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Koalas are marsupials, related to kangaroos.

OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of Australia

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal parliamentary democracy; Commonwealth realm

CAPITAL: Canberra

POPULATION: 23,470,145

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: English

MONEY: Australian dollar

AREA: 2,969,906 square miles (7,692,024 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Great Dividing Range, Macdonnell Ranges

MAJOR RIVERS: Murray-Darling, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan

Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the largest countries on Earth. Although it is rich in natural resources and has a lot of fertile land, more than one-third of Australia is desert.

Most Australian cities and farms are located in the southwest and southeast, where the climate is more comfortable. There are dense rain forests in the northeast. The famous outback (remote rural areas) contains the country's largest deserts, where there are scorching temperatures, little water, and almost no vegetation.

Running around the eastern and southeastern edge of Australia is the Great Dividing Range. This 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) stretch of mountain sends water down into Australia's most important rivers and the Great Artesian Basin, the largest groundwater source in the world.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Australia is one of the world's most ethnically diverse nations. Nearly a quarter of the people who live in Australia were born in other countries. They come from the United Kingdom and other European countries, but also from China, Vietnam, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Australia's warm, sunny climate and abundance of open spaces gives the population a love of the outdoors. The people are also passionate about sports, including swimming, surfing, sailing, tennis, soccer, cricket, rugby, and their own invention, Australian rules football.

Australia's ecosystem is an unusual one because of its remote location. As a result, there are many animal species that occur here and nowhere else in the world, such as the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. Australia has 516 national parks to protect its unique plants and animals.

One of Australia's most amazing sites rises like an enormous whale's back from a flat red-soil desert called the Red Center. This site is called Uluru, and it is a sacred natural formation at the heart of the country. Rising 1,100 feet (335 meters) tall, it is the largest rock in the world!

Australia is home to many of the deadliest species of animals on the planet. There are 36 species of poisonous funnel-web spiders in eastern Australia. There are also 20 types of venomous snakes, including the taipan, which attacks without warning and bites repeatedly, killing its victim in minutes.

There are several types of rain forests in Australia. Tropical rain forests, mainly found in the northeast, are the richest in plant and animal species. Subtropical rain forests are found near the mid-eastern coast, and broadleaf rain forests grow in the southeast and on the island of Tasmania.

GOVERNMENT

As a commonwealth of the United Kingdom, Australia's head of state is the British monarch. Many Australians think the country should end its ties to Britain and become a republic. In a vote in 1999, Australians decided against separating from the UK, but the vote was close, and the debate continues.

Australia is an important exporter of agricultural goods like wool, wheat, beef, fruit, and wine. The country is also rich in minerals and metals and is the world's fourth largest producer of gold.

Aboriginal people arrived in Australia about 50,000 years ago. They may have traveled from Asia across land bridges that were exposed when sea levels were lower. The hardy Aborigines have learned to live in the harsh conditions of the outback.

Dutch explorers first landed in Australia in 1606, and the British began to settle there in 1788. Many settlers were criminals sent to live in Australia as punishment. For a short time, the newcomers lived peacefully with the Aboriginal people. But soon, fighting broke out over who owned the land.

In 1851, gold was discovered in Australia. A rush to find riches brought thousands of new immigrants, and by 1859, six separate colonies existed. In 1901, these colonies joined to form a British commonwealth.

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Australia Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the largest countries on Earth.

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Our South America Facts for Kids bring you lots of interesting and fun facts on the South American continent.

South America is the fourth largest continent in size and the fifth largest when we consider population.

The South American continent is located in the western hemisphere and mainly in the southern hemisphere.

Top 20 South America Facts

1. There are 12 countries in South America (see list on the right) and 3 dependencies with a total of more than 433 million people living on the continent.

Click on the flags to learn more about these countries:

2. Largest Country: Brazil. The country is covering more than half the continent's landmass. Did you know that Brazil is only slightly smaller than the USA?

3. Largest City: Sao Paolo in Brazil. With more than 22 million inhabitants (2021) Sao Paulo is also one of the ten biggest cities in the world.

4. Smallest Country: Suriname. The country is one of the 10 most sparsely populated countries in the world.

5. Biggest Island: Tierra del Fuego (Spanish meaning: Land of Fire), at the southern tip of Argentina and Chile

6. Longest River: Amazon River (6,437 km/ 4,000 miles). The Amazon is not only the second longest river in the world after the Nile, but also the Amazon carries more water than the world's other 10 biggest rivers combined!

7. Highest Mountain: Aconcagua in Argentina. The mountain (6,961 m/ 22,837 ft) is located in the Andes mountain range.

The Aconcagua is considered the second highest of the world's Seven Summits after Mount Everest which is in Asia.

8. Biggest Lake: Lake Titicaca (shared by Bolivia and Peru)

9. Driest Place: While South America's rain forests also are some of the wettest places on the earth, the Atacama desert in Chile is considered the driest place on earth. Read more about the world's deserts here.

10. There are two landlocked countries in South America: Paraguay and Bolivia are located in the interior of the continent and have neither access to the Atlantic Ocean nor to the Pacific Ocean.

More South America Facts

11. History: Evidence of human life in South America dates back to 10,000 BC. One of the earliest South American civilisations are recorded in Peru. South America was colonised from the late 15th century by foreign conquistadores mainly from Spain and Portugal, but also from the Dutch, British and French.

12. People of South America: The Incas were the largest group of indigenous people in South America when the Europeans arrived. The Incan Empire lasted from 1438 until 1533. Indigenous cultures still are present in South America but the numbers are diminishing. There are still Arawaks and Caribs in Venezuela as well as Guarani in Brazil.

13. Languages in South America: Spanish is the main language in South American countries, only in Brazil people speak Portuguese and in Surinam, formerly a Dutch colony, the official language is still Dutch. Many people speak also English as a second language. Quechua, the language spoken by the Inca, is the most common indigenous language.

14. Religion: Most of the South American people are Catholics (90%), some Protestants, Jews and some indigenous people have their indigenous beliefs.

15. Tourist attractions in South America: The most popular attractions are:

Macchu Picchu in Peru

Iguazu Falls in Argentina/Brazil

Angel Falls in Venezuela

Rio de Janeiro and its Carnival in Brazil

Patagonia in Argentina/Chile

Amazon in Ecuador

Pantanal in Paraguay/Brazil

Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

16. Biggest Cities: The most populous city in South America is Sao Paulo. Almost half of the population of the South American continent lives in Brazil.

Other big cities in South America are:

Lima (Peru)

Bogota (Colombia)

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Santiago (Chile)

Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Did you know? The southernmost city in the world is on the South American continent! The city is called Ushuaia, is located on the Argentinian part of the Tierra del Fuego and more than 55,000 people live there. Read more about Argentina here.

17. Animals: In South America there are tapirs, piranhas and anacondas and many other animals.

South America is also home to many endangered animals such as the jaguar, the giant otter or the Amazonian manatee.

18. Main natural resources in South America are minerals such as iron ore (used to make steel) or copper and agricultural produce such as corn, coffee, wheat, soybean and cocoa.

19. Nature superlatives:

Atacama desert is the driest place in South America

Angel Falls are the world's highest waterfalls

Amazon River Basin is the world's largest river basin

The Andes are the world's longest mountain range

20. South America's landscape is dominated from mountains and highlands such as the Andes, river basins such as the Amazon and Orinoco and coastal plains where the Atacama Desert also belongs to.

Countries in South America that are located in the Northern Hemisphere:

Venezuela

Guyana

Suriname

French Guiana

and (the northern regions of) Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil

Test your Knowledge

Popular Pages

Useful Resources for South America Facts

Central Intelligence Agency. "South America." WorldFactBook. Last accessed 14 February 2023

National Geographic. "World Atlas for Young Explorers". Washington: 2010. pages 86-92

Millennium. "Earth Condensed - The World Atlas." Millennium House. 2009

Image Credits on South America Facts page: Shutterstock.com and wikipedia commons Return from South America Facts to Kids-World-Travel-Guide Homepage
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South America Facts for Kids | Geography | Attractions | People | Food

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20 Top South America Facts for Kids provide information on the 12 countries, lots of interesting superlatives and fun facts about the South American continent.

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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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South America is the world's fourth largest continent. The countries of South America are also part of a larger cultural region known as Latin America, in which most of the...

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South America is the continent to the south of North America. These two continents are separated by the Panama Canal.

South America is attached to Central America at the boundary of Panama. Geographically all of Panama - including the part east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus - is usually included in North America alone, among the countries of Central America.

South America stretches from the Caribbean Sea almost to Antarctica. It borders the Atlantic on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. South America can be divided into four parts. The Caribbean Republics include Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The Andean Republics include Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and Peru. The River Plate Republics have Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. Brazil, the largest, is almost half of South America.

The majority of South America has a tropical climate. It is humid tropical and tropical savanna in the north. It is humid subtropical in the southeast. Rainfall is different depending on the place. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world. The Amazon basin is very rainy; the average rainfall is 2,000 millimetres (79 in). The Brazilian plateau receives rainfall between 1000 and 2000 mm. Temperatures can also be very difficult to read. The usual temperature in the mountains is 15 °C (59 °F) degrees, while temperatures in the Tropics can be more than 38 °C (100 °F) degrees.

Natural resources

The soil in Argentina's Pampas is among the best in the world. Brazil's soil is very good for growing coffee. A great number of minerals have been found. Few, however, have been mined. Among those that were mined are iron, manganese, gold, and gemstones. The tropical forests are rich in valuable trees, like mahogany, ebony, and rubber. Oil is also a resource in some places.

South America is home to a large variety of animal life. These include animals such as jaguars, macaws, monkeys, anacondas, llamas, piranhas, toucans, tapirs, cougars, condors and chinchillas.

Tourist attractions

The most popular attractions are:

Images for kids

The Brazilian Minas Geraes class kindled an Argentine-Brazilian-Chilean naval arms race.

In Spanish: América del Sur para niños

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Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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South America is filled with a diverse range of cultures, climates, and landscapes. From the mysterious Amazon rainforest to the breathtaking Andes Mountains, South America has so many natural wonders to explore. We'll be exploring some fascinating facts about the continent. From languages to its geography, we'll be covering the ten most interesting facts about South America.

Want to know more about continents? Check out our Top 10 Facts about the Continents.

1. There are 12 countries in South America
This includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuala.

2. The biggest country in South America is Brazil
Brazil also has the most people with a population of 201 million.
Learn more about Brazil below with our Top 10 Facts about Brazil!

3. The weather in South America is hot and humid
In general, the weather in South America is hot and humid. Countries in the Amazon basin like Northern Brazil and Columbia have lots of rainforest so they are hot and humid all year round with lots of rain.
4. The Amazon River runs through South America
The second longest river in the world, The Amazon, is in South America. It contains more water than any other river in the world and is home to many amazing animals including the Amazon River Dolphin.

5. World's largest coffee producer Brazil is in this continent
In 2016 it is thought that 2,595,000 metric tons of coffee beans were produced in Brazil alone. Brazil has been the highest producing country for coffee for over 150 years followed by Vietnam in Asia and Colombia in South America.

6. The world's largest tropical rainforest is located in South America
The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It's home to more than 30 million people and one in ten known species on Earth. It is known as 'the lungs of the Earth' because it produces so much oxygen. However recently it has been being destroyed to grow soy and make space for livestock.
7. The potato originated from South America
Despite originating from South America it is Europe which now produces three quarters of the world's potatoes. Other foods which come from South America are chocolate, pineapple and peanuts.
8. En Canto is set in South America
Disney's En Canto is set in Colombia - one of the biggest countries on the South American continent. Fancy having a go at making the Arepas from Encanto? Check out our recipe!
9. There are 2 landlocked countries in South America
There are only 2 countries in South America completely bordered by land and that have no seaside. These countries are Paraguay and Bolivia.
10. The most spoken language in South America is Spanish
Spanish is the most widely spoken language in South America followed closely by Portuguese which is the official language of Brazil.
Send us your favourite facts!

Is there something we've missed? Got a fact you're dying to tell us? Submit it below and we could use it on a future Top 10 Facts page!

Remember to always ask an adult before filling out forms online.

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Top 10 Facts about South America - Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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South America is filled with a diverse range of cultures, climates, and landscapes. From the mysterious Amazon rainforest to the breathtaking Andes Mountains, South America has so many natural wonders more "

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Kids learn about South American countries. The flags, maps, exports, natural resouces, geography, and languages of South America.

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OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic federal republic

CAPITAL: Brasilia

POPULATION: 208,846,892

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese

MONEY: Real

AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço

MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantins

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world's largest jungle, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus, and a long coastal plain.

Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways. Its total length stretches 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometers). Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal), and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of cultures has created a rich religious, musical, and culinary culture.

Brazilians are soccer crazy, and their country has produced some of the best players. The most famous of all is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. Brazil has won the World Cup soccer finals five times, more than any other nation.

Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species, and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects. Brazil's jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions.

In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world's largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas, huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans.

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has been rampant. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10,000 years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32,000 years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians. Today, only about 300,000 remain, living primarily in Brazil's remotest places.

Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in 1530. Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and as far away as Europe to the interior of the country.

In 1789, Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers. The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence. By 1822, Brazil was a sovereign nation. Kings of Portuguese blood ruled until 1888, when military leaders and landowners expelled the king, and Brazil became a federal republic.

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Brazil Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world.

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Interesting Facts for Kids

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

Population: 219 million people live in Brazil (2023)

Capital: Brasilia, with 5 million inhabitants is the country's fourth largest city. The largest city in Brazil is Sao Paulo with about 23 million inhabitants.

Name: Republica Federativa do Brasil, Federative Republic of Brazil

Government: Democracy, Republic

Language: Portuguese

Literacy: More than 91% of the people can read and write.

Religion: mainly Christians (Roman Catholics 65%, Protestants 22%)

Currency: 1 real=100 centavos

National symbols: Jaguar (national animal), macaw (national bird) and cattleya orchid (national flower), national colours: green, yellow and blue, the constellation of the Southern Cross

National anthem: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro"

History: The country was inhabited mainly by semi-nomadic tribes before the arrival of the colonialists. The land was claimed by Portuguese and Portuguese settlers founded the colony in 1532. By the 17th century sugar cane was the main export product and the slave trade brought many African slaves to the country. The Brazilian gold rush attracted many fortune seekers to the country. In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal, although independence was officially recognised by the Portuguese only three years later! Brazil was ruled by various Brazilian emperors until in 1889 it was finally declared a republic. Brazil's president is Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva since January 2023.

National Holiday: 7 September (Independence Day)

Brazil Facts | Geography
Where is Brazil?

Brazil is located on the South American continent. Brazil also belongs to the Latin American countries. The country borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The largest Latin American country shares borders with all other South American countries except for Chile and Ecuador. The longest border is shared with Bolivia and is 3,400 km/ 2,113 miles long.

Below see a map of Brazil with the neighbouring countries and you will find Brazil's capital city: Brasilia.

Regarding the size of Brazil, all the countries of the European Union could fit twice into the country! Brazil is slightly smaller than the USA.

A flight to Sao Paolo takes roughly 11.5 hours from London/UK and 9.5 hours from New York/USA.

Brazil for Kids | More Facts about Brazil

The country has almost 7,500 km/ 4,660 miles of coastline and is known for its many great beaches.

The northern and western parts of Brazil are largely dominated by the Amazon Basin. In the South, you will find the Brazilian Highlands.

The Amazon, the Paraná, the Madeira River, the Rio de la Plata and the Rio Negro are among the biggest rivers in Brazil.

The climate in Brazil is mostly tropical with a temperate climate in the Southern parts of the country.

The most famous landmark of Brazil is located in Rio de Janeiro. The Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks the city and Sugarloaf mountain.

Brazil Geo Superlatives

Brazil is South America's biggest and the world's fifth largest country. The country covers three time zones!

Brazil is also the largest country in the Southern hemisphere as it is bigger than Australia.

The Amazon river is the world's second longest river. It is about 6,400 km/ 4,000 miles long. The river flows through Peru, Colombia and enters the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil.

The Amazon rain forest is the largest rainforest in the world. About 60% of the world's rainforests are located in Brazil.

Brazil is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world due to the many species of plants and animals.

The highest lying area of Brazil is in the North and is called the Guiana highlands.

Brazil's highest mountain is the 'Pico de Neblina' and is 2,994 m/ 9,822 ft. high.

Brazil is the only country on the planet where the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn run through the country.

The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland and covers most of the country's western parts.

Brazil shares the Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world with Argentina. There are over 270 waterfalls in this waterfall system.

Brazil Attractions for Kids

Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana and Ipanema are great for beach holidays

Capivara National Park is known for ancient rock paintings

Recife, the country's fourth largest city is also nicknamed 'Venice of Brazil' because of its over 50 bridges and many waterways.

Pantanal National park is also called the 'Brazilian Garden of Eden'

Florianópolis is located on Santa Catarina Island which stretches over 54 km/ 33 miles. The island has some of the most amazing beaches in the country.

Brazil Facts | People in Brazil

Brazil is the country with the fifth largest population in the world, after China, India, the USA and Indonesia.

Most Brazilians (87%) live in urban centres, mainly along the Atlantic coast and in the major cities.

The biggest cities in Brazil are Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The Brazilian cities are known for the extensive favelas. These are the neighbourhoods or shanty towns, where mainly poor people live.

The northern parts of the country are the least populated area in Brazil.

Among the Brazilian people are more than 800,000 indigenous people, some of them Amerindians.

Brazil Facts | Language in Brazil

Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. The Brazilian Portuguese is slightly different to the Portuguese spoken in Portugal. The pronunciation sounds different and some of the words are used only in Brazil.

Brazil Facts | Carnival in Brazil

Brazil is known for its cheerful and vibrant atmosphere during Carnival time starting on the Friday﻿ before Ash Wednesday. Carneval do Brasil is celebrated in many cities such as in Sao Paolo, Salvador or Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian carnival starts on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, or the beginning of the Christian period of fasting called Lent. This usually is in February.

In Brazil, carnival is celebrated with the parades of the various samba schools. The communities are usually widely involved as drumming, dancing and marching are practised all year round for this special annual event.

Brazil Facts | Brazil Economy

Brazil is the eighth largest economy in the world. The country belongs to the BRICS which includes the countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The main agricultural products of Brazil include coffee, soybeans, wheat, corn and sugar cane. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of coffee, soybean and beef.

About one third of the country is agricultural land, however, only about 10% of all Brazilians work in the agricultural sector. The unemployment rate in Brazil stands at 12% and about 4% live in extremely poor conditions.

The largest trading partners of Brazil are China, the USA and Argentina.

Sports in Brazil

The people in Brazil love being outdoors, the main sports are soccer, volleyball and water sports.

The South American country hosted the soccer world cup in 2014. Brazil won the world cup five times in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 and the country has participated in all the tournament since it began.

Brazil also hosted the last Summer Olympic Games in August 2016. The XXXVI (16th) Olympiad in Rio was the first Olympic Games on the South American continent! Over ten thousand athletes from 206 countries took part in these summer sports games. Read more about the Rio Olympics here.

Brazil Facts | Animals in Brazil

Brazil's national animal is the Jaguar.

Brazil is home to many other fascinating mammals too, such as armadillos, tapirs and pumas.

The Amazon is home to many fish species, also the piranha. The national bird is the macaw. The colourful toucans with their big horned beaks also can be seen in Brazil.

Brazil Facts | Food in Brazil

Brazilians love their fresh fruits and vegetables such as okra, coconuts corn and beans. Many traditional dishes contain beans, rice or manioc flour. The most favourite dish in Brazil is probably the feijoada, a bean stew made with pork and rice.

Typical Brazilian food and drinks:

Pão de Queijo: delicious cheese bread

Guarana: drink made with small red berries

Feijoada: a bean stew made with pork and rice.

Coxinha de Galena: Brazilian breaded and deep fried snack filled with shredded chicken. Usually served with a chili dip, see below:

Resources for Brazil Facts

Central Intelligence Agency. "Brazil" CIA World Factbook. Updated 28 March 2023. Last Accessed 31 March 2023.

The Olympic Committee. "Rio 2016." Olympic.org. Last Accessed 31 March 2023.

Presidency of the Republic of Brazil. "Brazil in Numbers: Fact Sheet - Brazil". Updated 1 October 2018. Last Accessed 31 March 2023.

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Brazil Facts for Kids | Brazil for Kids | Geography | Food | People

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Our Brazil Facts for Kids tell you about the largest South American country and its people, landmarks in Brazil, animals and food in Brazil and much more.

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Join us, gang, as we set out on a South American adventure to this colourful, cultural country in our Brazil facts!

Brazil facts

OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic federal republic
CAPITAL: Brasilia
POPULATION: 183,888,841
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese
MONEY: Real
AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers)
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço
MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantin
FLAG:

Brazil's geography

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 7,400km coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.

The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus (areas of level high ground) and a long coastal plain.

Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways. Its total length stretches 6,840km. Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin.

Southeastern Brazil was once completely covered with dense forest. Now it is the country's industrial capital, home to Brazil's biggest cities: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It covers only 11 percent of the country but 43 percent of the country's population lives there.

Did you know that we have FREE downloadable primary resources about Brazil's Awa tribe and Guarani tribe? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

Brazilian people & culture

Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal) and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of people has created a rich religious, musical and culinary culture.

Brazilians are football crazy, and their country has produced some of the most popular players in the world! Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup finals five times, more than any other nation.

Brazil is also home to the world's largest carnival - Rio Carnival! Each year, in the days leading up to Lent, around 2 million people take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to enjoy music, dancing, elaborate costumes and parades.

Brazil's wildlife & nature

Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects. Brazil's jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions.

In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world's largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas, huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans.

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has become a major problem. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rainforest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but theses only cover around seven percent of the country.

Brazilian government & economy

Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a legal system. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy (where a government is decided by the population as a whole). But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Brazilian history

Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10,000 years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32,000 years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians. Today, only about 300,000 remain, living primarily in Brazil's remotest places.

Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in 1530. Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and abroad to the interior of the country.

In 1789, Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers. The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence, which was successfully gained in 1822. Kings of Portuguese blood ruled until 1888, when military leaders and landowners expelled the king. This was also the year that slavery was abolished in Brazil.

Photos an illustrations: Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Hans Magelssen, Dreamstime. Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Steve Allen, Dreamstime. F in Brazil: Paura, Dreamstime. Amazon River: Jaysi, Dreamstime. Children crossing a footbridge: Carlos Mora, Dreamstime. People playing soccer on a beach: Lazyllama, Dreamstime. All other images Getty Images UK.
Words from kids.nationalgeographic.com.
Figures accurate at time of publication, January 2015.

What do you think of our Brazil facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment!

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Brazil facts: learn about this cool country! | National Geographic Kids

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OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Brazil FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Democratic federal republic CAPITAL: Brasilia POPULATION: 183,888,841 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese MONEY: Real AREA: 3,286,470 square miles (8,511,965 square kilometers) MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Serra do Mar, Serra do Espinhaço MAJOR RIVERS: Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, Tocantin FLAG: Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world.

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In the mountains of south-central Peru stands Machu Picchu, a deserted city of the Inca people. The name Machu Picchu means "old peak" in Quechua, the language of the Inca. The dwellings at the site were probably built and occupied from the mid-1400s to the early or mid-1500s. Machu Picchu is one of the few American Indian sites dating from that long ago to be found nearly intact.

Machu Picchu is located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the city of Cuzco, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. It lies between two sharp peaks in the eastern Andes Mountains, at a height of 7,710 feet (2,350 meters). Mountain forest surrounds the site.

Machu Picchu is divided into two sections, one farming and one urban. The farming section is made up of steplike fields called terraces. The Inca used the terraces for growing crops such as corn and sweet potatoes. The urban section has plazas, temples, houses, and a cemetery. They are connected by walkways and thousands of stone steps.

Most of the structures are very well preserved because of the quality of Incan engineering and stonework. One notable structure is the Temple of the Sun. Once a year sunlight shines through a window onto the middle of a large stone. This stone was a sort of calendar. Another famous structure is a pillar known as the Intihuatana. The pillar was probably used to keep track of the seasons.

The role of Machu Picchu in Incan society is not entirely understood. Many archaeologists believe it was the estate of a powerful Inca emperor. They do not know why the site was abandoned. Lack of water may have been a reason.

Machu Picchu remained hidden from the Spanish when they conquered the Inca in the 1500s. Plants grew over the site, and for hundreds of years it was known only by a few people who lived in the area. The world learned of Machu Picchu when a local farmer led a U.S. archaeologist to the ruins in 1911. Today Machu Picchu is a popular tourist attraction.

