Human habitats
A place where animals live is called a habitat. It is the place where something is the happiest living.
For example, polar bears and penguins like living in the cold Arctic rather than grassland habitats with lions and meerkats.
Unlike animals, humans can adapt quickly to different habitats. If it is too cold we can put on woolly jumpers and scarves, and if it is too hot we can cool off in a paddling pool!
Humans need food, water, oxygen and shelter to survive. We can buy food from supermarkets or grow it in our gardens. If we need water, we can get it from the taps in our homes.
There are lots of places that humans couldn't live. We couldn't live in the ocean because we can't breathe underwater. We couldn't live in the desert because there is no water. We couldn't live at the top of high mountains as the air is very thin and there is no food.
Freshwater habitats
Freshwater habitats are rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. The fresh water that we drink and bathe in accounts for only 3% of the world’s water. The rest is salt water.
Oceans cover nearly 70% of Earth's surface.
Fish, snails, worms, birds, alligators, beavers, otters, snakes and many types of insects live in freshwater habitats. Plants such as algae, water lilies and willow trees help keep the water clean.
The Everglades is the largest freshwater habitat in the world.
