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ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL Trailer | TIFF Kids 2014

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

Population: About 46 million people live in Argentina (2023)

Capital: Buenos Aires has a population of about 15 million people

Name: Republica Argentina or Argentine Republic, Argentina means 'land of silver'

Government: Democracy, Republic

Language: Spanish, Italian, English, German, French and indigenous languages

Literacy: 98% can read and write

Religion: mainly Christians (Roman Catholics 92%)

Currency: 1 Argentine peso = 100 centavos

National Flag: blue and white, with a yellow sun on the white band

National Symbols: Sun of May - sun with a face symbol

History: Spanish explorer Juan Diaz visits the area now called Argentina and claims it for the Spanish crown. In 1535 Buenos Aires is founded by Pedro de Mendoza. Only in 1816, Argentina gained independence from Spain. In 1880 Buenos Aires became capital of Argentina. In the next fifty years from 1880 onwards Argentina was one of the richest nations. In 1982 Argentina went to war with Britain to try to get the Falkland Islands but this was unsuccessful for the Argentines.

President: Alberto Fernández since 2019. Next general elections are in October 2023

Argentina Facts | Argentina Map

Where is Argentina? Argentina is located on the South American continent and borders five countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The longest border is shared between Argentina and Chile.

This is the world's eight largest country and second largest country of South America after Brazil.

To the east of Argentina is the Atlantic Ocean and in the north east there is also the border to Uruguay. To the west are the Andes which form a natural border with Chile. In the north, Argentina borders Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.

Argentina is a huge country and the landmass covers as much land area as the African countries of Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique combined! Argentina's land area would fit about three times into the land area of USA.

A flight to Buenos Aires from London takes about 14 hours, and takes about 11 hours from New York.

Argentina Facts | Geography

Flat grassy plains that cover most of central and northern Argentina. Most of the pampas is used to heard cattle and sheep which there are more than humans.

The pampas in Argentina are generally just flat fertile plains. The word ' pampas' is a word from the Quechua Indians language and means 'flat surface'.

To the south of Argentina is an archipelago called the The Tierra del Fuego. Tierra del Fuego is a group of islands at the southern tip of Argentina. The biggest island of the Tierra del Fuego is Isla Grande which is also the biggest island in South America.

The Tierra del Fuego has high mountains and very cold weather as it is quite close to Antarctica. Tierra del Fuego is split between Chile and Argentina.

Patagonia is northern part of the Tierra del Fuego and consists of dry pampas vegetation and also has high mountains and huge glaciers such as the world famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Patagonia has a very cold climate.

The Andes are a huge mountain range, the longest in the world, that also mark the natural border between Chile and Argentina.

Argentina Geo Superlatives

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America and is part of the Argentine Andes. Aconcagua mountain has a height of 6,962 meters/ 22,841 ft. and this is also the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere.

Argentina's longest river is the Paraná River, which forms a natural border between Paraguay and Argentina

The largest lake is called Largo Argentino. This is the largest freshwater lake in Argentina. The deepest point is 500 m/ 1640 ft deep.

The Laguna de Carbon spots the lowest point in the western Hemisphere with -105 m/ 345 ft.

Argentina Facts
Attractions for Kids

Buenos Aires: The capital city and most populous city with cafes, restaurants and the tango. Places to see in Buenos Aires include the la Boca district with its colourful buildings, or the city centre.

Córdoba: This is the second largest city in Argentina and it is also one of the oldest cities in Argentina.

Mendoza Wine Region: This beautiful area with the Andes mountains in the background has the best wines in Argentina and is one of the biggest wine producing areas in the world.

Argentine Andes Mountains: The place to go for outdoors if you want to ski, hike, climb. You will enjoy the many outdoor activity in the Argentine Andes.

Iguazu Falls: Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, about ⅔ of the waterfalls belong to Argentina. These waterfalls are among the largest waterfalls in the world and stretch over 2.7 km/ 1.6 miles. The falls are actually a series of 275 falls.

Perito Moreno Glacier: This world famous glacier is in Patagonia and stretches a distance of 30 km/ 18 miles and has an area of 250 sq km/ 97 sq miles.

Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia: It is fascinating to experience unspoilt nature. And visit the southernmost large settlement, Ushuaia.

Ibera Wetlands: The second biggest wetland in the world after the Pantanal in Brazil, this is a huge swampland lots of mammals and birds such as capybaras and alligators.

Nahuel Huapi: The oldest national park of Argentina is located in northern Patagonia which is popular with hikers and nature enthusiasts.

Argentina Facts
Animals in Argentina

There are other animals such as armadillos, king penguins and capybaras.

There are huge numbers of sheep and cattle in the pampas regions and also horses are common. In Argentina there are also native snakes such as the tropical rattle snake or the crossed pit viper, both of them are very poisonous.

In Tierra del Fuego, there is a vast range of wildlife especially along the coastline.

Argentina Facts
Argentina People

One third of the population in Argentina live in the capital city Buenos Aires. 92% of the people live in urban centres, which means cities and towns.

The biggest cities in Argentina are Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario and Mendoza. Patagonia is only sparsely populated.

In Argentina, herders on horseback called 'gauchos' look after the large herds of cattle or sheep.

