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Switzerland Facts for Kids

Learn some interesting information about Switzerland while enjoying a range of fun facts and trivia that's perfect for kids!

Read about Switzerland's capital city, population, currency, economy, popular sports and much more.

The official name of Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin. Which means Swiss Confederation. The Latin name is only used on official documents but it is the reason why Switzerland's abbreviation is CH.

Apart from occupation by Napoleon's France between 1798 and 1815 Switzerland has been an independent country since the year 1499.

The capital of Switzerland is Bern, while the largest city is Zürich.

For over 190 years Switzerland has been a neutral country during wartimes.

Switzerland has 4 official languages: Swiss German which is spoken by over two thirds of the population, French, Italian, and Romansh.

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Western Europe, it shares a land border with Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and France.

The population of Switzerland is nearly eight million (7,996,026) as of July 2013.

There are more than 1500 lakes in Switzerland containing around 6% of Europe's fresh water stocks. The largest of these lakes are Lake Geneva, Lake Constance and Lake Maggiore.

With a high quality of life, the Swiss cities of Zürich, Geneva and Bern regularly rank in the top 10 most liveable cities in the world.

Encompassing part of the Alps that run through Europe, Switzerland is a very mountainous country with 208 mountains over 3,000m high and 24 over 4,000m. The highest is Monte Rosa at 4,634 m (15,203 ft), however the Matterhorn (4,478 m or 14,692 ft) is the most famous.

The official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc.

CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, is based in Geneva and sitting in the ground under it spanning the Swiss/French border is the Large Hadron Collider that physicists are using for experiments.

Switzerland is very famous for its chocolate, cheese, banking system, watches and alpine mountain areas.

Switzerland makes half of the world's production of luxury watches. The nation has a long history of watch making with a number of leading brands founded in the country including Longines, Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer and Tissot.

Alpine symbolism is a main national identity of Switzerland. Traditionally, farmers herded stock through the alpine hills with folk art, the alphorn and yodel music, cultural traditions. Today alpine areas have a strong ski resort culture in winter, and a hiking and mountain biking culture in summer.

The Swiss Guards who protect the Vatican, in the Vatican City are dual citizens and the only Swiss citizens allowed to serve in foreign armies.

Swiss people consume the most chocolate per capita in the world. The country is famous for producing some of the world's highest quality chocolate (Lindt and Sprüngli) after inventing modern techniques such as conching and tempering.

Some of the most popular sports in Switzerland are skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering.

Traditional Swiss sports include Schwingen (wrestling), Hornussen, (a cross between baseball and golf) and Steinstossen (stone put).

For more information, check out maps of Switzerland or take a closer look at the Swiss flag.

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Fun Switzerland Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Switzerland

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Switzerland Facts for Kids Learn some interesting information about Switzerland while enjoying a range of fun facts and trivia that's perfect for kids! Read about Switzerland's capital city, population, currency, economy, popular sports and much more. The official name of Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin. Which means Swiss Confederation.

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The Swiss Alps are high, snow-covered mountains most of which are over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). The most famous peak is the Matterhorn which is 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) tall, but the highest peak is Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 meters).

Scientists are concerned that glaciers in the Swiss Alps have lost a lot of ice coverage in the past 40 years. This may be related to global climate change. Rapid melting of the glaciers could cause flooding to the villages below.

Most animals in Switzerland live in the mountains. The ibex, a species of mountain goat, was hunted to near extinction in the early 1800s. The species has since been reintroduced and more than 15,000 ibex now live in the Swiss Alps. Hikers may also encounter chamois, another goatlike animal, and marmots. The forests of Switzerland are also home to deer, rabbits, foxes, badgers, squirrels, and many bird species.

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The Swiss Alps are high, snow-covered mountains most of which are over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). The most famous peak is the Matterhorn which is 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) tall, but the highest peak is Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 meters).

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France Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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France, the largest country in Western Europe, has long been a gateway between the continent's northern and southern regions.

