - conifers are trees that grow cones and have thin, needle-like or scaly spikes for leaves, which is where their seeds are stored; pine trees, fir trees and spruce trees are conifers (and they are the kind of trees that we decorate at Christmas!)

Deciduous - deciduous trees have flat leaves that change colours in the autumn, fall off in the winter, and grow back in the spring; oak trees and maple trees are deciduous

You'll mostly find forests of conifer trees along the northern parts of the world. These are also called boreal forests.
Conifer leaves stay green all year round, so they are also called evergreens (meaning 'always green').

Coniferous forests have short summers and long winters, so animals there need to be able to keep warm for a long time. Some birds and butterflies go south, and some animals hibernate, which means they sleep during the coldest times of the year.

Deciduous forests are dotted all over the place, but mostly along the eastern side of North America, central and northern Europe, and northeast Asia. These forests look very pretty in the autumn when all the leaves change from green to red, orange and yellow.

Deciduous forests don't provide much shelter in the winter because all the leaves are gone from the trees. So, animals need to store up enough food for the winter, or hibernate.

Conkers are the seeds of a deciduous tree called a horse chestnut tree.

Acorns are the seeds of a deciduous tree called an oak tree.

Animals and insects who live in forest and woodland habitats rely on the trees to give them what they need - shelter, food, and protection from other creatures higher up the food chain. They also use the streams and ponds within forests to get water and (if they're the sort of animal that eats them) fish.

Animals in grasslands have to work really hard to make shelters for themselves in the ground or find places to hide in tall grass. But, animals in forests can hide inside dead trees, around tree roots, or climb way up into the tree branches.

One way we can help care for forest and woodland habitats is to recycle paper! We get paper from trees, so the more paper we can recycle (which means making new paper from old paper), the fewer trees have to be cut down to make new paper.

You often find forests on the slopes of high mountains, but when it gets too high up the mountain and it gets too cold, the forests stops all at once. This is called the tree line. Above this line there often aren't many plants at all - just snow and rocks.

Forest and woodland gallery:

A map showing where you can find coniferous forests

A map showing where you can find most of the forests of deciduous trees around the world (in dark green)

The food chain in a coniferous forest

The food chain in a deciduous forest:

A conifer forest

Conifer leaves

A deciduous forest

Black bear

Moose

Porcupine

Great grey owl (it looks like the branch it's sitting on!)

Siberian tiger

Hedgehog

Opossum

Leaves in autumn

Bluebells in UK woodland

Sunlight through the trees

Gallery

About

The words 'forest' and 'woodland' mean pretty much the same thing, but there is a tiny difference. A woodland has an open canopy, meaning if you stand in the middle of a woodland and look up at the sky, you can see a bit more sky than you can leaves and branches. Forests are much more dense (there are more trees, and closer together), and if you look up at the sky you'd only just see a little bit of it in the middle of all the tree branches.

Parts of a forest are:

The forest floor, which is where all the dead leaves and branches fall, where animals leave bits of their dinner and where mushrooms grow. It's sometimes called the recycling layer because it's where everything in the forest falls down, breaks down and becomes part of the ground again to help more plants and trees grow.

Looking up a little bit, you can see the herb layer, which includes all the ferns and flowers that grow along the forest floor.

A little above that is the shrub layer, which includes larger plants like bushes and shrubs that have woody twigs and branches.

The understory of the forest is all the trees that are still growing - they haven't reached the same height as most of the trees in the forest, but they're getting there.

The canopy is what we call the tree branches and leaves that join up with other tree branches and leaves nearby, forming something like an umbrella over the forest.

The emergent layer is what we call trees that poke through the canopy - they've just kept growing faster than the trees around them, and reached up over everything else.

The leaves of deciduous trees change colour because the trees are getting ready for winter. As the weather gets colder in the autumn months, there is less light and water for trees. They begin to slow themselves down in preparation for cold winter months and stop producing food ( photosynthesis). As green chlorophyll leaves the leaves, all that's left are the red, orange and yellow colours we see around the month of October. The leaves die and fall off the tree, but the tree will grow more leaves when the weather warms up in the spring so it can start making food again.

When spring comes in deciduous forests, plants shorter than trees (like flowers on the forest floor) grow very quickly to make sure they get enough light before leaves start growing on the trees, which will stop most of the sun's rays from coming into the forest.

The leaves on conifer trees don't fall off in the winter - they stay on all year long. They are dark green because this helps them get the most energy from the sun even if there's not a lot of light.

Some of the animals that you'll find in coniferous forests are:

Some of the animals that live in deciduous forests include:

Some of the insects you'll find in coniferous forests include:

Some of the insects you'll find in deciduous forests are:

Some of the trees and flowers in coniferous forests are:

Douglas fir tree

Ponderosa pine tree

Redwood tree

Saskatoon berry shrub

Thimbleberry bush

White spruce tree

Some of the trees and flowers in deciduous forests are:

Words to know:

Acorn - the seed of an oak tree
Boreal - forests of conifer trees in the northern parts of the world
Cone - what conifer trees have instead of flowers; cones hold their seeds so they stay safe until they are ready to try to grow
Coniferous - trees that have spiky or scaly leaves that stay green all year round
Deciduous - trees that have broad, flat leaves that change colour in the autumn and fall off in the winter
Hibernation - a long sleep that animals take in the winter to save up energy and warmth

Related Videos

Just for fun...

Children's books about forest and woodland habitats

Find out more about forest and woodland habitat:

See for yourself

Find woodland near you and explore it!

Look at a beautiful collection of different kinds of tree bark from Roby Milling's countryside blog

Brilliant woodland activities to try, including building a dam, making a rope swing and blackberry picking
Walk in a virtual forest in the UK
On the Woodland Trust's YouTube channel you can see a playlist featuring videos of A Year in the Life of lots of different trees

Birdwatch in the forest and track what you see

Consult the Ancient Tree Inventory and see if there are any very old trees near where you live

Explore temperate forests in Arizona and Colorado in the USA and move between summer, fall, and winter seasons, all in virtual reality

Also see

Give your child a headstart

FREE articles & expert information

FREE resources & activities

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Fascinating facts, did-you-knows, picture gallery, videos, just for fun and more all about forest and woodland habitats

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A forest is a piece of land with many trees. Many animals need forests to live and survive. Forests are very important and grow in many places around the world. They are an ecosystem which includes many plants and animals.

Temperature and rainfall are the two most important things for forests. Many places are too cold or too dry for them. Forests can exist from the equator to near the polar regions, but different climates have different kinds of forests. In cold climates conifers dominate, but in temperate zone and tropical climates forests are mainly made up of flowering plants. Different rainfall also makes different kinds of forest. No forests exist in deserts, just a few trees in places where their roots can get at some underground water.

