The word Amazon had a meaning much before it became a part of our daily lives. The amazing tropical rainforest located in South America is a winner of many titles. Why is the Amazon rainforest important to us? Let us look at some facts about the Amazon rainforest to understand more.
1. Largest tropical rainforest
Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. It covers an area of 7,000,000 km2. Only around 6% of the total area of land on Earth is occupied by rainforests. In this, more than half is contributed by the Amazon forests. So if the Amazon loses its forest cover, the world will face a serious scarcity of rainforests.
2. Spans over 9 countries
Located in South America, the Amazon basin is spread over nine countries. They are Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, and Ecuador. More than 58% of this is within the borders of Brazil. Other countries share small portions of the Amazon forests. Ecuador has only 1% of the total area of rainforest.
3. Storehouse of oxygen
When speaking of the facts about the Amazon rainforest, we must also value it for its usefulness. The gigantic trees of Amazon take care of the survival of mankind! 20% of the total oxygen present in the atmosphere of planet Earth is provided by Amazon rainforests. The dense jungle helps us by continuously taking in carbon dioxide and supplying oxygen. Due to this, Amazon rainforests are nicknamed as Lungs of the Planet.
4. Carbon sink
The Amazon rainforest is called the world’s largest carbon dioxide sink. It absorbs carbon dioxide and as a result, helps in controlling the carbon levels globally. Without this forest, the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide will shoot up. This will ultimately lead to an increase in global temperatures. So any action against global warming has to include protection of the Amazon.
5. Amazon River – the lifeline of jungle
The Amazon River is the river that runs through the thick forest cover and fulfills the water needs of its inmates. This is the second largest river in the world, standing next to the Nile River. In terms of volume of water, Amazon River is the largest in the world. It stretches for more than 6,800 kilometers and has 17 tributaries. Can you believe that every second of the day 55 million gallons of water flows from the Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean?
6. Story behind the name
Amazon rainforest has an interesting story behind its name. It is said that the Spanish explorer, Francisco de Orellana, fought a war with indigenous tribal people of the jungle. He was amazed that the women of the tribe fought alongside men. So he named the jungle as Amazon, which is the name of a female warrior tribe mentioned in Greek mythology.
7. Home of tribes
It is not surprising that the Amazon rainforest is the home of several tribes. There are over 400 tribes residing in several parts of the jungle. Each tribe has its separate language and culture. Hunting and fishing are their major occupations. Fruits and vegetables are cultivated on small scales. There are some tribes which have absolutely no contact with the outside world!
8. Food supplier
Among all facts about the Amazon rainforest, this is the most unexpected one. Out of all the food that the developed world eats today, 80% had its origin in the jungles of Amazon! Surprising, right? Fruits such as avocado, grapefruit, and lemons originated here. So did the vegetables such as potatoes, sweetcorn, and maize.
9. Medicine supplier
Just like food, the Amazon rainforest is a rich storehouse of medicines too. This jungle is home to almost seventy percent of the plants which have cancer-fighting properties. Trees and plants such as wasai, lapacho, and cordoncillo are rich in medicinal values. So if you are under the attack of any ailment or infection, it is Amazon rainforest that comes to your rescue in the form of medicines.
10. No sunlight on the ground
Yes, this is another surprise element in the facts about the Amazon rainforest. Due to the thick cover of the tree tops, it is difficult for even the sunlight to peep in. Only less than 1% of the sunlight hitting the area manages to reach the ground. As a result, the forest ground always remains in darkness.
11. Hard for rainwater to hit the ground
If the thick tree canopy of the Amazon rainforests are capable of blocking the sunlight, what to speak of rains? The forest is located in a region that receives heavy rainfall. But it takes around 10 minutes for an average rainfall to hit the ground due to the thickness of the canopy.
12. Birds in the Amazon rainforest
Amazon rainforest is home to several exotic species of birds. There are over 1500 species of birds in this green paradise. Hyacinth macaw, a beautiful blue-colored parrot, is a major species found here. Then there are other species such as spectacled owl, scarlet macaw, and Amazon kingfishers.
13. Insects in the Amazon rainforest
While searching for the facts about the Amazon rainforest, you will be amazed that there is an assortment of quaint insects too in this forest. From creepy looking ones to cute little bugs, there are over 2.5 million species of insects here. Look at their unique names, and you will get the story. There is a jewel caterpillar, a leaf cutter ant, an assassin bug, and even a lantern fly!
14. Endangered animals in the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is a paradise of biodiversity. Several rare species of plants and animals can be found here. But the sad fact is that many of these animals are facing a threat of extinction due to human activities. Some of these animals are the South American tapir, giant otters, jaguars, and golden lion tamarins.
15. Dangerous animals in the Amazon rainforest
Dense forests of Amazon pose several threats to travelers and explorers. Deadly animals are major hazards to those who tread the untrodden paths. There are some seemingly innocent creatures that can cause us great harm. Bullet ants and Brazilian spiders are some among them. Green anacondas, flesh-eating piranhas and poison dart frogs are capable of sending a chill up your spines.
16. Not suited for agriculture
Although the Amazon rainforests abound in green cover, the area is not suited for sustainable agriculture. The land here lacks the mineral ingredients needed for cultivation of crops. This might be one of the reasons why this forest has escaped large scale human aggression from time immemorial.
17. Amazon rainforest deforestation
Among the facts about the Amazon rainforest, this is one that raises concern. Amazon jungles are depleting at an alarming rate. Nothing but human action is responsible for this. The rate of deforestation accelerated during the construction of Trans-Amazonian highway that made deep inroads into the jungle. Cattle breeding and slash-and-burn agriculture are other causes. If we don’t take any measures to counter this, we could soon lose this green paradise.
18. Sahara Desert and Amazon rainforest
Sahara Desert of Africa plays a major role in sustaining the rainforests of the Amazon. Surprised? This is a fact. Dust from the Sahara gets transported to the rainforest region by winds. These dust particles contain phosphorus which is essential for plant growth. Isn’t it amazing that a desert is helping a forest flourish?
19. First Amazon explorer
Francisco de Orellana was the explorer who completed the first known navigation of the entire Amazon River. He was a Spanish explorer who set out on an exploration to find El Dorado, the legendary city of riches. Orellana fought with the tribal people of the region. Orellana is also the person who contributed the name, Amazon.
20. Guinness Record for swimming across Amazon River
An inspiring story among the facts about the Amazon rainforest – a persevering long-distance swimmer swam the entire length of the river! Martin Strel, a Slovenian athlete, achieved this feat. In February 2007, he started swimming down the Amazon River, and completed the swim 66 days later. He is the Guinness World Record holder for the longest swimming journey.
21. Amazon rainforest fire 2019
In the month of August in 2019, the jungles of Amazon faced a catastrophe in the form of wildfires. Though the area is prone to wildfires arising out of natural causes such as lightning, this year’s fire was allegedly started by the farmers in the area. Clearing of forests for crops or cattle grazing might have triggered the huge disaster. This subsequently caused a heavy increase in the carbon emission levels in the area.
To sum up, it is time for us to take a pledge to protect our green cover, or the consequences will be dreadful. So we read some interesting facts about the Amazon rainforests. You can read more about the unique animals of Amazon rainforests here. Take this Amazon rainforest quiz to check how much you have understood.