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OFFICIAL NAME: Canada

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal parliamentary state

CAPITAL: Ottawa

POPULATION: 35,881,659

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, French

MONEY: Canadian dollar

AREA: 3,849,674 square miles (9,970,610 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rockies, Coast, Laurentian

MAJOR RIVERS: St. Lawrence, Mackenzie

Canada is a vast and rugged land. From north to south it spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere. From east to west it stretches almost 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometers) across six time zones. It is the second largest country in the world, but it has only one-half of one percent of the world's population.

Canada features black-blue lakes, numerous rivers, majestic western mountains, rolling central plains, and forested eastern valleys. The Canadian Shield, a hilly region of lakes and swamps, stretches across northern Canada and has some of the oldest rocks on Earth.

Canada's far north lies in the frozen grip of the Arctic, where ice, snow, and glaciers dominate the landscape. Few trees grow here, and farming is not practical. Native Canadians, called First Nations people, live in this region by hunting and fishing.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

In some ways Canada is many nations in one. Descendents of British and French immigrants make up about half the population. They were followed by other European and Asian immigrants. First Nations peoples make up about four percent of the population.

Inuit people live mostly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Many Native Canadians live on their traditional lands, but many others have moved to cities across Canada. First Nations artwork is widely recognized and is seen as a symbol of Canadian culture.

Canada's remote north and extensive forests are home to wildlife, from bears, wolves, beavers, deer, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep to smaller animals like raccoons, otters, and rabbits. The country's lakes and rivers, which contain about 20 percent of all fresh water on Earth, are full of fish such as trout and salmon.

Canada's prairies in the south are home to bison and pronghorn antelope. Farther north are Canada's sprawling evergreen forests, which have lots of wildlife, including moose and black bears. Even farther north is the cold, bare tundra, where herds of caribou and musk ox live.

Canadians work hard to protect the native wildlife. Canada has 41 national parks and three marine conservation areas. Nevertheless, species like wolves, lynx, and Atlantic fish have been overhunted and overfished.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

The British monarch is the head of state of Canada. The monarch is represented by a governor-general, who has very limited powers. Laws are made by Canada's elected federal government, which includes a parliament and a prime minister.

Britain's Quebec Act of 1774 granted Quebec its own legal and religious rights. Despite this concession, many Quebec citizens have long sought independence. In votes held in 1980 and 1995, Quebec decided to stay in Canada. But the second vote was very close, and the debate is still alive.

Canada has provided fish, furs, and other natural resources to the world since the 1500s. Today, it is a world leader in agricultural production, telecommunications, and energy technologies. The vast majority of Canada's exports go to the United States.

The first people to come to Canada arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago across a land bridge that joined Asia and North America. Around A.D. 1000, the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached Newfoundland, Canada. He tried to establish a settlement, but it didn't last.

In the 16th century, French and British settlers arrived. Land disputes between farmers and fur traders led to four wars between 1689 and 1763. The final war, called the French and Indian War, left the British in control of Canada, but French influence remains strong even today.

In 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick combined to form a dominion with its own government, parliament, and prime minister. Manitoba joined soon after. In 1931, Canada became an independent nation.

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Canada Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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OFFICIAL NAME: Canada FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal parliamentary state CAPITAL: Ottawa POPULATION: 35,881,659 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, French MONEY: Canadian dollar AREA: 3,849,674 square miles (9,970,610 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rockies, Coast, Laurentian MAJOR RIVERS: St. Lawrence, Mackenzie Canada is a vast and rugged land.

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Germany's central and southern regions have forested hills and mountains cut through by the Danube, Main, and Rhine river valleys.

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Norway is a narrow country in northern Europe. It shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland.

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pirate activites for school age children

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Information, history facts, and activities on Canada for school-age children.

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Here are some interesting Italy Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Population: About 61 million people live in Italy (2023)

Capital: Roma (Rome) with 4.3 million inhabitants

Name: Repubblica Italiana (Italian Republic) or simply: Italia, Nickname: 'Bel Paese' which means beautiful country

Government: Democracy, Republic

Language: Italian. Official minority languages are German, French and Ladin in some regions in Northern Italy

Literacy: More than 98% can read and write

Religion: mainly Christians (80%, of theses most are Roman Catholics)

Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents, before 2001: Italian Lira

History: Rome was founded in 753 BC by the twins Romulus and Remus. The Roman Empire was founded in 27 BC and Augustus Caesar proclaimed himself emperor of Rome in 31 BC. After the Roman Empire broke down in 395 AD, there were many separate kingdoms and city states. Italy became one nation only in 1861. Since then the country also includes the islands of Sicily and Sardegna. The 'Kingdom of Italy' lasted from 1861 until 1946. During the Second World War, Italy's Prime Minister Benito Mussolini sided with the German Nazi regime. The Italian Republic was formed in 1946.

