Territory facts for kids

A territory (which comes from the word terra, meaning 'land') is like a special area of land that belongs to someone or something. It could be owned by a person, a group, an animal, or even a whole country! Think of it as a piece of property, but on a much bigger scale.

What is a Territory?

A territory is an area of land that is controlled by a specific person, group, or government. It's their space, and they have rules about what happens there. For animals, a territory is an area they live in and protect from other animals.

Territories in International Law

In international law, a "territory" often means a piece of land that is outside a country's main borders but is still owned and governed by that country. These areas are sometimes called "overseas territories" or "dependent territories."

Examples of International Territories

• Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. This means people in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, but they have a different government system than U.S. states.
• Bermuda is a territory of the United Kingdom. It is an island nation that is part of the UK's overseas territories.

Different Kinds of Territories

Territories can be organized in many ways, depending on how they are governed or if there are disagreements about who owns them.

Areas Within a Country

Sometimes, parts of a country are called territories.

• In countries like Germany, there are states that are part of a larger national government. These states can be seen as territories within the country.
• In the United States, counties are smaller areas within a state, and they are also a type of territory.

Countries with One Main Government

Some countries, like France, are called "unitary states." This means they have one main government that controls everything. All the land within France is considered its territory, managed by that central government.

Occupied Territories

An occupied territory is a piece of land that has been taken over by the military of another country. This usually happens after a war or invasion. The country that took control then manages the area, even if it's not officially theirs forever.

Disputed Territories

A disputed territory is an area of land that two or more countries believe belongs to them. This can lead to disagreements or even conflicts.

• Kashmir is a famous example. Both India and Pakistan claim this region as their own, which has caused long-standing tension between them.

Images for kids

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  Lapland is a sparsely populated territory in Northern Europe. A view from Saana in Finnish Lapland.

See also

In Spanish: Territorio (subdivisión de país) para niños