Climate Zones of the World

Imagine the big, round Earth is snuggling in different blankets. Near the Earth’s tummy, I wear a warm, sunny blanket. It is so cozy that little lizards love to lay in the sun there. At the very top and very bottom of the world, I wear a chilly, snowy blanket. Brrr. It’s perfect for big polar bears who love to slide and play in the snow. In other special places, my blanket is just right. It is not too hot and not too cold. It’s a happy, comfy place for lots of friends to live and play.

A long, long, long time ago, some very clever people wanted to know why my blankets were so different. In a sunny place called ancient Greece, around the 6th century BCE, they looked up at the big, bright sun. They saw that the sun shined right overhead in some places, making my blanket super warm. But in other places, the sun was lower in the sky, making it much cooler. These clever thinkers drew imaginary lines around the world, like big, colorful belts. The lines showed where it was hot, where it was cold, and where it was just right. Do you know what I am. I am those big belts. I am the Climate Zones of the world.

Today, I am like the Earth’s different weather neighborhoods. I help you know why you might build a happy snowman in one place but a sandy castle at the beach in another. I show everyone where tall, green rainforests grow with chattering monkeys and where big, sandy deserts stretch out under the sun. Knowing about me helps people understand our amazing planet. It helps us take care of all the special plants and animals that live in each of my cozy, chilly, and just-right zones.