In Argentina, kids go to either free public schools or attend private schools which can be really expensive. In private schools pupils wear a uniform, often complete with tie and blazer, whereas at public schools the pupils all have to wear a white lab coat over their dress so they look alike. Children either attend school during the morning shift from 8am-1pm, afternoon from 1pm-6pm or some might even be required to sit in school during a night shift.

The sports that are the most popular in Argentina are soccer (called , basketball, rugby and tennis. The national sport, however, is called ' pato' and is similar to polo.

Pato is played on horseback with the rider holding a net in the hand. However, few play the national sport as it is an expensive sport. Soccer is the most popular sports activity and Argentina has won the world cup two times. There are famous soccer stars such as Maradona, Messi and others.

Argentina Economy

Argentina is the world's biggest exporter of soybean meal and the third biggest exporter of both corn and raw soybeans.

Natural gas is the main energy source used for power production in the country. Argentina has the world's second largest reserve of shale gas - after the USA - and the 4th largest reserve of shale oil.

Argentina also produces lithium, which is one of the main mineral used in battery storage systems.

The biggest trading partners of Argentina are Brazil, China, Chile and Germany.

About famous Argentine people and the Tango

Famous Argentines include former national soccer player Diego Maradona, who scored the world famous goal ("hand of god') against England in the 1986 world cup. Another famous soccer player is Leonel Messi who is celebrated currently by many as the best soccer player.

José de San Martín is an idol for many Argentines. He is the national hero who helped to free the southern parts of South America from the Spanish in the struggle for independence.

A famous Argentine invention is the tango dance, which originated in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century. It is interesting to know that today there are different types of tango styles, and some of the biggest dance schools were developed by dancers who come from Italian immigrant families in Argentina. Tango dancers usually tell sad stories with their dance moves.

Argentina Facts | Language

The official language used in Argentina is Spanish. Argentina is the largest Spanish speaking country in South America. Spanish is used as the official language as the Spanish brought with them the language as they arrived and settled in Argentina.

The Spanish spoken in Argentina, however, has developed differently over the centuries and sounds different to the Spanish spoken in Spain.

Indigenous languages which are spoken by many Argentines are Mapuche, Guarani and Quechua.

Other European languages such as Italian, English, German, French are also spoken by most Argentines.

Argentina Facts | Argentine Food

Typical Argentine food consists of lots of meat. Argentine Beef is known worldwide for its full flavour and tenderness. Lunch is actually the largest meal of the whole day.

Argentine people love their ' Asado' where food is typically prepared on a grill or over open fire as part of a barbecue (BBQ).

food prepared on a grill or over open fire as part of a barbecue (BBQ). On the a sado, there is usually beef, pork ribs and sausages or also lamb.

Alfajores: sweet biscuits filled with dulce de leech cream and rolled in shredded coconut shavings

Dulce de Leche: literally means sweet from milk and that is what it is, also called 'milk candy' in English. Delicious 'dulce de leche' cheesecake is made with this sweet creamy syrup. In Argentina 'dulce de leche' is made with milk, sugar and a little vanilla.

Empanadas: Deep-fried or baked stuffed pastry pockets with either a savoury (cheese, vegetable or minced chicken or beef meat) or a sweet filling (with dulce de leche or sweet potato paste for example)

: Made from 'yerba mate' which is a local herb and is then sipped through a straw which is called 'bombilla'.

Carbonada: a savory thick stew often served in a holed out pumpkin.

Argentina Facts
Recommended Reading

Sources for our Argentina Facts page:

Central Intelligence Agency. "Argentina." CIA World Fact Book. Last update 15 August 2023. Last accessed 18 August 2023

"Argentina's Colossal Perito Moreno Glacier. Twisted Sifter. 1 July 2013. Last accessed 18 August 2023

"Argentina - Famous Argentines." Nations Encyclopedia. Last accessed 18 August 2023

The Children's Visual World Atlas (2004). Sydney: Fog City Press

Earth Condensed (2010). The World Atlas. Elanora Heights: Millennium House

Image Credits on Argentina Facts page: Shutterstock.com; Corn harvest image by SobrevolandoPatagonia/shutterstock.com and own images.
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Argentina Facts for Kids | Geography | Attractions | People | Animals

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Enjoy our Argentina Facts for Kids, learn fun facts about this wonderful country in South America, its attractions, people and animals and so much more.

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Difficulties in public schools (Argentina)

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Difficulties in public schools (Argentina)

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A teachers strike in Argentina this week has turned the spotlight on the country's failing public school system.

It used to be one of the best in Latin America.

But decades of under-investment have left many poor children struggling to get a basic education.

Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires.

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Argentina's failing public schools: 'Studying is an odyssey'

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A teachers strike in Argentina this week has turned the spotlight on the country's failing public school system. It used to be one of the best in Latin America. But decades of under-investment have left many poor children struggling to get a basic education. Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo reports from Buenos Aires.

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Kate : my country, Kenya - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Join us on an African safari with spectacular Kenya facts feature!

