Moorland facts for kids

Moorland of Kilimanjaro

A moorland (or just moor) is a special kind of habitat found in high, open areas. These places often have acidic soils, which means the ground is a bit sour, like lemon juice, and not many plants can grow there.

Moorlands are very common in warm places like South America (the neotropics) and Africa. But you can also find smaller patches in northern and western Europe, northern Australia, North America, Central Asia, and India. In Europe, moorlands usually have only a few types of plants, mostly covered by a plant called heather. However, in the warmer moorlands of the tropics, you can find a huge variety of different plants and animals!

Moorlands are different from heathlands. Moorlands are usually colder and much wetter, often having large, spongy areas called bogs.

Where to Find Moorlands

Moorlands are found all over the world, but some of the most famous ones are in the United Kingdom.

Moorlands in the UK

The UK has many well-known moorland areas. Here are a few examples:

• Dartmoor, in Devon, England, is famous for its wild ponies and ancient stone structures.
• Exmoor, also in England, is known for its beautiful landscapes and red deer.
• The North York Moors in North Yorkshire, England, are a national park with vast areas of heather.
• Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands is a large, wild, and remote moorland.
• The Staffordshire Moorlands in England also have small areas of this unique habitat.

Moorland in Yorkshire, England

Moorland in Scotland

Protecting Moorlands

In Europe, if plants like heather are left to grow too long, they can become very dry. This dry material can easily catch fire, leading to big fires that burn large areas of the moorland.

However, the plants and animals that live in moorlands are often quite good at dealing with fires. They can usually recover, as long as the fires don't happen too often. Protecting these areas helps keep them healthy for all the unique wildlife that calls them home.

Images for kids

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  Extensive moorland in the Desert of Wales

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  Heather moorland on the North York Moors mainly consisting of Calluna vulgaris

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  Oswaldtwistle Moor, part of the West Pennine Moors, in Lancashire, UK

See also

In Spanish: Páramo (geomorfología) para niños