The Amazon Rainforest is located on the continent of South America and is the largest rainforest on Earth. The rainforest extends over parts of nine South American nations: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
Fast Facts:
- Located in Amazon Basin
- Species rich biome
- Compares in size to the United States
- Created by the Amazon River
- Top layer is called the canopy
- Unknown numbers of plants and animals
- More species of fish than any other freshwater ecosystem in the world
Climate and Terrain
The rainforest exists in the Amazon Basin, a more than five million square mile area which drains into the Amazon River. The rainforest has the highest diversity of plant species of any location on the planet, with over 75,000 types of trees and 150,000 other species of plants. Over 2,000 birds and mammals call the rainforest home, as well as millions of species of|insects.
Environmental Concerns
Deforestation and human encroachment on the rainforest in the 20th century, began to threaten the health of the forest. Since 1970, the forest has shrunk by more than 18%, largely due to Slash and Burn Agriculture practices.