Kenya facts

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya (English) or Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic
CAPITAL: Nairobi
POPULATION: 45,010,056
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Swahili, English
MONEY: Kenyan shilling
AREA: 224,081 square miles (580,367 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Aberdare Range, Mau Escarpment
MAJOR RIVERS: Athi/Galana, Tana
FLAG:

Kenya's geography

Even if you've never been to Kenya, chances are you know what it looks like. Kenya's savannah is familiar from movies, TV shows, books and even adverts on the telly. It's the landscape many people imagine when they think of Africa.

Kenya is located in East Africa. Its terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateaus (areas of level high ground) at its centre. Most Kenyans live in the highlands, where Nairobi, the capital, sits at an altitude of 1,700 metres.

West of Nairobi the land descends to the Great Rift Valley, a 6,400-kilometre tear in the Earth's crust. Within this valley in the deserts of northern Kenya are the green waters of famous Lake Turkana.

Kenyan people & culture

In Kenya, more than 60 languages are spoken and there are more than 40 ethnic groups. Almost everyone there speaks more than one African language.

School is free in Kenya, but many children are too busy to go to classes. They help their families by working the land, tending cattle, cooking, or fetching water.

Music and storytelling are important parts of Kenyan culture. For centuries, tribes throughout the country have used songs, stories and poems to pass on their beliefs, history, and customs.

Kenya's nature

Millions of people visit Kenya each year to see its endless savannah and the animals that inhabit it: elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos and more. The Kenyan government has set up more than 50 reserves and parks to protect these animals.

People hoping to spot some amazing African wildlife usually focus on Kenya's lowland savannah. But Kenya's ecosystems also include deserts, swamps, mountain and forests. Each region has its own mix of plants and animals that are suited to the area's particular conditions. Kenya's highland forests are home to many animals found nowhere else in the world!

Kenyan government & economy

Kenya was a colony of the United Kingdom from 1920 until 1963. Since its independence, it has been a republic, with a president, a national assembly, called the Bunge, and a legal system. Each year on 12 December, the country celebrates its independence day - or Jamhuri Day - with parades, dancing, political speeches and feasts!

Kenyan history

Kenya's location between the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria means that people from all over Africa and the Middle East have travelled and traded across it for centuries. This has created a diverse culture with many ethnic groups and languages.

And check this out - scientists think Northern Kenya and Tanzania may have been the original birthplace of humans! The bones of one of the earliest human ancestors ever found were discovered in Kenya's Turkana Basin.

Slavery is a big part of Kenya's history. During the 1600s and 1700s, many Kenyans were kidnapped and taken as slaves by Arabs, Europeans, and Americans. By the mid-19th century, slavery was outlawed by most countries, but by then, thousands of Kenyans and other East Africans had been taken to countries throughout the world.

Photos an illustrations: Getty Images UK.
Words from kids.nationalgeographic.com.
Figures accurate at time of publication, January 2015.

What do you think to our Kenya facts feature? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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Kenya facts: discover this amazing African country! | National Geographic Kids

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Join us on an African safari with spectacular Kenya facts feature! OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kenya (English) or Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili) FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic CAPITAL: Nairobi POPULATION: 45,010,056 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Swahili, English MONEY: Kenyan shilling AREA: 224,081 square miles (580,367 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Aberdare Range, Mau Escarpment MAJOR RIVERS: Athi/Galana, Tana FLAG: Even if you've never been to Kenya, chances are you know what it looks like.

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Education is an important part of British life. There are hundreds of schools, colleges and universities, including some of the most famous in the world.

Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 - 16. Some children are educated at home rather than in school.

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages. They begin with primary education at the age of five and this usually lasts until they are eleven. Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.
Find out what year (grade) you would be in England.

Teachers in primary schools ( 4 - 11 year olds) are always addressed by their surname by parents and pupils alike, always Mr, Mrs or Miss Smith..... In secondary schools (11 - 16 years), teachers are usually addressed as Miss or Sir.

Read about our students Top 10 things about Woodlands Junior School

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Information on Education in England on the largest site on the internet for British Culture and English Life, and Customs and Traditions.

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India for Kids | India Facts for Kids | Geography | People | Animals

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Our India for Kids page will tell you all about incredible India, the country and its people, landmarks, animals, food and so much more

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Ulka : India, my country - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Ulka gives general information about her home country, India.

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Interesting Canada Facts

Here are some interesting Canada Facts for Kids which were choosen and reseached by kids especially for kids.

Population: 40 million people (2023)

Capital: Ottawa 1.4 million inhabitants

Name: Canada, originally from Iroquois name 'kanata' which means settlement or village

Government: Federal parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy

Official Languages: English, French

Religion: mainly Christians (Roman Catholics and Protestants)

Currency: 1 Canadian Dollar (CAD) = 100 Canadian cents

National Anthem: O Canada!

National Colours: Red and white

National Symbols: Maple leaf, red and white flag, maple tree (national tree), beaver (national animal)

History: Canada's biggest bay, Hudson Bay, was discovered in 1610. Since the 16th century, both French and English kings have ruled over the country. Canada gained independence from Britain in 1867. Today, Queen Elizabeth II of England is still the head of state and the Queen of Canada.

Government: The prime minister is Justin Trudeau.

National Day: 1 July is Canada Day

Canada Facts for Kids|
Canada Geography

Where is Canada? Canada is a large country in the northern hemisphere. The country belongs to the North American continent. Canada borders the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the North.