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In the mountains of south-central Peru stands Machu Picchu, a deserted city of the Inca people. The name Machu Picchu means "old peak" in Quechua, the language of the Inca....

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Our Africa Facts for Kids provide 20 interesting and fun facts on the African continent.

Africa is second largest continent in size and the second largest continent in population.

The African continent is located mainly in the Eastern Hemisphere and to the major part in the Northern Hemisphere.

Did you know that Africa is bigger than the USA, Canada and India together? Africa covers an area larger than 30 million square kilometres/ 11.7 million square miles!

Top 20 Africa Facts

1. There are 54 countries in Africa - and 9 dependent territories. M ore than 1.3 billion people live on the African continent. This means about 15% of the world's total population live in Africa!

Click on the flags to learn more about these countries:

2. Largest Country: Algeria. This country is among the ten largest countries in the world.

The most populous country in Africa, however, is Nigeria, with more than 219 million people, but the country is only a third of the size of Algeria.

3. Largest City: Lagos in Nigeria. With more than 22 million inhabitants, Lagos is also one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world and is estimated to become the world's largest city by 2100 with more than 100 million inhabitants!

4. Smallest Country: Seychelles, which is an archipelago (nation of islands) in the Indian Ocean. On the African mainland, the smallest country is The Gambia. Read our Seychelles Facts here.

5. Biggest Island: Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world - after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.

6. Longest River: Nile (6,852 km/ 4,258 miles). The Nile is the longest river in the world and passes through eleven countries. The Nile has two sources: The White Nile coming from Lake Victoria in Tanzania and the Blue Nile coming from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. The river mouth is in Egypt. The confluence in Khartoum/Sudan.

7. Highest Mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones and the highest volcanic cone of them is called 'Kibo'. The highest peak is called 'Uhuru Peak' with 5,895 m/ 19,340 ft. The mountain is located in the Tanzanian highlands at the border to Kenya. Mount Kilimanjaro can only be climbed from the Tanzanian side but can even be seen from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

8. Biggest Lake: Lake Victoria (bordering Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) is also the world's second largest freshwater lake. Only Lake Superior in North America is bigger!

9. Driest Place: The Sahara in northern Africa is the largest hot desert in the world. The climate is extremely dry (arid) in this region. Read more about the world's deserts here.

10. There are sixteen landlocked countries in Africa. These countries are all located in the interior of the continent and have neither access to the Atlantic Ocean nor to the Indian Ocean. Two of these landlocked countries, the tiny countries of Eswatini and Lesotho, are located within South Africa.

More Africa Facts

11. History: Africa is the 'cradle of humankind', the place where the first hominids, human beings and their closest relatives the gorilla and chimpanzees, evolved. Fossils found in Africa, show that the modern human evolved there about 5 to 10 million years ago and spread from this continent. One of the earliest evidences of human life were found in South Africa. 'Mrs Ples and the Taung Child are among the most important fossils.

Many powerful kingdoms existed on the African continent in the early history and the Middle Ages. Between the 5th and 15th century, African slaves were traded mainly by Arab traders and later sent overseas. In the late 19th century Europeans started conquering Africa which was then colonised in the 19th and 20th century mainly from Portugal, Britain and France, but also from the Dutch, Italian, Germans and Belgians.

12. People of Africa: There are more than 3,000 different groups of indigenous people living in Africa. They all have their own language and culture. As Africa was colonised and suppressed until the last century, the majority of Africans is still poor. Most African countries only gained independence after World War II in the 1950s and 1960s. The poorest countries in Africa are Malawi, the Central African Republic and Burundi. Among the most developed and richest countries are the Seychelles, Libya, Mauritius, Algeria, Egypt, Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria.

13. Languages in Africa: It is estimated that about 2,000 different languages are spoken on the African continent! Many Africans speak several African languages and also often another 'European' language. In many countries, people speak English, French or Portuguese as an additional language, as these languages are often used in official communication and business. English is widely spoken in Africa as many countries were formerly British colonies. Arabic, spoken in northern Africa, is also used in many North African countries as official language. Swahili, spoken in many East African countries has the most native speakers in Africa.

14. Religion: Most of the African people are either Christians or Muslims. In North Africa and many West African countries, people follow mainly the Islam, while in southern and eastern Africa the Christian faith dominates. About 10% of the African people follow traditional religious rituals which means they have traditional healing rituals such as bone-throwing, herbal medicine and celebrating the spirit of the ancestors.

15. Tourist attractions in Africa: The most popular African tourist attractions are:

Table Mountain in Cape Town in South Africa

Pyramids of Egypt

Masai Mara National Park in Kenya

Kruger National Park in South Africa

Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe

Namib Desert and Etosha National Park/Namibia

Mauritius and the Indian Ocean Islands

Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Morocco - Markets, Deserts and Mountains

More Interesting Africa Facts

16. Biggest Cities: The most populous city in Africa is Lagos with more than 22 million people (2021). Cairo in Egypt is the second largest city in Africa with 21 million people.

Other large cities in Africa are:

Algiers (Algeria)

Kinshasa-Brazzaville (DR Congo)

Johannesburg (South Africa)

Casablanca (Morocco)

Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania)

Nairobi (Kenya)

Cape Town (South Africa)

Africa Facts - Did you know? The southernmost city on the African continent is Cape Town in South Africa. With about 5 million inhabitants it is also one of the most populous cities in the world.

The southernmost point of the African continent is Cape Agulhas, which is roughly 170 km/ 100 miles southeast from Cape Town.

17. Animals: In Africa, you will find some of the largest mammals on this planet. Among them are the largest land mammal, the African elephant, the tallest mammal, the giraffe, and the fastest mammal, the cheetah, which can run with speeds up to 113 km/ hour or 70 miles/ hour!

Africa is also home to many endangered animals such as the White and Black Rhinoceros. Kruger National Park where one can admire the beautiful African wildlife is one of the biggest national parks and wildlife conservation areas in the world.

18. Main natural resources in Africa are minerals such as oil, copper, gold, diamonds, platinum and agricultural produce such as corn, coffee, wheat and fruits. Almost 65% of all Africans work in the agricultural sector.

19. Nature superlatives:

Sahara desert is the driest hot desert on earth

The Nile is the world's longest river

Tugela Falls in South Africa are Africa's highest waterfalls

Blyde River Canyon in South Africa is the world's largest green canyon

20. Geography: More than half of the African continent is covered by grassland or savannah. Northern Africa is dominated by the vast Sahara desert and the semi-arid Sahel zone which also includes fertile land in the Nile delta. Central Africa has rainforests, coastal plains and the continents highest mountains and lakes. Southern Africa lies mainly on a high plateau and only has a small coastal band.

And one more interesting fact: The Cape Floral Region in South Africa has the most plant varieties in the world!

Have fun with our Africa Facts Quiz

Popular Pages - More Africa Facts

Useful Resources for Africa Facts

Nations Online. Political Map of Africa. Last accessed 16 February 2021

Jeff Desjardins. "By 2100 none of the world's biggest cities will be in China, the US or Europe."20 July 2018. Last accessed 16 February 2021

Kabous Le Roux. "Lagos - To Become The World's Largest City." Cape Talk. 4 June 2019. Last accessed 16 February 2021

National Geographic. "World Atlas for Young Explorers". Washington: 2010

"Earth Condensed". The World Atlas by Millennium House. London: 2009

Image Credits on Africa Facts page: Shutterstock.com, wikipedia commons and own Return from Africa Facts to Kids-World-Travel-Guide Homepage
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Our Africa Facts for Kids will inform about Africa and the African countries. See the world through childrens eyes

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Africa is the second largest continent in the world (after Asia). It makes up about one-fifth of the world's land. It is surrounded by large areas of water. There are 54 fully recognized and independent countries in Africa, and 16.72% (1.4 billion) of the world's population lives there. It is thought to be the continent where the first humans evolved.

The history of Africa begins from the first modern human beings and leads to its present difficult state as a politically developing continent.

Africa's ancient historic period includes the rise of Egyptian civilization, as well as the further development of societies outside the Nile River Valley and how they interacted with civilizations outside of Africa. In the late 7th century, Islam spread to North and East Africa. That led to the appearance of new cultures such as those of the Swahili people, and the Mali Empire, whose king, Mansa Musa, became one of the richest and most influential people of the early 14th century. This also led to an increase in the slave trade that had a very bad influence on the development of the whole continent until the 19th century.

Slavery has long been practiced in Africa. Between the 7th and 20th centuries, the Arab slave trade took 18 million slaves from Africa via trans-Saharan (across the Sahara) and Indian Ocean routes.

Between the 15th and the 19th centuries (500 years), the Atlantic slave trade took an estimated 7-12 million slaves to the New World.

Between 1808 and 1860, the British Navy captured approximately 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans who were aboard.

Colonialism

In the late nineteenth century, Europe took over much of the land and created many colonial and dependent territories. They left only three fully independent states: Darwiish State, (also spelled Daraawiish State), Ethiopia (known to Europeans as " Abyssinia"), and Liberia.

Egypt and Sudan were never formally merged into any European colonial empire. However, after the British occupation of 1882, Egypt was effectively under British control until 1922.

Modern history

African independence movements had their first success in 1951 when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history has been full of revolutions and wars. The African economy has grown and countries have become democratized.

A civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) began in 1998. Neighboring African countries have become involved. Since the conflict began, 5.5 million are estimated to have died as a result of it.

Political associations such as the African Union offer hope for greater co-operation and peace between the continent's many countries.

From north to south, Africa has most types of climate. In order from north to south, they are:

Running northeast to the south is the East African Great Rift Valley. This has mountains, volcanoes, deep rifts and valleys, rivers, and lakes.

Most of North Africa is made up of the Sahara Desert: it is dry and hot and does not receive much rain. Rivers and water sources are scarce in Saharan Africa. Underground water sources, such as springs are very important in the desert. These often form oases. An oasis is an area of vegetation (plant life) surrounded by desert.

There are two rain shadows that are responsible for the Sahara Desert. In that part of the world, the wind comes mainly from the east. That does bring rain, but the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau block the monsoon rain and prevent it from getting to North Africa. Also, the Atlas Mountains near the north coast of Africa prevent rain from coming in from the north.

Conditions and winds are different further south, where huge amounts of rain fall near the equator. The equator runs across the middle of Africa (see the red line drawn on the map). That means much of Africa is between the two tropics:

Plants and animals

Africa has many types of wildlife. In particular, it is now the only continent that has many native species of large mammals. Some of them occur in very large numbers. There are antelope, buffalo, zebras, cheetahs, elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinoceros, apes, hyenas, and many more. Over 2,000 types of fish live in African lakes and rivers.

The African Union (AU) is an International organization. It was created to help maintain peace among Africa's many countries. It has a parliamentary government, known as the African Union Government, consisting of legislative, judicial, and executive parts. It is led by the African Union President and Head of State, who is also the President of the Pan African Parliament. A person becomes President of the AU by being elected to the PAP and then gaining majority support in the PAP.

Extensive human rights abuses still occur in several parts of Africa, often under the direction of the state. Most of such violations occur for political reasons, often as a side effect of civil war. Countries where major human rights violations have been reported in recent times include Uganda, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Côte d'Ivoire.

People who come from Africa are called Africans. People north of the Sahara are called Maghrebis and people south of the Sahara are called Subsaharans. Languages in eastern Africa include Swahili, Oromo, and Amharic. Languages in western Africa include Lingala, Igbo and Fulani. The most populated country in Africa is Nigeria.

African diaspora

Countries with significant African descendents outside Africa:

Key facts about Africa

Africa is the second-largest continent (after Asia) in the world with 54 countries.

Africa is surrounded by large areas of water.

Africa's climate varies from desert to rainforest. The desert is in the northern part of Africa and the rainforest is in the middle near the equator. The rest of Africa is mountains or grasslands.

Africa has many different kinds of wildlife, each living in a climate that is best for them.

Africa has been influenced by Egyptian civilization and by Islam.

Slavery has been practiced in Africa for centuries. The Arab slave trade took 18 million slaves from Africa and the Atlantic slave trade took 7-12 million slaves to the New World.

In the late 19th century, different European powers occupied many of the countries in Africa.

In 1951, Libya became the first former colony to become independent.

The African Union was made to help keep the peace among Africa's many countries.

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Images for kids

In Spanish: África para niños

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All About Africa Fun Geography Facts for Kids. Learn more about the continent Africa through this Easy Geography Online Site for Kids.

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Kids learn about the geography and the countries of Africa. Facts like flags, maps, exports, natural resouces, people, and languages.

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Facts about Liberia for Kids | Africa Facts for Kids | Geography

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Last Updated on April 17, 2021 by Travels with Kids

Get ready to learn some interesting Machu Picchu facts for kids!

I've been to Machu Picchu many times. Eight times, to be precise. Sometimes with children, sometimes without. Machu Picchu is a fascinating place, one of those places where you find something new to appreciate each time you go!

Machu Picchu can be a great place to visit with kids, too. Whether you're planning a Peru family holiday or just want to do a little educational armchair travel with your children, there is lots to learn about this fascinating site.

That's why we have compiled a list of Machu Picchu kids facts. The list includes some information for kids about Machu Picchu that we think will be fun and interesting for them to learn.

This post may contain affiliate links, from which we would earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More info in my disclaimer.

Top 15 Fun Facts About Machu Picchu For Kids

The Incas were a civilization in Peru that ruled from about 1400 AD to 1533 AD. They created a vast empire that stretched along most of western South America. Today, they are particularly remembered for their very fine woven textiles and their incredible stone buildings.

Machu Picchu is probably the most impressive, and certainly the most famous, of those stone buildings. It was first built around the year 1450 AD by the Incan Emperor Pachacutec.

The Incan city was built high on a mountaintop at an altitude of 2430m above sea level (7972 ft). It featured hundreds of buildings made of hand-carved stone with thatched rooves, terraced gardens, and open fields.

The site that we know as Machu Picchu consists of more than 150 buildings. This includes houses, baths, temples, and sanctuaries.

There are also more than 100 individual flights of stairs! Amazingly, many of these staircases were carved from a single block of stone. But that's just what you can see on the surface. Archaeologists estimate that more than half of Machu Picchu's true size is actually underground! Due to being built on a steep mountaintop, the Incas needed to build a complex system of earthworks and drainage beneath the city.

Ask anyone what they think of when they think of Peru, and most will tell you - Machu Picchu! The ancient Inca city has become almost synonymous with Peru.

t's no wonder it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and in 2007, it was also voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! This is a pretty incredible honor. Machu Picchu was one of only 2 wonders chosen from South America.

What does Machu Picchu mean? During the time of the Incas, Quechua was the language spoken throughout the empire. Many landmarks, buildings, and towns have Quechua names as a result, including Machu Picchu!

So what does Machu Picchu mean? It is a compound name made up of two Quechua words: machu and picchu. "Machu" means "old" in Quechua, and "picchu" means "peak". So "Machu Picchu" means "old peak"!

Machu Picchu Fun Fact - Quechua is still widely spoken today in the Andes! The words can be difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers, but for most people who understand Quechua it is a lovely, sweet language, and it can be really funny, too!

We know that people lived at Machu Picchu, but we are not totally sure who, why, or for how long.

Machu Picchu Fun Fact - The Inca people did not have a system of writing! As a result, there are no written records that historians can read to find out why Machu Picchu was built, or what it was used for.

Machu Picchu might have been a holy nunnery, housing Virgins of the Sun. It may have been a royal estate or retreat for the Inca nobility, or even an agricultural testing site.

Here's some interesting Machu Picchu information for kids. Machu Picchu came to be known as the "Lost City of the Incas" - but it was never really lost! How is this possible?

Local people always knew the city was there, even though it was overgrown with vegetation.

So why did we think it was lost? Well, sadly, many Incan cities were destroyed during the Spanish conquest, but Machu Picchu was spared because it was hidden.

Perched up on top of that mountain, Machu Picchu was invisible from below and not found by the Spanish. As a result, today Machu Picchu is one of the most well-preserved Inca cities.

In the early 1900s, an American professor named Hiram Bingham set out to find Vilcabamba. Or the so-called "Last Refuge of the Incas". Vilcabamba is where the Incas were thought to have waged their final resistance against the Spanish.

During his exploration, one of his local guides told Professor Bingham that he knew of a city high up in the mountains, and offered to take him to see it. Since Professor Bingham was looking for Vilcabamba, specifically, at first he wasn't too keen.

But eventually, he agreed and lo-and-behold, what he saw amazed him. Even though it was completely overgrown, he recognized its potential and shared his discovery with Yale University, where he worked.

Over the next few decades, Machu Picchu was slowly excavated, studied, and restored.

Machu Picchu Fun Fact - Almost by accident, Hiram Bingham ended up stumbling upon one of the world's most amazing structures, and thanks to him it's now one of the most famous, too!

For a society that didn't even have writing, it's amazing how much the Incas knew about the heavens. As a civilization, they worshipped the sun and the moon, and seem to have dedicated a lot of time to understand their movements and those of the stars. Even without the precise scientific instruments we use today, the Incas managed to build structures at Machu Picchu that perfectly aligned with these movements.

For example, here are some fun facts about Machu Picchu:

The four corners of part of the Intihuatana stone perfectly align with each of the 4 cardinal directions - East, South, North, and West. How could they have known which way was North without a compass?

The Temple of the Sun features a window that, on one day of the year - the solstice, June 21st - perfectly aligns with the sun, letting the sunbeams pour in through the window.

This seems to show just how important the natural world was for the Incan people. It was such an important part of their cosmology that they couldn't help but incorporate these sacred elements into the building of Machu Picchu.

According to Johan Reinhard, "It's an example of cosmology intertwining with a sacred landscape that is virtually unique in the Andes". You can read more about the sacred landscape of Machu Picchu in his book, Machu Picchu: Exploring an Ancient Sacred Center.

The Incas were amazing stoneworkers. They used a technique called ashlar to build the stone structures at Machu Picchu. This is where the stones are cut to fit together without the need for mortar in between them to bind the stones together. The ashlar technique requires expert skill and precision. The buildings at Machu Picchu are so well-built that not even a knife blade can fit between the stones!

Machu Picchu Fun Fact - Although the Incas had very advanced engineering skills, they actually did not develop the wheel as we know it. It seems they understood the concept - and probably employed it in some fashion to help transport the big, heavy stones up to Machu Picchu. However, they did not create wheeled transport, like carts or wheelbarrows.

Instead, they may have used wheel-like cylindrical logs to roll big blocks of stone along the ground and up ramps to help transport them.

Here's an interesting fact about Machu Picchu that many people don't know: During the course of their empire, the Incas built a vast network of roads called the Qhapaq Ñan, or Royal Path.

These "Inca Trails" connected the four corners of their territory, including parts of what are today Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and northern Argentina. All in all, they built somewhere between 23,000 and 45,000 km (14,292 to 27,961 miles) of road!

One of the most interesting features of the Qhapaq Ñan is how it connects many of what we consider today to be the major sites of the Inca civilization: Choquequirao, Llactapata, Vilcabamba and Machu Picchu, just to name a few.

So while the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the most famous stretch of Inca roads, at 42km long it is really just a drop in the bucket! There are actually many more intact Inca trails that weave their way through the mountains around Cusco - and beyond!

Who still lives at Machu Picchu? Llamas! Llamas belong to the camelid family and are a common sight at Machu Picchu. They are one of 4 camelid species native to Peru and were used by the Incas mainly as pack animals.

Mach Picchu Facts For Kids - What are the other camelid species in Peru? In addition to llamas, there are also alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Guanacos and vicuñas are still wild, while alpacas, like llamas, are raised by people in the mountains, just like sheep. Learn more about The Differences Between A llamas And Alpacas For Kids. Also check out , Fun Alpaca And Llama Facts For Kids.

You can see lots of llamas grazing at Machu Picchu. If you want to snap a llama selfie, this is the best place to do it!

These days, between 2000-2500 people visit Machu Picchu every single day. That's a lot! Every year, more than a million people enter the gates of the Incan imperial city.

Of those 2000 people per day, about 200 enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate after hiking the famous Inca Trail.

Do You Need A Guide To Visit Machu Picchu?

Why do you need to visit Machu Picchu with a guide? One, because it's the rules. You will not be permitted to enter Machu Picchu without a guide. Two, because there are no signs or labels providing tourist information at Machu Picchu.

To address your curiosity, you can visit the Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón. This museum lies just a few miles away from Machu Picchu, at the base of the path up to the site.

The Museo de Sitio provides all the information about the various buildings of Machu Picchu and also contains artifacts as well. But it is no match for having a guide personally explain everything to you, step by step, along the way!

One of the most fun & unexpected things about visiting Machu Picchu - especially for kids - is that you are rewarded with a special stamp in your passport!

When you enter Machu Picchu, be sure to show your passport at the gate and you will receive a special stamp of Machu Picchu - proof that you visited this incredible site! It's an amazing souvenir to show all your friends.

Here's a fun Machu Picchu fact for kids: while we use the term "Machu Picchu" to refer to archaeological complex itself, it's also the name of the mountain on which the city sits!

Facing Machu Picchu is another mountain. That iconic, pointy mountain you've probably noticed in the background of every picture you've seen of Machu Picchu. What is this mountain called? Huayna Picchu! Remember how we learned what Machu Picchu means (Hint: it means "old peak"!)? Well, Huayna Picchu means "young peak"!

Did you know? You can actually climb to the top of Huayna Picchu! It's a pretty intimidating climb and not for the faint-hearted! With a steep climb upwards and death-defying drops on either side of the trail, this hike is not for small children or anyone with a fear of heights.

If you do venture up, the view from the top is a stunning panorama of the entire Machu Picchu site. Only 400 permits for Huayna Picchu are issued per day, so make sure you book early to ensure you get a spot!

Fun Machu Picchu Facts For Kids: Want To Learn More?

We hope you enjoyed our list of Machu Picchu facts for kids! There are tonnes of interesting things to learn about the Incas and more about Peru. Whether you planning on travelling to Peru with your kids, or just want to learn about this amazing country as a family, we have a whole host of helpful resources on Peru for kids:

The Verdict - Machu Picchu Facts For Kids

Machu Picchu is such an amazing place. There are so many Machu Picchu facts for kids to share. We hope that you have learned some new and interesting facts about this sacred site. Have you ever visited Machu Picchu? Maybe you have some more fun Machu Picchu facts to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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15 Awesome Machu Picchu Facts for Kids - Learning Made Fun

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Last Updated on April 17, 2021 by Travels with Kids Get ready to learn some interesting Machu Picchu facts for kids! I've been to Machu Picchu many times. Eight times, to be precise. Sometimes with children, sometimes without. Machu Picchu is a fascinating place, one of those places where you find something new to appreciate each time you go!

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List of African Animals: Introduction

Africa is the world's second largest continent (Asia is the largest). With habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to desert, Africa is home to many of the world's best-known animals.

The African animals included in the list below represent just a fraction of the continent's amazing biodiversity. We'll be adding new species to this page regularly, so be sure to come back soon!

Animals That Live In Africa: Page Index

Scroll down to see all of the animals in alphabetical order, or select the species you'd like to see by clicking on its name in the list below. Many of the animals have links that you can click on for further information.
How many species on our list of animals that live in Africa have you heard of? What's your favorite African animal? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of the page!
See More African Animals

African Animals List

For individual species (i.e. aardvark), we've included the animal's scientific name and its IUCN conservation status (if assessed). For groups of species (i.e. antelopes) we've included the number of species in the group and the group's name.

Aardvark

The aardvark is a nocturnal mammal whose diet consists mainly of ants and termites. It uses its excellent sense of smell to find food, and its long, sticky tongue to capture its prey. The aardvark has thick skin to protect it from insect bites and stings.

The aardvark is an expert burrower. If threatened, it will retreat to the safety of its burrow. If no burrow is available, it will quickly dig a new one, reversing out backwards when the danger has passed.

The aardvark is the only member of the family Orycteropodidae, and the last remaining species of the order Tubulidentata.
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Aardwolf

Aardwolf means 'earth wolf' in Afrikaans, a language spoken in South Africa. Despite its name, the aardwolf is not a wolf or even a member of the dog family. In fact, it's one of the four living species of hyena, and a member of the hyena family Hyaenidae.

The aardwolf lives in scrubland (a habitat consisting of grass and small bushes) in eastern and southern Africa. It has a nocturnal lifestyle, sleeping in burrows during the day.

