In different countries around the world, there are different types of houses. This is because each country has their own climate and materials. When people build their homes, they have to think about the weather and what materials are available where they live. In south-western USA, the weather is very hot and dry and there isn’t much wood. So, people build their houses from adobe; a mixture of clay, straw and water. The thick adobe walls keep people cool in the hot desert sun. But they wouldn’t be very useful in a place with lots of rain. Another type of house in a hot climate is a cave house. People in Matmata, Tunisia cut different rooms out of soft sandstone and join the rooms together with passageways. These homes protect people from the hot sun and dry winds in the north of Africa. In parts of northern Canada, where there is a very cold climate and very few trees, some native people build houses with ice and snow called igloos. Igloos keep people warm and protect them from winter storms. They can even light a fire inside without melting the ice walls. If they want to move, they simply leave the igloo behind and build a new one. However, in cold, snowy countries, such as Switzerland, where there are lots of trees, people build chalets and cabins from wood. The cabins have sloped roofs so that the snow can slide off easily. In tropical areas, such as Cambodia and Vietnam in Southeast Asia, the climate is hot and wet. People there, make their houses from palm leaves, bamboo and woven grasses. In some areas, they build their homes on stilts to keep them cool and dry. It also helps protect people from floods and snakes. Finally, in central Asia, in countries like Kyrgyzstan, people lived in yurts for centuries. Yurts are a type of round tent that you can put up and take down easily. In the past, people used animal skins to make yurts, but today, they use modern materials. These are just some examples of the different types of houses around the world. What are the houses like where you live?