Canada shares a land border with the United States of America in the south and in the northwest. There it borders Alaska which is the largest state of the USA.

Did you know that Canada and the USA share the longest international border in the world? The Canada - USA border is 8,891 km/ 5,525 miles long. The longest part of the border is shared with the US-state of Alaska and this stretch is more than 2,475 km/ 1,538 miles long.

Canada Facts for Kids
Canada Geo Superlatives

Canada is known for its many lakes. There are about three million lakes in Canada, according to the WorldFactBook Canada houses more lakes than all countries in the world combined!

Canada is the second largest country in the world, after Russia. The capital city of Canada is Ottawa.

Canada is among the ten most sparsely populated countries in the world. More than half of the population live in the Canadian provinces Ontario and Quebec. About 90% of the people in Canada live within 160 km/ 100 miles of the US-Canada border. Close to the border there are also the main urban areas such as Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.

Toronto is the largest city in Canada housing about seven million people.

Canada's longest river system is the McKenzie River in the country's Northwest Territories. The river is 4,241 km/ 2,635 miles long and the McKenzie River is the largest river flowing from North America into the Arctic.

The largest lake that is entirely in Canada is Great Bear Lake. Lake Superior, the largest lake in North America, is shared with the United States of America.

The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan with 5,959 m/ 9,551 ft. Mount Logan is located in Kluane National Park in the Yukon Territory at the border with Alaska. This mountain is also the second highest peak of the North American continent - after Mount Denali. Kluane National Park is known for its extremes and not only is home to Canada's highest peak and the largest ice fields in Canada but also to the most grizzly species in North America.

Canada shares the largest waterfalls of the world by water volume. These are the Niagara Falls on the border to the USA.

Canada is home to 17 UNESCO world heritage sites. These include amongst others the fascinating Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta where once 35 species of dinosaurs lived, the historic district of Old Québec, the Rocky Mountains national park and the sacred site of Writing-on-Stone/ Áísínai'pi, where the indigenous Blackfoot people left their rock art, engravings and spirit messages on the sandstone walls.

Canada Facts for Kids:
Canada is great for families!

Canada is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. There are many attractions for Canada visitors and kids will love to explore the amazing nature and learn about the Canadian wildlife.

There are 48 national parks and national reserves in Canada, the largest of these is Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta. Banff National Park which is Canada's most popular park is also the oldest national park of the country and exists since 1885.

Canada family trips can include great day hikes or canoe trips in the national parks. In winter, families can enjoy skiing, snowboarding and other winter fun activities such as tobogganing in the mountains.

Among the most popular ski resorts are Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta and Whistler in British Columbia. But these resorts can also be enjoyed in summer! For example, you can walk over the Cloudraker Skybridge on Whistler Peak in summer. This suspension bridge makes for an awe-inspiring adventure!

Canada's big cities also have lots to offer to families travelling with kids with fascinating museums and wonderful city parks that invite to great outdoor activities such as cycling, climbing, sledging or iceskating.

Canada Facts for Kids
Canada Attractions

Here are our favorite Canada attractions for kids:

Vancouver: The main city in the western parts of the country is great for outdoor sports as well as indoor explorations. Here you can find many attractions for children which include the Maritime Museum and the Science Museum as well as the fantastic Grouse Mountain Skyride or doing the cliff walk and crossing the Capilano River over the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Niagara Falls: One of Canada's biggest tourist attractions, they were formed in the last Ice Age. The Niagara Falls are the largest waterfalls in Canada by volume of water.

Quebec City: The Old Town was founded already in 1608. You must see the Frontenac castle buildings from the 18th and 19th century and in winter have fun on the ice slide!

Toronto: The CN Tower and the Roger's Center are great attractions in this city at the shores of Lake Ontario. The CN Tower is actually the tallest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere, while Roger's Center is a huge stadium and spots the world's first retractable roof.

Banff National Park: For amazing wildlife spotting, but make sure to watch your belongings, as bears tend to chew up everything they find laying around, such as stray hiking boots;-) We had our experiences...

Canada Facts for Kids | Canada Economy

Canada is the third largest oil reserve holder after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The province of Alberta leads in the production of oil and natural gas in Canada.

Canada is the leader in uranium mining. And uranium is used in nuclear power plants for producing electricity. The world's largest uranium mine is located near Cigar Lake in Saskatchewan.

The province of Saskatchewan is also the main agricultural province in Canada. Here farmers grow 45% of Canada's grains such as wheat, canola, flax or rye.

Canada is one of the world leaders of hydro electricity which uses the power of the water to produce electricity.

Canada is a huge timber producer and second in the world in regards to the sawn softwood production -after the USA. This includes timber or lumber planks or furniture wood. Lumber is the North American term for timber.

The USA and China are the main trading partners of Canada.

Canada Facts for Kids | Canada People

The majority of Canadians (82%) live in urban centres of the country. Most of the Canadian families have roots in England and France, as during the French and British colonised the country and thus many families immigrated into Canada. About one third of the Canadian refer to themselves as Canadian. Almost 40% of the Canadians refer to belonging to the English, Scottish or Irish ethnic groups and about 13% are refer to belonging to the French ethnic group.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. Almost half of the population can speak both languages. The majority of Canadians speak English as first language, but French is the main language in the Quebec province. In Quebec also almost half of the population is bilingual, which means that they are able to speak both languages fluently.