Unlike the other three hyenas, the aardwolf doesn't eat large vertebrates. Instead, the aardwolf's diet consists mainly of termites and other small insects.

The aardwolf uses its long, sticky tongue to capture its prey. It can eat up to 250,000 termites in one night!
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African Buffalo

The African buffalo is a large, powerfully-built hoofed animal. It belongs to the subfamily Bovinae, the members of which are known as bovids.

There are several subspecies of African buffalo. Each varies slightly in appearance and is found in a different region of Africa. The largest and best-known subspecies is the Cape buffalo, which is found in Southern Africa.

Both male and female African buffaloes have distinctive upward-curving horns, the tips of which can be over 1 m (3.3 ft.) apart in large males. The horns of full-grown adult males meet in the middle, creating a hard panel known as a 'boss'.

The horns are used as a means of defense against predators. Males also use their horns when fighting for dominance in the herd.

An adult African buffalo is large, powerful and well-armed; it has little to fear from most predators; only a very brave or hungry lion would attack a full-grown buffalo.

These large animals are known for their unpredictable behavior and will occasionally attack humans.
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African Bush Elephant

The African bush elephant is the largest land animal in the world. It stands up to 4 m (13.1 ft.) in height, and weighs up to 6,048 kg (13,334 lb.). Both male and female African bush elephants have tusks (only male Asian elephants have tusks).

Until recently, all elephants in Africa were considered to be the same species, the African elephant. Recent studies have shown that Africa's elephant population consists of two different species: the African bush elephant and the smaller African forest elephant.

The African bush elephant is herbivorous, eating a wide variety of plant matter. The species is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but its population is becoming increasingly fragmented.
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Antelope

Number of species: 91

Family: Bovidae

Antelopes are a group of hooved mammals within the family Bovidae (the family also includes animals such as bison, buffaloes, sheep, goats and cattle).

All antelopes have horns (although in some species they are only present on males), and most live in herds. Living in herds helps to keep antelopes safe from predators. With all those eyes and ears looking and listening out for danger, predators find it hard to approach undetected.

There are 91 species of antelope, most of which are native to Africa. They live in a range of habitats, including forests and grasslands. Antelopes are herbivores (plant eaters), and many species live in large herds.

The largest antelope is the giant eland, a species found in the savannas of Central Africa. The smallest is the royal antelope, which is found in Western Africa. It is just 25 cm (9.8 in.) tall at the shoulder.
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Baboon

Baboons are monkeys in the genus (a group of related animals) Papio. They have long snouts and close-set eyes, giving their faces a dog-like appearance.

There are five species of baboon: the hamadryas baboon, Guinea baboon, olive baboon, yellow baboon, and chacma baboon. All five species are found in Africa.

Baboons live in groups called troops. Troops range in size from 5 to 250 individuals. Male baboons use noises and visual threats, such as the baring of their long, sharp canine teeth, to establish dominance within the troop.

The conservation status of four of the five species of baboon is 'Least Concern'. The Guinea baboon, the smallest of the baboons, is rated 'Near Threatened'.
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Bonobo

The bonobo is an endangered primate that lives in the rainforests of Central Africa. It is closely-related to the chimpanzee. It is thought that the two species split fewer than 1 million years ago.

Bonobos can be told apart from chimpanzees by their lighter build, smaller heads, pink lips and black faces.

Bonobos and chimpanzees are our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom. They share over 98% of our genes, and are more closely related to us than they are to gorillas.
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Boomslang

The boomslang is a highly venomous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. Its name means 'tree snake' in Afrikaans (a language spoken in South Africa). This large snake is mainly arboreal (tree-dwelling).

Greatly feared by local people, the boomslang is capable of delivering a bite that is potentially fatal if not treated.

Like other members of the family Colubridae, to which it belongs, the boomslang's venom-delivering fangs are located at the back of its mouth. Snakes such as these are said to be 'rear-fanged'.
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Bushbaby

Bushbabies are nocturnal primates in the family Galagidae. Their huge eyes provide them with excellent night vision.

Number of species: 18

Family: Galagidae

These small, monkey-like animals are expert jumpers. While leaping through dense vegetation, bushbabies fold their bat-like ears back for protection.

Bushbabies are also known as Galagos or Nagapies (which means 'little night monkeys' in Afrikaans, a language spoken in South Africa). Their English name is thought to come either from their baby-like appearance, or from the wails they make at night.

Cheetah
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The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. It uses its great speed to capture its prey, which consists of other fast-moving animals such as antelope and hares.

The cheetah's coat is pale brown / yellow and covered with distinctive black spots. The spots provide camouflage, breaking up the animal's outline against grasses and other foliage.

The cheetah is a member of the Felidae (cat) family. Although one of the larger cats, it is not considered to be a 'big cat' as it is neither a member of the subfamily Pantherinae, nor a member of the genus Panthera.

The cheetah's closet relatives are the cougar and the jaguarundi.

Click here to learn more awesome cheetah facts.

Crocodile
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Crocodiles are semi-aquatic, meat-eating reptiles in the subfamily Crocodylinae.

Number of crocodile species found in Africa: 4

Number of crocodile species worldwide: 15

Subfamily: Crocodylinae

These master ambush predators lie in wait in shallow water for their prey to approach. When the unsuspecting victim gets within range, the crocodile launches an explosive attack, capturing the prey in its immensely strong jaws.

There are four species of crocodile found in Africa: the slender-snouted crocodile, Nile crocodile, West African crocodile, and the dwarf crocodile.

The largest African crocodile is the Nile crocodile. It is the second-largest crocodile species: only Australia's saltwater crocodile is bigger! The Nile crocodile is one of Africa's most dangerous animals.

Desert Locust
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The desert locust is found in North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Like all locusts it is a member of the grasshopper family Acrididae.

Most of the time the desert locust is solitary and flies at night. However, under certain conditions - usually an increase in rainfall after a period of drought - the insects begin congregating and multiplying rapidly, forming huge swarms that fly during the day.

Desert locust swarms can cover an area of 460 square miles (1,200 km2), and consist of up to 100 billion insects! These crop-destroying insect clouds can move at up to 124 miles (200 km) in a day.

It is said that a plague of locusts can affect the livelihood of one-tenth of all humans.

Driver Ant
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Driver ants live in huge colonies containing over 20 million insects. When food becomes short, driver ants march through the undergrowth in long lines consisting of many millions of insects, eating any insects (and occasionally larger animals) in their path.

Driver ants have a sting, but usually attack with their powerful jaws. Their bite is extremely painful. Local people are known to use the insects' jaws, which remain closed even if the ant's head is separated from its body, to close wounds.

Fennec Fox
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The fennec fox is the smallest member of the dog family. It is found in the Sahara Desert and other dry regions of Africa.

The large ears of the fennec fox are an adaptation for living in desert regions. They help the fox stay cool by transferring its body heat into the air.

The fennec fox has excellent hearing, and is even capable of hearing prey moving underground.

You can find out more about the fennec fox (and its adaptations for living in the desert) here: Fennec Fox Facts

Giraffe
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The giraffe is one of the most distinctive of all African animals. With its long neck and stilt-like legs, the giraffe is the world's tallest land animal.

The giraffe's great height allows it to feed on leaves that are beyond the reach of other animals.

There is some disagreement over the number of giraffe species. Some authorities, such as the International Union for Nature Conservation ( IUCN) recognize only one species. Others, such as the Catalogue of Life, recognize 4, and yet others recognize 8 species!

On the heads of both male and female giraffes are horn-like growths called ossicones.

The giraffe's closest living relative is the okapi, which you'll meet further down the page.

You can find out more about the tallest creature in the world here.

Gorilla
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Gorillas are the world's largest primates. (Primates is the group of animals that includes animals such as apes, monkeys, and lemurs).

Number of species: 2

Genus: Gorilla

Both the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla are Critically Endangered

Despite their fearsome looks, gorillas are mainly herbivorous.

Gorillas are members of the great ape family Hominidae. If you look in the mirror you'll see another member of this family!

There are two species of gorilla: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. Both live in the forests of central Africa.

The eastern gorilla has two subspecies: the mountain gorilla and eastern lowland gorilla. The western gorilla also has two subspecies: the western lowland gorilla and Cross River gorilla.

Both species of gorilla are critically endangered. Sadly, poaching has been identified as the main cause behind the continued decline of both species.

Gorilla Charity: The Gorilla Organization.

Hippopotamus
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The word 'hippopotamus' is derived from ancient Greek for 'river horse'. It is a fitting name for this large animal, which has a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Commonly known as 'hippos', these herbivorous animals spend most of the day bathing in water or mud, only emerging at dusk when the temperature is cooler.

A smaller hippo species, the pygmy hippo, lives in Africa's rainforests.

The hippos' closest relatives in the animal kingdom are the Cetaceans - the group of animals that includes whales and porpoises.

Hyena
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The family Hyaenidae contains four living species: the spotted hyena, brown hyena, striped hyena and the aardwolf.

Number of species: 4

Family: Hyaenidae

Hyenas may look like dogs, but in fact are more closely related to cats. The animal group Carnivora (to which both dogs and cats belong) has two branches. One contains animals such as dogs, bears, and seals; the other contains animals such as cats, mongooses and hyenas.

Although hyenas have a reputation for being scavengers it is only the striped hyena and the brown hyena that find most of their food this way. The spotted hyena (also known as the laughing hyena) actively hunts most of its own prey.

The aardwolf is the 'odd one out' among the hyenas. Instead of eating large vertebrates, it feeds on insects such as ants and termites. (The aardwolf appears near the top of this list of African animals.)

Jackal
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Jackal is a name given to three small to medium-sized canids (members of the dog family, Canidae), two of which are found in Africa.

Number of species: 3

Genus: Canis (although not all members of the genus are jackals)

Both the black-backed jackal and the closely-related side-striped jackal are found in sub-Saharan Africa.

(The golden jackal, which is more closely related to the grey wolf than it is to the other jackals, is found in Europe and Asia.)

Jackals are most active at dawn and dusk. They are omnivorous, hunting small animals, scavenging carrion and also eating plant matter.

The conservation status of all three jackal species is Least Concern.

Kori Bustard
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The kori bustard is Africa's largest flying bird, and the world's heaviest flying animal. It stands up to 1.2 m (3.94 ft.) tall, and has a wingspan of 275 cm (9 ft.). There is a large difference in size between male and female kori bustards, with males being up to three times the weight of females.

This giant African bird rarely takes to the air and is only occasionally seen in trees. It builds its nest on the ground.

The species is usually found in open grasslands in southern Africa.

Lappet-Faced Vulture
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With a wingspan of up to 2.9 m (9.5 ft.), the lappet-faced vulture is one of the largest vultures in Africa (the Cape vulture and the griffon vulture may be slightly heavier, but their wingspans are smaller).

The lappet-faced vulture is top of the pecking order around carrion. It uses its size and strength to see off smaller scavengers until it has eaten its fill.

In fact, the lappet-faced vulture is doing the other scavengers a favor; with its huge hooked bill it is able to tear open leathery hides that other species would not be able to break into.

Old World vultures such as the lappet-faced vulture find their food primarily by sight. They lack the New World vultures' excellent sense of smell.

Leopard
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The leopard is a fast, powerful big cat found in both Africa and Asia. Its coat is dotted with distinctive rings known as 'rosettes'. These provide camouflage in the grasslands and forests in which this adaptable species lives.

The leopard is known for its great strength, and is capable of dragging its prey up a tree. By doing this the leopard is able to prevent its meal from being stolen by lions and other predators.

Lion
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One of the most iconic African animals, the lion is a much feared predator that, like so many of Africa's large animals, is now threatened.

The total number of adult lions left in the wild is estimated to be between 23,000 and 39,000; that's around half the number of people who attend a single National Football League game.

The primary cause behind the lion's continued decline is persecution by livestock farmers who regard the animal as a threat to their livelihoods. Habitat loss has also played a major part in the species' decline.

The lion is the second largest member of the cat family Felidae (the largest being the tiger). It is found in a variety of habitats, including savanna, grassland, woodland and the edges of deserts.

Unlike most cats, the lion is a social animal, living in groups known as prides. A typical pride consists of several females and their young, with either one or a small number of males.

Lions tend to be inactive during the day, and can spend up to 20 hours of the day resting.

Mongoose
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Mongooses are small carnivorous mammals in the family Herpestridae. There are 34 species of mongoose, although only 29 of them have the word 'mongoose' in their names. Mongooses are found in Asia and southern Europe as well as in Africa.

One of the best-known species of mongoose is the meerkat, which lives in desert and other dry habitats in Africa.

Number of species: 34 (29 of which have the word 'mongoose' in their names).

Family: Herpestidae

Mongooses are diurnal (active during the day). They have a varied diet, which includes insects, earthworms, crabs, lizards and other small animals. Mongooses will also eat snakes, and are largely unaffected by snake venom.

Monkey
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Africa is home to many species of monkey. Well-known examples of African monkeys include: the black-and-white colobus monkey, mandrill, vervet monkey (pictured above) and the five species of baboon.

All monkeys found in Africa are in the family Cercopithecidae, a group of animals also known as the Old World Monkeys.

Number of species: There are around 153 species of Old World Monkey. Not all are found in Africa.

Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys)

Old World monkeys are more closely related to apes than they are to the New World monkeys of the Americas.

Unlike New World Monkeys, Old World monkeys don't have prehensile tails to help them climb trees. (Prehensile means 'able to grab').

The world's largest monkey, the mandrill, is found in the rainforests of Central Africa.

Mosquito
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Despite their small size, mosquitoes are among the most dangerous African animals. Mosquitoes feed on the blood of a variety of animals, including humans. Although only a small amount of blood is taken at a time, the insect spreads deadly diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever.

Mosquitoes use their highly-adapted mouthparts to pierce their victim's skin and draw up the blood. Chemicals in their saliva prevent the blood from clotting while the mosquito is feeding.

Mosquitoes are responsible for more human fatalities each year than any other animal.

Number of species: around 3,500 (not all found in Africa)

Family: Culicidae

Nile Monitor

The Nile monitor is one of Africa's biggest lizards, growing to lengths of well over 2 meters (6.56 ft.). It is widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa, and is also found along the Nile River in North Africa.

This African reptile is often found by rivers. It is a capable swimmer, propelling itself through the water with its tail, crocodile fashion. Its nostrils are located high up on its snout, enabling it to breathe while in the water.
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Okapi

This shy, rarely-seen African animal lives in the forests of Central Africa. Although it has zebra-like stripes, its closest relative is the giraffe. The okapi's markings break up its outline and provide camouflage in the forest environment.

The horn-like projections on the head of a male okapi are called ossicones. (Both male and female giraffes have ossicones.)
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The okapi is an endangered species, mainly due to the loss of its natural forest habitat.

Ostrich (Common)

The common ostrich is one of two ostrich species, both of which are found in Africa.

(The other ostrich species is the Somali ostrich. It was judged to be sufficiently different to the common ostrich to be declared a separate species in 2014.)
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The common ostrich may not be able to fly, but it is a true record breaker. Not only is it the world's largest bird, but it is also the fastest (on land) and the layer of the biggest eggs!

The common ostrich eats grasses, flowers, seeds and other plant matter. In addition, it will also occasionally eat Insects.

The ostrich swallows small stones to help it digest its food.

The main predator of the common ostrich is the cheetah; one of the few animals able to catch this fast-moving bird.

Pangolin

There are 8 species of pangolin, 4 of which are found in Africa. The four African pangolins are the tree pangolin, long-tailed pangolin, giant pangolin and ground pangolin. The conservation status of all four African pangolins is Vulnerable.
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Pangolins have armored coats made of hardened scales. The scales are made of keratin; the same material out of which our fingernails are made. A pangolin's scales make up around 20% of its body weight.

If threatened, a pangolin will roll up into an armored ball. As an additional protection against predators, pangolins are able to emit an unpleasant smelling chemical.

Number of species: 8 (4 are found in Africa)

Family: Manidae

Pangolins are nocturnal and insectivorous (insect-eating). Their diet consists mainly of ants and termites, which they capture with their long, thin tongues.

Puff Adder

The puff adder is a medium-sized venomous African snake. One of the most common snakes in Africa, the species is present throughout the continent except in rainforests and desert regions. It is most common in savannas and grasslands.

Due to its abundance, the puff adder is responsible for the most snake bite fatalities in Africa. Its venom is highly potent and the species is known to be aggressive. It is a nocturnal ambush hunter that waits for its victims to draw near before striking.
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Rhinoceros

Rhinoceroses, or rhinos, are among the world's largest land animals. The name rhinoceros comes from the Greek for 'nose horn'.
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There are five species of rhino, two of which live in Africa: the white rhinoceros and the black rhinoceros.

Both African species have two horns on their noses. The species' prominent nose horns, and their large size ensure that they are among the best-known of all African animals.

Number of species: 5 (2 species found in Africa)

Family: Rhinocerotidae

The white rhinoceros is the largest of all the rhinos, with males (the larger of the two sexes) weighing around 2400 kg (5,000 lb.). The black rhino is by no means a small animal, with males reaching weights of around 1400 kg (3,090 lb.).

Despite their names, both the white and black rhino are grey. The best way of telling them apart is by looking at their lips: the white rhino has square lips; the lips of the black rhino are beak-shaped.

Rhinos are herbivores. Their diet consists mainly of grass.

The conservation status of the white rhinoceros is Near Threatened.

The black rhinoceros is Critically Endangered, with a wild population of around 5,000.

The biggest threat to both species is poaching. Rhino horns can be ground down for use in traditional Chinese medicine, and are also used to make ornaments. Rhino horns are quite literally worth their weight in gold.

Royal Goliath Beetle

Goliath beetles are the world's biggest insects, in both their larval and adult form. The five species of Goliath beetle live in Africa's tropical forests.
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The royal Goliath beetle is one of the largest Goliath beetles, reaching a length of up to 11 cm (4.3 in) and a weight of 60 g (2.1 oz.) in its adult form.

Goliath beetles are herbivorous. As larvae they feed on rotting wood, whereas as adults they feed on tree sap and fruit.

Scientific Name: Goliathus regius

Conservation Status: Currently Unassessed

Secretary Bird

The secretary bird is a large and distinctive bird of prey found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is known for its ability to hunt venomous snakes, but will also eat a wide variety of other animals.

The long-legged predator spends most of its time on the ground and rarely flies. Instead, it uses its long wings to keep balance when running, and also to hunt its snake prey; by holding out its wings, the secretary bird confuses the snake into not striking.
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Serval

The serval is a medium-sized wild cat found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. It stands up to 2 ft. (62 cm) tall at the shoulder and has gold fur with dark markings.

The legs of the serval are the longest in relation to body size of any cat. It has big ears and a sense of hearing to match; it locates its prey by sound.
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The serval mainly preys on rodents, but will also take other small animals such as birds and reptiles. It is active both by day and by night.

The species is usually found in savannas.

Warthog (Common)

The common warthog is one of two living warthog species, both of which are found in Africa. (The other warthog species is the desert warthog.)

Warthogs are members of the pig family, Suidae. The name 'warthog' refers to the fleshy bumps on the faces of both species.
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The common warthog is widespread throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. It lives in grassland, savanna and woodland habitats.

The warthog's tusks are used for fighting with other warthogs and as a means of as defense against predators. Both pairs of tusks are extended teeth which protrude through the animal's mouth. The upper tusks are canine teeth which grow from the upper jaw before turning upwards.

Wildebeest

Wildebeest are antelopes with upwardly-curving horns, long faces, shaggy manes and long tails. They are also known as gnus.

There are two species of wildebeest: the blue wildebeest and the black wildebeest.
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The black wildebeest is found mainly in South Africa and neighboring countries. The blue wildebeest has a larger range, being found in across several countries in southern and south-central Africa.

The blue wildebeest is larger than the black wildebeest. It is grey with darker stripes on its neck and shoulders. The black wildebeest is dark brown or black.

Over 1.7 million blue wildebeest take part in the Great Migration of Serengeti and Masai Mara. This annual circular migration, which is also undertaken by hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebras, is one of the world's most impressive natural spectacles.

Zebra

Nearly everyone in the world can identify a zebra, but far fewer people know that there are actually three different species of zebra: the plains zebra, mountain zebra and Grévy's zebra.
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All three zebra species are in the genus Equus. That's the same group in which the horse and the donkey are found. (The group also includes two lesser-known species: the African wild ass and the kiang, an ass found in Asia.)

Many theories have been put forward to explain the purpose of the zebra's stripes. Possible explanations include: camouflage, heat dispersal, creation of an optical illusion to fool predators, and to make the zebra less attractive to biting flies (experiments in which horses were painted with stripes back up this last theory).

Number of species: 3

Genus: Equus (also in this genus are the wild horse, the donkey, and two species of wild ass)

The plains zebra is the most common and widespread zebra. It is found in several parts of south-central and southern Africa. The conservation status of the species is Near Threatened due to over-hunting and the fencing off of traditional grazing routes.

The mountain zebra is found in hot, rocky, mountainous or hilly regions of south west Africa. There are no stripes on the undersides of this species. The mountain zebra's IUCN conservation status is Vulnerable.

Grévy's zebra is not just the largest species of zebra, it's also the world's largest wild horse. The species is found in eastern Central Africa. The conservation status for Grévy's zebra is Endangered. Fewer than 2,000 adult individuals exist in the wild, although the population is now stable.

African Animals List: Conclusion & Related Pages

We hope that you have enjoyed this list of African animals, and have clicked on some of the pictures for more information on your favorite species!

What's your favorite African animal? Are there any we've missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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Become an animal expert! Find out more about the animal kingdom by visiting this page: Animals: The Ultimate Guide.

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African Animals List With Pictures, Facts, Information & Worksheet

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Africa is the world's second largest continent (Asia is the largest). With habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to desert, Africa is home to many of the world's best-known animals. The African animals included in the list below represent just a fraction of the continent's amazing biodiversity.

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Discover the amazing wildlife of Australia; this Australian animals list has pictures and facts on Australia's most famous animals (and many of its lesser-known species). Click on the photos or follow the links to find further information on key species. Download the free question sheet and become an Australian animal expert!
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Free Australian Animals Worksheet

You can view and download a FREE Australian animals question sheet for this page here: Australian Animals Worksheet. (No sign-up is required; simply download the pdf file and get started.)

List Of Australian Animals - Introduction

Australia is the world's sixth-largest country by area and is famous for its spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife.

With habitats ranging from desert to coral reef, via tropical and temperate rainforests, rivers and grasslands, Australia is home to many of the world's most recognisable animals, including kangaroos, koalas, emus, platypuses, wombats and goannas.

Australia is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and its isolated position means that its wildlife has evolved without outside interference.

Many Australian animals are ' endemic ' to the country. This means that they are only found in Australia, and nowhere else on Earth.

Marsupials

Many of Australia's best-known animals are marsupials. Although marsupials are also present in the Americas, around 70% of the world's marsupial species are found on the Australian continent (which includes mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea).

Marsupials are mammals whose young are born at an early stage of development. After being born, the tiny infant marsupial crawls into a special pouch in its mother's body. Here it feeds on its mother's milk and continues to develop in safety until ready to emerge.

Animals such as kangaroos, possums, koalas and bandicoots are marsupials. You'll meet all of these - and more - in the list below!

Australian Animals List with Pictures & Facts

Scroll down to see all of the animals in alphabetical order, or use the index below to find a specific species:

Australian Magpie

The Australian magpie is one of the most familiar Australian birds. This common species is found in habitats ranging from urban areas to forests, and is present across most of the country, only missing in some desert regions.

The Australian magpie has black and white plumage and orange-brown eyes. It is a similar size to the Eurasian magpie, but unlike that species is not a member of the crow family, Corvidae. Instead, it is a member of the family Artamidae, which also includes the butcherbirds.

The Australian magpie is famous for its warbling call.
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Australian Sea Lion

The Australian sea lion is a member of a group of animals known as the pinnipeds, which contains the seals, sea lions and walrus. The Australian sea lion is the only pinniped endemic to (only found in) Australia. The species is present along the southern and southwestern coastlines of the country.

This aquatic mammal feeds mainly on fish and molluscs such as squid and cuttlefish. It is also known to eat penguins.

The Australian sea lion was once heavily hunted. Although it is now protected, the population has not fully recovered.

