Location
The amazon rainforest is located in the Amazon basin in the northern regions of South America. It is approximately 5.5 million km squared and if it were a country it would be the ninth largest country in the world. Nine nations have the Amazon in their borders. They are Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. |
History
Experts say the amazon rainforest has been around for at least 55 million years. During the 1500's there were between 6 and 9 million Amazon natives today there are only an estimated 250 000 left. there are approximately 170 different languages spoken. in 2005 and 2010 there were droughts that destroyed lots of vegetation. Deforestation is also big problem, since 1978 over 750 000 km squared of the amazon has been destroyed. |
Flora
The Amazon is home to as many as 80,000 plant species from which more than 40,000 species play a critical role in regulating the global climate and sustaining the local water cycle.There are approximately 3000 fruits that grow in the rainforest that are edible. Many plants around the world have medicinal qualities. Of the plants known to have anti-cancer properties, 70% are found in the rainforest. Amazon natives use rainforest plants regularly but 90% of the ones they use have not been studied by modern science. |
Fauna
The amazon has approximately 105 000 fauna species, most of these are fish. Different animals are found in the different layers. The top layer is the emergent layer, mainly eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies are found. The layer second from the top is the Canopy layer, mainly snakes, toucans and tree frogs are found. The layer second from the bottom is the understory, mainly jaguars and leopards are found here. The bottom layer is the forest floor, mainly ants, beetles and anteaters are found here. Some humans also live on the forest floor. |