Almost 90% of all Canadians live within 160 km/100 miles of the Canada - USA border!

Life expectancy at birth is 83 years

Literacy Rate is 99%

Among the aboriginal people in Canada are the Métis, the First Nations People and the Inuit.

The indigenous people in northern Canada are called 'Inuit'. Today, only 5 in 100 Canadians refer to themselves as belonging to the 'Inuk' (one of the Inuit people).

The inuit live today in modern houses but still build igloos, especially when hunting. The inuit children go to the community's schools, but there are no universities in the North. So if the children decide to go on studying, they have to leave their communities and move to university cities. In the Inuit language, writing text was only begun in the 19th century before they mainly used symbols for writing.

Canada Facts for Kids
Animals in Canada

Among the animals you will most likely encounter on your Canada travels will be moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and the muskox, which is a wild bison.

Find 25 more fun facts about Canada here:

Other popular pages

Canada Facts for Kids | Resources

Canada Facts for Kids References include:

Central Intelligence Agency. "Canada." WorldFactBook. Last updated 27 May 2022. Last accessed 8 June 2022

BBC News. "Canada Country Profile.". 1 February 2019. Last accessed 8 June 2022

Government of Canada. "Culture, History and Sport." Canada.ca 15 May 2020. Last accessed 2 March 2022

The Canadian Encyclopaedia. "Geography Quiz." Historica Canada. Last accessed 8 June 2022

Government of Canada. "O Canada." Last accessed 8 June 2022

TravelAlberta. "Banff National Park." TravelAlberta. Last accessed 8 June 2022

Megan Wilson. "Insider's First Look: The Whistler Peak Suspension Bridge." The Whistler Insider. 5 July 2018. Updated 3 May 2022. Last accessed 8 June 2022

Parks Canada. "Ten Animals You Might See When Visiting Canada's Protected Areas." Government of Canada. Last updated 9 November 2021. Last accessed 8 June 2022

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We hope you enjoyed reading out Canada Facts for Kids. Make sure to bookmark this Canada Facts for Kids page, as we plan to add on more information. Feel free to contact us if your school would like to work on a school project about Canada (animals, food, people, traditions, games, sport etc.) with us.
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Canada Facts for Kids | Facts about Canada | Family Travel | Geography

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Our updated Canada facts for kids will provide lots of interesting facts about Canada with info about people and country, geo superlatives, animals and more.

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Jamie talks about her school day in Canada

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Jamie talks about her school day in Canada

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Jamie : my school in Canada - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Jamie tells us about her school in Canada and about her everyday life at school : timetable, school subjects...

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Jo : schedules and classes in the US - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Jo lists all the subjects American students can choose at school.

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Get facts and photos of the U.S. states and territories, and the District of Columbia.

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Keely : a typical schoolday in the USA - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Keely details all the periods pupils usually have at school in America.

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Nyssa talks about her daily routine (USA)

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Nyssa talks about her daily routine (USA)

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Nyssa : my daily routine on weekdays - Audio Lingua - mp3 en anglais, allemand, arabe, catalan, corse, espagnol, italien, russe, occitan, portugais, chinois et français

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Nyssa describes her typical day during the week.

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

Name: Commonwealth of Australia

Government: Democracy

Population: About 26.4 million (2023)

Urban Population: 90%

Capital: Canberra with 472,000 people

Language: English

Unemployment: 12%

Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($) = 100 cents

Religion: mainly Christians

Timezones: 3

National Symbols: Golden wattle (flower), opal (gemstone), green and gold (colours) and the Commonwealth Star (a seven-pointed star)

National Animals: Kangaroo, emu

National Holiday: 26 January (Australia Day)

National Anthem: Advance Australia Fair

Australia Geography
Australia Maps

Australia is an island country in the Southern hemisphere and belongs to Oceania/Australia. Australia is referred to as country and as continent as the country sits on its own continental shelf. The country is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

Australia is the smallest continent of the seven continents. The continent is often referred to as Oceania. Australia is one of the largest countries in the world while Greenland is considered the biggest island in the world.

Australia is also the driest inhabited continent of the world.

Did you know that Australia is the largest country in the Southern hemisphere and the largest country without land borders?

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, USA, China and Brazil.

The country is divided into six states (Southern Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania) and two self-governing territories: Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (which is around Canberra, the capital city).

The country's interior consists of arid and semi-arid areas which are referred to as 'outback'. About 70% of Australia are outback, while the coastal plains are more fertile and house the majority of Australia's population. About 35% of Australia's land area are covered by deserts.

Most of Australia's population live in the eastern and southern parts of the country and along the coastline.

Australia is roughly the same size as the USA without the states of California and Texas.

Australia belongs to the Commonwealth countries. Read more here.

10 Australia Superlatives

1. The highest mountain of Australia is Mount Kosciuszko with 2,228 m/ 7,310 ft. This mountain is in the Great Dividing Range.

2. The Great Dividing Range is the longest mountain range in Australia stretching over 3,500 km/ 2,175 miles.

3. Uluru, previously referred to also as Ayers Rock, is located in the centre of the country and is the largest alone standing rock in the world.