Today the species' primary threats are commercial fishing (although not targeted by the fishermen, the Australian sea lion often becomes entangled in gillnets) and habitat degradation.
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Bandicoot

Number of species: around 20

Type of animal: Mammal, member of the marsupial order Peramelemorphia (bandicoots and bilbies)

Bandicoots are a group of around 20 omnivorous, ground-dwelling marsupials found in Australia and New Guinea. They are rat-like animals with hunched backs, thin tapered noses and relatively long legs. Most are rabbit-sized. The largest bandicoot found in Australia is the northern brown bandicoot.

Bandicoots are found throughout Australia. They live in a variety of habitats, ranging from gardens to rainforests.

Bandicoots forage using their sensitive noses to detect food such as insects and earthworms buried in the ground, which they excavate with their forepaws. The holes that they leave in the ground are known as 'snout-pokes'.
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Barramundi

The barramundi is a fish found on the tropical coastline of northern Australia. It has large silver scales and a humped back, and grows up to around 1.6 m (5.3 ft.) in length.

The barramundi is found in both freshwater and marine habitats. It lives in rivers and travels downriver to breed in estuaries and coastal wetlands. Some populations spend all of their lives in marine environments.

Barramundi begin their lives as males, but most become female after one or more spawning seasons.
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Bilby (Greater)

Since the lesser bilby became extinct in the 1950's, the greater bilby is the only surviving bilby. (For this reason the greater bilby is often known simply as the 'bilby'.)

Once present throughout southern Australia, the greater bilby is now only found in desert regions in central Australia.

Unlike other bandicoots, the bilby is a burrowing animal. It is equipped with powerful forelimbs and robust claws. The female's pouch is rear-opening to prevent earth from entering while burrowing. The species' long ears give it the alternative name of 'rabbit-eared bandicoot'.

The bilby uses its long tongue to forage for seeds, insects and bulbs.
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Black Swan

The black swan is a large waterbird found in wetlands throughout Australia. The species is an emblem of Western Australia, and appears on the state's flag and coat of arms.

This distinctive Australian bird has black plumage and a bright red bill with a pale tip. When it is flying or has its wings raised in an aggressive display its white flight feathers can be seen.

The black swan is mainly herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants and algae. It uses its long neck to reach food, 'up-ending' with its head and shoulders submerged when necessary.

Bowerbirds
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Bowerbirds are a family of birds found in Australia and New Guinea. Of the 20 species of bowerbird, 10 are found in Australia. Most live in rainforests and other forest habitats.

Type of animal: Birds, family Ptilonorhynchidae

Number of species: 20

Number of species found in Australia: 20

Bowerbirds are famous for their courtship ritual. This involves the male building an elaborate structure known as a bower on the forest floor. The bower is made out of sticks, and decorated with flowers, vegetation, and brightly-coloured objects, including man-made items.

Females usually mate with the male who has built the most impressive bower. The bower is built purely for courtship, and is not used as a nest.

One of the best-known Australian bowerbirds is the satin bowerbird, a species found in the coastal forests of eastern Australia. The male has glossy blue-black plumage, the female is olive-brown. Both have bright blue eyes.

Brolga
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The brolga is a member of the crane family found in Australia and New Guinea. It was formerly known as the 'native companion'. In Australia, it is found in wetlands and wet grasslands in the north, east and south-east of the country. The species is also found in New Guinea.

Like all cranes, the brolga is a large, tall bird with long, thin legs and a long neck. Its plumage is grey and there is a red patch on the back of the head.

Although the species' conservation status is 'Least Concern', it is thought that its numbers are declining, mainly as a result of habitat loss.

Budgerigar
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The budgerigar is a small member of the true parrot superfamily, Psittacoidea. It is found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, farmland and urban gardens, and is present throughout much of Australia. The species has also been introduced to the United States.

The budgie is nomadic, moving from area to area in search of water and the seeds on which it feeds.

The budgie is the world's third most popular pet. In the wild its plumage is predominantly yellow and green, but captive birds have been selectively bred in a number of colour variations, including blue, grey and all yellow.

Cairns Birdwing Butterfly
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With a wingspan of up to 15 cm (5.9 in), the Cairns birdwing is one of the largest butterflies found in Australia. The species is endemic to Australia. It lives in the tropical rainforests of northeast Queensland.

Male Cairns birdwing butterflies are smaller than the females, but considerably more brightly-coloured. Their wings are a striking mix of black, yellow and green, while those of the females are mainly black with yellow patterning.

The species takes its name from Cairns, a coastal city in Queensland which is at the centre of the insect's range.

Camel (Feral)

There are around 300,000 feral camels living in Australia. Most are the dromedaries, but a number of feral Bactrian camels are also present. These large, hooved mammals were introduced during the 19th century, when they were used as transport.
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The feral camel population of Australia was once as large as 600,000 individuals. Due to the damage this introduced species was causing to indigenous wildlife, measures were taken between 2009 and 2013 to reduce the population to its current size.

Cane Toad

Many Australians would rather the cane toad was not on a list of Australian animals! The amphibian is an invasive species in Australia and has spread rapidly across the country since its introduction in the 1940s.
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The insect-eating frog was brought to Australia from its native South America in order to reduce the population of crop-destroying grey-backed cane beetles.

Unfortunately, the cane toad bred rapidly and quickly spread across north-eastern Australia. The species' introduction has been catastrophic to many native Australian species, who fall ill after eating the poisonous toad.

Cassowary
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Cassowaries are large, flightless birds found in Australia and New Guinea. There are three species of cassowary; only the Southern Cassowary (scientific name Casuarius casuarius) is found in Australia (the species is also found in New Guinea).

The southern cassowary inhabits the rainforests of north-eastern Australia. It is the world's second-heaviest bird, and the third-tallest.

Genus: Casuarius

Number of species: 3

Number of species found in Australia: 1 (The southern cassowary)

Type of animal: Bird, member of the family Casuariidae (which also includes the emu)

The species is mainly black, with a blue neck and red collar. Its wattles (the fleshy growths that hang from the bird's neck) are red. On the cassowary's head is a bony, pointed, helmet-like structure known as a casque.

Cassowaries are fast runners. Their feet are equipped with dagger-like inner claws which may be used as weapons if the bird feels threatened.

The conservation status of the southern cassowary is Least Concern.

Common Stingaree

The common stingaree is a stingray found in the coastal waters of south-eastern Australia. It is the commonest ray found in this region.
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Like all stingrays, the common stingaree has a round, flat body and long tail. It propels itself through the water with wave-like undulations of its wings. Its tail is equipped with either one or two venomous spines.

The species lives on sandbanks and mudflats, often lying partly buried on the sea bed. Although the fish will usually flee from bathers, if surprised it will lash out with its spines, and is capable of inflicting nasty injuries.

Crocodiles
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There are two species of crocodile found in Australia: the freshwater crocodile and the larger saltwater crocodile.

The freshwater crocodile is a relatively small crocodile. It is endemic to Australia and is found in rivers and wetlands in the north of the country.

Type of animal: Reptile, member of the subfamily Crocodylinae (the true crocodiles)

Number of species found in Australia: 2 (the saltwater crocodile and the freshwater crocodile)

Conservation status (both species): Least Concern

The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile not only in Australia but also the world. In fact, this cold-blooded giant is the world's largest land predator. It is found on and near the coast in northern Australia, as well as in New Guinea and several Southeast Asian countries.

Both Australian crocodiles have armour-plated skin and strong jaws full of sharp teeth. Crocodiles are ambush predators, which means that they lie in wait for their prey to draw near before attacking with explosive speed and power.

The freshwater crocodile will usually only attack a human if threatened. It is capable of delivering a powerful bite.

The saltwater crocodile, due to its size, power and ferocity, is an extremely dangerous animal and areas in which it is found are best avoided.

Dingo

The dingo is a large wild dog with sandy-gold fur. It lives in desert, grassland and forest habitats.
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Most zoologists consider the dingo to be a subspecies of grey wolf, giving it the scientific name Canis lupus dingo. Others consider the dingo to be a separate species in its own right, giving it the scientific name Canis dingo.

The dingo's closest relative is the New Guinea singing dog, a wild dog found on New Guinea.

Dingoes live and hunt in packs. Using teamwork they are able to bring down animals as large as the red kangaroo.

Dugong

You can find out more about this species here: Dingo Facts

The dugong is a marine mammal which, together with the three species of manatee, is a member of the order Sirenia. It is a large, round-bodied animal. Its unique, broad, downwards-pointing snout is an adaptation for feeding on seagrass.
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Dugongs can live for up to 70 years, and in the past have been hunted for meat and oil. Today the main threats to the species are entanglement in gillnets, hunting, and boat strikes.

Eastern Brown Snake
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Both of the world's two most venomous snakes - the eastern brown snake and the inland taipan - are found in Australia.

Although the venom of the eastern brown snake is less powerful than that of the inland taipan, the species is considered more dangerous, as it is found near human habitations and has an aggressive temperament. It is responsible for more fatalities per year in Australia than any other snake.

The eastern brown snake grows to lengths of up 2 m (7 ft.). It is a relatively thin snake that ranges in colour from pale to dark brown. It is found in a variety of habitats across eastern Australia.

Eastern Long-Necked Turtle

The eastern long-necked turtle is found in rivers and wetlands in south eastern Australia. It has a round, plate-sized carapace (shell) which is black or brown with black grooves. The species' neck is over half of the length of its shell.

Eastern long-neck turtles are members of the suborder Pleurodira, one of two turtle suborders (the other being the Cryptodira). Members of this suborder withdraw their heads into their shells with a sideways, rather than a straight, motion.
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Echidna (Short Beaked)

Echidnas are members of a unique group of mammals known as monotremes. Unlike every other type of mammal the five species that make up the order Monotremata lay eggs rather than giving birth to live young. The monotremes comprise four species of echidna and the platypus.

The short-beaked echidna is the only echidna found in Australia. It is present throughout much of the country, and is also found in New Guinea.
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The short-beaked echidna is a small to medium-sized animal, usually between 30 and 45 cm in length. Its most distinctive characteristic is its coat of hard spines. It is equipped with powerful forelimbs and clawed feet, and is capable of burrowing at high speeds.

Echidnas are also known as 'spiny anteaters', but - although their diet consists of ants and termites - they are not related to the anteaters of the Americas.

Emu
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The emu is a large flightless bird endemic to Australia. With an average weight of 33 kg (73 lb), it is the world's 5 th largest bird, and the second-largest in Australia, after the southern cassowary.

Although second to the southern cassowary in weight, the emu can reach a height of 1.9 metres (6.2 ft.), making it Australia's tallest bird.

The emu's plumage is light brown, and its sparsely-feathered neck is pale blue.

The flightless emu evades potential predators using its acute eyesight and hearing, and if necessary its high speed: it is capable of running at up to 48 km/h (30 mph). If cornered it can defend itself with its sharp claws and powerful legs.

Fairy Penguin

The little penguin, commonly known as the fairy penguin in Australia, is the smallest species of penguin, standing at around 33 cm (13 in) tall and weighing around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).

This small seabird is found along the south coast of Australia, both on the mainland and on coastal islands. The species is also found in New Zealand.

The dark sections of the little penguin's plumage are blue-grey in colour, giving the species the name 'little blue penguin' in New Zealand.
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Like all penguins the little penguin is flightless, its wings having adapted into flippers that allow it to 'fly' through the water. The little penguin spends around 80% of its life at sea, where it forages for fish and squid.

Flatback Sea Turtle

The flatback sea turtle is found in the coastal waters of northern Australia and New Guinea, but only nests on the islands and beaches of northern Australia.

This large marine reptile is the least migratory of the seven species of sea turtle. It can be distinguished from other sea turtles by its comparatively flat shell.
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Frill-Necked Lizard

The frill-necked lizard is a large lizard found across northern Australia. The species is arboreal (tree-dwelling) and usually found in the canopy layer of forests and woodlands. Its average length is 85 cm (2.79 ft.).

The frill-necked lizard gets its name from the large ruff of brightly-coloured skin around its neck. The ruff is connected to the lizard's jaw bone. When threatened, the lizard opens the ruff out like an umbrella. This impressive display is intended to startle a potential predator, giving the lizard a chance to escape.
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Galah

The galah is a highly-social parrot with a widespread distribution across Australia. It occupies a diverse range of habitats, including woodlands, shrublands, meadows and urban areas.
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The species forms large, noisy flocks that forage on the ground, feeding on the seeds of grasses, herbs and crops.

A member of the cockatoo family Cacatuidae, the galah is easily identified by the vibrant pink-coloured feathers on its head, neck, and underparts, and by the paler pink crest that can either be held erect or laid back. The wings, back, and tail are grey.

Although males and females look very similar, they can be distinguished by the colour of their irises: red or mid-brown for females and dark brown for males.

Giant Burrowing Cockroach

The giant burrowing cockroach is the heaviest cockroach in the world, weighing up to 35 g and reaching a length of up to 8 cm. It has a lifespan of up to 10 years.

The giant burrowing cockroach doesn't have wings, and spends much of its life underground in burrows that can be up to 1m deep. The species emerges from its burrow at night to feed.

Unlike most insects, the giant burrowing cockroach gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. The species is ovoviviparous, with the eggs hatching inside the mother's body prior to being born.

Females give birth in underground chambers and care for their young for up to six months, at which point the young leave the chamber to fend for themselves.
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The giant burrowing cockroach is mostly found in the tropical regions of Queensland, and prefers areas with sandy soil. Unlike other cockroaches, it is not considered a pest. The species plays an essential role in the ecosystem by consuming dead leaves and recycling matter.

Giant Clam

Tridacna gigas, one of several species known as 'giant clams', is the world's largest bivalve mollusc. The species reaches lengths of up to 1.5 m and can exceed 500 lbs in weight. It is found in the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

The giant clam's mantle is generally yellow or green with blue or purple spots. The clam's stunning colours are a result of algae that live within the mollusc's tissue.
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The clam and its resident algae have a symbiotic relationship (a relationship between species that is mutually beneficial). The clam receives nutrients produced by the algae as a result of photosynthesis. In return, the algae receives carbon dioxide, phosphates, nitrates, and a place to live.

The giant clam's 'Vulnerable' conservation status is a result of its having been over-harvested for food and the aquarium trade.

Goanna

Goannas are lizards in the genus Varanus (a group known as the monitor lizards). There are 25 goanna species found in Australia, and a further 5 species found in Southeast Asia.

The perentie ( Varanus giganteus), which grows up to 2.5 m (8 ft. 2 in) in length, is Australia's largest lizard, and the fourth-largest lizard in the world. Australia's smallest goanna is the short-tailed monitor.

Goannas are carnivores, equipped with sharp teeth and claws. Their diet consists of a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate species, including insects, spiders, snakes, birds, marsupials and rodents.

Goannas aren't fussy eaters; in general the larger the goanna, the larger the prey animal it will consume. Goannas will also scavenge on carrion.
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Goliath Stick Insect

Type of animal: Reptile, lizards in the genus Varanus (the monitor lizards)

Number of species found in Australia: 25

The Goliath stick insect is found along the Australian east coast and southern Queensland. Despite being one of the largest insects in Australia, its camouflage and stick-like body make it tricky to find.

Female Goliath stick insects are much larger than males, reaching up to 25 cm in length.

Like many stick insects, the goliath stick insect is capable of parthenogenesis, a form of reproduction that does not require mating.

Despite having wings, females are unable to fly due to the size of their bodies. The smaller, thinner males are capable of flight.
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Great White Shark

One of the most feared of all ocean predators, the great white shark can grow to over 6 metres (19.7 ft.) in length. It is found in oceans all around the world, including those around Australia.

This big fish preys on a variety of animals, with juveniles more likely to target fish, and adults more likely to target marine mammals such as seals, dolphins and other cetaceans. The great white is also known to attack humans.

The great white shark uses a 'sixth sense' when hunting. Organs known as ampullae of Lorenzini in the shark's head act as electroreceptors, allowing the shark to sense the electrical fields produced in the muscles of other sea animals.

Hercules Moth
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The Hercules moth is Australia's largest moth and one of the three largest moths in the world. The species, which is found on New Guinea as well as in tropical Queensland, has a wingspan of up to 27 cm (10.63 in.). The surface area of this huge insect's wings is the largest of any insect.

The Hercules moth has large, brown wings with transparent windows and white edges. The female's wings are so large that it can often be mistaken for a bird. The male is smaller than the female and more vibrantly-coloured. Its wings have elongated tails.

In its imago stage (the winged, adult stage), the Hercules moth does not eat, and lives for only 2 to 8 days. Adult females emit pheromones which can be detected by males up to 3 km away. After mating, a female lays 80 to 100 eggs on the leaves of rainforest plants and dies shortly after.

Inland Taipan
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The inland taipan is the world's most venomous snake. The potency of its venom is a result of the species having evolved specifically as a hunter of mammals. Just one bite is thought to contain enough venom to kill 100 men.

Despite its formidable bite, the inland taipan is responsible for relatively few attacks on humans. Unlike the closely related coastal taipan (one of the world's most dangerous snakes), the species has a placid nature and lives in uninhabited areas.

Kangaroo
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No list of Australian animals would be complete without the kangaroo! There are over 30 million of these familiar marsupials living in Australia.

The family Macropodidae comprises the kangaroos, wallaroos and wallabies. It is mainly size that determines in which of these three groups an animal is placed; the largest species are known as kangaroos, the smallest as wallabies, and those in between are called wallaroos.

Four species are commonly known as kangaroos. They are: the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus); the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus); the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus); and the antilopine kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus). There are around 60 other species in the family Macropodidae.

The red kangaroo is not only the largest kangaroo, but also the largest living marsupial.
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Kangaroos travel by hopping rather than by walking or running. This is a surprisingly efficient means of locomotion; kangaroos have special elasticated tendons which store and release energy as the kangaroo hops.

Kangaroos, like many of Australia's most famous animals, are marsupials. Marsupials are 'pouched mammals'. After being born their babies - known as 'joeys' - climb into special pouches in their mothers' bodies. Here the joeys continue to grow for several more months before being able to jump around by themselves.

Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial

Family: Macropodidae (the macropods)

Conservation status: A number of kangaroo species are under threat, in particular the tree kangaroos, many of which are endangered.

Number of species found in Australia: 4 species are commonly known as kangaroos; the family Macropodidae contains around 65 living species

Koala

The koala is one of the best-known of all Australian animals. This arboreal (tree-dwelling) marsupial is found mainly in eastern Australia.

The koala can be identified by its thick grey coat, prominent black nose and fluffy ears. It resembles a small bear, and because of this is sometimes known as the 'koala bear'. However, the koala is not a bear; being a marsupial, it is not related to the true bears in the family Ursidae, which are placental mammals.

Koalas spend most of their lives (up to 20 hours per day) sleeping. Their diet consists mainly of eucalyptus leaves, which contain little in the way of energy.

Despite their cuddly appearance, male koalas can be surprisingly aggressive when competing for territory.
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Kookaburra

If you've ever been in the Australian bush and heard someone laughing, then don't worry, you weren't being made fun of; it was probably just a kookaburra - these Australian birds have a call that sounds like human laughter.

Kookaburras are birds in the subfamily of kingfishers known as the tree kingfishers, or Halcyoninae. The laughing kookaburra, with its famous call, is one of four species of kookaburra.

Kookaburras can be recognized by their large, powerful bills and the flashes of blue in their wings. Despite being members of the kingfisher family, they rarely eat fish, instead targeting a variety of small mammals and reptiles.

You can find out more about the koala here: Koala Facts
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Marsupial Mole

Genus: Dacelo

Type of animal: Birds, members of the kingfisher family Alcedinidae

There are two species of marsupial mole: the northern marsupial mole ( Notoryctes caurinus) and the southern marsupial mole ( Notoryctes typhlops). Both inhabit the deserts of Western Australia.

These small, insectivorous (insect-eating) marsupials spend nearly all of their lives burrowing underground, rarely coming to the surface.
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Marsupial moles have undergone numerous adaptations for this underground lifestyle, including short limbs and powerful claws for digging, and the pouch of the female being rear-facing so as not to fill up with sand. Both species are completely blind.

Despite being marsupials, marsupial moles are very similar in appearance to burrowing placental mammals such as the golden moles of Africa. This is an example of convergent evolution - the process by which unrelated species develop similar characteristics.

(Another example of convergent evolution is the winged flight of both birds and bats.)

Murray Cod

Scientific name: Notoryctes caurinus; Notoryctes typhlops

Type of animal: Mammal, member of the family Notoryctidae

Conservation status: Least Concern

The Murray cod is the largest native Australian freshwater fish species. It inhabits the Murray-Darling basin, an area which covers much of south-eastern Australia.

The species has a dark green mottled upper body and a creamy-white underside. It can weigh over 100 kg and reach lengths of up to 1.8 m long. Its lifespan can exceed 50 years.

The Murray cod is known to be a voracious and aggressive predator, feeding on other fish, ducks, snakes, mice, frogs, and even freshwater turtles.

Today, this impressive fish is seriously threatened by commercial and recreational fishing, habitat destruction, water pollution, and invasive species.

Numbat
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The numbat is a small marsupial with an appearance somewhere between a cat and a rat. It has a pointed face, a long, bushy tail, and a series of distinctive white stripes running along its back.

Numbats use their pointed muzzles to forage in the dirt for termites, which they scoop up with their long tongues.

The numbat has a number of natural predators, but it was the introduction of the red fox by settlers that led to the species becoming endangered. Today, only around 800 of this once widespread animal are left in the wild.

Platypus

The platypus is one of Australia's best-known animals, and also one of the strangest. This distinctive mammal has the bill of a duck, the tail of a beaver, and the feet of an otter. It is also one of the few venomous mammals, with males being armed with a venomous spur on their feet.
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When the remains of a platypus were first brought to London for examination, the experts thought that someone was playing a trick on them!

The platypus belongs to a small group of mammals known as monotremes, whose members lay eggs instead of giving birth to their young. There are only five living monotremes: the platypus, and four species of echidna.

The platypus spends much of its life foraging for food on the beds of streams and rivers. It has electroreceptors in its bill with which it can detect electrical fields produced by the muscles of its prey.

Possum
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Possums are small to medium-sized nocturnal marsupials, most of which are arboreal (tree-dwelling). There are around 70 species of possum in the suborder Phalangeriformes. The group includes the 'gliders'; a group of possums that have evolved the ability to glide from tree to tree.

The Tasmanian pygmy possum ( Cercartetus lepidus) is the world's smallest possum, with a maximum nose to tail length of just 30 cm (12 in.).

The common brushtail possum is the largest possum found in Australia, and the world's third-largest possum, after the two bear cuscuses (which are both found in Indonesia).
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Queensland Lungfish / Barramunda

The Queensland lungfish is a freshwater fish endemic to south-eastern Queensland. It is native to the Mary and Burnett River systems and has been introduced to other Queensland rivers, including the Coomera, Condamine, Albert and Logan.

Type of animal: Marsupial

Suborder: Phalangeriformes

Unlike most other fishes, the Queensland lungfish is able to breathe air. It is one of six living lungfish species, and the only one found in Australia.

Whereas the other five species of lungfish have two lungs and are unable to breathe with their gills, the Queensland lungfish has a single lung, which it uses in addition to its gills.

The species can live for up to 100 years.
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Quokka

Around the size of a domestic cat, the quokka is an herbivorous marsupial that resembles a miniature kangaroo. It is a member of the same family, Macropodidae, as its kangaroo and wallaby cousins.

The quokka is found mainly on islands lying off the southwestern coast of Australia, with only a small population remaining on the mainland. The species suffered greatly as a result of the introduction of the red fox, and was once found across a much wider range.

Quoll

Quolls are small to mid-sized, nocturnal, carnivorous marsupials. There are six species of quoll, four of which-the western, eastern, northern and tiger quoll- are found in Australia. (The other two species-the bronze quoll and the New Guinean quoll-are found in New Guinea.)

Quolls have brown or black coats marked with distinctive pale spots. They prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds.

Both the eastern quoll and the northern quoll are Endangered, while the conservation status of the other two Australian species is Near Threatened.
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Like many of Australia's native animals, quolls suffered greatly with the introduction of non-native predators such as the red fox and domestic cat.

One of the main threats to quolls comes in the form of another non-native animal: the cane toad. Although not predatory, the cane toad is poisonous. Native Australian animals that prey on the amphibian are likely to become ill or die.
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Redback Spider

The redback spider is one of Australia's best-known, and most feared, spiders. The species' notoriety is due to bite of the female, which is extremely painful and whose symptoms can last from several hours to several days. Although extremely uncomfortable, the redback spider's bite is seldom fatal to humans.

Type of animal: Marsupials in the genus Dasyurus

Number of species found in Australia: 4

With a body length of around 1 cm, female redback spiders are over twice the size of males.