Prime Minister: Giorgia Meloni (since 2022)

National Day: 2 June (Festa della Repubblica)

National Symbols: Italian grey wolf (national animal), red rose or white lily (national flowers) and the white five-pointed star with a thin red border line

Flag: 'Tricolore' with green, white and red coloured vertical bands. The flag colours are said to represent these virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red)

Italy Facts
Where is Italy?

Italy is a country in Southern Europe. The country is located on a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Adriatic Sea borders the eastern side of the peninsula while the Ligurian Sea and the Thyrrenian Sea border the western coastline of Italy. The Ionian Sea is to the south of the peninsula.

Italy borders six countries: France, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Vatican City and San Marino. Both, Vatican City and San Marino, are enclaves within Italy as you can see on the map.

Italy Map

The country is easy to recognize on any world map, as the country is shaped like a high-heeled boot, as you can see on the map above. The island of Sicily could be imagined as a ball, so that it looks like the boot is kicking a ball, don't you think?

Italy is slightly larger in size than the three countries of the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium combined or about as big as the state of Arizona/ USA.

A flight to Italy's capital city Rome takes roughly 2.5 hours from London/ UK and about 8 hours from New York/ USA.

Italy Facts | Italy Geography

Italy has more than 7,600 km/ 4,722 miles of coastline as the peninsula is located for a large part in the Mediterranean sea.

Italy is popular for its many picturesque ports, scenic lakes and sandy beaches.

Italy has two bigger islands, Sicily to the south and Sardegna to the west.

Two islands of Italy, Lampedusa and Lampione, are located far to the south and are closer to Africa than to Italy. Both islands are on the African continental shelf.

There are many smaller islands such as Capri, Ischia and Elba which are all to the west of mainland Italy.

The main cities in Italy are Roma/Rome, Milano/Milan, Firenze/Florence and Napoli/Naples.

The Alps and the Apennines are the two main mountain ranges in Italy. About 40% of the country is covered by hills and mountains.

In the North, the mountain range of the Alps separates Italy from the other European countries France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

The highest mountains of Italy can be found in the Alps. The Dolomites are a part of the Alps mountain range in Italy's north and many of the peaks are above 3,000 m/ 9,843 ft high!

There are many lakes in northern Italy, in the centre of the country, the landscape flattens, this flat area is called the Po Valley.

The Apennines mountain range run all the way down the boot and separates the eastern and the western regions of Italy.

And did you know that in Italy, there are still active volcanos?

In the South of Italy you will find Italy's three active volcanoes: Vesuvius near Naples, Etna on Sicily and Stromboli off the Coast of Italy.

Italy Facts | Italy Geography Superlatives

Here are some fascinating Italy facts that are always good to know:

Italy's largest island is Sicily. This island is also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.

The biggest city of the country is Rome with 4.2 million people.

The highest mountain peak in Italy is Monte Bianco, better known as Mont Blanc, which is 4,807 m or 15,776 ft. high.

The longest river in Italy is the Po River in Northern Italy with a length of 652 km/ 405 miles.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in northern Italy and famous for the winds that attract many surfers to its shores.

The longest border to any neighbouring country is shared with Switzerland. This border is 698 km/ 434 miles long.

The Etna is the most active volcano in Europe. It is located on the island of Sicily.

And again, remember, Italy surrounds two of the world's smallest countries! These are San Marino in Northern Italy, which is also the oldest republic in the world, and Vatican City in Rome, the smallest country in the world.

Italy Facts
Italy Attractions for Kids

Rome: Italy's capital city is a wonderful place to learn about the Romans and ancient history. There are so many historic sites in the city that is nicknamed 'Eternal City' and you must visit historic monuments as as the Foro Romano (Forum Romanum) with its ancient Roman ruins or the Colosseo.

