The coal used for energy was produced millions of years ago. Before the dinosaurs were even here much of the earth was covered in water. Much of this water was swampy and filled with plant life. As these plants died, they sank to the bottom and were covered by dirt. Over millions of years the dead plants were slowly made into coal by intense pressure creating the shiny black rocks we know today. When coal is burned it creates heat and light energy. It is an easier option for burning because it lasts longer than wood. In the 1800's people began using coal to heat their homes and trains and ships used coal to power their engines. Steel and cement factories also use a lot of coal to create their products.
This world map shows the amount of coal-generated power used per capita in the year 2019. Put together by Solar Power Guide you can see the deeper the red countries are on the map, the more coal-generated power they use. Estonia, Kazakhstan and Australia are the three countries with the most coal use.