The species is black with a contrasting red stripe running along the centre of the back of the abdomen. On the underside of the abdomen is a red 'hourglass' marking.

Redback spiders are widely distributed throughout Australia but are most often found in urban areas. Although their diet consists mainly of insects, they will also eat small birds, lizards, rodents, flies, crickets, and beetles.

You won't find many daddy redback spiders; during reproduction, females practice cannibalism.

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

You can find out more about the quoll here: Quoll Facts

The red-eyed tree frog of Australia is a different species to the South American amphibian of the same name. Both species are in the tree frog family Hylidae.
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The Australian red-eyed tree frog is found in rainforests and other moist forest habitats in eastern Queensland and New South Wales. It spends most of its life in the forest canopy, only coming down to the ground to breed after periods of heavy rain.

This Australian amphibian is bright green with yellow undersides. Its eyes - as its name suggests - are orange-red. The species is not threatened in the wild, and is also kept as a pet.

Sugar Glider

The sugar glider is a gliding possum found not only in Australia, but also on New Guinea and some Indonesian islands.

This small, nocturnal marsupial is equipped with flaps of skin between its arms and legs. These act as wings, allowing the sugar glider to glide from tree to tree.

The omnivorous sugar glider eats insects, leaves and eucalyptus sap. This opportunist hunter may also eat small reptiles and birds when the chance arises.
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Sydney Funnel-Web Spider

Found within a 100-km radius of Sydney, the Sydney funnel-web spider is known for its dangerous bite, which, if untreated, can be fatal. The species' venom is one of the most toxic of any spider.

The Sydney funnel-web spider is shiny dark brown / black, and between 1 and 5 cm in body length.

The species builds web-lined burrows from which it emerges to ambush passing prey. Web 'tripwires' alert the spider to the presence of prey outside of the burrow.
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The spider prefers moist areas with constant humidity. It builds its burrows under logs and rocks, and in ground debris.

The Sydney funnel-web spider feeds mainly on insects such as cockroaches, beetles, and various larvae. It will also occasionally prey on snails, frogs and other small vertebrates.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial today found only in Tasmania, but once also found on mainland Australia. Its extinction on the mainland may have been caused by the presence of dingoes introduced by Aboriginal Australians.
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The species is known for its ferocity, particularly when feeding, when it makes a distinctive screeching sound. It is this 'devilish' sound that gives the species its name.

The Tasmanian devil has the strongest bite force in relation to body size of any carnivorous mammal.

Today, the Tasmanian devil's very survival is threatened by the spread of a killer disease known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). This highly-contagious disease, which causes sores to break out around the animal's face, has caused a huge decline in the species' population.

Thorny Devil

This fearsome-looking lizard is found in the dry inland regions of Australia. Despite its aggressive appearance, the thorny devil is only dangerous if you happen to be an ant (this little reptile eats several thousand ants every day).
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The thorny devil has a number of adaptations for living in the desert, including grooves in its skin that channel moisture to its mouth, and a false head to confuse predators.

Turtle Frog / Tortoise Frog

The turtle frog (also known as a tortoise frog) is a small frog found in the southwestern corner of Western Australia. It lives in semi-arid areas, and has powerful limbs for burrowing in the sandy soil. The species gets its name from its turtle-like appearance. It has a round, flat body and resembles a turtle without a shell.

The turtle frog is unusual among frogs because it skips the tadpole stage of its development, instead hatching from its egg as a small frog.
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Ulysses Butterfly / Blue Emperor

Ulysses butterflies inhabit the tropical rainforests of north-eastern Australia, New Guinea, the Moluccas, Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. They are also seen in suburban gardens in Queensland.

Scientific name: Moloch horridus

Type of animal: Reptile; lizard in the family Agamidae

Conservation status: Least Concern

The wingspan of the Ulysses butterfly is around 10 cm. Males have vibrant iridescent blue colour wings with black edges. The blue colouration of the female's wings is duller. The underside of the wings of both sexes is dark-brown, which provides camouflage when the insect is at rest.

Both males and females have the characteristic elongated tail streamers of butterflies in the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.

This striking butterfly species feeds on nectar, in particular that from flowers of the species Lantana camara.
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Males are strongly attracted to the colour blue and will approach man-made objects of this colour.

Wallaby
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Wallabies, like kangaroos, are members of the family Macropodidae. Wallabies are the smallest members of the family, with the smallest species-the dwarf wallaby-reaching just 46 cm (18 in) in total length.

Wallabies are found not just in Australia, but also on New Guinea. These herbivorous marsupials are found in a variety of habitats, including forests and rocky terrain. Rock wallabies have specially adapted, rough-soled feet for gripping onto rocks.

White-Lipped Tree Frog / Giant Tree Frog

The white-lipped tree frog is the world's largest tree frog species, reaching a maximum length of 14 cm (5.5 in.). Bright green in colour, the species has a distinctive white stripe running along its lower lip and extending to above each shoulder.
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The species is not endemic to Australia, and is also present on New Guinea and nearby islands. It lives in a variety of habitats, including rainforests and urban areas. In Australia it is found along the coastal areas of the Cape York Peninsula and the tropics of north-eastern Queensland.

During spring and summer males gather at breeding sites - typically bodies of still water - and emit a loud mating call, which sounds like a dog barking.

Wombat

Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial

Family: Macropodidae

Wombats are dog-sized burrowing animals that are only found in Australia. There are three species of wombat: the common wombat ( Vombatus ursinus), northern hairy-nosed wombat ( Lasiorhinus krefftii), and southern hairy-nosed wombat ( Lasiorhinus latifrons). They are the only members of the family Vombatidae.

Wombats build large burrow systems, digging through the soil with their teeth and their strong claws. They have backwards-facing pouches to prevent dirt from entering while they are digging.

Wombats are mostly nocturnal, but are occasionally active during the day in the winter or on cool, overcast days.
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The northern hairy-nosed wombat is Critically Endangered. With only around 80 mature individuals left in the wild, it is one of the world's rarest mammals.

Yabby (Common)
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The final species in this Australian animals list is the common yabby ( Cherax destructor). The yabby is a crayfish - a freshwater crustacean which resembles a small lobster. It is found in swamps, streams, lakes and rivers throughout much of east Australia.

The yabby has also been introduced to Western Australia, where it is an invasive species, and a potential threat to other native crayfish.

Type of animal: Marsupials, family Vombatidae

Number of species found in Australia: 3

The yabby feeds on algae, plant material and animal remains. It is rated as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

Australian Animals List Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this list of Australian animals. This is just a tiny section of the many different species found in Australia.

You can find out more about Australia at Wikipedia here. See the Wikipedia page on marsupials here.
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Have we missed anyone? Let us know if your favourite Australian animals aren't on this list and we'll try to include them!
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Australian Animals List With Pictures & Facts: Discover Australia's Wildlife

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Discover the amazing wildlife of Australia; this Australian animals list has pictures and facts on Australia's most famous animals (and many of its lesser-known species). Click on the photos or follow the links to find further information on key species. Download the free question sheet and become an Australian animal expert!

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Australia is land of many wonders, both natural and human-made. It is a place of extremes and is endowed with forests, mountains, deserts, beaches, and many other natural treasures. The country has several geographical features that are globally famous for their beauty and ecological significance. Here is a list of the same:

10. Uluru

Uluru is a massive sandstone rock formation that is one of Australia's most noticeable geographic features. It is located in the southern part of the Australian state of the Northern Territory and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sandstone formation is at an elevation of 2,831 feet above sea-level. The site is sacred to the indigenous Pitjantjatjara Anangu inhabiting the region. The Uluru features numerous springs, rock caves, and waterholes. The site is also famous for its ancient cave paintings. One of the most interesting facts about the Uluru is that is changes color at different times of the day and year.

9. The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles is a stunning landscape of thousands of weathered limestone pillars in the Nambung National Park in Cervantes, Western Australia. The pillars vary in their shapes and sizes with some resembling pillars while others appearing like short tombstones. The pinnacles rise above the yellow sand base of the national park. Despite the aridity, the area is home to a variety of fauna like the Western grey kangaroos, Baudin's black cockatoos, emus, carpet pythons, sand goannas, etc.

8. Shark Bay

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shark Bay is located in Western Australia's Gascoyne region. Shark Bay is not a single geographical feature but a host of some of the world's most exceptional natural features. It has one of the world's largest and most biodiverse seagrass beds. Shark Bay is also famous for its stromatolites which are regarded as one of the oldest surviving life forms on the planet. The area is also home to a great diversity of marine fauna like dugongs and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. There are over 230 bird species, 150 reptilian species, 26 species of threatened mammals, and more living in the region.

7. The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles refer to a collection of limestone stacks standing out on the beach off the shore of Port Campbell National Park in the Australian state of Victoria. Presently, there are only eight Apostles with the ninth one having collapsed in July 2005. The limestone stacks are erosional landforms formed by wind and wave action. It is one of the most visited natural tourist attractions in Australia.

6. MacKenzie Falls

The MacKenzie Falls is the biggest waterfall in the Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia. The water in the MacKenzie Falls drop down steep slopes of the cliff into a deep plunge pool below that then flow through a stunning gorge. Tourists can view the falls by taking a steep trail to its bottom or from a viewing platform at a greater height.

5. Kakadu National Park

This protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in Australia's Northern Territory and has one of the country's most majestic landscapes. The Kakadu National Park is located in the Alligator Rivers Region of the state where it encompasses an area of 19,804 square km. The diverse environments of the national park support a great diversity of flora and fauna. Kakadu's flora features over 1,700 plant species. A range of threatened and endemic fauna are also found here. 74 species of mammals, more than 280 species of birds, 117 species of reptiles, and several species of amphibians and invertebrates are found in the park. Some of the most notable terrestrial and marine fauna include the wallabies, kangaroos, dugongs, brown bandicoots, black flying foxes, etc.

4. Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is another one of Australia's most famed geographic features as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a region of mountain ranges and plateau escarpments located in New South Wales that extend off the Great Dividing Range. More than 400 different types of animals live here. Several tourist attractions render the Blue Mountains as an interesting tourist destination, named for the blue haze that seems to hang above the forest of eucalyptus trees. The Edge Cinema and the Giant Stairway allow tourists to enjoy panoramic views of the Blue Mountains. Other attractions include museums, bridges, caves, heritage railways, the Scenic Cableway, etc.

3. Bungle Bungle Range

This interesting geographical landform is located in Western Australia's Kimberley region. It comprises of beehive-shaped towers made of conglomerates and red sandstone. Millions of years of erosion by wind from the Tanami Desert and rainfall has carved the domes of the Bungle Bungle Range. The rock formations also have an unusual orange and dark grey banding on their facades. The darker bands are present in the layers with more moisture where microbial colonies exist. The orange colored bands are rock layers stained with mineral deposits like iron and manganese.

2. Fraser Island

The Fraser Island is located off Queensland's southeastern coast. In 1992, the Fraser Island was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be described as a land of wonders since it hosts an incredible variety of habitats including mangroves, eucalyptus woodlands, sand dunes, rainforests, etc. The island is home to abundant plant life, and a great diversity of birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

1. Great Barrier Reef

No list of Australia's wonders can be complete without mentioning the Great Barrier Reef. It is the only living thing that is visible from space. The Great Barrier Reef, although now in a highly threatened state, is the largest reef system on the planet. It is located off the coast of Queensland where it extends for a distance of 3,000 km. It is made up of 400 different types of corals and is home to thousands of species tropical fish and other marine fauna. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

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Australia's Most Famous Geographical Features

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Australia is land of many wonders, both natural and human-made. It is a place of extremes and is endowed with forests, mountains, deserts, beaches, and many other natural treasures. The country has several geographical features that are globally famous for their beauty and ecological significance.

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Africa’s climate is dominated by desert conditions along vast stretches of its northern and southern fringes. The central portion of the continent is wetter, with tropical rainforests, grasslands, and semi-arid climates.

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The first people to live on the banks of the Nile were hunters and fishermen, who settled there over 8,000 years ago. They learned to grow crops and raise animals, and they began to build villages and towns. They traded with their neighbors and learned to sail boats. By 3000 B.C., a civilization was established.

Around 3100 B.C., the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under a powerful king, later called a pharaoh. These kings built huge pyramids, temples, and other monuments. They also conquered other lands.

By 1000 B.C., Egypt had split into smaller parts and the kingdom was in decline. Strong neighbors attacked and took over Egyptian territory. In 31 B.C., Egypt fell under Roman control. In A.D. 640, Muslim warriors took over Egypt and founded the modern capital, Cairo. They ruled for several centuries. In the 16th century, Egypt became part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

European powers played an increasing role in Egypt starting in the late 18th century. In 1882, the British invaded and occupied Egypt. The British wanted control of the Suez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and greatly shortened the sailing trip from Asia to Europe. Egypt gained full independence from Great Britain in 1952 and took control of the Suez Canal in 1956.

Egypt and other neighboring Arab countries fought a series of wars with the Jewish state of Israel into the 1970s. In 1979 Egypt and Israel signed a peace agreement.

In 2011, a popular uprising toppled Egypt's long-time president, Hosni Mubarek. The country has held several democratic elections since 2011, but the role of the military in government remains strong.

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Egypt Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Without the Nile River, all of Egypt would be desert.

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The country of Argentina takes up most of the southern part of South America. Its name is a Spanish word meaning "Land of Silver," after the silver found there by Spanish...

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The Arab Republic of Egypt is a country in the northeastern corner of Africa. Ancient Egypt was one of the earliest and most important civilizations in the world. The modern…

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In Australia, we are well-known for our impressively unique range of animal species. From the cute and cuddly to the extremely dangerous, there is no doubt that we are a nation that is rich with diverse and interesting animals. Below is a list of fun facts about the animals in Australia.

"More than four out of five of our species are found nowhere else on Earth," Australian Researcher Stephen Kearney.

Australian Marsupials

Koala

Koalas are one of the most well-known Australian animals, mainly because they are like cute little teddy bears, and Australia is the only country where you will find them. They are not bears, though; they're marsupials! Lovers of gum leaves and a lot of sleep, did you know that koalas also have six opposable "thumbs" and downward-facing pouches? Koalas are considered endangered, and local extinction events are already occurring across Australia. Explore more koala facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about koalas: they are so different from any other marsupial that they have their own scientific family, which in Latin is called Phascolarctidae.
Kangaroo

Kangaroos are so important they feature on the Australian Emblem and the Australian dollar. Like the koalas, Kangaroos are another very famous Australian marsupial. They are incredible jumpers, have powerful tails, and are highly social creatures. A group of kangaroos is called a mob and might include up to 50 kangaroos.
Weirdest fact about a kangaroo: kangaroos cannot go backwards. They feature on our Emblem because it symbolises our country always moving forward and never going backwards.
Red Kangaroo

The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial on Earth and the largest land mammal in Australia. They can grow over 2 metres in height and up to 90 kilograms in weight. The red kangaroo's tail is strong enough to support its weight. Both male and female red kangaroos box each other to compete for water, and male roos also fight over females. When fighting, the kangaroo stands on its tail while kicking out with its legs.
Weirdest fact about the red kangaroo: The faster a kangaroo moves, the more efficient its jumping becomes. At top speed, 70% of its energy is recycled.
Sugar Glider

Sugar Gliders are small, soft-furred marsupials that get their name from their love of sugar and the fact they can glide in the air for up to 45 metres thanks to a specialised flap connecting the front leg to the hind leg. They make a large barking noise, similar to a dog.
Weirdest fact about Sugar Gliders: In Australia, sugar gliders can be kept as pets in Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory, but not in any other state.
Brush Tail Possum

Brush Tail Possums are one of our nocturnal marsupials - meaning they sleep during the day and like to head out and feed at night. In particular, they love to feed on fruit and eucalyptus leaves. They are very tame and friendly and are a protected species. In New Zealand, where they are an introduced species, they are considered a pest.
Weirdest fact about a Brush Tale Possum: Communication is by sound and scent, and they make an awful ruckus as they scamper along rooftops. Their mating and fighting noises are very guttural and can be extremely hard to listen to at night!
Wombat

Wombats are Australia's second-largest marsupial and another night-time-loving nocturnal animal. They live in burrows in the ground, with some being as long as 100 metres in length! Although they have been portrayed in books and television for many years as slow-moving and lazy, wombats are fast animals and even get zoomies! They live throughout Australia, from the peaks of Mount Kosciuszko to the grasslands of central Australia. Explore more wombat facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about a wombat: A wombat's poop is shaped like a cube thanks to opposing tensions in its intestine.
Tasmanian Tiger

The Tasmanian Tiger is now extinct, but when it was alive, it was a large, carnivorous marsupial, looking like a cross between a large dog, tiger and wolf. It had stripes on its back, a long stiff tail and short erect ears, which is how it got its name - Tasmania Tiger! 'Benjamin', the last known Tasmanian Tiger, died in captivity at a Hobart Zoo on the 7 th of September, 1936. Discover more Tasmanian Tiger fact for kids.
Weirdest fact about a Tasmanian Tiger: Tasmanian Tigers could open their jaws to a 120-degree angle!
Tasmanian Devil

Not to be confused with the Tasmanian Tiger, the Tasmanian Devil still exists and is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial. It can only now be found in the wild on the Island of Tasmania. They are nocturnal and usually hide in dens during the day, but at night they can roam up to 16km in search of food. The Tasmanian Devil can eat up to 10% of its body weight in one day. Explore more Tasmanian Devil facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about Tasmanian Devils: Their teeth never stop growing and are extremely powerful. They can bite through bone and even the strongest of metals; even break the cages of livestock and other animals.
Bilby

Bilbies are small rabbit-like marsupials with a very long tails. They are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, relying on their acute hearing and sense of smell to get around and find food. There may be fewer than 10,000 bilbies left in the wild, and this number is decreasing.
Weirdest Bilby fact: A toy bilby has been to the top of Mt Everest! It may be an Australian animal, but Mountaineer Tashi Tenzing took a toy one on a trek to the top as a promise to his Australian grandson to raise awareness about the Bilby.
Bandicoot

Bandicoots are small, furry Australian animals that are nocturnal. They live where there are low-growing plants and shelter in nests with piles of leaf litter. When moving fast, they bound and gallop.
Weirdest fact about the bandicoot: Unlike other marsupials, the pouch opens backwards. This adaptation helps keep dirt from getting into the pouch with the babies.
Wallaby

Wallaby's look a lot like kangaroos, except a lot smaller. They are active at night and rest during the day. Wallabies often sleep in a sitting position, leaning against a rock or tree, with their tail lying on the ground in front of them. Weirdest fact about wallabies: in Australia, wallabies are responsible for some of the country's crop circles! They are known to run through poppy fields, eating the plants and hopping in circles before passing out.

Quolls

Quolls are tree-climbing, den-loving marsupials with black to fawn fur, white spots, long tails and sharp teeth. Most quolls have short life spans, generally living only 2 to 4 years in the wild. The northern quoll and eastern quoll are listed as Endangered, while the other four species: western quoll, spotted-tailed quoll, New Guinean quoll, and bronze quolls, are marked as Near Threatened.
Weirdest fact about quolls: The spotted-tailed quoll boasts one of the world's strongest bites of any predatory mammal.
Quokka

Quokkas are one of the smallest wallaby species in the world and one of the most adorable. They are known as the happiest animal in the world because of their smile and playful nature. They weren't always so adored, with Dutch explorers once describing them as " nothing but bush rats ". Most quokkas can be seen offshore on Rottnest Island near Perth or Bald Island near Albany in Western Australia. When threatened, Quokka mothers may expel their joeys from their pouches, leaving them squealing on the ground as a distraction to get away.
Weirdest facts about Quokkas: tourists come from around the world to get a selfie with the Quokkas on Rottnest Island.
Australian Mammals

Dingo

The dingo is the largest mammalian carnivore in Australia. Dingoes are social creatures that live in groups called packs, though some dingoes choose to live alone. Only dominant members of a pack will breed; the others take care of feeding the pups. The oldest dingo fossil was estimated to be about 3,500 years old. They can be found across mainland Australia, but the dingoes on World Heritage-listed K'gari (also referred to as Fraser Island) are the purest dingoes in Australia.
Weirdest facts about dingos: They can swivel their heads about 180 degrees and have rotating wrists!
Platypus

The platypus is one of the world's most unusual animals thanks to its flat tail, short legs, webbed feet and duck's bill. They are solitary animals that live in creeks and rivers and lay eggs! Platypus can only be found in Australia.
Weirdest fact about the platypus: Platypuses are so unusual that it took British Scientists more than eighty years to decide what they are. Scientists first thought the platypus was a hoax!
Echidna

The echidna is the only other living egg-laying mammal species along with the platypus. Echidna bodies are covered in spines, their main line of defence when predators strike. Echidnas slurp up ants, worms and insect larvae with their tongue, which can be up to 15cm long. The claws on an echidna's hind limbs are curved backwards to help them dig.
Weirdest fact about echidnas: Their spines are long, tough, hollow hair follicles.
Bats

Bats are the only mammals capable of long, sustained flight and have evolved into Earth's most widely distributed mammals. Contrary to popular belief, not all bats live in caves. Separate colonies of bats can be found in trees, mountains, deserts, rock crevices, barns, and rooftops. Bats cannot stand on their hind legs; they can only hang by their feet and thumbs. Bats are vital pollinators of native plants and disperse seeds over a wide area.
Weirdest fact about bats: Bats can slow their bodies down and go into torpor (a sort of hibernation) to save energy when it is cold or inactive during the day.
Whale

The whale is the largest mammal on Earth, and every year more than 20,000 Humpback Whales migrate north to the sub-tropical waters of East Coast Australia. They head to the warm waters of the Coral Sea, through the Pacific Ocean and past the Great Barrier Reef, to mate and give birth. Whales live in water but breathe air, like other mammals. To help them breathe, they have blowholes that expel the water as they come to the surface. Weirdest fact about whales: So that they can always control their blowhole to avoid drowning, whales rest half of their brain at a time while they're sleeping.

Australian Reptiles

Goanna

Goannas are predatory lizards who can grow up to two and a half meters in length. They are also very fast and can run at high speeds of up to 40 km/hr on their hind legs. Goannas use their sharp teeth, sharp claws and strong tail for protection. When threatened, goannas stand on their hind legs, inflate the flaps on their necks and make a harsh hissing noise. Explore more goanna facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about goannas: goannas can mistake humans for trees, resulting in people being climbed by a goanna!
Copperhead Snake

Copperhead Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles usually found near cold, rainy areas. They are one of the most cold-tolerant snakes in Australia, with an average length between 61 and 90 cm. Even just-hatched copperheads have fully functional fangs capable of injecting venom just as toxic as an adult's. Weirdest fact about Copperhead Snakes: the venom from a Copperhead Snake has been shown in medical trials to shrink the size of some human cancers.

Eastern Brown Snake

Eastern Brown Snakes are highly venomous snakes that are nervous and aggressive. It is of slender to average build and can grow up to 2m in length. Considered the world's second-most venomous land snake, it is responsible for about 60% of snake-bite deaths in Australia.
Weirdest fact about Eastern Brown Snakes: They don't bite enough people to be considered a significant threat. Many of their attacks involve so-called "dry bites," which are painful but don't include venom.
Saltwater Crocodile

The Australian saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile in the world. They are night hunters, spending the daytime hours moving through water or sunbathing. The Australian saltwater crocodile can eat almost any animal in their territory and even attacks terrestrial animals like mammals and birds. Males can grow up to 6 or 7 metres long. Weirdest fact about Salt Water Crocodiles: Their massive jaws contain about 64-68 teeth. Lost teeth quickly grow back, which means an adult crocodile can grow about 8000 teeth during its life!

Skinks

There are over 320 species of skink in Australia. You can find them on Australia's highest mountain and in many Australian backyards. The long body part of a skink looks more like a snake than a lizard, but they have tiny legs and a head that is slightly off the ground and pointed upwards. As a survival tactic, skinks drop their tails when handled by you or chased by a predator.
Weirdest fact about a skink: Skinks can have as many as five tails depending on how many injuries they have. When a tail is damaged but not lost, a new tail starts to sprout from the wound.
Turtles

Turtles have been on Earth for over 200 million years, since before the dinosaurs. Both turtles and tortoises are the only reptiles to have a shell. Their heads have hard scales, and they do not have teeth. Instead, they have a beak with sharp edges for cutting food and strong jaws. Climate change threatens all turtle species, impacting their nesting outcomes and ability to survive as the ocean heats. Weirdest fact about turtles: Only 1% of sea turtles reach adulthood.