Venice: This Northern Italian city is often referred to as 'Lagoon City' or 'The City of Masks'. The Italian name of the city is Venezia. Venice is famous for its canals, bridges and gondolas. The city is built on 120 islands and is known for its colourful carnival.

Pisa: The city on the river Arno is famous for its duomo and the leaning tower. One just must experience the Leaning Tower of Pisa which dates back to the 12th century. The bell tower of the main cathedral of the city is as fascinating as the colourful decorated churches.

Ravenna: The city is famous for the ancient colourful mosaics that decorate the city's churches. The extensive mosaic decorations date back to the 5th century and are fascinating artworks to explore. The city was once on of the main centres of Roman Christian art.

Tuscany: The Tuscany is a popular tourist region with scenic countryside in central Italy. The rolling hills invite for hiking trips and there are lovely medieval towns such as San Gimignano, Lucca or Montepulciano. The capital of the Tuscany region is Florence.

Florence: This city in Tuscany called Firenze in Italian is known for its arts museums and historic churches, Renaissance art and architecture. Many of the great Italian artists such as Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci once lived in this city.

Dolomites/Dolomiti and Italian Alps: The provinces in Northern Italy are renowned for fabulous skiing, hiking and mountainside holidays. You should also to visit South Tyrol's capital Bolzano. In the city's Natural History Museum you can marvel at Oetzi, a mummy from the Ice-age.

Alberobello: This small town is located in Apulia (Puglia in Italian). This town in southern Italy is known for its historic stone huts with cone hat-roofs. These unique houses are called trulli.
Read here about the most famous Italian landmarks and attractions here.

Italy Facts | Italian People

Italy is quite densely populated, with most people living in the country's northern regions. The Po Valley, also referred to as Padan Plain, is an area with many industrial centres. Almost half of Italy's population live in the Po Valley. The Po Valley's biggest cities include Milan (Milano), Modena, Turin (Torino) and Verona.

Milan is the main industrial centre of Italy and also known to be one of the world's fashion capitals.

Italians lead a modern lifestyle especially in the urban centres but they also celebrate century-old cultural traditions. Famous festivals that are celebrated annually are the carnival celebrations before Lent. In Venice, these are said to originate in the 12th century.

The Palio in Siena is dating back to 1644 when the first horse race in the city's main square was held.

And of course, Italians love soccer! The admittedly quite brutal Calcio storico match is still played and celebrated in Florence once a year. C alcio means soccer in Italian.

The Italian soccer league is followed by many Italians abroad too: Inter Milan, Lazio Roma and Juventus Turin are just some of the Italian soccer teams which are favoured by Italians.

Soccer, skiing, cycling, surfing or motor racing are just some of the sports Italians have very strong interest in.

The family is very important for Italians, where there are still many big families including grandparents, parents and children in the household.

Italians love their food, which is usually prepared freshly by ' la mama', the mother, or the nonna, the grandmother.

In the afternoon or evening it is common to meet up with family and friends on the piazza. The piazza is the main square of the village or town.

Italy Facts | Famous Italians

Italians are famous for their inventions and discoveries. The Italian explorers Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci explored many places in the Americas while Marco Polo travelled extensively in Asia.

Leonardo da Vinci was a scientist and artist who was the first to prove the world is round and not flat.

Alessandro Volta, was the prioneer who did studies in electricity, hence the name 'Volt' describing a unit of electricity.
More Italy Facts about Famous Italians for Kids: Explorers, Inventors and more

Did you know that Italians also invented the piano and the thermometer?

Italy Facts | Italian Language

Italian is a Romance language and the language roots are in the Latin language. Italian is very close to French, as 89% of the vocabulary are shared, and 82% is shared with the Spanish vocabulary.

Italian is an official language not only in Italy but also in Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City.
Italy Facts: 10 useful Italian words and terms
The Italian alphabet consists of 21 letters only. The letters j, k, w, x and y do not exist, except for lean words, that means words that originate in another language.

The pronunciation is soft and very melodic and so the language is used in opera and also popular by young pop music artists.

Most young people in Italy learn to speak English, French or German in school.

