catius – Catius

What do camels eat?

Camels are herbivores, which means they eat plants or vegetation.

Camels are specially adapted to live in the desert, where vegetation is scarce. What does grow in the desert can be prickly and tough due to the lack of water. Camels have leathery mouths which allow them to eat thorny twigs, as well as leaves, stems, shoots and fruit.

Mother and son looks at the camels at the zoo

Their mouths aren’t the only part that is especially adapted to desert living.

If you would like to know more about camels, please see the link below.

More interesting camel facts from I Love Animals

Their mouths are so tough, they can even eat cacti!

What/where is Colombia?

Colombia is a country in South America. It shares a border with Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Colombia on Earth on reflective surface

The official language is Spanish although many other languages are spoken in the country. It has a population of around 50 million people.

The capital city is Bogota. The currency used is the Peso.

The Colombian flag.

kolumbien fahne colombia flag

If you would like to know more about Colombia, please see the comprehensive Wikipedia article at the link below.

Wikipedia article on Colombia

Please see Lonely Planet’s short video below to see what Colombia has to offer the traveller.

What/where is Belgium?

Belgium is a country in Europe. It is a monarchy and a member of the European Union. The country has borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Belgium on model of Earth

The country is made up of three regions which are organised and run separately. Brussels is the capital city and has its own region. Brussels is famous for being the base for the European Union, as well as other institutions like NATO.

Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium

Above is a picture of the Grand Place in Brussels, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The other two regions in Belgium are the French-speaking Wallonia, and the Dutch-speaking Flanders. The third official language is German.

The population of Belgium is just over 11 million people.

The Belgian flag.

Flag of Belgium

For more further reading, please click link below.

Wikipedia entry on Belgium

If you would like a list of facts on Belgium, please click on the link below.

Fun facts from Eupedia on Belgium

What/where is Panama?

Panama is a country in Central America, found between Costa Rica and Colombia.

Panama on Earth on reflective surface

It has a population of around 4 million people. The main language spoken there is Spanish. Although the US Dollar is legal tender there, the official currency is the Balboa. The largest and capital city is Panama City.

The Panamanian flag.

National flag of Panama on the flagpole

For a video taste of what Panama has to offer tourists, please see below.

The country is known for its canal which links the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. This was a very important engineering project as it allowed ships to avoid travelling around the continent of South America, cutting time and danger as the seas around to southern tip are very treacherous.

For a detailed video on the history of the Panama Canal, please see below.

Who was Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes is famous for the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Guy was a Catholic who wanted to kill the Protestant King James I and put a Catholic monarch back on the throne.

Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators

The plotters rented a cellar under the Houses of Parliament and packed it with gunpowder. They planned to create a massive explosion when the King was in the Houses of Parliament. An anonymous letter was sent to the authorities warning them of the plot. This made them search under the Houses of Parliament and Guy Fawkes was caught guarding the gunpowder.

He was tortured and executed and ever since we have celebrated the failure of this plot on the 5th of November.

For a fun video explanation, please see below.

Who invented fireworks?

Fireworks were invented in 7th century China. The Chinese people believed they would ward off evil spirits and bring happiness and good luck.

Family looks holiday fireworks

Nowadays fireworks are used all around the world to celebrate various events. In the United Kingdom they are traditionally used on Bonfire Night, the 5th of November, to celebrate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Please see below video on how fireworks work.

For further reading on the history of fireworks please click on this link.

What type of animal was the first to orbit the Earth?

The first animal to orbit the Earth was a dog called Laika. She was launched into space aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957. She was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow in Russia. In the early days of space flight animals were used to test the safety of the technology, before humans tried it.

For further reading on the history of animals in space click here.

For an animation of Laika’s story, please see below:

What is coffee and where is it grown?

Coffee is a drink made from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. The coffee plant originally grew in Africa, but is now grown around the world, usually in areas near the equator.

Girl in coffee plantations

Coffee is grown in over 70 countries around the world. The top three producing countries are Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia. Coffee is grown near the equator because it needs certain weather conditions to grow well(plenty of warmth and rain).

The seeds are roasted and then ground according to the type of coffee you are making. It is then mixed with hot water to brew, although you can also soak it in cold water to make a different tasting drink.

Coffee is not recommended for children as it contains caffeine. This is something that helps adults feel more awake when they drink it!

For further reading from the Eden Project, please click this link.

For a quick video run through of the process, please see below.

What is a diamond?

A diamond is a precious stone and is the hardest naturally occurring material known. It is made from carbon which can come in different forms depending on how its atoms are arranged. A diamond has a lattice structure in which the atoms are bonded together very strongly.

Family in shopping mall looking at jewelry department

Diamonds are formed deep underground in the earth’s mantle, around a 100 miles down. They are formed under high pressure and temperatures and can take 1 to 3 billion years to form. They are brought closer to the surface by deep volcanic eruptions and are then mined by people.

For further reading and some fun facts on diamonds please click this link.

For a video explanation, please see below.

Why do bees make honey?

Bees make honey as a way of storing food for themselves. They need to do this for when their usual food sources are in short supply. Flowering plants are more abundant in spring and summer, so bees make honey during this time to see them through the winter, when there are much fewer flowers.

Grandpa beekeeper passes his experience little grandson.

Honey is an ideal way to store their food supply, as it doesn’t go bad. This is because it has a high sugar content, which also means it provides a lot of energy for the busy bees!

For further reading on bees, please click this link to the very informative buzzaboutbees.net

For a video explanation of why, as well as how, bees make honey, please see below.