Tropics

The tropics are warm places on Earth close to the equator. These areas get lots of sunshine all year. The Sun shines straight down here sometimes, making it very warm.

You can find many different lands in the tropics. There are green rain forests full of tall trees. Some places have long, rainy monsoons. Wide, open savannahs are home to animals like lions. Dry deserts are also in the tropics. Even snowy high altitude mountains exist here.

Many people live in the tropics. These places have lots of plants and animals that live only here. The tropics cover a big part of our planet. They are special because of how much sunlight they get.

The word “tropic” comes from old Ancient Greek. It means “to turn.” There are two important lines called the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. At these lines, the Sun can shine right overhead. This is why the tropics are so warm.

The tropics have many kinds of weather. Some places have a dry time and a wet time each year. During the wet time, there is lots of rainfall. This helps plants grow. But sometimes, heavy rain can make rivers overflow.

There are many special plants in the tropics. You might know Bamboo, Banana trees, and Citrus fruits like oranges. Other plants include Coconut trees, Coffee, Dragon fruit, and Palm trees. These plants love the warm, sunny weather of the tropics.