Forest biomes

The three major forest biomes are coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and tropical rain forests.

Coniferous forests

Coniferous forests stretch across Canada, Alaska, Northern Asia, and Northern Europe. Their main trees are evergreen conifers which produce seeds in cones.

The weather during the winter is cold, but when snow melts in the spring, some parts of the forest become swamps. There are not many different types of trees in coniferous forests because of the cold weather, and the poor soil. Fallen branches, needles, and dead animals do not decay as fast as in warmer regions. This is why the soil in coniferous forests is not very fertile. Also, only those trees that have adapted to cold weather and poor soil can survive. These trees have flexible branches that support heavy snowfalls. Less water evaporates from their leaves because of the shape of their needles.

Many coniferous trees shade large parts of the soil below them, which keeps many plants from growing on the forest ground. Some animals that live in the coniferous forests are pine martens, deer, bears, caribou, moose, lynes, heavers, and birds such as grey owls, crossbills, and marblers.

Deciduous forests

Deciduous forests mostly grow in the temperate zone of North America, Europe and Asia. They have a moderate climate during the spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter, with rainfall of at least 500mm a year. Summers are warm and winters are cold, but not as cold as the northern coniferous forests. In the winter, snow covers the ground and the deciduous trees and plants lose their leaves. The decaying leaves help make the soil rich in nutrients. Many insects, spiders, snails, and worms make their homes in this rich soil. Wild flowers and ferns grow almost everywhere in the spring. New leaves capture the energy of the sun and sprout before the tall trees shadow them.

During the winter, many birds migrate to warmer climate. Many small animals hibernate or aestivate, in other words, slow down their metabolism and sleep or stay in their burrows. Some of the other animals just slow down their metabolism and eat food they stored during the summer and fall months. The trees in winter are bare, but with the coming of spring, leaves sprout, birds return, animals are born, and all the forest animals get busy with their lives. Animals that we may see or hear in this biome include bears, deer, raccoons, otters, beavers, foxes, frogs, squirrels, snakes, salamanders, and birds such as woodpeckers, robins, owls, blue jays and the small birds usually called tits.

Some deciduous forests grow in tropical places that do not have a winter but do have a wet season and a dry season.

Rainforests

Tropical rainforests grow in South America, the Congo, Indonesia and some nearby countries, Hawaii, and eastern Australia. Tropical rainforests are aptly named, as it rains here on about half the days. The only season in a tropical rain forest is summer, so plants grow for all 12 months of the year. Trees are tall and thick in the rain forest and they grow so close together that they seem to form a big umbrella of greenery called a canopy. This blocks out most of the sunlight. The air is muggy as it filters through the dense canopy cover of the trees. The light that filters through this tree cover is dim and green. Only along river banks and in places that have been cleared does enough sunlight allow plants to grow on the forest ground.

Millions of species of plants and animals live in the world's tropical forests. Life in the rain forest exists at different levels or layers in the trees. Each layer has a name, such as 'emergent', 'canopy', 'understory', and 'forest floor. Animal life is found on all levels.

Related pages

Images for kids

Spiny forest at Ifaty, Madagascar, featuring various (baobab) species, Alluaudia procera (Madagascar ocotillo) and other vegetation

In Spanish: Bosque para niños

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Grassland Facts for Kids (All You Need to Know!)

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Easy Science for Kids All About Grasslands - What Plants and Animals Are Found in Them? Learn more about Grasslands with our Fun Science Site for Kids!

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What are grassland habitats?

Grassland habitats have mostly... well... grass! You won't find lots of trees in grasslands, and they get more rain than deserts but not as much as woodlands.

Grassland habitats can be found in many places around the world, and in a variety of climates. They are sometimes called other names, such as prairies, savannahs, steppes or pampas, depending on where in the world they are and the sort of climate there. Animals have adapted to the fact that grasslands don't have many places to hide from predators by making homes in the ground, or by being tall enough to see over high grasses and shrubs.

Top 10 facts

Grassland habitats can be found on more than 40% of the land on Earth. They are wide, open areas where mostly grass and flowers grow.

Grassland habitats are very common, and there are many different kinds depending on the sort of climate they're found in.

Two main kinds of grasslands are tropical and temperate. Tropical grasslands are warmer than temperate grasslands.

Tropical grasslands are located between the near the equator, and they stay pretty hot all year long. Savannahs in Africa are tropical grasslands.

Temperate grasslands are located further away from the equator in both the northern and southern hemispheres. They can get very cold in the winter.

Grasslands can be good for growing crops and feeding livestock, so many grasslands have been used for farming. This means that grassland animals can't live there anymore, though.

Grassland habitats get enough rain for grass to grow and cover the ground, but they don't have the right rain and other conditions for trees to grow.

The grass found in grassland habitats can be different lengths depending on exactly how much rainfall there is. For instance, tall grass will grow where there's a lot of heat and moisture. In grasslands where it can be colder and drier, the grass will be short.

A huge variety of animals and insects live in grassland habitats. They range from creepy crawlies deep in the soil, to reptiles, birds, and small and large mammals above ground.

There are many different kinds of grassland habitats in the UK. Do you know where one is near where you live?

Did you know?

Grasslands take up over 40% of the land on Earth's surface.

Grasslands really do have a lot of grass! There is enough rainfall for grass to grow, but not for lots of trees - so, grassland is a large, open space.

The baobab tree grows in the African savannah. In the rainy season it stores water (up to 120,000 litres!) in a huge, swollen trunk, and that allows it to survive the dry season and months of drought when no rain falls.

Some of the largest land animals in the world live in grassland habitats, like elephants, bison and ostriches - the largest bird in the world.

American prairie dogs, who live on grassland in north America, make their homes in huge underground colonies called towns. It is estimated that a prairie dog town found in 1900 was home to an incredible 400 million prairie dogs!

There are many different kinds of grassland habitats right here in the UK! These include:

limestone grasslands (can be found in the Cotswolds, Peak District, Yorkshire, Wiltshire)

marshy grasslands (can be found in Devon, Cornwall and Wales)

acid grasslands (can be found in the New Forest)

lowland meadows and pastures (can be found in Hereford, Worcestershire, Somerset, Dorset, East Anglia and the Weald)

upland hay meadows (can be found in the North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria)

calaminarian grasslands (can be found in the North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, the Mendips, Derbyshire and Cornwall)

Because there aren't a lot of trees, there aren't many places for animals to hide from predators. So, some have adapted to the habitat by making homes underground. Meerkats do this, but they're a little mean about it - they take burrows that other animals have made and fix them up for themselves.

