Kelp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelp Temporal range: Lutetian to present
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Superphylum:	Heterokonta
Class:	Phaeophyceae
Order:	Laminariales Migula, 1909

Kelp are very large seaweeds that live in the ocean. They are a type of brown alga, which means they are not like the plants you see on land or even most water plants. There are about 30 different kinds of kelp.

Kelp grows in amazing underwater "forests" called kelp forests. These forests are found in clear, shallow parts of the ocean. Kelp needs water that is full of nutrients and usually cooler than 20°C (68°F). These kelp forests provide a safe home for many sea creatures. They also offer food for other animals.

Kelp can grow incredibly fast, sometimes up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) in a single day! Some types can reach over 60 meters (200 feet) long. Kelp grows with long stalks and has leaf-like parts called blades. Small, gas-filled bubbles help these blades float towards the sunlight.

These dense kelp forests are very important for the ocean. They create a rich environment with lots of different plants and animals. For example, along the coast of Norway, kelp forests cover about 5,800 square kilometers (2,200 square miles). They support huge numbers of sea animals.

Types of Kelp

There are many interesting kinds of kelp around the world. Here are a few well-known species:

• Bull-head kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) is found in northwestern America. Native American people used this kelp to make fishing nets.
• Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is the largest type of seaweed. You can find it along the Pacific coast of North America.
• Kombu (Laminaria japonica) is a type of kelp that people eat. It is very popular in Japan.

How People Use Kelp

Kelp washed ashore in Neskowin, Oregon.

Kelp has many uses for people. When kelp is burned, its ash is rich in iodine and other minerals. In the past, large amounts of kelp ash were used to make soap and glass.

Today, a substance called alginate is taken from kelp. Alginate is a carbohydrate that helps make things thicker. It is used in many everyday products, such as:

• ice cream
• jelly
• salad dressing
• toothpaste

Alginate powder is also used by dentists and orthodontists. They use it to make molds of your teeth.

Because kelp grows so quickly, some people have suggested that large kelp farms in the open ocean could be a source of renewable energy. Kelp can be broken down to produce methane gas, which can be used for fuel. It can also produce sugars that can be turned into ethanol.

Images for kids

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  Scuba diving in a kelp forest in California.

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  Alaskan beach kelp

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  Saccharina latissima in canned salad form

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  Costaria costata, five-ribbed kelp

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  Giant kelp in Monterey Bay Aquarium's Kelp Forest exhibit

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  Scuba diver in kelp forest

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  Blue rockfish in kelp forest

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  Anemone and seastar in kelp forest

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  A kelp forest

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  A close up view of Ecklonia maxima, giant brown kelp

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  Kelp found along the coast of La Jolla Shores