PACIFIC OCEAN
ARCTIC OCEAN
NORTH
AMERICA
A
S
I
A
RUSSIA
UNITED
S TAT E SAlaska
(U.S.) CANADAJAPAN
MEXICO
20 NAT GEO KIDS^ •^ MAY 2022
Your vehicle hovers above the Pacific Ocean off the
California coast, where you can see long, green tree-like
seaweed underneath the clear water. Called a kelp forest,
the swaying stalks seem to wave back and forth at you
while curious sea otters swim up to check out the scene.
A type of seaweed (which are algae, not plants), kelp
grows in dense thickets along coastal areas around the
world, creating “forests” that can grow to be a hundred feet
tall. The underwater jungle attracts all types of animals
looking for food and shelter.
“The biodiversity of these forests is through the roof!”
marine ecologist Joshua Smith says. “Kelp forests would
rival any tropical rainforest or coral reef in the number of
species they support.”
No wonder sea otters hang out in kelp forests, where
they can feast on snacks like crabs, snails, clams, and sea
urchins. Nutrients in those animals’ poop help the kelp
survive. But those tiny critters also eat kelp, so the otters
help keep the habitat healthy when the marine mammals
eat those critters.
The kelp forests aren’t just a buffet for sea otters—
they’re also a perfect place to snooze. The dense canopy of
the seaweed stretches up to the ocean’s surface, so otter
moms can wrap up their babies in the leaves to keep them
from floating away while Mama forages for food.
“It’s a cozy place for sea otters to rest because there’s a
lot less wave action,” Smith says. “It also provides protection
from predators like killer whales and great white sharks.”
The sea otters dive below the surface as your vehicle
lifts off above the water and flies over the beach. You’re off
to your final destination—the past!
Splash into an undersea kelp forest
with these marine animals.
A sea otter
swims near
a kelp forest.
Here’s where
sea otters live.KELP FOREST
Sea Otter