Grassland habitat gallery:

Gallery

About

In regions that are too dry for trees to grow close together in large numbers, grass dominates the landscape. Grass is a very tough plant and it grows in huge abundance, so large herds of animals can find enough of it to it (just one bison in north America can eat up to 15kg of grass a day!).

Temperate grasslands are often found in the middle of continents. In the United States of America the grassland is called prairie and in central Asia it is known as steppe.

Tropical grassland is in hot climates which have wet and dry seasons and is known as savannah or savanna.

Because grasslands are so wide open, they offer a good-sized area for animals to travel in large packs called herds. Zebras, wildebeests, kangaroo and bison all travel in herds.

The soil in grasslands is very rich with nutrients and good for growing crops. So, grasslands are used for farming. It's important to balance how much grassland is turned into farms, because it changes the habitat that grassland animals can live in.

Plants found in grassland habitats include:

grasses, long and short

sunflowers

goldenrod

clover

wildflowers

cottonwood trees

acacia trees

baobab trees

Animals and insects that live in grassland habitats include:

Bees

Bison (also called buffalo)

Butterflies

Elephants

Giraffes

Greater rhea

Ground squirrels

Hyenas

Lions

Maned wolves

Meerkats

Mongoose

Monkeys

Prairie dogs

Ostriches

Termites

Zebras

Words to know for grassland habitats:

Prairie - a temperate grassland (and a kind of steppe) usually found in North America; herds of bison live on the prairie
Savannah - a type of tropical grassland that might get all its rainfall in one season (summer or winter); the grasslands of Africa are mostly savannahs, where lions, zebras, elephants and giraffes live
Steppe - a temperate or tropical grassland that only has trees near lakes and rivers; located in places including southern Russia, central Asia, southern South America, the central United States and western Canada
Veld - a term used to describe the grasslands in southern Africa; the Veld has nature reserves where cheetahs, lions, antelopes and hippopotami live
Pampas - grasslands in South America that include Uruguay and parts of Brazil and Argentina; the maned wolf and greater rhea live in the Pampas

Related Videos

Just for fun...
Can you tell what kind of creatures live in the African savannah?
Choose colours for this picture of an African grassland, then drag and drop animals into it

Make your own paper savannah diorama and grassy plain diorama

Try the BBC's Food chains challenge: Savannah

The prairie is one of North America's great ecosystems. Can you restore one digitally with the Build-A-Prairie game?
Habitat colouring in, including grassland scenes
Show off your grasslands knowledge with a CBBC grasslands quiz

Best books about grassland habitats for children

Find out more about grassland habitats

An introduction to grasslands

Look at an annotated cross-section of the African savannah

The World Wildlife Fund overview of grassland habitats

World biomes: savannahs

Information about North American prairies and steppes

Find out about the animals and plants of the savannah and the prairie and steppe
Grassland habitats in the UK
Information to help you explore a meadow in the UK

See for yourself

On Africam you can watch free live video streams of the African savannah and its wildlife: elephants, zebras, giraffes and more

Look through a photogallery of grassland habitats from the BBC

Download a grassland spotting kit and go on a learning walk in your closest meadow

Also see

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Grassland habitats have mostly... well... grass! You won't find lots of trees in grasslands, and they get more rain than deserts but not as much as woodlands. Grassland habitats can be found in many places around the world, and in a variety of climates.

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Kids learn about the taiga forest biome. The largest of the land biomes is known for its evergreen trees.

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Science for Kids: Temperate Forest Biome

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Kids learn about the temperate forest biome. Four distinct seasons and lots of trees.

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Kids learn about the grasslands biome. Flat with few trees, these ecosystems feed much of the world.

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links

LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones. The firstzone is the tree stratum zone. It is the tallest zone and trees here range from 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters) tall. Maple, elm, and oak trees are just some examples of trees found in this zone. The second zone is the small tree and sapling zone. Younger, shorter trees characterize this zone. The shrub zone is the third zone. Shrubs include mountain laurel, huckleberries, and many others. The fourth zone is the herb zone, and contains short herbal plants, like ferns. The Ground zone is the final zone where plants grow directly near the ground. Some plants that grow here are lichens and mosses.

WEATHER: This biome has four changing seasons including winter, spring, summer, and fall. These seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth's axis. Throughout the year, rays from the sun hit different parts of the world more directly than others, causing varying temperatures, or seasons. If the Earth were not tilted on an axis, temperatures around the globe would always be the same. Temperate deciduous forests also have quite a wet environment. Following rainforests, temperate deciduous forests are the second-rainiest biome. The average yearly precipitation is 30 - 60 inches (75 - 150 cm). This precipitation falls throughout the year, but in the winter it falls as snow. The average temperature in temperate deciduous forests is 50°F (10°C). Summers are mild, and average about 70°F (21°C), while winter temperatures are often well below freezing.

PLANTS: Trees and plants in deciduous forests have special adaptations to survive in this biome. Deciduous trees are trees with leaves rather than pine needles, and they dominate temperate forests. As the seasons change each year, so do the leaves. Each year deciduous trees lose their leaves, and grow them back. In the summer their broad green leaves capture sunlight and help the trees make food through photosynthesis. As temperatures cool in the fall, the chlorophyll (green pigment in leaves) breaks down, causing the beautiful red, yellow and orange leaf colors of fall. In the cold winter, deciduous trees and plants go into dormancy, kind of like sleep. It is too cold for them to protect their leaves from the damage of freezing in the winter, so they simply lse them and seal up the places where the leaves attach to the branch. The warmer spring days signal to the trees that they can grow new leaves again, and restart the cycle.

ANIMALS: Animals in temperate deciduous forests have to adapt to changing seasons. They must be able to cope with cold winters and hot summers. Some animals hibernate or migrate during the winter to escape the cold. Animals who do not hibernate or migrate must have special adaptations to deal with higher exposure to predators in the winter. When leaves fall, there is less cover for animals in this biome to hide from predators.

The black bear is an animal that is well adapted for the temperate deciduous forest biome. It has a heavy coat made of many layers of fur to deal with the winter cold. Black bears have long claws that help them to climb trees.This is an essential adaptation because black bears often live in hollowed trees. Black bears are omnivores, so they eat plants and animals. Most of their diet is composed of plant material, so their long claws are useful to get their food from trees and shrubs. They also hibernate to avoid having to find food in the snowy, frozen winter.