Death Adder

The Death Adder is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and globally. It has a broad, flattened, triangular head and a thick body with bands of red, brown and black with a grey, cream or pink belly. Weirdest fact about Death Adders: It can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia, and death can occur in only 6 hours.

Bearded Dragon

There are several species of bearded dragons in Australia. They all have flat bodies, broad heads and stout legs. Their 'beard' refers to a flap of skin below their jaws that they push forward and puff up when threatened. Sharp spikes run along the sides of their bodies and their throats. Bearded dragons can run with speed and are also fantastic climbers.
Weirdest fact about the Bearded Dragon: They can change colour when aggressive or threatened and regulate their body temperature by changing their colour.
Blue-Tongue Lizard

Blue-Tongue Lizards are the largest members of the skink family. Their teeth are large, and they have strong jaw muscles to crush beetles and snails. The Eastern Blue-tongue is silvery-grey with broad dark brown or blackish bands across the back and tail. Like all lizards, blue tongues do not produce their own body heat and rely on the warmth of their surroundings to raise their body temperature.
Weirdest fact about Blue-Tongue Lizards: when threatened, blue-tongues stick out their thick blue tongue, contrasting with their pink mouth, to ward off predators.
Red-Bellied Black Snake

The Red-Bellied Black Snake is a medium-sized snake recognisable by its crimson red underside, which contrasts sharply with its black body. Although greatly feared, they are relatively shy creatures who prefer to freeze or slide away when confronted with people. They search widely for prey on land and in water and are known to climb to several metres. They are still a venomous snake and should be treated with caution.
Weirdest fact about Red-Bellied Black Snakes: This snake will eat other snakes - including other Red-Bellied Black Snakes!
Eastern Water Dragon

The Eastern Water Dragon is a grey to brownish-grey colour with black stripes along the dorsal ridge and down the tail. They can reach a length of 1 metre and weigh about 1 kg. Two-thirds of the size of a Water Dragon is its tail. Although they usually run on all four legs, if they want to go faster, they lift their front legs off the ground and run on their back legs only.
Weirdest fact about Eastern Water Dragons: they can rest on the bottom of shallow creeks for up to 1.5 hours if they want to avoid detection!
Python

Pythons are non-venomous snakes that are heavily built, muscular and slow moving. The two halves of the lower jaw are not fused in the middle, allowing them to stretch far apart to fit the animal they are swallowing. When they catch their prey, they ultimately kill it by constriction, wrapping their body around it and tightening it until they suffocate. It can take several hours to eat a large animal.
Weirdest fact about a Python: Pythons can swallow animals several times bigger in diameter than their heads and may need to eat only a few meals yearly.
Arachnids

Redback Spider

The Redback Spider is a tiny black spider with a noticeable red stripe on its upper abdomen. The males' red markings are often less distinct. Redback bites frequently occur, particularly over the summer months, but only the female bite is actually dangerous. Redbacks are usually found in warm or hot sunny spots and can be found in all Australian cities.
Weirdest fact about Redback Spiders: Females kill the males and eat them as a snack after mating.
Funnel Web Spider

Funnel Web Spiders are the most dangerous arachnids in Australia, with their venom able to kill a human in just 15 minutes. They are medium-sized, black spiders with long, rearward-facing fangs capable of piercing through fingernails. The male bites are six times more deadly than the female. They get their name from the funnel-shaped web they produce. Perhaps the most famous funnel-web spider is New South Wales's Sydney Funnel Web Spider. There are at least 40 species of poisonous funnel-web spiders.
Weirdest fact about Funnel Web Spiders: They can live underwater for up to 30 hours!
White Tail Spider

The White Tail Spider has a long, narrow body and gets its name from its white spot at the top of its abdomen. They are often found in houses and are considered dangerous but not deadly, although the pain from their bite can last up to 12 days. Scarily, they often hide in bedding and clothing.
Weirdest fact about White Tail Spiders: They don't spin webs like other spiders; instead, they envenom their prey for consumption.
Wolf Spider

Wolf Spiders get their name from the fact that they actively hunt and run down until they catch their prey - like wolves! They have excellent eyesight due to their three rows of eyes. Their bite is not deadly. They are very adaptable and can be found wherever insects are available to eat.
Weirdest fact about Wolf Spiders: Mother Wolf Spiders carry their baby spiders around on their backs.
Mouse Spider

Mouse Spiders are short and thick, black spiders with high, bulbous heads and jaws. They live in burrows with trapdoors that can reach nearly 30cm in diameter. Their venom is almost as deadly as the Funnel Web Spider; however, there are very few cases of actual bites, probably because the spiders occur in less densely populated areas. Weirdest fact about Mouse Spiders:
Weirdest fact about a Mouse Spider: Mouse spiderlings spin tiny parachutes of silk, which they use to travel on wind gusts, sometimes for many kilometres.
Huntsman Spider

Huntsman Spiders are usually feared due to their appearance. They are usually very hairy and can get as wide as 15cm! Also, as their front legs are larger than the back ones, their shape allows them to move very quickly in all directions. The truth, though, is they are harmless to humans and great at controlling mosquito and cockroach numbers.
Weirdest fact about Huntsman Spiders: The females and males have a long courtship before they mate. Some species even live in groups of up to 300, where they raise their children together and feed each other.
Trapdoor Spider

Trapdoor Spiders can be black or brown and quite stubby, giving them a similar appearance to the Funnel Web Spider. They build long, silk-lined burrows with a hinged door (trapdoor) to lurk, awaiting their next victim. Although they are shy and usually run away from a threat, their large fangs can give a painful bite. Unlike the Funnel Web, it is not deadly.
Weirdest fact about a Trapdoor Spider: they leave a few legs out of their burrow to feel the vibrations of nearby victims as they approach and can pounce extremely quickly as they launch out of their burrow.
Daddy Long Legs Spider

Daddy Long Legs Spiders are relatively frail, with tiny bodies and legs about six times longer than their body. They have three body sections, not two like spiders, and their legs have seven sections which they can break off to surprise or distract a predator. They are found in every continent of the world except Antarctica.
Weirdest fact about Daddy Long Legs Spiders: They are not spiders. They are part of the Arachnid family but in a different class. They are called Harvestmen.
Australian Birds

Kookaburra

Also known as the laughing kookaburra, this large omnivorous bird's chorus often comes with the sun's rising and setting. The kookaburra can be found throughout Australia and while it is not officially endangered, its urban presence is decreasing.
Weirdest fact about Kookaburras: Kookaburras have been known to steal sausages from the plates of unwary Australian campers.
Emu

The emu is Australia's largest flightless bird that, at maturity, can reach almost 2 metres in height and is omnivorous. They can reach speeds of 30kms an hour and are distributed across mainland Australia. Female emu lay eggs, and the male emu will take care of both sitting on the eggs and protecting the young when they finally hatch. Discover more emu facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about Emu: Emu will eat small stones to assist with the digestion of their food.
Cockatoo

Australia features 14 of the known cockatoo species of birds worldwide and are known to be noisy birds with varying behaviours depending on the species. Some commonly found cockatoo species in Australia are the sulphur-crested cockatoo and galah. Rarer cockatoos include the six species of black cockatoo that are migratory birds and are reducing in numbers due to habitat loss.
Weirdest fact about Cockatoos: Cockatoos will favour one of their feet like a human would favour a hand. Cockatoos are mainly left-footed.
Rainbow Lorikeet

Colourful and with a cheeky song, the rainbow lorikeet is a native Australian bird found throughout the coastal areas of Australia. They forage on nectar, nuts and even insects and rely on hollowed eucalypt trees for where to lay their eggs. They roost in large flocks and are extremely noisy thanks to their social nature.
Weirdest fact about Lorikeets: Lorikeets have strange tongues shaped like a brush to help them gather nectar from flowering natives.
Owls

Owls are nocturnal birds, with 11 species of native owls living throughout Australia. Entirely carnivorous, they will mainly hunt small rodents, birds and marsupials at night.
Weirdest fact about owls: Owls have feathers designed to allow them to fly silently!
Cassowary

Australia's most dangerous bird, the cassowary, is a flightless bird that lives in Northern Australia. Heavier than an emu but not quite as tall, they are flightless with massive feet known to kill humans when threatened. Like the emu, the cassowary male incubates the nest and looks after the young. They are shy, eat seeds, and have no natural predators except humans. The cassowary is an endangered Australian animal.
Weirdest fact about Cassowary: Their dagger-like claw can grow up to 5 inches long!
Pelican

Pelicans are sizeable Australian water birds with species found throughout Australia. While fish is central to a pelican's diet, they have also been known to eat crustaceans, ducklings and turtles. They have long beaks with a throat pouch to help gather fish.
Weirdest fact about Pelican: There is an urban legend of a pelican eating a chihuahua!
King Parrot

King Parrots are friendly native Australian parrots found along the East Coast of Australia. They are known to frequent both forested areas but are also commonly found in urban areas and eat seeds and fruit. The male King Parrot is the only Australian bird with a red head, while the female is entirely green.

Weirdest fact about King Parrot: People often think King Parrots are tame because they are so friendly to humans.

Black swan

The black swan is a large majestic bird found throughout Australia. Living in wetlands and eating grasses and algae, the black swan is considered rare. They mate for life and will produce one clutch of young each season.
Weirdest fact about Black Swan. A Black Swan has been known to mourn the loss of its mate and its young.
Australian Fish and Australian Marine Animals

Great White Shark

Shark nets shelter swimming beaches across Australia to protect swimmers from predators like the Great White Shark. They can grow up to 6 metres in length and prefer the cold waters of the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean but are sometimes found in the Indian Ocean. While this shark has teeth, they instead eat its prey by tearing the flesh.
Weirdest fact about the Great White Shark: The Great White Shark can sense one droplet of blood in 100 litres of water.
Box Jellyfish

The Box Jellyfish is considered the most venomous animal alive, named for its box shape. They live mainly in warm coastal areas, including the Northern Australian coastline and live on small fish and shrimp. Their sting is neurotoxic and can result in cardiac arrest, although anti-venom is available.
Weirdest fact about Box Jelly Fish: Box Jellyfish have 24 eyes. Blue Ringed Octopus
Highly venomous, the Blue Ringed Octopus is named for it for its blue rings that only appear in all their glory when the octopus is threatened. They are solitary creatures and quite reclusive by nature, with new species still being discovered today. In Australia, they frequent the Eastern Australia coast, including Southern Queensland and New South Wales.
Weirdest fact about Blue Ringed Octopus: When humans are bitten by a blue-ringed octopus (assuming they survive), they often appear unconscious but report being aware of everything happening around them upon recovery.
Insects

Bees

Honey bees and native Australian bees are the excellent pollinators of our world and arguably one of the most important creatures to exist on Earth. They live mainly in hives though some are solitary creatures, and all produce some form of honey. Discover more bee facts for kids.
Weirdest fact about bees: Only female bees can sting.
Termites

With an appetite for wood, Termites are tiny creatures with the potential to fly that live in termite mounds and termite nests. Known as a timber pest, termites are responsible for damage to homes, although not all species will eat wood.
Weirdest fact about termites: Termites never sleep.
Australian Amphibians

Frogs

Frogs are amphibians that can be found across the globe, with 200 species in Australia. Frogs mainly eat invertebrates (small creatures) and evolve from eggs into tadpoles, then frogs, within one life span. In Australia, there are many endangered frogs mainly due to habitat loss and human insecticide use. A well-known Australian frog is the Green Tree Frog, famous for its almost phosphorescence green colour.
Weirdest fact about frogs: A group of frogs is called an army.
Cane Toad

Native to Central America, the Cane Toad was brought to Australia in the hope of dealing with a scourge of cane beetles that threatened Australia's sugar cane industry. They are a poisonous amphibian whose presence threatens not only native frogs but a range of other native animals, including freshwater crocodiles, snakes and birds. Unfortunately, their hardy and adaptable nature have seen their population reach pest levels in Australia, with an estimated 2 billion toads now living in Australia.
Weirdest fact about Cane Toads: Cane Toads can get arthritis.
Threats to Australian Wildlife

Habitat loss; contributing factors include land clearing for agricultural purposes, urban development, and the timber industry's continued logging of native forests. (We acknowledge the timber and forestry industry mainly harvests from sustainable plantations but we cannot ignore that there are still native state forests that are still logged. While rules and regulations and pressures are different in every state, it is clear that any native forest that is logged, is a threat to Australian wildlife, at any scale, regardless of how small.

Bushfire. In 2021, one-third of Kangaroo Island was destroyed in one bushfire event, with an estimated 25,000 animals killed and 1550 square kilometres of the island destroyed.

Invasive Species are a threat to many Australian Animals.

Climate Change means more prolonged droughts, significant floods, higher temperatures, and rising sea levels. For example, one heat wave in Australia in 2018 killed an estimated 23,000 bats.

Pollution generally occurs in marine environments like the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef.

Environmental consequences of mining for natural resources.

Poor Environment Laws. In Australia, it seems like the environment sits at the back of the room without a voice. While there are laws to protect wildlife and habitats, they do little to stop the threat. For example, in one of Australia's Cities, Brisbane, koala habitat is routinely removed to make way for housing developments. Koalas are then forced into new areas, often on main roads, with dozens losing their lives yearly.

Urban Sprawl. As the population of Australia continues to climb (like the rest of the world), major cities continue to branch out into new areas. Planning laws permit this and often allow the government to sanction large parcels of land for this purpose.

We hope you have enjoyed a summary of the unique Animals that live on the Australian continent and interesting facts about them.
As you have read, Australia's variety of unique animals is extraordinary, and the Australian landscape wouldn't be the same without them. There are so many species of animals not found anywhere else in the world, thanks partly to the nature of being an island continent. You would think this would mean that Australia would do everything it can to protect this biodiversity for future generations and the present value to the economy. In short, no, we dont.

The 2021 State of the Environment Report showed that Australian animals are at massive risk of extinction. We have lost more mammal species than any other continent in the world. While we know the situation is dire, the report suggests that Australia's surveys are so poor that the reality of known extinctions is likely higher than reported. It isn't too late, however, and I hope that by reading this, especially if you are a child, you grow up to be a defender of our wildlife and a protector of our wild places.

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Animals in Australia | Australian Animal Facts for Kids - Brisbane Kids

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In Australia, we are well-known for our impressively unique range of animal species. Discover all the wonderful animals in Australia in this handy resource!

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The northern part of the country was ruled by the Inca before the Spanish took control in the 16th century. Native Mapuche people lived in the southern and central regions before the country became a Spanish colony.

The country gained independence from Spain in 1810. Toward the end of the 1800s, many Europeans began to settle in Chile, including Germans, French, British, and Italians. Many Chinese moved to Chile to help build the railroad.

Chile was once considered to be a very stable and free country. But in 1973 a bloody battle overthrew Salvador Allende's elected Marxist government and the country suffered 16 years under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. Democracy was restored in 1989.

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Chile Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Chile is a long narrow country which extends like a ribbon down the west coast of South America.

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Interesting Facts for Kids

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

Chile Facts for Kids | Kids World Travel Guide | Updated 10 July 2020

Population: 19 million people live in Chile (2022)

Capital: Santiago, with almost 7 million inhabitants is the country's largest metropolitan area

Name: Republic of Chile

Government: Democracy, Republic

Language: Spanish

Literacy: More than 97% of the people can read and write.

Religion: mainly Christians (Roman Catholics 77%, Protestants 16%)

Currency: 1 Chilean peso = 100 centavos

National Symbols: red, white and blue (national colours), copihue (national flower), condor (national bird) and huemul (national animal)

"National Anthem: Himno Nacional de Chile" (Anthem of Chile)

National Day: 18 September

History: The country was inhabited by the Inca in the North and the Mapuche people in the centre and southern parts before the arrival of the Spanish colonialists. The country gained full independence from Spain in 1810. Chile's president-elect is Gabriel Boric who will take office from 11 March 2022. The country was led by Sebastián Piñera since March 2018 prior to the November 2021 election.

Chile Facts | Chile Geography

Where is Chile? Chile is located on the South American continent.

Below on the map of Chile you can spot the neighbouring countries and you will find Chile's capital city Santiago. Simply click on the + or - to zoom in or zoom out to see more cities, as this country is huge!

The Latin American country shares borders with the Pacific Ocean and the three South American countries: Peru, Bolivia and Argentina.

The longest of the borders is shared with Argentina and is 6,691 km/ 4,157 miles long. Large parts of Chile are covered by mountains. The coastal mountain range are along the western coastline and the Andes mountains are located along the border with Argentina.

Chile is home to the world's largest dry desert: the Atacama desert. This desert plateau is nestled between the coastal mountains and the Andes mountains.

There are about 3,000 volcanoes in Chile and about 36 of them are active volcanoes. Chile is often shaken by earthquakes.

The climate in Chile is mostly temperate with a desert climate in the northern parts of the country and there is a cool climate in the South.

Chile is larger in size than Texas/USA and has almost 6,500 km/ 4,038 miles of mainly rugged coastline.

A flight from London/UK to Santiago/Chile takes roughly 14.5 hours and from New York/USA a flight takes 10.5 hours.

Chile Facts | Geo Superlatives

Chile is the longest narrow country in the world stretching from the north to the south over 4,300 km/ 2,670 miles.

The Atacama desert in the country's north is the largest dry desert in the world.

The Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean off the Chilean coast is the most remote inhabited island of the world.

The southern Andes mountains are home to the world's highest volcano and the world's highest lake which is called the Ojos de Salado.

Chile's highest mountain, which is in fact the peak of a volcano, is the Nevado Ojos de Salado. The mountain is 6,880 m/ 22,572 ft high.

Chile's longest river is the Loa River which originates in the Andes mountains.

Torres del Paine national park is one the most famous landmarks of Chile.

The strongest earthquake ever measured happened in 1960 in Valdivia/Central Chile. It had a magnitude of 9.4 on the Richter scale.

Chile Facts | Landmarks and Attractions

Santiago: Chile's capital city houses the Gran Torre which is the tallest building in South America with 64 floors. Gran Torre means 'big tower' in English. Here you will find also the Costanera Centre, then there is Pablo Neruda's house and popular Parque Arauco.

Valparaiso: The town close to Santiago is usually referred to simply as Valpa. It is known for its colourful houses.

Torres del Paine National Park: A must-see for its awesome glaciers and great for hiking in the mountains.

Easter Islands, also called Rapa Nui, is famous for the magnificent statues, which are called moais.

Atacama desert: Valle de la Luna, which means 'Moon Valley' in English is famous for the salt pans. You must also plan in to visit the Atacama cave and go sand-boarding in San Pedro de Atacama

Vina del Mar and Alfonso del Mar are fantastic, as this is where you find the largest swimming pool in the world. Even boats can move in the 35 m/ 115 ft deep lagoon pool.

Skiing in El Colorado in Chile: This is where we go skiing or snowboarding in the Andes mountains. El Colorado is only 60 km/ 37 miles from the city of Santiago. The ski resort is part of the popular Tres Valles ski resorts !

Chile Facts | Chilean People

Three out of four Chileans live in central Chile, in the region between Copiapo and Conception. The majority of Chileans (85%) live in urban areas.

About 7 million people live in the metropolitan region of Santiago. Other large cities in Chile are Valparaiso, and Concepcion.

Most Chileans are of mixed Spanish and native American ancestry, however, today only 30% refer to being mestizo (of mixed ancestry) and 11% refer to belonging to indigenous groups.

The biggest indigenous group are called Mapuche. Other indigenous groups are the Rapa Nui on Easter Island or the Aymara people.

About 28% of all Chileans are children under 15 years of age.

Chile Facts
Sport and Games in Chile

In Chile there are a lot of interesting games and sports.

Soccer is very popular in Chile. The team is mostly known as La Roja (the red team) because of their bright red uniform. Here you see Javiera Toro, a player in the women's national team of Chile.

Some of the popular teams in Chile are called Colo-Colo, Catolica, and Cobreloa. These teams are among the major teams in the Chilean premier league which is called Copa Scotiabank.

People also enjoy playing volleyball, playing tennis, doing watersports such as surfing, doing or going to the rodeo or skiing in winter.

Then there are many traditional games such emboque or trompo.

Trompo is a popular game in Chile. The goal is to spin a whipping top as long as you can. There are competitions in this game.

The game emboque is a typical children's game and players have to hit a bell shaped wooden cone. It is also played in other countries where it might be called 'ball in a cup'.

Chile Facts | Food in Chile

Chileans eat lots of seafood such as tuna, bacalao (codfish), octopus, prawns and salmon.

Typical Chilean food and drinks include:

Empanada: fried bread dough filled with cheese and olives or cheese and ham or meat and hard-boiled egg or many other fillings.

Pebre: hot and spicy sauce made of tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil herbs and peppers

Sopaipilla: a typical snack consisting of fried pastry sometimes topped with sugar, marshmallows or chancaca, a sweet sugarcane sauce

Dulce de Leche: caramel cream

More about other typical Chile foods

Here an image of the market in Chile. Corn, known in Chile as choclo is main staple and fruits such as grapes, apples, pears and lucumas, avocados and green chilli are grown and harvested in Chile.

Chile Facts | Animals in Chile

Chile is home to some animals that are almost extinct and are on the list of endangered animals, among them are the national animal, the huemul, the pudu and the puma.

Puma sightings are rare as these big cats hunt mainly at night. They live in the Chilean mountains.

The pudu is a small deer that lives in the forests of southern Chile. Pudus are the smallest deer species in the world. The tiny Darwin's frog can be found in the streams in Chile's forests. Did you know, that these frogs grow inside their father's mouth?

Blue Whales and Macaroni Penguins can be seen off the coast in southern Chile. The penguins often slide or surf on the snow to get around as this is easier than walking!
Read more about animals in Chile here.
In the Atacama desert national park, one can encounter llamas, guanacos and alpacas, and if one is lucky also chinchillas.

Did you know that... ?

... Chile has the world's largest copper mines? Copper is used in electric wiring and as this metal is a good conductor for heat it is used in radiators, heating and air-conditions.

Popular Pages

Chile facts page: This info was researched and collected by the Grade 4 students of the International school in Santiago/Chile 'Nido de Aguilas'. Images on Chile facts page: shutterstock.com and own images Further resources: Central Intelligence Agency. "Chile." WorldFactbook. Last updated 4 February 2022. Last accessed 15 February 2022 Return from Chile Facts to Kids World Travel Guide Homepage

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Chile Facts for Kids | Geography | Attractions | People | Food

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Our Chile Facts for Kids provide insights into country and people. Find out about geography, landmarks, food, sports, people and so much more.

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Discover what makes the world's great grasslands so awesome...

Savannahs are among the largest ecosystems in the world. Plus, they're home to some of the planet's coolest members of the animal kingdom - from lions and leopards, to meerkats, hyenas and stripy zebras. Join us as we go on a savannah safari and learn how YOU can help save this amazing savannah habitat!

Virtual expeditions!

- Explore the wildlife-packed savannah of Africa with these webcams:
Tembe Elephant Park webcam
Waterhole webcam

- Visit Africa's savannahs with Google Earth!

- Check out Google's amazing AR animals on your smartphone! Google one of the animals on the list below. If your phone is compatible, you should see a card that look like this:

Simply tap 'View in 3D' and enjoy!

Alligator
Angler fish
Bear
Brown bear
Cat
Cheetah
Deer
Dog
- French Bulldog
- Golden / Labrador Retriever
- Pomeranian
- Pug
- Rottweiler
Duck
Eagle
Emperor penguin
Goat
Hedgehog
Horse
Leopard
Lion
Macaw
Octopus
Panda
Penguin
Raccoon
Shark
Shetland pony
Snake
Tiger
Turtle
Wolf

Super habitat!

Savannahs are flat grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs. They're usually found near to the equator (the halfway point between the north and south parts of the Earth). This part of the world gets more direct sunlight than anywhere else, so the temperature is warm, all year round!

Savannahs only have two seasons instead of four - wet and dry. This is because seasons there are defined by how much rain falls. In fact, there's so much rain in the wet season, which lasts about six months, that it's known as ' monsoon season'. During these rainy months, a savannah can get 50 to 120cm of rain! This soggy weather helps the grasses that grow there to flourish - creating a habitat where different animals and birds can thrive.

DID YOU KNOW?
The world's largest land mammal - the African elephant - lives on the African savannahs!

