Land mine facts for kids
A land mine is a dangerous explosive weapon. It is placed on the ground or hidden just underneath it. Land mines are designed to explode when a person or vehicle steps on them or drives over them.
They are called "mines" because they are often buried in the ground. This is similar to how miners dig for coal or other materials. Land mines can kill or seriously injure many people. This includes ordinary people, called civilians, who are not soldiers. Sadly, some mines can stay hidden for many years after a war has finished. They can still harm people long after the fighting stops.
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What Are Land Mines?
Land mines are hidden bombs. They are made to explode when someone or something touches them. These weapons are often used in wars to stop enemies. They can also protect certain areas. However, they are very dangerous for everyone.
Different Kinds of Mines
There are two main types of land mines:
- Anti-vehicle mines: These are large mines. They are made to destroy big things like tanks, trucks, or other military vehicles. They need a lot of weight to set them off.
- Anti-personnel mines: These are smaller mines. They are designed to hurt or kill people on foot, like foot soldiers. They can be triggered by a person's weight.
How Mines Work
Most land mines have a few key parts. They have a main explosive charge inside. They also have a trigger mechanism. This trigger can be a pressure plate. When enough weight presses down, the trigger sets off the explosion. Some mines can also be set off by wires.
Why Are Mines Dangerous?
Land mines are very dangerous for several reasons. They are hidden and hard to see. This means people can accidentally walk onto them. Mines do not know the difference between a soldier and a child. They can harm anyone.
Long-Term Dangers
Even after a war ends, land mines can remain active. They can stay buried for decades. This makes land very unsafe for people. Farmers cannot use their land. Children cannot play safely. People cannot return to their homes.
Impact on Communities
Mines stop communities from rebuilding after a conflict. They make it hard to grow food. They also make it difficult to build roads or schools. This causes a lot of suffering for many years. Many people lose their legs or arms from mine explosions.
Clearing Land Mines
Clearing land mines is a very difficult and dangerous job. Special teams work to find and remove them. This process is called demining. It can take a long time and cost a lot of money.
Demining Methods
Demining teams use different tools. They might use metal detectors to find mines. Sometimes, trained dogs or rats help sniff out explosives. Robots are also being developed to make the work safer. Once found, mines are carefully disarmed or safely blown up.
Minefield Warnings
In areas with mines, warning signs are often put up. These signs tell people not to enter. They might show pictures of mines or skulls. It is very important to obey these warnings. Staying away from marked areas saves lives.
Images for kids
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Examples of anti-personnel mines. Center: Valmara 69 (a bounding mine); right: VS-50
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Swedish FFV 028 anti-tank-mines of the German Bundeswehr (inert versions)
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Roman caltrop
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Illustration of the "self-tripped trespass land mine" from the Huolongjing
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'Underground sky soaring thunder', land mines connected to weapons above ground, from the Wubei Zhi
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Cutaway diagram of the S-mine
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The Schu-mine 42, the most common mine used in the Second World War
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Claymore mine with firing device and electric blasting cap assembly
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An L9 Bar Mine
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Section of an anti-tank mine. Note the yellow main charge wrapped around a red booster charge, and the secondary fuze well on the side of the mine designed for an anti-handling device
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Diagram of components
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Examples of anti-handling devices
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Anti personnel mine in Cambodia
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A U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician removing the fuze from a Russian-made mine to clear a minefield outside of Fallujah, Iraq
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Argentine minefield at Port William, Falkland Islands created in 1982; clearance inhibited by boggy terrain
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Minefield warning on the Golan Heights, still valid more than 40 years after creation of the field by the Syrian army
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British Royal Engineers practice mine clearance
See also
In Spanish: Mina terrestre para niños