4. The longest river of Australia is the Murray River with 2,508 km/ 1,558 miles.

5. The Great Barrier Reef in Eastern Australia is the biggest coral reef system in the world. The reef consists of more than 3,000 reefs and 900 islands. The Barrier Reef is home to over 350 species of corals and over 1,500 species of fish.

6. Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal.

7. Sydney is Australia's biggest city with more than 5 million inhabitants.

8. Australia's largest desert is the Great Victoria Basin which covers most of Western Australia and South Australia.

9. New South Wales is the most populous state of Australia. 65% of the country's population live in New South Wales.

10. The largest state of Australia is Western Australia.

More about the most famous Landmarks of Australia here.
Australia Facts | Australian Cities

The biggest cities in Australia are Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. These cities are all located at the coast or close to the coast and are the only metropolitan cities in Australia with more than one million inhabitants.

Canberra is Australia's capital city and the only major city of the country further away from the coast. Canberra is located about 150 km/ 93 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean coastline and about 280 km/ 173 miles to the southwest of Sydney.
Read more about Australia's landmarks and attractions.
Australia Facts: Sydney is Australia's largest city with about 5 million inhabitants, which means that about 20% of all Australians live in this metropolitan city.

The main city in the country's interior is Alice Springs while Darwin is the biggest city in the Northern Territory.

Australia Facts
Australia Attractions for Kids

There are many great attractions in the country. Some of these are - listed in alphabetical order:

Adelaide: the main city in South Australia is home to about half a million people. Adelaide is surrounded by fertile agricultural land and wine regions. Did you know that Adelaide is also known for one of the largest Christmas parades in the world?

Arnhem Land: The Northern Territory is home to a large population of aboriginal people who have a deep spiritual connection with the land and proudly will share their experiences with visitors.

Australian Alps: Experience mountain landscapes with snowy mountain tops even in summer and enjoy the fascinating remote wilderness. There are lovely hiking tracks especially near lake Jindabyne.

Brisbane: the city with over two million inhabitants is the centre of the Australian Gold Coast with numerous resorts for an exciting beach holiday and a bit further to the north, there is the wonderful coral reef you cannot miss!

Great Barrier Reef: The world's largest coral reef is great for snorkelling and diving. Cairns is a popular beach resort town on the Northern Coast and Lady Elliott Island and Hamilton Island are wonderful family holiday islands.

Melbourne: The second largest city of Australia is the main city of the state of Victoria and has lots of trendy restaurants, shops and art galleries along the Yarra River.

Kakadu National Park: Experience the excitement of a real jungle in Australia's biggest national park and one of the world's most unique forests and woodlands and one of Australia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There you can also admire the Northern Territories highest waterfalls, the Jim Jim Falls.

Perth: The biggest city in Western Australia also housing about two million people is known for its cultural scene and is close to lovely Fremantle which has historic quarters to explore. And don't forget Rottnest Island where you can meet the friendly quokkas, the unique wallabies. Read more here.

Pinnacles Desert Park: Hundreds of limestone pinnacles can be seen in Nambung National Park in Western Australia. There you can also spot wild emus.
To read about Australian landmarks and the Top 10 Visitor Attractions in Australia, click here
Australia Facts | Australian People

Australia's first or indigenous people, are usually referred to as the aboriginal people of Australia. They make up 2% of Australia's population today. The indigenous Australians are said to be direct descendants of migrants from Africa who left the African continent about 75,000 years ago. They have migrated over the Australasian continent until they settled in Australia around 60,000 years ago.

Today aboriginal people live in all main cities in Australia but most of them still live in the desert areas of the Australian outback. On the image above, you can see a man playing the didgeridoo, a kind of wooden trumpet, which is really difficult to play. The aboriginal people are highly skilled in arts and crafts and share with visitors their vast knowledge about the land and the environment.

The 'outback' is the vast, dry and remote inland parts of the Australian continent. Some aboriginal people live still in the sacred area around Uluru, a huge rock formation in the centre of the continent.

Uluru was formerly referred to as Ayers Rock. Many groups of aboriginal people also live in the Northern Territory in Kakadu National Park, which they call 'Arnhem Land', the land of their ancestors.

Australia Facts | Australian Animals

Australia is home to many animal species. In fact, Australia houses more than 10% of the world's biodiversity (animals and plant varieties).

Among the most well-known Australian animals are kangaroos, wombats, koalas and the dingos.

Roadsigns in Australia warn drivers about wild animals mainly kangaroos that might cross the roads.

Kangaroos are marsupials, which means, they carry their babies in their pouches. See the cute little joey (this is how baby kangaroos are called).

Wombats are also marsupials. Wombats have sharp teeth, but are herbivores. This means they eat grasses, bark and roots. Wombats are mainly night-active, but can also be seen out looking for food on cool and overcast days, such as this wombat on the picture below.