Plants that grow in savannahs have to be able to survive long periods without rain. So, they have long roots that can reach far down into the earth for water, and trunks that can store moisture. Some grasses on savannahs have developed a nifty method of survival - they have a bitter flavour, designed to deter snack-seeking creatures! Other grasses grow from the bottom up, so grazing critters don't damage the plant's new growth!

DID YOU KNOW?
No two zebras have the same pattern of stripes - they all have unique markings!

Wonderful wildlife!

The dry, humid savannah landscape is so rich in grasses and tree life, it's the perfect home for large herbivores (plant eaters), such as buffaloes, zebra and giraffes. However, they're not alone - there are also lots of hungry predators roaming the savannah, including lions, hyenas, cheetahs, black mambas and leopards - yikes!

Wild dogs

African wild dogs like hanging out together in packs of 10 to 40. They hunt together too, tackling antelope, gazelle and larger prey - such as wildebeests - especially if the animal is ill or injured. These dogs are good runners and can sprint at speeds of over 70kmph! Sadly, African wild dogs are endangered, but conservation groups are working hard to save this furry species!

Wildebeest

During the African savannah's dry season, herds of wildebeest merge to follow the rains northward from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Often called the Great Migration, it's one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles on Earth - involving up to 1.5 million wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of other animals, including zebras and gazelles! In the Mara River, hungry crocodiles wait to snatch the wildebeest attempting to cross the river - eek!

Cheetahs

Cheetahs are usually found roaming the open, grassy savannah plains of Africa. They're the fastest land animal in the world and can chase after prey at speeds of up to 112kmph! Sadly, cheetahs are threatened by loss of habitat and prey, as well as conflict with humans. The good news is that conservationists are working hard to help these awesome animals.

DID YOU KNOW?
Savanna elephants are the world's largest land mammals!

Black rhinos

Black rhinos have special pointed lips that help them pluck leaves and fruit from the branches of bushes and trees. They can often be found lying in the shade to escape the hot savannah sun, or wallowing in a muddy water hole - the mud helps the rhinos cool off, and works as a natural sun lotion! Sadly, poaching saw the black rhino population drop by 98% between 1960 and 1995. Today, conservation efforts across Africa have helped bring this brilliant creature back from the brink of extinction - wahoo!

DID YOU KNOW?
When a predator kills an animal, vultures keep a look out and swoop down to gobble up any leftovers!

Planet protectors!

Climate change and poaching may threaten our savannahs, but there are tons of incredible people working hard to protect them and the awesome animals that live there...

Hi‐tech help

When a study revealed that Africa's savannah elephant population had decreased by a third, researchers at Cornell University in America came up with a new way to help. They used special equipment to record sounds the elephants made in the wild, then used AI (artificial intelligence) to help work out the best way to protect the beautiful beasts from poachers!

Park perfection

A conservation group, called African Parks, has taken a new approach to rescuing Africa's wild spaces. By providing all the resources to help parks, the group are in a better position to tackle poaching and other issues. They recently removed over 5,000 hunting snares from Liwonde National Park and have relocated 520 elephants!

Cool countries

Sadly, the number of giraffes in Africa has fallen by 40% in the last 30 years, due to poaching and habitat loss. But six African countries - the Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Niger, Mali, and Senegal - have pledged to do more to protect the long‐necked critters, and aim to stop giraffe meat and products being bought and sold. Great news!

How YOU can help!

Did you love learning about our planet's super savannahs? Do you feel inspired to help protect them? Here's how you can lend a hand without even leaving the house...

Club together!

Throw a savannah-themed joke-a-thon for your friends and family, in support of a wildlife charity that's working to protect this incredible habitat! Send them a funny joke every day for a week (or even a month!). It'll get them giggling for a good cause!

Save energy!

You can protect our amazing savannahs by helping to prevent climate change. Always turn off electrical items when you're not using them, switch to energy-saving lightbulbs, and try to recycle and reduce your food waste whenever you can. All these little things add up and will help make a difference!

Raise awareness!

Help raise awareness of the savannah animals that need our help by writing a story about them. Then, gather your family and read it to them - you can do this over the phone with friends and family who don't live with you. You could also consider adopting an endangered savannah animal, like the black rhino, through a wildlife charity, and inspire others to do the same!

MAKE A SAVANNAH MEMORY GAME!

Cut cardboard into 10 rectangles. Leave one side of the cards blank, and draw a cool creature on the other side - making two cards for each animal. Once you have five pairs of cards, mix them up and place them face down. Then flip over two cards at a time and try find the matching pairs!

Remember gang, if we all work together, these amazing habitats and the animals that live in them can get the protection they need.
Do you feel inspired to save our savannahs? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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Savannah habitat! | Sponsored by Persil - National Geographic Kids

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Discover what makes the world's great grasslands so awesome... Savannahs are among the largest ecosystems in the world. Plus, they're home to some of the planet's coolest members of the animal kingdom - from lions and leopards, to meerkats, hyenas and stripy zebras.

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The Sahara is the largest desert on Earth. It covers about 3,320,000 square miles (8,600,000 square kilometers) in northern Africa. The Sahara includes at least part of 10...

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The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest. It is located in northern South America. The rainforest covers some 2,300,000 square miles (6,000,000 square kilometers) of land surrounding the Amazon River and its tributaries.

The Amazon Rainforest lies in parts of nine countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, and French Guiana. However, most of the rainforest is in Brazil, where it makes up about 40 percent of the country's total area. To the north of the rainforest are the Guiana Highlands. The Andes Mountains are to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean is to the east. The Brazilian central plateau borders the Amazon Rainforest to the south. The region gets high rainfall, humidity, and temperatures.

The Amazon Rainforest has the richest and most varied plant and animal life in the world ( see biodiversity). It contains several million species of plants, insects, birds, other animals, and other living things, many of which are still unrecorded by science. The region has a wide variety of trees. They include many species of myrtle, laurel, palm, and acacia, as well as rosewood, Brazil nut, and rubber tree. The mahogany and the Amazonian cedar provide excellent timber. The trees of the Amazon Rainforest support a wide variety of epiphytes (plants living on other plants)-such as orchids, bromeliads, and cacti. The rainforest is also home to many ferns, mosses, and woody ropelike vines called lianas.

The trees in the Amazon Rainforest teem with insects, snakes such as boas and anacondas, tree frogs, and several types of monkeys. Among them are howler monkeys, spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, capuchins, and marmosets. Other major wildlife includes jaguars, manatees, tapirs, red deer, and capybaras and other types of rodents. The Amazon Rainforest is especially rich in birdlife. Among the numerous species are parrots, macaws, parakeets, toucans, caciques, woodpeckers, nightjars, and various waterbirds.

In the 20th century, Brazil's population grew rapidly. People began settling major areas of the Amazon Rainforest. They used slash-and-burn techniques to create grazing pastures and farmland. The size of the Amazon Rainforest shrank dramatically ( see deforestation). The destruction of large sections of the rainforest generated worldwide concern. In the 1990s the Brazilian government began conservation efforts to protect parts of the forest. Various international bodies also joined them. In the early 21st century, Ecuador initiated a plan to preserve the forest within its borders. However, the government later abandoned the project.

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The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest. It is located in northern South America. The rainforest covers some 2,300,000 square miles (6,000,000 square...

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The Amazon Rainforest – Science for Kids

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The Amazon Rainforest is without a doubt one of the true wonders of the world. There are amazing animals and creatures and so much to see that it would astound you. This is one big massive rainforest that’s for sure. Read on for cool facts about this awesome place.

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Uluru ( Pitjantjatjara: Uluṟu), also known as Ayers Rock ( ) and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone formation in the centre of Australia. It is in the southern part of the Northern Territory, 335 km (208 mi) southwest of Alice Springs.

Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Aṉangu. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks and has been a popular destination for tourists since the late 1930s. It is also one of the most important indigenous sites in Australia.

The local Anangu, the Pitjantjatjara people, call the landmark Uluṟu. This word is a proper noun, with no further particular meaning in the Pitjantjatjara dialect, although it is used as a local family name by the senior Traditional Owners of Uluru.

On 19 July 1873, the surveyor William Gosse sighted the landmark and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Since then, both names have been used.

In 1993, a dual naming policy was adopted that allowed official names that consist of both the traditional Aboriginal name and the English name. On 15 December 1993, it was renamed "Ayers Rock / Uluru" and became the first official dual-named feature in the Northern Territory. The order of the dual names was officially reversed to "Uluru / Ayers Rock" on 6 November 2002 following a request from the Regional Tourism Association in Alice Springs.

Description

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush food and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.

Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably when it glows red at dawn and sunset.

Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or the Olgas, lies 25 km (16 mi) west of Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.

Uluru is an inselberg, literally "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region. Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is a somewhat ambiguous term that is generally avoided by geologists. The remarkable feature of Uluru is its homogeneity and lack of jointing and parting at bedding surfaces, leading to the lack of development of scree slopes and soil. These characteristics led to its survival, while the surrounding rocks were eroded. For the purpose of mapping and describing the geological history of the area, geologists refer to the rock strata making up Uluru as the Mutitjulu Arkose, and it is one of many sedimentary formations filling the Amadeus Basin.

Composition

Uluru is dominantly composed of coarse-grained arkose (a type of sandstone characterized by an abundance of feldspar) and some conglomerate. Average composition is 50% feldspar, 25-35% quartz and up to 25% rock fragments; most feldspar is K-feldspar with only minor plagioclase as subrounded grains and highly altered inclusions within K-feldspar. The grains are typically 2-4 millimetres (0.079-0.157 in) in diameter, and are angular to subangular; the finer sandstone is well sorted, with sorting decreasing with increasing grain size. The rock fragments include subrounded basalt, invariably replaced to various degrees by chlorite and epidote. The minerals present suggest derivation from a predominantly granite source, similar to the Musgrave Block exposed to the south. When relatively fresh, the rock has a grey colour, but weathering of iron-bearing minerals by the process of oxidation gives the outer surface layer of rock a red-brown rusty colour. Features related to deposition of the sediment include cross-bedding and ripples, analysis of which indicated deposition from broad shallow high energy fluvial channels and sheet flooding, typical of alluvial fans.

Age and origin

The Mutitjulu Arkose is believed to be of about the same age as the conglomerate at Kata Tjuta, and to have a similar origin despite the rock type being different, but it is younger than the rocks exposed to the east at Mount Conner, and unrelated to them. The strata at Uluru are nearly vertical, dipping to the south west at 85°, and have an exposed thickness of at least 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The strata dip below the surrounding plain and no doubt extend well beyond Uluru in the subsurface, but the extent is not known.

The rock was originally sand, deposited as part of an extensive alluvial fan that extended out from the ancestors of the Musgrave, Mann and Petermann Ranges to the south and west, but separate from a nearby fan that deposited the sand, pebbles and cobbles that now make up Kata Tjuta.

The similar mineral composition of the Mutitjulu Arkose and the granite ranges to the south is now explained. The ancestors of the ranges to the south were once much larger than the eroded remnants we see today. They were thrust up during a mountain building episode referred to as the Petermann Orogeny that took place in late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian times (550-530 Ma), and thus the Mutitjulu Arkose is believed to have been deposited at about the same time.

The arkose sandstone which makes up the formation is composed of grains that show little sorting based on grain size, exhibit very little rounding and the feldspars in the rock are relatively fresh in appearance. This lack of sorting and grain rounding is typical of arkosic sandstones and is indicative of relatively rapid erosion from the granites of the growing mountains to the south. The layers of sand were nearly horizontal when deposited, but were tilted to their near vertical position during a later episode of mountain building, possibly the Alice Springs Orogeny of Palaeozoic age (400-300 Ma).

Fauna and flora

Historically, 46 species of native mammals are known to have been living near Uluru; according to recent surveys there are currently 21. Aṉangu acknowledge that a decrease in the number has implications for the condition and health of the landscape. Moves are supported for the reintroduction of locally extinct animals such as malleefowl, common brushtail possum, rufous hare-wallaby or mala, bilby, burrowing bettong, and the black-flanked rock-wallaby.

The mulgara, the only mammal listed as vulnerable, is mostly restricted to the transitional sand plain area, a narrow band of country that stretches from the vicinity of Uluru to the northern boundary of the park and into Ayers Rock Resort. This area also contains the marsupial mole, woma python, and great desert skink.

The bat population of the park comprises at least seven species that depend on day roosting sites within caves and crevices of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Most of the bats forage for aerial prey within 100 m (330 ft) or so from the rock face. The park has a very rich reptile fauna of high conservation significance, with 73 species having been reliably recorded. Four species of frogs are abundant at the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta following summer rains. The great desert skink is listed as vulnerable.

Aṉangu continue to hunt and gather animal species in remote areas of the park and on Aṉangu land elsewhere. Hunting is largely confined to the red kangaroo, bush turkey, emu, and lizards such as the sand goanna and perentie.

Of the 27 mammal species found in the park, six are introduced: the house mouse, camel, fox, cat, dog, and rabbit. These species are distributed throughout the park, but their densities are greatest near the rich water run-off areas of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park flora represents a large portion of plants found in Central Australia. A number of these species are considered rare and restricted in the park or the immediate region. Many rare and endemic plants are found in the park.

The growth and reproduction of plant communities rely on irregular rainfall. Some plants are able to survive fire and some are dependent on it to reproduce. Plants are an important part of Tjukurpa, and ceremonies are held for each of the major plant foods. Many plants are associated with ancestral beings.

Flora in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park can be broken into these categories:

Punu - trees

Puti - shrubs

Tjulpun-tjulpunpa - flowers

Ukiri - grasses

Trees such as the mulga and centralian bloodwood are used to make tools such as spearheads, boomerangs, and bowls. The red sap of the bloodwood is used as a disinfectant and an inhalant for coughs and colds.

Several rare and endangered species are found in the park. Most of them, like adder's tongue ferns, are restricted to the moist areas at the base of the formation, which are areas of high visitor use and subject to erosion.

Since the first Europeans arrived, 34 exotic plant species have been recorded in the park, representing about 6.4% of the total park flora. Some, such as perennial buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), were introduced to rehabilitate areas damaged by erosion. It is the most threatening weed in the park and has spread to invade water- and nutrient-rich drainage lines. A few others, such as burrgrass, were brought in accidentally, carried on cars and people.

Climate and five seasons

The park has a hot desert climate and receives an average rainfall of 284.6 mm (11.2 in) per year. The average high temperature in summer (December-January) is 37.8 °C (100.0 °F), and the average low temperature in winter (June-July) is 4.7 °C (40.5 °F). Temperature extremes in the park have been recorded at 46 °C (115 °F) during the summer and −5 °C (23 °F) during winter. UV levels are extreme between October and March, averaging between 11 and 15 on the UV index.

Local Aboriginal people recognise five seasons:

1. Wanitjunkupai (April/May) - Cooler weather

2. Wari (June/July) - Cold season bringing morning frosts

3. Piriyakutu (August/September/October) - Animals breed and food plants flower

4. Mai Wiyaringkupai (November/December) - The hot season when food becomes scarce

5. Itjanu (January/February/March) - Sporadic storms can roll in suddenly

Aboriginal myths, legends and traditions

According to the Aṉangu, traditional landowners of Uluru:

The world was once a featureless place. None of the places we know existed until creator beings, in the forms of people, plants and animals, traveled widely across the land. Then, in a process of creation and destruction, they formed the landscape as we know it today. Aṉangu land is still inhabited by the spirits of dozens of these ancestral creator beings which are referred to as Tjukuritja or Waparitja.

There are a number of differing accounts given, by outsiders, of Aboriginal ancestral stories for the origins of Uluru and its many cracks and fissures. One such account, taken from Robert Layton's (1989) Uluru: An Aboriginal history of Ayers Rock, reads as follows:

Uluru was built up during the creation period by two boys who played in the mud after rain. When they had finished their game they travelled south to Wiputa ... Fighting together, the two boys made their way to the table topped Mount Conner, on top of which their bodies are preserved as boulders. (Page 5)

Two other accounts are given in Norbert Brockman's (1997) Encyclopedia of Sacred Places. The first tells of serpent beings who waged many wars around Uluru, scarring the rock. The second tells of two tribes of ancestral spirits who were invited to a feast, but were distracted by the beautiful Sleepy Lizard Women and did not show up. In response, the angry hosts sang evil into a mud sculpture that came to life as the dingo. There followed a great battle, which ended in the deaths of the leaders of both tribes. The earth itself rose up in grief at the bloodshed, becoming Uluru.

The Commonwealth Department of Environment's webpage advises:

Many...Tjukurpa such as Kalaya (Emu), Liru (poisonous snake), Lungkata (blue tongue lizard), Luunpa (kingfisher) and Tjintir-tjintirpa ( willie wagtail) travel through Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Other Tjukurpa affect only one specific area.

Kuniya, the woma python, lived in the rocks at Uluru where she fought the Liru, the poisonous snake.

It is sometimes reported that those who take rocks from the formation will be cursed and suffer misfortune. There have been many instances where people who removed such rocks attempted to mail them back to various agencies in an attempt to remove the perceived curse.

Ancient human settlement

Archaeological findings to the east and west indicate that humans settled in the area more than 10,000 years ago.

European arrival (1870s)

Europeans arrived in the Australian Western Desert in the 1870s. Uluru and Kata Tjuta were first mapped by Europeans in 1872 during the expeditionary period made possible by the construction of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line. In separate expeditions, Ernest Giles and William Gosse were the first European explorers to this area. While exploring the area in 1872, Giles sighted Kata Tjuta from a location near Kings Canyon and called it Mount Olga, while the following year Gosse observed Uluru and named it Ayers' Rock, in honour of the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.

European colonisation

Further explorations followed with the aim of establishing the possibilities of the area for pastoralism. In the late 19th century, pastoralists attempted to establish themselves in areas adjoining the Southwestern/Petermann Reserve and interaction between Aṉangu and white people became more frequent and more violent. Due to the effects of grazing and drought, bush food stores became depleted. Competition for these resources created conflict between the two groups, resulting in more frequent police patrols. Later, during the depression in the 1930s, Aṉangu became involved in dingo scalping with 'doggers' who introduced Aṉangu to European foods and ways.

Aboriginal reserve (1920)

Between 1918 and 1921, large adjoining areas of South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory were declared as Aboriginal reserves, sanctuaries for nomadic people who had virtually no contact with European settlers. In 1920, part of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was declared an Aboriginal Reserve (commonly known as the South-Western or Petermann Reserve) by the Australian government under the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918.

Tourism (1936-1960s)

The first tourists arrived in the Uluru area in 1936. Beginning in the 1940s, permanent European settlement of the area for reasons of the Aboriginal welfare policy and to help promote tourism of Uluru. This increased tourism prompted the formation of the first vehicular tracks in 1948 and tour bus services began early in the 1950s. In 1958, the area that would become the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was excised from the Petermann Reserve; it was placed under the management of the Northern Territory Reserves Board and named the Ayers Rock-Mount Olga National Park. The first ranger was Bill Harney, a well-recognised central Australian figure. By 1959, the first motel leases had been granted and Eddie Connellan had constructed an airstrip close to the northern side of Uluru. Following a 1963 suggestion from the Northern Territory Reserves Board, a chain was laid to assist tourists in climbing the landmark.

Aboriginal ownership since 1985

On 26 October 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara people, with one of the conditions being that the Aṉangu would lease it back to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for 99 years and that it would be jointly managed. An agreement originally made between the community and Prime Minister Bob Hawke that the climb to the top by tourists would be stopped was later broken.

The Aboriginal community of Mutitjulu, with a population of approximately 300, is located near the eastern end of Uluru. From Uluru it is 17 km (11 mi) by road to the tourist town of Yulara, population 3,000, which is situated just outside the national park.

On 8 October 2009, the Talinguru Nyakuntjaku viewing area opened to public visitation. The A$ 21 million project about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) on the east side of Uluru involved design and construction supervision by the Aṉangu traditional owners, with 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of roads and 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) of walking trails being built for the area.

The development of tourism infrastructure adjacent to the base of Uluru that began in the 1950s soon produced adverse environmental impacts. It was decided in the early 1970s to remove all accommodation-related tourist facilities and re-establish them outside the park. In 1975, a reservation of 104 square kilometres (40 sq mi) of land beyond the park's northern boundary, 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Uluru, was approved for the development of a tourist facility and an associated airport, to be known as Yulara. The camp ground within the park was closed in 1983 and the motels closed in late 1984, coinciding with the opening of the Yulara resort. In 1992, the majority interest in the Yulara resort held by the Northern Territory Government was sold and the resort was renamed Ayers Rock Resort.

Since the park was listed as a World Heritage Site, annual visitor numbers rose to over 400,000 visitors by the year 2000. Increased tourism provides regional and national economic benefits. It also presents an ongoing challenge to balance conservation of cultural values and visitor needs.

On 11 December 1983, the Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawke, promised to hand back the land title to the Aṉangu traditional custodians and caretakers and agreed to the community's 10-point plan which included forbidding the climbing of Uluru. The government, however, set access to climb Uluru and a 99-year lease, instead of the previously agreed upon 50-year lease, as conditions before the title was officially given back to the Aṉangu on 26 October 1985.

The local Aṉangu do not climb Uluru because of its great spiritual significance. They request that visitors do not climb the rock, partly due to the path crossing a sacred traditional Dreamtime track, and also due to a sense of responsibility for the safety of visitors. Until October 2019, the visitors guide said "the climb is not prohibited, but we prefer that, as a guest on Aṉangu land, you will choose to respect our law and culture by not climbing."

According to a 2010 publication, just over one-third of all visitors to the park climbed Uluru; a high percentage of these were children. A chain handhold added in 1964 and extended in 1976 made the hour-long climb easier, but it remained a steep, 800 m (0.5 mi) hike to the top, where it can be quite windy. It was recommended that individuals drink plenty of water while climbing, and that those who were unfit, sufferers from vertigo or medical conditions restricting exercise, did not attempt it. Climbing Uluru was generally closed to the public when high winds were present at the top. There were at least 37 deaths relating to recreational climbing since such incidents began being recorded. About one-sixth of visitors made the climb between 2011 and 2015.

The traditional owners of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (Nguraritja) and the Federal Government's Director of National Parks share decision-making on the management of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Under their joint Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Management Plan 2010-20, issued by the Director of National Parks under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, clause 6.3.3 provides that the Director and the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Board of Management should work towards closure of the climb and, additionally, that it was to be closed upon any of three conditions being met: there were "adequate new visitor experiences", less than 20 per cent of visitors made the climb, or the "critical factors" in decisions to visit were "cultural and natural experiences". Despite cogent evidence that the second condition was met by July 2013, the climb remained open.

Several controversial incidents on top of Uluru in 2010 led to renewed calls for banning the climb. On 1 November 2017, the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park board voted unanimously to prohibit climbing Uluru. As a result, there was a surge in climbers and visitors after the ban was announced. The ban took effect on 26 October 2019, and the chain was then removed.

Sign informing tourists that the climb is closed due to strong winds

Climbing of Uluru has been banned as of 26 October 2019

Photography

The Aṉangu also request that visitors do not photograph certain sections of Uluru, for reasons related to traditional Tjukurpa (Dreaming) beliefs. These areas are the sites of gender-linked rituals or ceremonies and are forbidden ground for Aṉangu of the opposite sex to those participating in the rituals in question. The photographic restriction is intended to prevent Aṉangu from inadvertently violating this taboo by encountering photographs of the forbidden sites in the outside world.

In September 2020, Parks Australia alerted Google Australia to the user-generated images from the Uluru summit that have been posted on the Google Maps platform and requested that the content be removed in accordance with the wishes of Anangu, Uluru's traditional owners, and the national park's Film and Photography Guidelines. Google agreed to the request.

Images for kids

Tony Tjamiwa's map of Uluru

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Uluru ( Pitjantjatjara: Uluṟu), also known as Ayers Rock ( ) and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone formation in the centre of Australia. It is in the southern part of the Northern Territory, 335 km (208 mi) southwest of Alice Springs.

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Uluru Facts for Kids

Enjoy our fun Uluru facts for kids. Understand what makes Uluru so special with our range of interesting information and trivia.

Learn where Uluru is located in Australia, how it formed many years ago, how it got its different names, why the area is important to the local Anangu tribe, how high it is, and much more.

Uluru is estimated to be around 600 million years old, it originally would have sat at the bottom of a sea, but today it stands 348 m (1,142 ft) above the flat desert and 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level.

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Fun Uluru Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Ayers Rock

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Uluru Facts for Kids Enjoy our fun Uluru facts for kids. Understand what makes Uluru so special with our range of interesting information and trivia. Learn where Uluru is located in Australia, how it formed many years ago, how it got its different names, why the area is important to the local Anangu tribe, how high it is, and much more.

