Page 122 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

The story of...

Water Nearly three-quarters of the
Blue planet

Earth is covered by oceans and
Water is a clear, colorless substance that is seas. Rivers and lakes stretch
across the land’s surface.
found all around us. It forms Earth’s oceans, The polar regions, near the North
lakes and rivers, snow and ice, and the clouds and South Poles, lie beneath
drifting overhead. All living things—including frozen water, ice, and snow.

us—are mostly made of water, so without it
our planet would be lifeless.

More than 96 percent Planet Earth
of all the water on
Earth’s surface is too
salty to drink.
What’s in water?
Water is made up of tiny
particles called molecules. Each
one has an oxygen (O) atom joined
to two smaller hydrogen (H) atoms,
so water is also known as H O.
2

Fish breathe using
O special organs
H
called gills to
extract oxygen from
the water.
Water H
molecule

Water power
Rushing water is used to
make power at giant
hydroelectric dams around the
world. As the water moves
through the dam, it turns turbine
machines that spin
so quickly they
create electricity.
About 90 percent of all
frozen water on Earth
is in Antarctica, around
the South Pole.
Hydroelectric dam
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