PEOPLE AND THE TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST: Temperate forests are very important to people as they provide enjoyment as well as many resources including food, timber, and oxygen for us to breathe. However, we are also the cause of some major threats to this biome, one of which is acid rain. Acid rain caused by industrial and vehicle emissions damages the leaves of trees, and causes them to produce smaller and fewer seeds. It also reduces the trees' resistance to disease, pests, and frost. Clear cutting of forests is also a threat to this biome. Trees are cut for timber and land cleared for agriculture. Another problem associated with deciduous forests is the introduction of non-native plant and animal species because it upsets the balance of the forest ecosystem. Non-natives may compete for food and habitat space, possibly threatening the native species.

Although these threats may be worrisome, there are many things that you can do to help protect this unique biome. First of all, you can recycle. Trees are used to make the paper for paper bags, newspapers, printer paper, and many more products we use each day. If you recycle used paper, and make the effort to buy recycled paper, you will be reducing the need to cut down more trees. Also be sure to use both sides of the paper that you write on before you recycle it. Use cloth products instead of paper products, like napkins, towels, plates, and cups. These products can be washed and used again, which helps to save trees. Drive less, and carpool when possible. Car exhaust is one of the main contributors to acid rain. Walk or ride your bike to help keep our environment clean. If you are buying furniture, lumber, or any other wood product, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label. This label indicates that the trees were grown in a well-managed forest. Learn more about forests. By reading, searching the Internet, and visiting temperate deciduous forests, you can learn lots of cool things about this biome. You can also teach other people about what you have learned. If we want to continue to enjoy temperate deciduous forests, the products that come from them, and protect the unique habitats within them, we must be sure to do our best to take care of this important biome.
GAMES: LINKS: Geography for Kids: Deciduous Forest Blue Planet Biomes: Deciduous Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Ecokids Forests Shades of Green: Earth's Forests
Back to Biomes Index

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Location | Weather | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links LOCATION: Most temperate, deciduous (leaf-shedding) forests are located in the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia. Deciduous forests are broken up into five zones.The firstzone is the tree stratum zone.

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Science for Kids: Savanna Grasslands Biome

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Kids learn about the savanna grasslands biome. This tropical ecosystem is full of large herbivores like zebras, giraffes, and wildebeests.

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Ocean Animals for Kids | Learn all about the Animals and Plants that Live in the Ocean

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Ocean Habitats: Ocean Life Education Primary Curriculum Resource 1

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An ocean is a large area of salt water between continents. Oceans are very big and they join smaller seas together. Together, the oceans are like one "ocean", because all the "oceans" are joined. Oceans (or marine biomes) cover 72% of our planet. The largest ocean is the Pacific Ocean. It covers 1/3 (one third) of the Earth's surface. Big and small fish of different types are found in oceans. Crabs, starfish, sharks, whales etc are found in oceans.

The smallest ocean is the Arctic Ocean. Different water movements separate the Southern Ocean from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Southern ocean is also called the Antarctic Ocean, because it covers the area around Antarctica. Older maps may not use the names Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean.

The deepest ocean is the Pacific ocean. The deepest point is the Mariana Trench, being about 11,000 metres (36,200 feet) deep. The deep ocean is characterized by cold temperatures, high pressure, and complete darkness. Some very unusual organisms live in this part of the ocean. They do not require energy from the sun to survive, because they use chemicals from deep inside the Earth (see hydrothermal vent).

Although many people believe that the oceans are blue because the water reflects the blue sky, this is actually not true. Water has a very slight blue color that can only be seen when there is a lot of water. However, the main cause of the blue or blue/green color of the oceans is that water absorbs the red part of the incoming light, and reflects the green and blue part of the light. We then see the reflected light as the color of water.

Plants and animals

Organisms that live in oceans can live in salt water. They are affected by sunlight, temperature, water pressure, and water movement. Different ocean organisms live near the surface, in shallow waters, and in deep waters. Small plant organisms that live near the surface and use sunlight to produce food are called phytoplankton. Almost all animals in the ocean depend directly or indirectly on these plants. In shallow water, you may find lobsters and crabs. In deeper water, marine animals of many different shapes and sizes swim through the ocean. These include many types of fish, such as tuna, swordfish and marine mammals like dolphins and whales. The skies above the open ocean are home to large sea birds, such as the albatross.

As it is thought that life evolved in the ocean, the diversity of life is immense, including:

Bacteria : ubiquitous single-celled prokaryotes found throughout the world

Archaea : prokaryotes distinct from bacteria, that inhabit many environments of the ocean, as well as many extreme environments

Algae : algae is a "catch-all" term to include many photosynthetic, single-celled eukaryotes, such as green algae, diatoms, and dinoflagellates, but also multicellular algae, such as some red algae (including organisms like Pyropia, which is the source of the edible nori seaweed), and brown algae (including organisms like kelp).

Plants : including sea grasses, or mangroves

Fungi : many marine fungi with diverse roles are found in oceanic environments

Animals : most animal phyla have species that inhabit the ocean, including many that are only found in marine environments such as sponges, Cnidaria (such as corals and jellyfish), comb jellies, Brachiopods, and Echinoderms (such as sea urchins and sea stars). Many other familiar animal groups primarily live in the ocean, including cephalopods (includes octopus and squid), crustaceans (includes lobsters, crabs, and shrimp), fish, sharks, cetaceans (includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises).

In addition, many land animals have adapted to living a major part of their life on the oceans. For instance, seabirds are a diverse group of birds that have adapted to a life mainly on the oceans. They feed on marine animals and spend most of their lifetime on water, many only going on land for breeding. Other birds that have adapted to oceans as their living space are penguins, seagulls and pelicans. Seven species of turtles, the sea turtles, also spend most of their time in the oceans.

Harvesting the ocean

Nations like Russia and Japan have lots of huge ships that go to some of the world's best fishing areas for many months. These large ships have libraries, hospitals, schools, repair (fixing) shops and other things that are needed for fishermen and their families.

Many people look at the sea as a source of food, minerals and energy.

According to the FishBase.org website, there are 33,200 known species of fish, and many of them live in the oceans. Many of these fish are a fine source of protein, so many people eat them.

Fishing industries are very important because they make jobs and give food to millions of people. Today, usually through ocean fishing, the ocean supplies about 2% of the calories needed by people.

Tuna, anchovies, and herring are harvested close to the surface of the ocean. Pollock, flounder and cod are caught near the ocean floor. More than a million tons of herring are caught every year in the North Pacific and North Atlantic, and almost eight fish out of ten fish are eaten as food for humans. The other fish are used as fertilizer, glue, and pet and other animal food.