In remote rural villages in Italy's northern regions, some of the older people, however, do only speak a little Italian and still mainly use a regional language such as German in the Alto Adige or French in the Valle d'Aosta or the unique Ladino (Ladin) language in the Trentino.

Italy Facts | Italy Economy

Italy is one of the original six founding countries of the European Union with Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Read more about the European Union here.

Italy's extreme northern regions and most parts in Southern Italy are used for agriculture. In the North the main produce are dairy products and grains, while in the south mainly fruits and olives are harvested.

Italy also has a lot of industry especial in the country's north around Milan. Among the famous Italian brands are: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat (car manufacturers), Gucci, Prada (fashion) and Ferrero (food - Nutella) or Barilla (food - spaghetti and pasta).

The main trading partners of Italy are Germany, France, the USA and China.

Italy Facts | Italian Food

The Italian main dishes often contain pork and beef, seafood as well as potatoes, rice and pasta (wheat and egg noodles) products and of course, tomatoes.

is surely one of the most famous exports and in Italy pizza is usually baked in a wood-fired oven. Italian pizza is very thin, but loaded with fresh vegetables or thinly sliced ham, salami, artichokes or olives.

The Italian (variety of noodles) is renowned worldwide and there are more than 200 different shapes.

Pizza: probably the most famous Italian dish, pizza was is said to have been invented in Napoli (Naples in English) around the year 1860

Spaghetti: long thin pasta/noodles served with a large variety of topping or sauce

Calzone: this folded-up pizza bread is filled with tomatoes, ham, cheese and all kinds of other filling

Pesto: a thick green sauce made with olives, basil or other herbs and olive oil, pine kernels and parmiggiano, which is an Italian hard cheese

Gelato: ice-cream is another famous Italian invention

Lasagna: this layered pasta dish is made with layers of pasta sheets, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and mince meat

Mozzarella: Italian soft cheese balls, that originally were made mainly from buffalo milk, but today mozzarella is often made with cow's milk

Italians love their food and many dishes are based on fresh vegetables and seafood too. There are delicious sweet cakes in Italy, such as (a yeast cake with raisins), p anforte (a hard and flat fruit cake) and almond cookies such as .
Read more about Italian Food here.
Here is some typical Italian food:

Did you know that Italians eat spaghetti only with a fork and don't use a spoon?

Italy Facts | Animals in Italy

One third of all European animal species can be found in Italy. The country also houses half of all plant species that grow in Europe.

There are over 4,770 endemic species in Italy. Endemic means that these animal species are native and only exist in Italy. There are about 100 mammal species and over 500 bird species. Among the species that you might encounter are the unique Sardinian deer and the Corsican hare.

There are 20 national parks in Italy and 16 Marine Reserves to ensure the protection of threatened species such as the Italian shark or the Italian wolf, the national animal.

Italy Facts for Kids: Sheep are held mainly in Southern Italy and donkeys still help farmers in remote villages as they are trained to carry heavy loads over steep terrain.

Brown bears are protected in Italy. There are only few bears left in the wild now.

In the Alps you will very likely see marmots, a ground squirrel species, which call each other with very high pitched calling sounds. And if you are very lucky you might even spot a lynx, a wild cat with little hair tuffs on the ears!

Resources for Italy Facts

Central Intelligence Agency. "Italy." WorldFactBook. Last updated 22 March 2023. Last accessed 29 March 2023

Città di Venezia. "Carnevale di Venezia." . Last accessed 29 March 2023

Italia Agenzia Nazionale Turismo "Italia." . Last accessed 29 March 2023

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Italy Facts for Kids | Italy for Kids | People | Geography | Food

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Our Italy Facts for Kids will provide facts about Italy, the country and the people, animals, food and so much more. Enjoy exploring Italy with us!

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Interesting Norway Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting Norway Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Population: 5.4 million people live in Norway (2020)

Capital: Oslo, with just over 1 million inhabitants

Name: Kingdom of Norway, short: Norway, in Norwegian: Norge

Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Language: Norwegian

Religion: mainly Christians (more than 70% are Evangelical Lutheran)

Life expectancy: 79 years

Currency: 1 Norwegian Krone (NOK) = 100 ore

National Symbols: moose (animal), heather (flower) and the coat of arms as shown above

National Colours: red, white and blue

National Anthem: Ja, vi elsker dette landet (Yes, we love this country)

National Day: 17 May (Constitution Day)

History: Vikings settled in the region. 1905 independence.