Read more about the fascinating Australian wildlife on our special page here.
Australia Facts | Australia Quiz
Test your knowledge

Read more about Australia Popular Pages

We hope you enjoyed these updated Australian facts:-)
Image credits on Australia Facts: Shutterstock.com and own images

Resources for Australia Facts Page:
Return from Australia Facts to KidsWorldTravelGuide Homepage

Central Intelligence Agency. "Australia." World Fact Book. Last update 21 June 2023. Last accessed 30 June 2023

The Commonwealth. "Australia Facts." Commonwealth Secretariat. Last accessed 30 June 2023

The Nature Conservancy. "Meet the Quokka." NatureAustralia.org. Last accessed 30 June 2023

Tammy Solonec. Why saying 'Aborigine' isn't ok. 8 Facts about indigenous people in Australia. Amnesty International. 9 August 2015. Last accessed 30 June 2023

Australia Government. Australia Covid and Travel Information. www.australia.gov.au. Last accessed 30 June 2023

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Australia Facts for Kids | Australia for Kids | Geography | Animals

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Our Australia Facts for Kids inform about Australian superlatives, attractions and people, Australian animals and so much more

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Get ready to be blown away...

Explore Australia's rich Indigenous Aboriginal arts and culture with our 10 amazing facts...

Fact 1: The Indigenous Aboriginal arts and cultures of Australia are the oldest living cultures in the world! One of the reasons they have survived for so long is their ability to adapt to change.

Fact 2: The earliest Indigenous art was paintings or engravings on the walls of rock shelters and caves which is called rock art. Red ochre was being used for painting at least 30,000 years ago in central Australia.

Fact 3: One of the largest collections of Indigenous Aboriginal rock art is in the heritage listed Dampier Archipelago in Western Australia, where the rock engravings are thought to number in the millions.

Fact 4: Albert Namatjira is one of Australia's best-known Aboriginal artists, and the first Aboriginal painter to receive international recognition for his art.

Fact 5: Aboriginal people were in contact with the culture of other peoples, sharing ideas and skills, long before European occupation in 1778, including Macassans, Melanesians, Dutch, Portuguese navigators and traders.

Fact 6: At the time of European occupation, there were over 700 different Indigenous Aboriginal languages and dialects spoken in Australia. Now there are less that 250 still in use.

Fact 7: Land is fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. The land is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment that sustains and is sustained by people and culture.

Fact 8: One of the most well known sacred sites in Australia is Uluru, located in the centre of Australia. The first European explorers named it Ayers Rock. In 1985 the Commonwealth Government of Australia returned Uluru to its traditional owners, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people (also known as Anangu).

Fact 9: The didgeridoo is one of the world's oldest musical instruments and is made from limbs and tree trunks hollowed out by termites.

Fact 10: Aboriginal Arts and Culture can be found in some of the most incredible locations. Lake Mungo in western New South Wales is a site of great Aboriginal and archaeological importance, containing material dated to at least 33,000 years ago. Aboriginal Arts and Culture

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Aboriginal Arts and Culture | facts for kids | National Geographic Kids

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Get ready to be blown away... Explore Australia's rich Indigenous Aboriginal arts and culture with our 10 amazing facts... Fact 1: The Indigenous Aboriginal arts and cultures of Australia are the oldest living cultures in the world! One of the reasons they have survived for so long is their ability to adapt to change.

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Hello in South Africa’s 11 official languages – Kids say hello in all 11 languages! (Episode 1)

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Here are some interesting facts about South Africa for kids which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

South Africa Facts | Country Facts

Population: 60 million people live in South Africa (2023)

Capital city: Pretoria has 3 million inhabitants. Pretoria's nickname is "The Jacaranda City" due to the many jacaranda trees. In South Africa, the city is referred to as 'Tshwane' as the municipality changed its name in 2007. However, South Africa has three capital cities: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein

Name: Republic of South Africa

Government: Democracy

Languages: 12 official languages: isiZulu, Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa, siSwati, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Sepedi, isiNdebele, Setswana, Tshivenda, sign language

Religion: mainly Christians and Muslims, but also Jews and other faiths.

Currency: 1 South African Rand (ZAR) = 100 Cents

History: South Africa was colonised by British, Dutch suffered from Apartheid. Nelson Mandela came free from prison and became the first democratically elected leader in South Africa in 1994.

South Africa for Kids
South Africa Geography

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent.

South Africa shares borders with six countries: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe in the North, and Mozambique in the East, as well as with Eswatini and Lesotho.

South Africa encloses two landlocked African countries which are Eswatini (formerly called Swaziland) and Lesotho. Both these countries are kingdoms.

South Africa is about as big as the land area of France and Spain combined or twice the size of the state of Texas/ USA.

It takes a 12-hour flight from London/England to fly to Johannesburg or a 12-hour flight from Singapore and it takes more than 17 hours from New York/USA.

In South Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet off the Southern Cape coast.

The southernmost point in South Africa is, however, at Cape Agulhas which is roughly 120 km/ 75 miles to the east of Cape Town.

In the image to the right, however, you see Cape Point, the southernmost point of the Cape Peninsula.

South Africa for Kids
Geography

South Africa has various mountain ranges such as the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, the Magaliesberg or the Cederberg mountains.

There is a narrow coastal stretch and in the interior of the country, you will find a high plateau.

The highest mountain in South Africa is Mafadi Peak, which is on the border to Lesotho. Mafadi Peak is 3,450 m/ 11,319 ft high.

In the north of the country, you will find the Kalahari Desert which borders neighbouring countries Namibia and Botswana. The Kalahari is part of the 'highveld', the highlands of the country.

