The bush facts for kids

The bush is a special word used to describe wild areas, often far away from cities. It can mean land where few people live, or large areas of forests. You'll hear this word a lot in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Canada, and Alaska.

The Bush in Australia

In Australia, the word the bush has a very special meaning. It's not just about the land; it's also about Australian life and culture.

What the Bush Looks Like

When people talk about the land, the bush usually means a wooded area. It's not a super thick forest. Instead, it often has dry soil that doesn't have much nitrogen. You'll see lots of thin to thick woody shrubs and bushes. There are also many eucalypt trees, which are famous Australian trees.

Where People Live in the Bush

When people talk about places, the bush means any area outside of the big cities. This includes places where people work in mining or farming. For example, a mining town in the desert, like Port Hedland, Western Australia (which has about 14,000 people), is often called the bush by the media.

Bush Activities and Culture

The word "bush" is also added to other words to describe things that are rural or traditional. For instance, you might hear about "Bush Cricket" or "Bush Music." These terms help describe activities or styles that come from the country or folk traditions.

A wide view from Connors Hill, near Swifts Creek Victoria, showing typical Australian bushland on the hills and cleared pastures.

Images for kids

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  Some Australian bush.

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  Some more bush.

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  Icons of the Australian bush: bracken, corrugated iron, banksia, felt hat, billy, stockwhip and elastic-side boots.

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  New Zealand's bush can look different, but it often means very dense forests, like this one around Lake Gunn in Fiordland.

See also

In Spanish: Bush (paisaje) para niños