Ocean temperatures

There are many different ocean temperatures in the open ocean, both vertically (from top to bottom) and horizontally. Icebergs are made over very cold waters at either pole, while waters at the equator are pretty warm. Water cools and warms more slowly than land does, so land influenced by the ocean has later and milder seasons than land that is farther away from the ocean.

The surface part of the ocean, also called the mixed layer, is not much colder even when we go deeper down. Below this surface zone is a layer of sudden temperature difference, called a thermocline. This is a middle layer hat is from the surface zone down to about 2,600 feet (800 m). Thermoclines may happen only at seasons or permanently, and may change depending on where and how deep it is. As evaporation happens, it begins cooling, and if the water evaporates very quickly, the water becomes saltier. The salty, cold water is denser, so it sinks. This is why warm and cold waters do not easily mix. Most animals and plants live in the warm upper layer. Below the thermocline, temperature in the deep zone is so cold it is just above freezing - between 32 - 37.4 F (0 - 3 C).

Extraterrestrial oceans

Although Earth is the only known planet with large stable bodies of liquid water on its surface and the only one in the Solar System, other celestial bodies are thought to have large oceans.

The gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, are thought to lack surfaces and instead have a stratum of liquid hydrogen; however their planetary geology is not well understood. The possibility of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune having hot, highly compressed, supercritical water under their thick atmospheres has been hypothesised.

Although their composition is still not fully understood, a 2006 study by Wiktorowicz and Ingersall ruled out the possibility of such a water "ocean" existing on Neptune, though some studies have suggested that exotic oceans of liquid diamond are possible.

The Mars ocean hypothesis suggests that nearly a third of the surface of Mars was once covered by water, though the water on Mars is no longer oceanic (much of it residing in the ice caps). The possibility continues to be studied along with reasons for their apparent disappearance. Astronomers think that Venus had liquid water and perhaps oceans in its very early history. If they existed, all later vanished via resurfacing.

Images for kids

The Atlantic, one component of the system, makes up 23% of the "global ocean".

Ocean chlorophyll concentration is a proxy for phytoplankton biomass. In this map, blue colors represent lower chlorophyll and reds represent higher chlorophyll. Satellite-measured chlorophyll is estimated based on ocean color by how green the color of the water appears from space.

Map of the Gulf Stream, a major ocean current that transports heat from the equator to northern latitudes and moderates the climate of Europe.

In Spanish: Océano para niños

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Ocean habitats cover over two thirds of the earth's surface! Find out more in this Bitesize Primary KS1 Science guide.

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Rainforest Animals 🐅🌴 - Animals for Kids - Educational Video

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Explore the Rainforest! | Ecology for Kids

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15 rainforest facts | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at Nat Geo Kids to discover 15 cool rainforest facts. Learn fascinating facts about the rainforest's trees, plants, people and more...

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Rainforest habitats are full of amazing plants and animals! Find out more in this Bitesize Primary KS1 Science guide.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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How Do Animals Survive in the Arctic? 🐻‍❄️ - Animals for Kids - Educational Video

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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But have you ever wondered what plants and animals live in a polar habitat and how they survive in the cold?

Well, wrap up warm, we're off to the Arctic Circle to find out!

Brrr... It looks really cold here.

There are not many plants that can grow here as all the water is frozen. But this small bank of moss survives by growing close to the ground, keeping it out of the freezing wind.

And there's an animal here that only lives in the Arctic, but I think it's hiding...

There it is! A polar bear!

Its thick fur helps it to hide and keep warm in the freezing cold.

Plus an Arctic fox. It can hear its prey, deep under the snow.

And a bird! The snowy owl. They nest on the ground as there are no trees.

And what about the South Pole on the other side of the Earth? What will we find in Antarctica?

Oooh, it looks even colder here.

Wow! A plant is growing here too, Lichen. One of the ways it survives is by taking water directly from the ice.

A seal sitting on the ice! They have lots of fat under their skin that keeps them warm.

A penguin off to look for food. They're only found here in the South. They're birds, but can't fly. Really good swimmers though!

So, polar habitats are cold, windy and covered in snow and ice.

Oooh! I'm off to find a radiator!

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Polar habitats are very cold but some wildlife can survive there! Find out more in this Bitesize Primary KS1 Science guide.

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Pond habitats are often found in parks and back gardens and are full of wildlife! Find out more in this Bitesize Primary KS1 Science guide.

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Have you ever looked at a body of water and wondered whether it was a lake or a pond? Here's everything you need to know when determining whether a body of water is a lake vs. a pond.

Lakes vs. Ponds

A beautiful lake setting
Martin Erdniss/Shutterstock.com

A body of water is called a pond when it is small and enclosed, while a lake is large and open. There are many lakes in the world, even though there are more ponds than lakes. Some lakes can be 4,000+ feet deep, while most ponds are shallow. Many people use the word "lake" to describe any body of water that does not distinguish between its size or depth. The two terms are often used interchangeably because there is no standardization on the matter.

Here are some steps to help you tell the difference between a lake and a pond:

1. Depth: A lake is generally deeper than a pond.

2. Shape: A lake also tends to be more of an oval shape with peninsulas, while ponds usually have rounded edges.

3. Nature: Lakes are mostly freshwater but can contain some amounts of saltwater, while ponds are freshwater.

Lake

Pond

Depth

20-4,000 feet

4-20 feet

Outlet

Open

Closed

Size

200+ acres

<200 acres

Here are some other ways you can tell if you're looking at a lake or a pond:

The definition of lakes and why there's no standardization

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has given the following guidelines to distinguish between these two bodies of water.

A pond is a body of water less than 0.5 acres (150 square meters) in an area or less than 20 feet (6 meters) in depth.

A lake is defined as a body of water bigger than 1 acre (4,000 m²), although size is not a reliable indicator of its water quality.

One reason it is difficult to follow any standardizations is when lakes and ponds were named the people naming it didn't know what to call it. For example, settlers across America would arbitrarily use lake vs. pond in naming bodies of water. In Vermont, Echo "Lake" is 11 feet deep while Conway "Pond" reaches 80 feet deep.

A typical pond
Jasper Suijten/Shutterstock.com

The difference between a lake and a pond

With so many lakes, ponds, and streams in the world, it might not very clear to know which one is which. A lake, has no standard scale of how deep it is.

A pond is formed by slow, gradual excavation, such as from a marsh or bog. You will find pond lilies in ponds, even though lily pads and reeds are more common in lakes. The original layer of sand and mud surrounding the pond is gradually eroded, exposing the bottom. This bottom layer is similar to a marsh or bog and usually comprises a thin layer of rock with a few layers of vegetation. Many ponds have an underwater garden of aquatic plants and trees. On the surface of ponds, there are areas where the top layers of dirt, rocks, and vegetation have been worn away, exposing the underlying layer of pond soil.