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Amazing facts | Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park | Parks Australia

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Think you know Uluru and Kata Tjuta? Check your knowledge with these fascinating facts about the park.

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Fiji is a small country in the Pacific Ocean. It has 322 islands. The most important islands are Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. The capital city of Fiji is Suva, and the city with the most people is Nadi. There are about 844,330 people in Fiji. The official languages of Fiji are Fijian, English and Hindustani (a mix of Hindi and Urdu). Fiji is part of the Pacific Rim. About 313000 speak Fiji Hindi.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British explored Fiji. Fiji was a British colony up until 1970; British occupation lasted almost a century. They have many forest, mineral, and fish resources.

Early history

Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 3500 to 1000 BC, although the question of Pacific migration still lingers. It is believed that the Lapita people or the ancestors of the Polynesians settled the islands first but not much is known of what became of them after the Melanesians arrived; they may have had some influence on the new culture, and archaeological evidence shows that they would have then moved on to Samoa, Tonga and even Hawai'i.

The first settlements in Fiji were started by voyaging traders and settlers from the west about 5000 years ago. Lapita pottery shards have been found at numerous excavations around the country. Aspects of Fijian culture are similar to the Melanesian culture of the western Pacific but have a stronger connection to the older Polynesian cultures. Trade between Fiji and neighbouring archipelagos long before European contact is testified by the canoes made from native Fijian trees found in Tonga and Tongan words being part of the language of the Lau group of islands. Pots made in Fiji have been found in Samoa and even the Marquesas Islands.

Across 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from east to west, Fiji has been a nation of many languages. Fiji's history was one of settlement but also of mobility.

The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. Europeans settled on the islands permanently beginning in the 19th century. The first European settlers to Fiji were beachcombers, missionaries, whalers, and those engaged in the then booming sandalwood and bêche-de-mer trade.

Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian chief and warlord from the island of Bau, off the eastern coast of Viti Levu, who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership. He then styled himself as Tui Viti or King of Fiji, and then Vunivalu, or Protector, after the cession of Fiji to the United Kingdom.

The British subjugated the islands as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract labourers to work on the sugar plantations as the first governor of Fiji, Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon, adopted a policy disallowing the use of native labour or any interference in their culture or way of life. In 1875-76, an epidemic of measles killed over 40,000 Fijians, about one-third of the Fijian population. The population in 1942 was approximately 210,000 of whom 94,000 were Indians, 102,000 native Fijians, 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Europeans.

Independence (1970)

The British granted Fiji independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 precipitated by a growing perception that the government was dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. The second 1987 coup saw both the Fijian monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive president and the name of the country changed from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji and then in 1997 to Republic of the Fiji Islands. The two coups and the accompanying civil unrest contributed to heavy Indo-Fijian emigration; the resulting population loss resulted in economic difficulties and ensured that Melanesians became the majority.

In 1990, the new constitution institutionalised ethnic Fijian domination of the political system. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution. In 1992 Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who had carried out the 1987 coup, became Prime Minister following elections held under the new constitution.

The year 2000 brought along another coup, instigated by George Speight, which effectively toppled the government of Mahendra Chaudhry, who in 1997 had become the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister following the adoption of the new constitution.

In 2005, the Qarase government amid much controversy proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup and amnesty for its perpetrators. However, the military, especially the nation's top military commander, Frank Bainimarama, strongly opposed this bill. Bainimarama agreed with detractors who said that to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who had played a role in the violent coup was a sham. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June and July, further strained his already tense relationship with the government.

In late November and early December 2006, Bainimarama was instrumental in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. He gave Qarase an ultimatum date of 4 December to accede to these demands or to resign from his post. Qarase adamantly refused either to concede or resign, and on 5 December the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, was said to have signed a legal order dissolving the parliament after meeting with Bainimarama.

In April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the 2006 coup had been illegal. This began the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis. President Iloilo abrogated the constitution, removed all office holders under the constitution including all judges and the governor of the Central Bank. He then reappointed Bainimarama as prime minister under his "New Order" and imposed a "Public Emergency Regulation" limiting internal travel and allowing press censorship.

For a country of its size, Fiji has fairly large armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. In addition, a significant number of former military personnel have served in the lucrative security sector in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion.

Fiji covers a total area of some 194,000 square kilometres (75,000 sq mi) of which around 10% is land.

Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific, midway between Vanuatu and Tonga. The archipelago is located between 176° 53′ east and 178° 12′ west. The 180° meridian runs through Taveuni but the International Date Line is bent to give uniform time (UTC+12) to all of the Fiji group. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. Rotuma is located 220 nautical miles (410 km; 250 mi) north of the group, 360 nautical miles (670 km; 410 mi) from Suva, 12° 30′ south of the equator.

Fiji consists of 332 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which account for about three-quarters of the total land area of the country. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,324 metres (4,341 ft), and covered with thick tropical forests.

The highest point is Mount Tomanivi on Viti Levu. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three-quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and Lautoka, Fiji's second city with large sugar cane mills and a seaport.

The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands, respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just off Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, off Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Rotuma, some 270 nautical miles (500 km; 310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji. Ceva-i-Ra, an uninhabited reef, is located about 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) southwest of the main archipelago.

The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. Temperatures in the cool season still average 22 °C (72 °F). Rainfall is variable, with the warm season experiencing heavier rainfall, especially inland. For the larger islands, rainfall is heavier on the southeast portions of the islands than on the northwest portions, with consequences for agriculture in those areas. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10-12 times per decade).

On 20 February 2016, Fiji was hit by the full force of Cyclone Winston, the only Category 5 tropical cyclone to make landfall in the nation. Winston destroyed tens of thousands of homes across the island, killing 44 people and causing an estimated FJ$2 billion ($1 billion USD) in damage.

Endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Some progress was experienced by this sector when Marion M. Ganey, S.J., introduced credit unions to the islands in the 1950s. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil, and hydropower. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the 1980s. The coup of 1987 caused further contraction.

The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels in 2002, resulting in a modest economic recovery which continued into 2003 and 2004 but grew by a mere 1.7% in 2005 and by 2.0% in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1% to 3.25% in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment in exports.

Fiji has a significant amount of tourism with the popular regions being Nadi, the Coral Coast, Denarau Island, and Mamanuca Islands. The biggest sources of international visitors by country are Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Fiji has a significant number of soft coral reefs, and scuba diving is a common tourist activity.

Fiji's main attractions to tourists are primarily white sandy beaches and aesthetically pleasing islands with all-year-round tropical weather. In general, Fiji is a mid-range priced holiday/vacation destination with most of the accommodations in this range. It also has a variety of world class five-star resorts and hotels. More budget resorts are being opened in remote areas, which will provide more tourism opportunities. CNN named Fiji's Laucala Island Resort as one of the fifteen world's most beautiful island hotels.

Official statistics show that in 2012, 75% of visitors stated that they came for a holiday/vacation. Honeymoons are very popular as are romantic getaways in general. There are also family friendly resorts with facilities for young children including kids' clubs and nanny options.

Fiji has several popular tourism destinations. The Botanical Gardens of Thursten in Suva, Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and Colo-I-Suva Forest Park are three options on the mainland (Viti Levu). A major attraction on the outer islands is scuba diving.

The Nadi International Airport is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of central Nadi and is the largest Fijian hub. Nausori International Airport is about 23 kilometres (14 mi) northeast of downtown Suva and serves mostly domestic traffic. The main airport in the second largest island of Vanua Levu is Labasa Airport located at Waiqele, southwest of Labasa Town. The largest aircraft handled by Labasa Airport is the ATR42. Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) is responsible for the operation of 15 public airports in the Fiji Islands. These include two international airports: Nadi international Airport, Fiji's main international gateway, and Nausori Airport, Fiji's domestic hub, and 13 outer island airports. Fiji's main airline was previously known as Air Pacific, but is now known as Fiji Airways.

Fiji's larger islands have extensive bus routes that are affordable and consistent in service.

Inter-island ferries provide services between Fiji's principal islands and large vessels operate roll-on-roll-off services, transporting vehicles and large amounts of cargo between the main island of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and other smaller islands.

Demographics

The 2007 census found that the permanent population of Fiji was 837,000. The population density at the time was 45.8 inhabitants per square kilometre. The life expectancy in Fiji was 72.1 years. Since the 1930s the population of Fiji has increased at a rate of 1.1% per year. The population is dominated by the 15-64 age segment. The median age of the population was 27.9, and the gender ratio was 1.03 males per 1 female.

Ethnic groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians (54.3%), although many also have Polynesian ancestry, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British colonial powers in the 19th century. The percentage of the population of Indo-Fijian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades due to migration for various reasons. Indo-Fijians suffered reprisals for a period after the Fiji coup of 2000. There is also a small but significant group of descendants of indentured labourers from the Solomon Islands.

About 1.2% are Rotuman-natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. There are also small but economically significant groups of Europeans, Chinese, and other Pacific island minorities. The total membership of other ethnic groups of Pacific Islanders is about 7,300.

Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians in the political arena have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of political tension varies among different regions of the country.

Family groups

The concept of family and community is of great importance to Fijian culture. Within the indigenous (iTaukei) communities many members of the extended family will adopt particular titles and roles of direct guardians. Kinship is determined through a child's lineage to a particular spiritual leader, so that a clan is based on traditional customary ties as opposed to actual biological links. These clans, based on the spiritual leader, are known as a matangali. Within the matangali are a number of smaller collectives, known as the mbito. The descent is patrilineal, and all the status is derived from the father's side.

Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 350,000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language. The 1997 Constitution established Fijian as an official language of Fiji, along with English and Fiji Hindi. Fijian is a VOS language.

The Fiji Islands developed many dialects, which may be classified in two major branches - eastern and western. Missionaries in the 1840s chose an Eastern dialect, the speech of Bau Island off the southeast coast of the main island of Viti Levu, to be the written standard of the Fijian language. Bau Island was home to Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the chief who eventually became the self-proclaimed King of Fiji.

Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food (coming mainly from the sea, plus casava, dalo (taro) and other vegetables), costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports.

While indigenous Fijian culture and traditions are very vibrant and are integral components of everyday life for the majority of Fiji's population, Fijian society has evolved over the past century with the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese as well as significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa. Thus, the various cultures of Fiji have come together to create a unique multicultural national identity.

Fiji's culture was showcased at the World Exposition held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1986 and more recently at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion.

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Fiji is a small country in the Pacific Ocean. It has 322 islands. The most important islands are Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. The capital city of Fiji is Suva, and the city with the most people is Nadi. There are about 844,330 people in Fiji.

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Located in the South Pacific Ocean, the country of Fiji is a group of about 300 islands. People live on only about 100 of the islands. The capital, Suva, is located on Viti…

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The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world.

The forest is in a basin drained mainly by the Amazon River, with 1100 tributaries. It is a moist broadleaf forest which covers seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres). Of this, five and a half million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres) are covered by the rainforest.

This region includes territory from nine nations. Most of the forest is in Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, and Colombia with 10%. Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana have just a small amount of rainforest.

The Amazon has over half of the planet's rainforest area. It has many species of plants some include rosewood, mahogany and ebony. It is the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. The forest was formed at least 55 million years ago, in the Eocene period.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity, flora and fauna

Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. This constitutes the largest collection of living plants and animal species in the world.

The region is home to about 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2,000 birds and mammals. To date, at least 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fishes, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region. One in five of all bird species are found in the Amazon rainforest, and one in five of the fish species live in Amazonian rivers and streams. Scientists have described between 96,660 and 128,843 invertebrate species in Brazil alone.

The biodiversity of plant species is the highest on Earth with one 2001 study finding a quarter square kilometer (62 acres) of Ecuadorian rainforest supports more than 1,100 tree species. A study in 1999 found one square kilometer (247 acres) of Amazon rainforest can contain about 90,790 tonnes of living plants. The average plant biomass is estimated at 356 ± 47 tonnes per hectare. To date, an estimated 438,000 species of plants of economic and social interest have been registered in the region with many more remaining to be discovered or catalogued. The total number of tree species in the region is estimated at 16,000.

The green leaf area of plants and trees in the rainforest varies by about 25% as a result of seasonal changes. Leaves expand during the dry season when sunlight is at a maximum, then undergo abscission in the cloudy wet season. These changes provide a balance of carbon between photosynthesis and respiration.

The rainforest contains several species that can pose a hazard. Among the largest predatory creatures are the black caiman, jaguar, cougar, and anaconda. In the river, electric eels can produce an electric shock that can stun or kill, while piranha are known to bite and injure humans. Various species of poison dart frogs secrete lipophilic alkaloid toxins through their flesh. There are also numerous parasites and disease vectors. Vampire bats dwell in the rainforest and can spread the rabies virus. Malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever can also be contracted in the Amazon region.

The biodiversity in the Amazon is becoming increasingly threatened, primarily by habitat loss from deforestation as well as increased frequency of fires. Over 90% of Amazonian plant and vertebrate species (13,000-14,000 in total) may have been impacted to some degree by fires.

Conservation

More than a fifth of the Amazon rainforest has already been destroyed. The forest which remains is threatened. People who care for the environment warn about the loss of biodiversity. They also point out that releasing the carbon which is stored in the trees will increase global warming.

Environmentalists are concerned about loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of the forest. Also, the release of the carbon in the vegetation would accelerate global warming. Amazonian evergreen forests account for about 10% of the world's productivity on land and 10% of the carbon stores in ecosystems. of the order of 1.1 × 10 ¹¹ metric tonnes of carbon. Amazonian forests are estimated to have accumulated 0.62 ± 0.37 tons of carbon per hectare per year between 1975 and 1996.

Some people have calculated that it may even pay to save the forest. They said that one hectare of Amazonian forest in Peru is worth about US$6280, if it is used to harvest fruits, latex and timber (wood). If all the wood is cut down for timber, it has a value of about US$1000. Obviously, this can only be done once; it is not sustainable. When the forest has been cleared, the hectare of land can be used as a pasture, and is worth about US$148. Not all people agree on the study; some have questioned the assumptions behind it.

The Brazilian Air Force has been using surveillance aircraft to monitor the forest. At a conference in 2004, scientists warned that the rainforest will no longer be able to absorb the millions of tons of greenhouse gases annually, as it usually does, because of the increased speed of rainforest destruction.

By 2018, about 17% of the Amazon rainforest had been destroyed. When 20-25% (3-8% more) is destroyed, the climate will change. It will flip to a non-forest ecosystem - degraded savannah. As their homelands continue to be destroyed by deforestation, rainforest peoples are also disappearing.

Rubber boom

Once the process of vulcanization was invented, companies began to make many kinds of new rubber products, such as boots and seals for machines. American and European companies began buying large amounts of latex from Brazil. This boom in Brazilian rubber began around 1870, but the need for automobile tires brought the greatest wealth to the new rubber producers.

Other rain forests have rubber trees, but Amazonia has by far the best. However, the trees could not be farmed on plantations because if they were next to each other, the insects would eat them. Therefore, people had to find the trees in the rain forest, cut slits in them, leave cups to collect the latex, and come back later to get it.

Thousands of people moved to the rain forest to work collecting rubber. Most of these people were hired by rich rubber merchants. The rubber merchants loaned them money to come down the river and buy tools. Each merchant's collectors had to sell the rubber only to their rubber merchant at low prices and buy supplies only from them at high prices. That meant the collectors were always in debt to their merchant and could not leave to do something else. The rubber merchants quickly became very rich.

The center of the rubber trade was Manaus on the Rio Negro. It became first a boom town and then a beautiful, wealthy city. It had electricity before most of the cities in the United States did. The newly rich merchants built huge expensive homes and brought in automobiles to travel on the city's few roads. They built a magnificent opera house with crystal chandeliers and decorated tiles brought all the way from Europe.

However, the rubber boom only lasted about forty years, ending by 1913. Some men had taken the seeds of the Amazon rubber trees and began growing them in the Asian rain forests. The trees grew well there, and they could be grown on plantations. The insects that could destroy them were in South America. So the price of rubber began to fall, and the rubber boom stopped.

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Images for kids

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest threatens many species of tree frogs, which are very sensitive to environmental changes (pictured: giant leaf frog)

In Spanish: Amazonia para niños

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The Amazon Rainforest boggles the mind with its sheer immensity and extraordinary biodiversity. The estimated land area of 2.1 million square miles covers around 40% of South America and part of 9 countries, including Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. Approximately 30% of the world's known species can be found within this enormous and dense region, with new ones being constantly discovered. Unfortunately, deforestation and other habitat destruction have also led to mass extinctions and threaten the existence of many more unique and important species. The current model shows that the Amazon Rainforest is home to 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians. The following is a list of some of the most iconic and curious creatures one can find in the Amazon.

Jaguar

The jaguar's preternatural beauty and affiliated terror cause admirers and prey to freeze in their tracks. The stand-out spots are similar to the leopards of Africa and Asia, but a small dot in the center is the key point of differentiation. The jaguar ( Panthera onca) is the biggest cat in the Americas and the third biggest in the world (behind lions and tigers). These magnificent carnivores are solitary but effective night hunters, both on land and water. They have even been known to attack caimans. Jaguars are classified as "Near Threatened" (NT) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Since the 1880s, they have lost nearly half of their territory, now mostly relying on the Amazon Basin and some parts of Central America. They also face threats from poachers and retaliatory killings by cattle ranchers.

Sloth

Sloth in the Amazon jungle.

These loveable slow-pokes also mostly keep to the rainforest canopy. They tend to sleep between 15 to 20 hours a day, and when it is time to feed, they cover a whopping 40 yards, collecting leaves, twigs, and buds along the way. Despite their morose movements, sloths always seem to have a smile on their face. They even enjoy a leisurely swim from time to time - putting those long, tree-hanging arms to secondary use. There are two different types of sloths, two-toed and three-toed, and six species (all of which are found within the tropical rain forests of Central and South America). Of these, the pygmy three-toed sloth ( Bradypus pygmaeus), is listed as "Critically Endangered" (CR), and the maned sloth ( Bradypus torquatus) is classified as "Vulnerable" (VU).

Amazon River Dolphin

The Amazon River Dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis)is also known as the Pink River Dolphin for its pretty hue. This freshwater mammal is found throughout the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. These cute and curious creatures can grow up to 9.2 feet and weigh upwards of 352 pounds. Their populations are generally abundant; however, in some areas, these dolphins are listed as vulnerable due to fragmentation of their habitat/population by dams and threats related to the contamination of the waterways (particularly mercury pollution from gold mining in Bolivia).

Macaw

Macaws in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.

These brightly-colored birds belong to the parrot family. Their plumage is well-matched to their habitat of green trees, tasty fruits, and pretty flowers. Macaws ( Psittacidae) are omnivorous, using their beaks to crack nuts and seeds and their tongues, which are specially designed with an interior bone, to tap into nutritious fruits. They also use their gripping toes to catch insects and snails. These birds are intelligent and highly vocal. They typically congregate in flocks of 10 to 30, calling out loudly to communicate. Famously, some species are known to mimic human speech. There are 17 documented species of macaws. The red-fronted and blue-fronted species are seriously at-risk, while the glaucous and Spix's macaw species are possibly already extinct in the wild. Pressures on the macaw relate to habitat destruction and their popularity as pets, which causes them to be captured and traded illegally.

Poison Dart Frog

Blue poison-dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus).

The poison dart frog ( Dendrobatidae)is another particularly colorful creature on this list. The intricate patterns on their bodies further enhance their beauty. These overt displays are an evolutionary tactic to warn off potential predators (a phenomenon called aposematic coloration). As the name would suggest, poison dart frogs are toxic and, in some cases, extremely so. The hunters of the indigenous Emberá people of Colombia capitalized on this fact by applying the poison to the tip of their blowgun darts. Interestingly, poison dart frogs raised in captivity never develop their poison, which suggests that it is something they have to produce, possibly through the assimilation of certain plant chemicals, which are carried by the ants, termites, and beetles that make up part of their carnivorous diet.

Red Howler Monkey

You can hear this guy's ominous call from a mile away - 3 miles away, actually. Those brave enough to seek the source of the demonic wail will spot the large canopy-dwellers by their dark red fur and swollen throats (owing to an enlarged hyoid bone at the base of the tongue). The males are larger and have darker beards. Red howlers ( Alouatta seniculus) assume the role of rainforest rooster, waking up the jungle bright and early. They do this again before going to bed, in both cases, as a signal to males in other groups to define their distinct territories. Though they sound frightening, red howlers predominantly subsist on flowers, leaves, and fruit. The population is declining, but the IUCN Red List still classifies red howlers as "Least Concern" (LC).

Black Caiman

The Black caiman ( Melanosuchus niger)is the largest animal in the Amazon Basin. It is also the largest species of alligator, typically ranging from 9 to 14 feet, but able to grow as long as 20 feet and weighing anywhere from 209 to 660+ pounds. Aside from its impressive size, the Black caiman also differs from the American alligator because of its dark-colored, armored skin (hence the name). This adaptive trait improves the nocturnal hunter's camouflage and may also help absorb heat during the day. If left to their own devices, these alligators can live upwards of 80 years. However, in the past century, this species was reduced by about 99%, mostly due to heavy hunting to produce black leather. Currently, the IUCN Red List classifies the Black caiman as "Least Concern" (LN).

Green Anaconda

Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus).

Overall, this member of the boa family is the largest snake in the world. It can reach lengths of 20 - 30 feet (i.e., as long as a school bus), with a diameter of 12-inches, and weigh upwards of 550 pounds. The reticulated python can grow slightly longer, but the green anaconda ( Eunectes murinus)is still nearly twice as heavy. They reach these astounding girths through a diet of wild pigs, deer, birds, capybaras, even caimans, and, believe it or not, jaguars. These non-venomous snakes constrict and asphyxiate their prey before swallowing it whole. After a big meal, anacondas can go months without food. Because of their size, anacondas are slow-moving on land but surprisingly mobile in the water. They mainly live in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, though exact population data and status of the species are unknown.

Giant Monkey Frog

The giant monkey frog ( Phyllomedusa bicolor), also known as the bicolored tree frog, derives its name from its iconic, bright green backside and cream-colored belly and its unusual ability to swing between trees. These amphibians spend most of their time in trees and take advantage of their large bodies to bridge the gaps while moving around. Acaté is yet another name given to this frog by the Matsés tribes of the Amazon Rainforest (between Peru and Brazil). The Matsés shamans use the frog's secretions in hunting rituals and as a way to transmit knowledge through the mind-altering medium. The frogs use this waxy coating to protect themselves from the sun. This natural opioid has also been adopted as a painkiller, as it is 40 times stronger than traditional morphine.

Harpy Eagle

The Harpy eagle ( Harpia harpyja)is one of the largest eagles in the world and easily the largest and most dominant raptor in the Amazon rainforest. This carnivorous predator has a wingspan of 69 to 88 inches, the largest talons of any living eagles, the ability to lift prey equal to their body weight (9 to 20 pounds), and can reach a top speed of 50 miles per hour. It uses these tools to hunt a wide array of animals, including sloths, monkeys, porcupines, squirrels, anteaters, iguanas, snakes, and other birds (and their eggs), such as the macaw, and many more. Harpy eagles have a vast territory, spanning from Mexico down to Argentina, but their numbers are on the decline, and they are listed as "Near Threatened" (NT).

Green Basilisk Lizard

The Green Basilisk lizard ( Basiliscus plumifrons)is also known as the "Jesus Lizard" for its remarkable ability to run across water's surface. They do this by sprinting on two legs, at a rate of about 5-feet per second, which they can do for a distance of about 15-feet, before sinking onto all fours and swimming from there (or reaching the shore). This phenomenon is aided by their adaptive anatomy, which features flaps between the toes, which create an air pocket and a larger surface area. Their long tail acts as a counter-balance while in the bipedal state. This nifty maneuver is done in response to predatory threats. Therefore, as one might expect, they are never far from water but, otherwise, keep to the trees until the occasion calls for it.

The Amazon Rainforest naturally creates adoration and yet, requires great attention and care. It is gigantic but dwindling; bafflingly biodiverse, but an untold number of species are regularly going extinct. Let us appreciate these magnificent animals while they are here and do what we can to preserve them.

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What Animals Live In The Amazon Rainforest?

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The Amazon Rainforest boggles the mind with its sheer immensity and extraordinary biodiversity. The estimated land area of 2.1 million square miles covers around 40% of South America and part of 9 countries, including Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.