10 Things You Never Knew About The Amazon Rainforest
10 Things You Never Knew About the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest covers the majority of the Amazon basin of South America. It represents over half of the world's remaining rainforests and is comprised of the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world.
*Related: The Most Spectacular Forests in the World
Other than its stunning beauty, there are tons of reasons why you should visit the Amazon – sail down the Amazon River, go bird watching, watch the beautiful sunrise, and visit some of the world's most incredible cultural sites.
1. It’s the Largest in The World
The Amazon Rainforest is located mostly in Brazil but it also stretches to Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia and smaller parts of a few other South American countries. It is over 5 million square kilometers.
2. There Are Tons of Different Species That Live There
It is home to over 2.5 million different species of insects, approximately 427 mammals, 1,300 birds, 378 reptiles and more than 400 amphibians.
3. Our Food Comes From There
Believe it or not, a lot of the food we eat comes from the rainforests in the Amazon. Some of these foods include chocolate, black pepper, pineapple, bananas, tomatoes and rice.
4. Where Does Its Name Come From?
The name "Amazon" comes from the" Amazons" of Greek Mythology, a race of women warriors.
5. Amerindian Tribes Live There
Approximately 400-500 indigenous Amerindian tribes live in the Amazon Rainforest. It is believed that some of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world.
6. It is Home to Deadly Creatures
The Amazon Rainforest is home to some of the deadliest creatures in the world. Some of them include the Green Anaconda, Black Caiman, Poison Dart Frog, Bull Shark, and Brazilian Wandering Spider.
7. It Delivers Tons of Water
The Amazon delivers approximately 55 million gallons of water into the Atlantic Ocean every second.
8. It Contains Thousands of Fruits
The Amazon Rainforest contains over 3,000 fruits, 200 of which are consumed in the western world.
9. There Are Tons of Trees
Considering this rainforest represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, it's no surprise it is comprised of tons of trees – approximately 390 billion individual trees.
10. The Amazon River is the World’s Largest River by Volume
The Amazon River carries approximately 20 percent of all the freshwater discharge into the oceans. It is one of the longest rivers in the world – about 3,903-4,195 miles long.