Geography for Kids
Geography is the study of our planet: its continents, mountains, rivers, climates and the people who live in them. These lessons explore places near and far, explain how Earth works and show how maps help us find our way.
All 65 Geography topics
Continents
There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia/Oceania.
Maps and Compass
Maps show places from above.
Mountains
Mountains are very high landforms.
Rivers
Rivers flow downhill from mountains to the sea.
Deserts
Deserts get very little rain: less than 25 cm a year.
Countries and Capitals
Each country has a capital city where its government sits.
Layers of the Earth
Earth has four layers: crust, mantle, outer core and inner core.
Climate Zones
Earth has tropical, dry, temperate and polar climate zones.
Islands
An island is land completely surrounded by water.
Time Zones
Earth spins once a day, so when it is daytime in one place, it is night in another.
Equator and Hemispheres
The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth, splitting it into the northern and southern hemispheres.
Latitude and Longitude
Latitude lines run east-west and measure distance north or south of the equator.
Tides
Tides are the rise and fall of the sea caused mainly by the Moon's gravity.
Tectonic Plates
Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates that move very slowly.
Glaciers
Glaciers are huge rivers of ice that move slowly downhill.
Lakes
Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls form when a river flows over a cliff or hard rock.
Canyons
A canyon is a deep valley with steep sides, usually carved by a river over millions of years.
Plains and Plateaus
A plain is a large flat area of land, and a plateau is a flat area raised above its surroundings.
Coasts and Beaches
A coast is where land meets the sea.
World Population
Over 8 billion people live on Earth.
Cities and Towns
Cities are large places with many people, buildings and jobs.
Farming and Agriculture
Farmers grow crops and raise animals for food.
The Amazon River
The Amazon in South America carries more water than any other river.
The Himalayas
The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world, stretching across Nepal, India, Bhutan, Tibet and Pakistan.
The Sahara
The Sahara in Africa is the world's largest hot desert, almost as large as the USA.
The Arctic
The Arctic is the region around the North Pole, mostly frozen ocean.
Antarctica
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent.
Australia
Australia is both a country and a continent.
India
India is in South Asia and has over 1.4 billion people.
African Wildlife
Africa is home to lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and gorillas.
Europe
Europe is a continent with about 44 countries, many languages and thousands of years of history.
Natural Resources
Natural resources come from Earth, like water, wood, coal, oil and metals.
Wonders of the World
Famous landmarks include the Great Pyramid, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and Machu Picchu.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires can cause great damage.
Flags of the World
Every country has a flag with colours and symbols that tell about its history.
Peninsulas
A peninsula is a piece of land almost completely surrounded by water but still connected to a larger landmass.
Deltas
A delta is a triangle-shaped area of land formed where a river meets the sea and drops the sediment it carried.
Estuaries
An estuary is a place where a river meets the sea and fresh water mixes with salt water.
Seas and Gulfs
A sea is a large body of salt water that is partly enclosed by land.
Oases
An oasis is a green spot in a desert where water is available.
Tundra
The tundra is a cold, treeless region with permafrost, which is ground that stays frozen all year.
Sand Dunes
Sand dunes are hills of sand shaped by wind.
Monsoons
Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring heavy rain to some regions, especially in South Asia.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are huge, spinning storms that form over warm ocean water.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, at about 8,849 metres.
The Nile River
The Nile is one of the longest rivers in the world and flows northward through north-east Africa.
The Andes
The Andes are a long mountain range that runs down the west side of South America.
The Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains run through western North America, from Canada down into the United States.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world.
The Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth.
The Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean separates the Americas from Europe and Africa.
The Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean lies between Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia made up of thousands of islands.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America and is home to much of the Amazon rainforest.
China
China is the most populous country in Asia and has one of the oldest continuous civilisations on Earth.
Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world by area.
Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world by area and spans both Europe and Asia.
Africa
Africa is the second largest continent and has more than 50 countries.
South America
South America is a continent with the Amazon rainforest and the Andes mountains.
North America
North America includes Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America.
The Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea lies between Europe, Africa and Asia.
Volcanic Islands
Some islands are formed when undersea volcanoes erupt and build up layers of lava above the sea.
Caves
Caves are natural holes in rock, often formed over thousands of years as water dissolves limestone.
Salt Lakes
A salt lake is a lake with a very high amount of salt in its water.
Frequently asked questions about Geography
What is geography?
Geography is the study of Earth's land, water, climate, people and places, and how they affect one another.
How many continents are there?
Seven: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia (Oceania).
How can I practise geography at home?
Use an atlas or a globe, look up a country on a map each week, or plan an imaginary trip and find the route together.