Amazon rainforest

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest (pronunciation: /ˈæməzɒn ˈreɪnfɔːrɪst/), also known as the Amazon Jungle or Amazonia, is a moist broadleaf forest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 square kilometres (2,700,000 sq mi), of which 5,500,000 square kilometres (2,100,000 sq mi) are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations.

Etymology

The name Amazon is said to arise from a war Francisco de Orellana fought with a tribe of Tapuyas and other tribes from South America. The women of the tribe fought alongside the men, as was the custom among the entire tribe. Orellana derived the name Amazonas from the ancient Amazons of Asia and Africa described by Herodotus and Diodorus in Greek legends.

Biodiversity

The Amazon Rainforest is recognized as having the greatest biodiversity in the world. It is home to more than 400 billion individual trees representing over 16,000 species, 390 billion individual trees, 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fish species, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles.

Climate

The Amazon Rainforest is known for its tropical climate that includes heavy rain and high humidity. The average temperature in the Amazon Rainforest is 27°C (80.6°F), with very little temperature variation between seasons.

Deforestation

Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest has been a major issue in recent years. It is caused by various factors, including illegal logging, agriculture, and mining.

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