Polar Bear Facts for Kids

Polar bears are some of the most majestic, beautiful and dangerous creatures on Earth. Those of you, who have seen the movie 'Golden Compass' will remember Iorek Byrnison, the prince of polar bears. Though Iorek talks in the movie, real polar bears do not, at least not in Queen's English or any other human language! Real polar bears are fiercer and less friendlier than Iorek, but as strong and brave as him. In this article, I've put together some amazing polar bear facts for kids. Every fact about polar bears is unique and mind boggling. Be ready to be amazed, by the life and times of polar bears.

Interesting Polar Bear Facts for Kids
Polar bears are known by the scientific name of Ursus Maritimus. The Inuits call the polar bears, 'Nanook'. Today there are about 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears living worldwide. Here are the promised facts about polar bears for kids, presented in an order of increasing awesomeness!

Arctic is My Home!
Polar bears live near the north pole, in the arctic circle, which is one of the coldest places on earth. They live on sheets of ice and frigid lands around the arctic circle. They are found in coastal parts of Alaska, Canada, Russia, Norway and Greenland. The normal temperature in these regions is minus 55 degree Celsius and winds here blow at an average speed of 30 miles per hour! For more on this, read 'Where Do Polar Bears Live'.

I Love Swimming!
Polar bears are champion swimmers! They can swim at a rate of 6 miles per hour in sea water, at sub-zero temperatures. None of our gold medal winning Olympic swimmers would stand a chance against a polar bear. Polar bears have been known to swim for a hundred miles non-stop, on the trot, resting on ice sheets for a while in between.

I am a Giant!
Polar bears are the largest bears on earth. Newborn polar bears are as small as rats, but as they grow up, they tower up to 10 feet in height and weigh more than 1400 pounds! They are one of the largest predators on Earth. Polar bears live up to an age of 25 to 30 years maximum.

I Wear a Thick Coat!
Now you may be wondering how polar bears manage to stay warm and alive in such freezing temperatures. The reason is the thick layer of blubber fat, which lies under their skin. It is like a layer of insulation which protects them from the cold, helping them maintain their body temperature.

Seals are Yummy!
What do polar bears eat, which helps them to grow to such huge sizes? They hunt seals, fish, reindeer and seabirds. They can crouch in ice holes for hours, to pounce on seals. At times, they even eat whale meat. They do switch to a vegetarian diet in summer and eat berries. They are the kings of the arctic circle, unrivaled in their strength and endurance.

I Have a Sharp Nose!
Polar bears have a very keen sense of smell, which can sense a prey like a seal, even 20 miles away or one meter under a covering of ice.

My Fur Reflects White!
Now, the next one is one of the most interesting polar bear facts for kids. Polar bear's fur is not white, even though it may appear to be so! Each hair in the polar bear's fur is in fact transparent. They look white because they reflect the white color of the ice. The polar bear fur is oily and repels water, so that, it can easily dry itself.

My Home is Melting! Help!
Global warming is adversely affecting the polar bears, by melting away sheets of Arctic ice very rapidly, which are their floating homes and hunting grounds. Polar bears are also poached for their meat by men. They are classified as a vulnerable animal today. For more on this read, 'Are Polar Bears Endangered'.

As you can see, every one of the facts about polar bears is incomparable to any other animal on Earth. The polar bear are built to survive in the Arctic environment and rule the waters. Hope, these interesting polar bear facts for kids have left you in awe of these majestic creatures of the ice.