Norway Facts | Norway Map

Where is Norway? Norway is a country in northern Europe. It is situated above the Arctic circle and borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.

On the map below you can spot where Norway is located in northern Europe. It is part of Scandinavia with neighbouring countries Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Norway is the westernmost country of the Scandinavian countries.

Norway borders three countries: Finland, Sweden and Russia. The longest border is shared with Sweden.

Norway is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico in the USA and slightly smaller than Vietnam or Italy.

A flight to Oslo takes about two hours from London/UK and 6 hours from New York/USA.

Norway Facts | Norway Geography

Norway highest mountain is called Galdhoppigen and is 2,469 m/8,100 ft high.

The largest lake in Norway is Lake Mjøsa

Norway has about 50,000 islands off the rugged coastline

The majority of the Norwegians (83%) live in urban areas. The interior is only sparsely populated

Oslo, the capital city, is the only city in the country with more than 1 million people. Oslo is the third biggest city in Scandinavia (after Stockholm/Sweden and Copenhagen/Denmark),

The biggest fjord in Norway is Sognefjord. This fjord is often referred to as the 'King of Fjords'

Norway Attractions

Here are our favourite Norway attractions for kids:

Lofoten Islands: visit the Trollfjord and join nature safaris or see the northern lights

Lillehammer: Go skiing or snowboarding in one of the oldest ski resorts in Norway

Geiranger Fjord: One of the most spectacular fjord in Norway is Geiranger fjord. This fjord is surrounded by snow capped mountains and many waterfalls and is an UNESCO world heritage site.

Oslo: The Viking Ship Museum exhibits two of the best preserved Viking ships from the 9th century.

There are many attractions in Oslo, such as the huge red Cityhall building, the Opera House where you can walk up the roof or the Akershus fortress. Norwegian culture can be experienced in the world's oldest open-air museum. And don't miss the Royal palace!

Norway People

Norway has a king and a queen. They are very popular with the Norwegian population. King Harald V and Queen Sonia have two a son, Crowne Prince Haakon, who is married to Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and a daughter, Princess Märtha Louise. The royal palace is in Oslo and this is the main residence of the Royal Family.

Most Norwegians live in the south of the country where the climate is milder than in the North. The biggest cities in Norway are Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.

Norwegians celebrate the Midsummerfest on 24 June (St. John's Day) with a bonfire. There is daylight almost 24 hours during this time in northern Norway, in the south it is only dark for about eight hours.

Famous Norwegians are:

Erik the Red (1000 BCE): explorer

Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907): composer and pianist

Edvard Munch (1863 - 1944): artist and painter is most known for his painting 'The Scream'

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906): author and playwright

Liv Ulmann (born 1938): actress

Roald Dahl (1916 - 1990): poet, author and screenwriter, most famous for his children's books such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Matilda

Norway Facts | Norwegian Language

The people in Norway speak Norwegian, which is a Germanic language. The language is very similar to the Swedish and Danish languages. Almost all Norwegians can speak English, which is taught in schools as a second language.

The Norwegian alphabet is the same as the Danish alphabet and thus also has 29 letters.

In the northern parts of Norway, some indigenous people also speak the Sami language. The Sami people or Laplanders, also called Laps, live in the northern parts of Norway and bordering Sweden as well as Finland. They are the indigenous people of the arctic circle.

Norway Economy

Norway is not part of the European Union as agreed in a national referendum in 1994.

Oil and gas were discovered off the Norwegian coastline in the 1960s and are among the country's main natural resources. Norway is on of the largest seafood producers in the world and the second largest nation exporting seafood after China.

Most of the country's electricity is produced by hydropower plants.

The biggest trading partners of Norway are Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden and China.

Norway Animals

In Norway, you will find reindeers. These animals are also called caribou. These animals which only live in the Northern Hemisphere above the Arctic circle travel far to get food. They have antlers which they use for scraping the snow away from the ground to find food. The animals have four toes. It is interesting to know, that reindeer are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light!