The simplest way to distinguish between a pond and a lake is to find out their depths. A small pond is usually 4 to 20 feet deep, while a lakes are typically any depth beyond 20 feet.

In most lakes, the deepest spot is known as the "last drop" or "end of the lake." The water in a small pond or a natural spring will not have any depth to it. Lakes are deep enough that plants don't grow on the bottom, but ponds are shallow enough for plants to flourish. Lakes are often fed and drained by rivers and streams.

The reason why the two terms are often used interchangeably

Small ponds are often referred to as lakes and vice versa. It's sometimes hard to distinguish between a lake and a pond because there are few differences. A pond is sometimes called a lake when small and enclosed, while a lake is large and open. One distinction between lakes and ponds is due to the land surrounding the pond. There are three questions you can ask yourself to help determine if you are looking at a lake or a pond.

Does light reach the bottom of the deepest point of the water body?

Does the water body only get small waves?

Is the water body relatively uniform in temperature?

What life do you find in a lake vs. pond?

A lake is home to many different types of plants and animals. Some common plants found in lakes include cranberry, eelgrass, naiad, and even horsetail. Everyday animal life is found in lakes like mussels, dragonfly larvae, water striders, herons, and ducks. Both species are not always found in the same body of water. On the other hand, ponds are much more likely to have weeds like tall grass and ferns growing near the water's edge. Waterfowl often rest on the grassy areas that grow along the water's edge. Most fish prefer a body of water to be murky and deep enough to hide in when it is not actively feeding.

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Lake vs. Pond: The 3 Main Differences Explained

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Have you ever looked at a body of water and wondered whether it was a lake or a pond? Here's everything you need to know when determining whether a body of water is a lake vs. a pond. A body of water is called a pond when it is small and enclosed, while a lake is large and open.

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How Do Animals Survive in the Desert? 🐪🌵 - Animals for Kids - Educational Video

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Our Desert Facts will provide plenty of information about our planet's deserts. We will tell you here what you really should know about the deserts. First let's start with some basics!

10 Desert Facts for Kids

Deserts are found on all seven continents. All deserts (or arid areas) and semi-deserts (or semi-arid areas) together make up one third of our planet's land area.

Most of our deserts are located in subtropical regions around the Tropics of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn as well as in the polar regions (not shown on the map below).

Deserts are also called arid areas. Arid comes from the Latin word aridus and means dry, actually so dry that only few plants can grow on it.

About one billion people live in the desert regions of our Earth. The largest desert cities are Cairo in Egypt and Lima in Peru.

There are hot deserts such as the Sahara Desert and cold deserts such as the Gobi Desert or the deserts of our polar regions.

Desert Facts: What is a desert? A desert is a region that receives less than 25 cm/10 inches of rain per year. In any desert or arid area, there is very little rainfall and moisture. However, if rainfall occurs in the desert, the rainfall occurs usually in strong downpours which can lead to flash flooding.

Big differences in daily temperatures are experienced in the deserts. The temperature during the sunshine hours are usually very high while night temperatures are cold as the heat can quickly escape. The average temperatures range from 38°C (during the day) to -3.9°C (during the night).

Animals and plants living in the deserts have adapted to the environment. Animals usually are night active and live in burrows underground six as the cajole or the fennel fox. Some animals receive their water intake from the fog in coastal deserts or store water in humps such as the camel. Desert plants often have deep roots and waxy leaves where they can store water and often they also have thorns such as cacti to deter herbivores, animals that eat plants.

Deserts have dry soil due to the little rainfall and moisture the area receives. Sand, gravel, mineral and other soil particles can easily be moved by wind. Deserts are threatened mainly by overuse of water and climate change as with increasing temperatures, wildfires, droughts, dust- and sandstorms occur more frequently and lead to desertification. Desertification means fertile soil become dry and barren land.

Due to the loss of habitat many desert plants and desert animals face extinction. One of the most famous plant examples is the unique Joshua tree which is found in North America. Many species of antelopes or cheetahs that are home to the Sahara desert are now highly endangered.

12 Deserts You Should Know About

Antarctic Desert

The world's coldest dry desert is located in Antarctica.

There is hardly any precipitation (rainfall, mist, fog, snow) in Antarctica, even rare snowfall turns into hard icy surface. There is almost no flora except for algae or mosses.

The Antarctic Desert is also the world's largest desert by area.

Arabian Desert

The Arabian Desert is located in Asia on the Arabian peninsula and covers large parts of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Iran and Iraq.

The centre of the desert is the Rub' al Khali, the so-called 'The Empty Quarter'.

The sand here has a red-orange colour and the terrain is covered mainly by sand dunes, some gravel plains and rocky plains.

Aralkum Desert

The Aralkum Desert is known as the youngest desert of our planet.

This desert in Asia was formed by the former eastern basin of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. It formed in the 1960s when irrigation projects for the huge cotton plantations in the area drained the waters from the Aral lake.

By 2014, the eastern basin of the Aral Sea was completely dried up. This desert was created purely by poor environmental management and is seen as one of the worst environmental disasters.

Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in South America is situated on a plateau west of the Andes Mountains along the Pacific Ocean coastline.

This desert is known as the driest (non polar) desert in the world. Some parts of the region receive less than 2 mm/ 0.08 inches of precipitation every year.

The Atacama desert stretches over 1,600 km/ 1000 miles along the coastline along a narrow strip from Chile to Peru.

Gobi Desert

The Gobi Desert is located in eastern Asia and is the world's largest (non polar) cold desert. This desert spreads from Mongolia to China. The Gobi desert is Asia's second largest desert after the Arabian desert.

Deforestation, overgrazing and water depletion are among the main reasons this desert is growing every year at an alarming rate.

Dust storms blow away topsoil and the desert turns many previously fertile areas into barren land. The Great Green Wall project aims to combat the desertification by planting 88 billion of fast growing trees in this desert. The world's largest artificial forest will stretch over 4,800 km/ 2,982 miles across northern China. Read more here.

Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert is located in the USA, to the south of the Great Basin Desert and to the north of the Sonoran desert. The Mojave Desert is the driest desert on the North American continent.

Death Valley, one of the hottest spot in the world, is located in the Mojave Desert. Mojave comes from the Spanish word for 'place besides the water'. The largest city in the Mojave desert is Las Vegas with roughly 3 million people.

