Marine facts for kids

The word Marine often means something connected to the sea or ocean. It can describe animals, plants, or even things made by humans that live in or are used on the water.

Sometimes, "marine" also refers to a special type of soldier called a Marine or to a country's navy.

Life in the Ocean

The ocean is home to many amazing things, and "marine" helps us describe them.

Marine Biology

Marine biology is the study of all the living things in the ocean. This includes tiny plankton, colorful coral reefs, huge whales, and speedy fish. Marine biologists learn how these creatures live, what they eat, and how they interact with each other and their environment.

Marine Habitats

Marine habitats are the different places where ocean life lives. These can be shallow areas near the coast, deep-sea trenches, or even the open ocean. Each habitat has unique conditions that support different kinds of marine life. For example, some animals live in cold, dark waters, while others prefer warm, sunny areas.

Marine Pollution

Sadly, the ocean can also suffer from marine pollution. This happens when harmful things like plastic, chemicals, or oil get into the water. Pollution can hurt marine animals and plants, making their homes unsafe and sometimes even causing them to get sick or die. It's important to keep our oceans clean to protect marine life.

Marines: Soldiers of the Sea

When you hear "Marines" (with a capital M), it usually means a special kind of soldier.

What are Marines?

Marines are soldiers who are trained to fight on land, but they often work closely with a country's navy. They are experts at landing from ships onto enemy shores and can fight in many different environments. They are known for being tough and highly skilled.

Famous Marine Forces

Many countries have their own marine forces. Some of the most well-known include:

• The United States Marine Corps (USMC)
• The Royal Marines of the United Kingdom
• The Spanish Marine Infantry
• The Fusiliers marins from France
• The Indonesian Marine Corps
• The Republic of Korea Marine Corps

Marine as "Navy"

In some languages, the word "marine" actually means "navy." This refers to the part of a country's military that operates ships and fights at sea.

Navies Around the World

Here are some examples where "Marine" means "Navy":

• The Belgian Navy is called "Marinecomponent" in Dutch.
• The Royal Canadian Navy is "Marine royale canadienne" in French.
• The Royal Danish Navy is "Kongelige Danske Marine" in Danish.
• The Finnish Navy is "Suomen merivoimat" in Finnish.
• The French Navy is simply "Marine nationale."
• The German Navy is "Deutsche Marine."
• The Royal Netherlands Navy is "Koninklijke Marine" in Dutch.
• The Swedish Navy is "Svenska marinen" in Swedish.

Other Uses of "Marine"

The word "marine" can also pop up in other interesting ways.

Books and Films

• The Marine is a 2006 American action film.
• Marines is another American film from 2003.
• Marine (book) is a 1996 book by famous author Tom Clancy.

Games and Characters

• In the StarCraft video game series, a Marine is a basic soldier unit for the Terran race.
• Marine the Raccoon is a fun character from the video game Sonic Rush Adventure.

Merchant Marine

The Merchant marine, also called the merchant navy, is a country's fleet of commercial ships. These ships carry goods and people around the world, helping with trade and transportation, but they are not part of the military.

Places Named Marine

Several places around the world have "Marine" in their name:

• Marines, Val-d'Oise, a town in France.
• Marines, Valencia, a town in Spain.
• Marine, Illinois, a village in the United States.
• Marine City, Michigan, a city in the United States.
• Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, a village in the United States.

See also

• Marin (disambiguation)
• Marina (disambiguation)
• Mariner (disambiguation)
• Submarine
• Space Marine, a soldier in science fiction who fights in space.
• All pages beginning with "Marine"