Johannesburg is the largest city of South Africa and lies on this plateau at 1,700 m/ 5,577 ft above sea level. However, most of the bigger cities such as Cape Town and Durban are located near the coast in low-lying areas.

The longest river in South Africa is the Orange River which forms also part of the border between Namibia from South Africa.

In the mountain ranges of the Drakensberg region, there is snow in winter and you even could go skiing in South Africa. Tiffindell is the most popular winter resort town. Sometimes also the higher mountain tops in the Western Cape near Cape Town receive some snow in winter. But there is no snow in the city or in the towns along the coastline. Although the snow might be enough for a snowball fight, it certainly is not enough to go skiing.

Did you know, that the Tugela Falls in South Africa are the second-highest waterfalls in the world?

The country name is often displayed as ZA which means and is Afrikaans for South Africa.

South Africa for Kids:
South Africa Attractions

Cape Town: Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, beaches. More about Cape Town attractions here.

Kruger National Park for safaris and great wildlife viewing

Sun City near Pretoria for fun and games galore with amazing wave pool and lots of things to do for the whole family

Addo National Park near Port Elizabeth for elephant-spotting

Durban for surfing and great beaches and the KwaZulu-Natal midlands for some insights into South African history

iSimangeliso (formerly St Lucia Wetlands) for wildlife viewing and unspoilt nature

Drakensberg Mountains for hiking and nearby Lesotho for skiing in Africa

South Africa for Kids: Animals

Wildlife in South Africa is abundant. There are many species of antilope such as kudu, springbok, wildebeest, impala, oryx and gemsbok. When you go on safari you can see many other South African animals like lions, elephants, giraffes and monkeys.

South Africa is home to the African Penguins and the Great White Sharks live in the ocean waters here too. Sometimes beaches are closed for bathing due to the sharks in the bays. Many beaches have shark nets. Remember to only swim in the sea where there are lifeguards on duty.

Whale watching is very popular in South Africa too and you will encounter an enormous sea life in South Africa when you go on a boat trip.

South Africa for Kids
South Africa People

South Africa is often called the 'Rainbow Nation', because there are so many different languages are spoken and different cultural traditions are lived. Below you see people of the Ndebele tribe.

South Africa is often called "The Cradle of Humankind", because archaeological artefacts, tools and human remains proof that people lived in the area more than 100,000 years ago.

The ancient San and the Khoi were the early African civilizations settling the Cape. There are only few descendants of the local San people living in remote areas in the Karoo desert and near the Cape West Coast.

The biggest South African population group, the Zulu, mainly live in rural settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, they even have a king.

Portuguese, Dutch, British, French and German explorers have traveled and populated southern Africa in the 17 th and 18 th century and therefore you can find many European influences in South Africa too.
Read more about the 11 official languages in South Africa and learn some fun South African slang words here.
Nowadays most of the people in South Africa live in or near the big cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. The rural areas are still very poor and also in the cities many people live in shantytowns or townships.

Johannesburg is the largest city and the main industrial and economic hub, while Cape Town and Durban are also large cities with more than 1 million inhabitants.

Did you know that in South Africa, cars drive on the left side of the road as they do in the UK and Australia? However, all distance and speed signs are in metres and kilometres and km/ hour and not as in England in yards and miles and miles/ hour!

South Africa for Kids
Food in South Africa

The food the people eat in South Africa is very diverse. The South African staple food for the locals is 'mealies', which is corn, and seasonal vegetables, like potatoes, beans, carrots and peas.

South Africans love their meat and game meat such as kudu and springbok are common. However, most people eat beef, chicken, lamb and ostrich with their meals. The people in South Africa love a BBQ (here called 'braai') and almost every house has got a fireplace which is called 'braai-place'.

Typical South African food:

biltong: a cured and dried meat that is a typical South African snack and similar to beef jerky. Kids love to take this as snack to school.

boerewors: Afrikaans for 'farmers sausage', is often put on the grill, formed in a curl (see image)

Read more about South African traditional food here.
Did you know that...?

... most people speak at least two or three languages, one of them usually English or Afrikaans.

... South Africa has really three capital cities. The powers are distributed between Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. The parliament meets for six months in Pretoria and the other half of the year in Cape Town.

We hope you enjoyed our information on South Africa for Kids. Read also our top 15 South Africa facts even locals often do not know here.

Popular Pages

Resources: South Africa for Kids

Central Intelligence Agency. "South Africa". WorldFactBook. Last updated 8 March 2022. Last accessed 30 March 2022

Nelson Mandela Foundation. "Mandela Day." NelsonMandelaFoundation. Last accessed 30 March 2022

South African History Online. People and Culture of South Africa. SAHistory.org. Last accessed 30 March 2022.

South African Government. "Geography and Climate" Last accessed 30 March 2022.

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South Africa for Kids | South Africa Facts for Kids | Geography

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Read here our South Africa for Kids country facts: South Africa's landmarks and attractions, people and cultures, animals and food and so much more

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South Africa – Kids Share Fun Facts About South Africa! (Episode 3)

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A few games if you have finished your researches.

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Educational activities of Pauline Carbajal

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Educational activities created by on Educaplay