Arctic foxes also live in Norway. Their coat changes with the seasons. In winter the fur is mainly grey and white, while in summer it changes to a light brown.

Interesting Norway Facts
Did you know...?

... that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo annually since 1901? The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for outstanding work in making or keeping peace. The Norwegian King Harald V is also present at the awards ceremony in Oslo.

The Nobel Prize awards are given to excellent scientist in these science disciplines: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature. The prizes are presented either in Stockholm/Sweden. Only the Nobel Peace Prize is handed over in Oslo. By the way, Alfred Nobel was Swedish, that is why the other Nobel Prizes are awarded at ceremonies in Stockholm.

Norway Facts for Kids: Useful Resources

Central Intelligence Agency. "Norway." World Fact Book. Updated 17 March 2020. Last accessed 28 March 2020

Life in Norway. "The Royal Family in Norway." Life in Norway. Last accessed 28 March 2020

Jill Harness. 11 Facts you might not know about Reindeer. Mental Floss. Update 13 December 2019. Last accessed 28 March 2020.

Royal Court "The Royal House of Norway". Official website of the Royal House of Norway. Last accessed 28 March 2020

We hope you enjoyed reading our Norway Facts for Kids. Make sure to bookmark this page, as we plan to add on more information to make this page even more interesting, not only for children. Info about "Food in Norway" coming soon:-)
Picture credits on this page: Images by SXC.hu and Shutterstock.com, Geiranger Fjord by emanuela (arancia.org) at sxc.hu; Caribou by Garrisonphoto.org; Return from Norway Facts to Kids World Travel Guide Homepage

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Norway Facts for Kids | Geography | Norway Animals | Family Travel

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Here are some interesting Norway Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

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DOGO News - Kids news articles! Kids current events; plus kids news on science, sports, and more!

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Here are some interesting Germany Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Population: 83 million people live in Germany (2023). The majority of the people live in cities and towns.

Capital: Berlin with 3.5 million inhabitants is not only Germany's capital city but also the biggest city.

Name: Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany)

Government: Democracy, Republic

Language: German

Literacy: More than 99% can read and write.

Religion: mainly Christians (Protestants 34%, Roman Catholics 34%), Muslims about 4%

Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents, before 2001 German Mark/Deutsche Mark (DM)

Flag colors: black, red and gold

Where is Germany? - Germany Map

Germany is located in the center of Europe and shares borders with 9 countries: Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France , Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands (clockwise from the top/north).

Germany is the second most populous country in Central Europe after Russia and many immigrants live and study in Germany.

The Baltic Sea (in German: Ostsee), the North Sea (in German: Nordsee) and the lowlands form the natural borders in the North of Germany and the Southern Germany borders are formed by the Alps mountains and Lake Constance (in German: Bodensee).

The highest mountain in Germany is the ' Zugspitze' (which means 'windy peak') with 2,963 metres/ 9,721 ft. Germany's highest mountain is one of Germany's top attractions and many tourists visit the mountain top every year. You can take a cablecar up to the top of the mountain and have spectacular views of the Alps and the scenic countryside from there.

See the amazing panoramic 360° views from the Zugspitz mountain top, to view click here. (It will take about 10 seconds to load this amazing panorama page. Please be patient the view is really worth the wait :-)

Germany Facts:
Attractions for Kids

Berlin: learn about German history and re-unification, visit the Reichstag building and parliament, and see remnants of the wall that separated the western and eastern parts of the city

Cologne and the Rhine Valley: Cologne Cathedral, Lorelei and annual Carnival festivities

Black Forest: great for nature lovers and hikers with many picturesque villages, turquoise lakes and great forest walks.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: The medieval town is a bit touristy but very scenic and boasts a huge Christmas shop which is open all-year round.

Northern Germany: Explore Germany's biggest island Rügen and the historic Hanse towns Stralsund und Rostock or further off Lübeck and Hamburg

Munich: for its science and arts museums, experiencing the famous Oktoberfest and the typical Bavarian Gemütlichkeit (which means feeling home and being comfortable)

Bavaria and the German Alps: great for skiing, hiking and relaxed holidays. You just have to see these awe-inspiring castles such as Neuschwanstein or Herrenchiemsee

Castles: There are more than 25,000 castles in Germany, make sure to visit at least one of our top ten castles. Below you see Hohenzollern Castle.