Namib Desert

The Namib Desert is located in Southern Africa along the Atlantic Ocean coastline. The Namib has some of the highest dunes in the world with heights of over 300 m/ 980 ft. Read more here.

The Namib stretches from Angola through Namibia towards South Africa over 2,000 km/ 1,200 miles.

The coastal desert is also known as the oldest desert in the world. The salt and clay pans of Soussousvlei, a dried up lake, are a popular tourist attractions in Namibia's Namib-Naukluft national park as is climbing the tall dunes along the coastal town of Walvis Bay. Read more about Namibia here.

Pinnacles Desert

The Pinnacles Desert is located in Western Australia. The pinnacles in Nambung National Park are limestone pillars and some reach up to 3.5 m/ 11.5 ft in height. Wild emus can be found in this desert.

This desert is only a small Australian desert but is known for its scenic landscape. The largest desert in Australia, however, is the Great Victoria Desert, which is located further inland in Western Australia and South Australia.

Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert. It is also the hottest of all the deserts on our planet.

The Sahara Desert has grown more than 10% in the last century due to climate change and other natural climatic variations. A Great Green Wall project, similar to that in the Gobi Desert, has been started in the Sahara in 2007 to combat desertification.

The Sahara Desert covers most parts of North Africa and is similar in size to the land area of the USA or China. The word sahra in Arabic means 'desert'.

Huge rolling sand dunes as these in the Sahara desert are only found in about 10% of the world's desert areas. Most deserts consist of sandy or rocky soil or salt flats.

Salar de Uyuni

The Salar de Uyuni is a desert in South America that has been formed by salt crystallisation through water evaporation of a huge salt flat or playa. The word salar comes from the Spanish and means 'salt flat'. The salar is located in the Andes mountains at an elevation of over 3,656 m/ 11,995 ft.

This dried out salt pan once was part of a large prehistoric lake in the Altiplano of Bolivia. The salt flat covers more than 10,000 square kilometres/ 3,861 square miles and the Salar de Uyuni is known as the world's largest salt flat. The thick salt crust which contains more than 10 billion tonnes of salt.

When it rains the Salar looks like a huge mirror measuring 129 km/ 80 miles across. The salt flats are a breeding ground for pink flamingos.

Tabernas Desert

The Deserto de Tabiernas, as they call it in Spanish , is Europe's only desert area and located in Spain. The Tavernas are an semi-arid mountain region near Almería.

The high altitude of the region and the scenic landscape of this desert in Andalusia has been beneficial for film making. Many Western-style movies as well as one scene in the Game of Thrones series have been filmed in the Tabernas.

Thar Desert

This desert stretches from eastern Pakistan to northwestern India. About 85% of the desert is located in India and most of it in India's largest state of Rajasthan.

The Thar Desert is also the world's most densely populated desert area. About 40% of Rajasthan's population live in the Thar Desert. Desert safaris around Jaisalmer are a popular tourist attraction.

The subtropical Thar Desert is home to many species of migratory and endemic birds.

More Desert Facts
Desert Facts: Desert Sizes
The largest desert is of our planet is the Anarctic Desert. It consists of polar ice caps and tundra.

The five largest deserts by area are:

Antarctic Desert

Arctic Desert

Sahara Desert

Australian Desert

Arabic Desert

Desert Facts: Cold Desert and Hot Desert
The largest cold desert is the Gobi Desert in Asia. The largest hot desert is the Sahara Desert in Africa.
Desert Facts: Deserts and Rainfall Did you know that desert areas receive less than 50 cm/20 inches rain per year while rainforests receive at least 200 cm/80 inches rain per year! Desert Facts: Most populated desert areas
The largest desert city in the world is Cairo in Egypt with about 20 million inhabitants. However, the most populated desert areas are found in the Thar Desert in India. About 25 million people live in the arid areas of Rajasthan. The annual desert festival in Jaisalmer attracts desert settlers in colourful traditional dress from near and far.
Desert Facts: Desert Vegetation

Most plants in the deserts are heat, drought and salt tolerant. Some plants store the water in their leaves, stems or roots. Some plants have very long roots to reach the ground water.

The Welwitschia plant in the Namib desert is one of these unique desert plants. They are considered among the oldest desert plants, as they are on average 500 - 600 years old, some are even 2000 years. Their normal lifespan is 400 - 1500 years! They never shed their leaves, they just grow and grow!
Desert Facts: Desert Resources Natural gas, oil and mineral fields are found in the deserts however, all these are not renewable energy sources. Minerals such as gold, silver, uranium, zinc, iron, mineral salts or gemstones such as turquoise are found in the deserts.
World Desert Facts: Popular Pages

World Desert Facts Resources

Image Credits on Desert Facts: shutterstock.com, sxc photos and own images Return from Desert Facts to Kids World Travel Guide Homepage

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing & Kara West. "Desert." National Geographic. Last updated 19 October 2011. Last accessed 17 June 2020.

Alice Notten. "Welwitschia Mirabilis." . Uploaded March 2003. Last accessed 17 June 2020

USGS. "Mineral Resources in Deserts." Last updated 29 October 1997. Last accessed 18 June 2020.

Yale Environment 360. "The Sahara Desert has grown 10% bigger in the last century." World Economic Forum. 4 April 2018. Last accessed 18 June 2020.

World Atlas of Desertification (WAD). "Convergence of Evidence." EU Commission. Last accessed 18 June 2020

NaDEET - Learning and Living for a Sustainable Future. "The It's Time To... Series - Learning Materials." Last accessed 18 June 2020

Earth Observatory. "Desert: Mission: Biomes." . Last accessed 18 June 2020

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Desert Facts for Kids | Deserts for Kids | Geography | World Deserts

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Our Desert Facts for Kids will tell you 10 easy-to-remember desert facts and tell you about 12 fascinating deserts of our planet

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Improve your knowledge on the deserts of the World with fun facts for kids. Find out interesting facts about deserts for kids and learn more from DK Find Out

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A desert is an arid (very dry) biome. They get less than 25 cm (9.8 inches) of rainfall a year. Another source defines it as "any region that can have a moisture deficit over the course of a year. In other words, they can have less rainfall in a year than they give up through evaporation.

These kinds of areas can cover about 33% of the land on Earth. That includes much of Antarctica, where large areas get no snow at all. The largest hot desert is the Sahara desert, in northern Africa, covering 9 million square kilometers.

Deserts land surfaces are various - examples are stones, sand dunes and snow. They have a wide variety of animals and plants. Deserts sometimes expand ( desertification), and sometimes contract.

