Where is the Amazon Rainforest Located? - Brazil!

The Amazon rainforest is an incredible place worthy of both study and appreciation. This rainforest, named for the Amazon River, holds the title of being the biggest rainforest on earth. It is located in South America and spans over most of Brazil. Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia also fall within the realm of the Amazon rainforest. Not surprisingly, this natural wonder is home to hundreds of animal species and millions of insects as well as countless varieties of vegetation.

Some of the animal inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest are well known, while others are not so easily recognizable. For instance, the toucan makes its home in the canopy level of the Amazon rainforest. This curious bird is easily recognizable with its curved beak displaying shades of black, blue, and yellow. Another animal thought of in connection with the Amazon rainforest is the squirrel monkey. These monkeys contribute to the boisterous atmosphere found in some of the treetops there. Alternatively, the leaf toad also lives in the Amazon rainforest, quietly blending into its environment. The ocelot is another animal that keeps a low profile life in the Amazon rainforest. This cat with its beautiful markings trolls for small prey at nighttime. 

There are different levels of vegetation that make up the Amazon rainforest. The top layer of the rainforest is referred to as the emergent layer. Moving downward from there is the canopy, the understory, and finally the floor of the forest. Some examples of plant life in the Amazon rainforest include orchids, a selection of ferns, oyster mushrooms, and the stilt palm. The Amazon rainforest is unique in that it contains trees that measure hundreds of feet tall as well as little plants.                                      

Preservation of the Amazon rainforest is important for many reasons. One significant reason is that some of its plants may prove useful in the creation of drugs that help to treat diseases such as cancer. If the plant life of the Amazon rainforest is not cared for, we may lose the elements that go into making medicines that are vital to humans.   

For further information on the Amazon Rainforest and rainforests in general, please visit:

Publicado em 19/08/2010