Read more about our favourite castles in Germany here.
Germany Facts about German People

Germany is well known for great poets, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (you see him in the pictured above in the famous painting by Tischbein) and Friedrich Schiller, and many other writers, such as the Grimm brothers (remember the tale of Hansel and Gretel) or Thomas Mann. Because of these splendid writers as well as scientists and inventors such as Albert Einstein, Robert Koch or Gottlieb Daimler, the country is often referred to be the "Land der Dichter und Denker"(country of poets and thinkers).

Germans love going to the museums, concerts and theatres. These places which are well maintained and supported, so you will find many interesting places you can visit.

Germans also love sports! M any Germans are active in sports clubs such as soccer, tennis or gymnastics clubs . In schools, the most popular sports activities are soccer, volleyball, basketball, ballet and dancing. Sports idols Sebastian Vettel (Formula 1), Bastian Schweinsteiger (soccer) or Anna Schaffelhuber and Felix Neureuther (skiing) are supported by most Germans proudly. Many of you will already have have heard the names of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf which are among the world's most known tennis stars.

The country's premier soccer league, called Bundesliga, is followed closely by many and Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund are firm favourites not only of Germans.

The most popular sports in Germany are soccer, tennis, swimming and skiing, although the latter is possible only in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Especially in the Bavarian Alps, the Mittelgebirge and the Erzgebirge, the mountains are high enough and warrant for enough snow to enjoy a multitude of wintersports facilities.

Germany Facts | German Food

Most of the German main dishes contain either meats, mainly pork, beef and veal or fish. Germans often eat potatoes, but pasta dishes are also very popular, especially with the younger generations. The Germans love their bread, which is mainly a mix of wheat and rye flour and is much darker and has a hard crust. Bread rolls are also eaten.

Sauerkraut, Sausages and Brezeln (Pretzels, see in the picture above) are surely the most famous German food exports and in Germany you will find fresh bread, bread rolls and pretzels as well as delicious cakes and pastry in the numerous bakery shops. Even little villages often have more than two or three bakers and you will have the choice of many different types of bread and rolls.

Germans love their meat, but you will find more and more vegetarian dishes on the menus in restaurants now too, although there are many more variations of dishes with meat available. Schweinebraten oder Schweinsbraten (roast pork knuckles) is very popular in Southern Germany while Rinderbraten (beef roast) is more popular in Northern Germany.
Germany Facts: More typical German food:

Sauerkraut: probably the most famous vegetable associated with German food. It is eaten in Germany with potatoes and meat, but traditionally not eaten with fish as in many other parts in the world.

Rotkraut: meaning red cabbage, see in image above

either as Semmelknödel: bread dumplings, eaten either with mushrooms in a creamy sauce or with meat dishes or Kartoffelknödel: potato dumplings

Spargel: white asparagus is harvested in late April and until 24 June. It has a very distinct flavour and is very healthy! Usually accompanied by ham and a white creamy sauce, this vegetable is really delicious.

Black Forest Cake: delicious dark chocolate cake filled with cherries and cream.

Weisswurst: very pale veal sausage, cooked and eaten in Bavaria - usually in midmorning, before noon.

Stollen and Lebkuchen: Delicious cakes, decorated biscuits and various gingerbread cookies are eaten at Christmas time in Germany.

Wine and Beer: Did you know that Germans do produce lovely wine as well as beer? The valleys along the Rhine and Mosel rivers are well known for their wines. Bavaria is known for its beer and the many micro breweries.

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Please bookmark this page if you are interested in Germany Facts for Kids as my Germany Facts will be updated regularly. And enjoy learning more great Germany Facts soon:-)
Picture credits in main text: 1.Adriana Martins at sxc.hu, 2.Christa Riechert at sxc.hu, 3.at sxc.hu, others own or Return from Germany Facts to Kids-World-Travel-Guide Homepage shutterstock.com

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Germany Facts | Facts for Kids | Geography | Travel | Attractions

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Read our Germany Facts for Kids and learn the most important facts about Germany, attractions, food, animals, people and much more. Written by kids for kids.