Deserts are mostly found in the western part of the Americas, Western Asia, Central Australia, and South and North Africa. Many, such as the Sahara (the largest), are very hot during the day and have cold nights, but there are also cold deserts such as the Atacama in South America which remain frozen day and night.

English desert comes from the ecclesiastical Latin (originally "an abandoned place"), a participle of , "to abandon". In English before the 20th century, desert was often used in the sense of "unpopulated area", without specific reference to aridity; but today the word is most often used in its climate-science sense (an area of low precipitation).

Cold deserts

There are hot deserts and cold deserts. Cold deserts may be covered with snow or ice but some are so dry that the ice sublimates away. Some cold deserts have a short season of above-freezing temperatures. These deserts are called tundra. An ice cap can be a cold desert that remains below freezing all year-round.

Cold deserts can be found close to the poles. That is why they are also called polar deserts. Other regions of the world have cold deserts too, for instance high altitude areas like the Himalayas. These are called montane deserts. Antarctica is the world's largest cold desert.

Hot deserts

Hot deserts are mostly in the subtropics. They can be covered by sand, rock, salt lakes, stony hills and even mountains. Most non-polar deserts are hot in the day and chilly at night. The temperature in the daytime can reach 50 °C (122 °F) or higher in the summer, and dip to 0 °C (32 °F) or lower at night time in the winter.

The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara in North Africa. It is almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara desert is also the hottest desert in the world.

The driest desert in the world is the Atacama Desert in South America. The Atacama Desert had no rain for 401 years, between 1570 and 1971. This desert is caused by a cold ocean current.

Polar deserts

Polar deserts are a type of cold desert. While they do not lack water, having a persistent cover of snow and ice, this is merely due to marginal evaporation rates and low precipitation.

The McMurdo dry valleys of Antarctica, which lack water (whether rain, ice, or snow) much like a non-polar desert and even have such desert features as hypersaline lakes and intermittent streams that resemble (except for being frozen at their surfaces) hot or cold deserts for extreme aridity and lack of precipitation of any kind. Extreme winds and not seasonal heat desiccate these nearly-lifeless terrains.

Biological deserts

The concept of "biological desert" redefines the concept of desert, without the characteristic of aridity, not lacking water, but instead lacking life. Such places can be so-called "ocean deserts", which are mostly at the centers of gyres, but also hypoxic or anoxic waters such as dead zones.

It does rain in the desert, but not often. One place in the Atacama Desert had no rain for 401 years. In other deserts it may rain every year or once every few years. Rains in a desert may bring a great amount of water to the ground in a short time. Some rain passes straight into the dry soil, but the rest may form a temporary river. Wadis, stream channels that are normally dry, can quickly fill after heavy rain, causing a flash flood.

People sometimes bring water from wet places to hot deserts so plants can grow. This is called irrigation.

A sandstorm or dust storm arises when wind blows loose sand and dust from a dry surface. Clouds of sand or dust are often so dense that they obscure the sun. A sandstorm can move whole sand dunes. Sandstorms are common in large, dusty deserts.

Animals and plants

There are not many animals in the desert, but some animals are able to survive. They have different ways to survive the intense conditions of the desert. Examples of animals that live in hot deserts are lizards, small rodents, snakes, and camels. Plants and animals in hot deserts must live with very little water.

Xerophytic plants which live in the desert have special adaptations. They may survive by growing roots that are very near the surface to absorb the rain that may fall before it evaporates. Plants such as the cactus have thick, fleshy stems that help them store water.

Small animals such as lizards and small rodents often escape the hot rays by digging underground burrows where they live. They only come out at night to search for food. Like the plants, desert animals must live on as little water as possible. Most of the water used by these animals comes from seeds and stems that absorb and hold water. Camels survive in hot deserts by storing water in body fat in their humps. Like other desert animals, the camel loses little water in its wastes ( urine and feces).

Major deserts

Deserts take up about one third of Earth's land surface. Bottomlands may be salt-covered flats. Eolian processes are major factors in shaping desert landscapes. Polar deserts (also seen as "cold deserts") have similar features, except the main form of precipitation is snow rather than rain. Antarctica is the world's largest cold desert (composed of about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock). Some of the barren rock is to be found in the so-called Dry Valleys of Antarctica that almost never get snow, which can have ice-encrusted saline lakes that suggest evaporation far greater than the rare snowfall due to the strong katabatic winds that even evaporate ice.

Deserts, both hot and cold, play a part in moderating Earth's temperature. This is because they reflect more of the incoming light and their albedo is higher than that of forests or the sea.

The desert is generally thought of as a barren and empty landscape. It has been portrayed by writers, film-makers, philosophers, artists and critics as a place of extremes, a metaphor for anything from death, war or religion to the primitive past or the desolate future.

There is an extensive literature on the subject of deserts. An early historical account is that of Marco Polo ( c. 1254-1324), who travelled through Central Asia to China, crossing a number of deserts in his twenty four year trek. Some accounts give vivid descriptions of desert conditions, though often accounts of journeys across deserts are interwoven with reflection, as is the case in Charles Montagu Doughty's major work, Travels in Arabia Deserta (1888). Antoine de Saint-Exupéry described both his flying and the desert in Wind, Sand and Stars and Gertrude Bell travelled extensively in the Arabian desert in the early part of the 20th century, becoming an expert on the subject, writing books and advising the British government on dealing with the Arabs. Another woman explorer was Freya Stark, who travelled alone in the Middle East, visiting Turkey, Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Persia and Afghanistan, writing over twenty books on her experiences. The German naturalist Uwe George spent several years living in deserts, recording his experiences and research in his book, In the Deserts of this Earth.

The American poet Robert Frost expressed his bleak thoughts in his poem, Desert Places, which ends with the stanza "They cannot scare me with their empty spaces / Between stars - on stars where no human race is. / I have it in me so much nearer home / To scare myself with my own desert places."

Deserts on other planets

Mars is the only other planet in the Solar System besides Earth on which deserts have been identified. Despite its low surface atmospheric pressure (only 1/100 of that of Earth), the patterns of atmospheric circulation on Mars have formed a sea of circumpolar sand more than 5 million km 2 (1.9 million sq mi) in the area, larger than most deserts on Earth. The Martian deserts principally consist of dunes in the form of half-moons in flat areas near the permanent polar ice caps in the north of the planet. The smaller dune fields occupy the bottom of many of the craters situated in the Martian polar regions. Examination of the surface of rocks by laser beamed from the Mars Exploration Rover have shown a surface film that resembles the desert varnish found on Earth although it might just be surface dust. The surface of Titan, a moon of Saturn, also has a desert-like surface with dune seas.

Images for kids

In Spanish: Desierto para niños