ABOUT RAINFORESTS Rainforest Basics Rainforest Experiences Fascinating Facts

What is a Rainforest?

Is there a difference between a rainforest and a jungle?

Is the Amazon a jungle or a rainforest?

Where are the rainforests of the world?

Where are the rainforests in South & Central America?

Rainforest Quick Facts

Amazon Quick Facts

AMAZON QUICK FACTS obtained from a variety of sources, simply organized, none verified and not meant to be the definitive guide to Amazon facts.

The Amazon is the largest and densest rainforest on earth The Amazon covers 2.5 million miles, about the size of the USA west of the Mississippi If Amazonas were a country, it would be the 9th largest on earth Each minute the Amazon River discharges 3.4 million gallons of water into the Atlantic, 14 times the discharge of the Mississippi The Amazon runs 4007 miles from its origin in the Andes to the Atlantic, making it the second longest river on earth During its journey it touches and-or travels through 8 countries There are 200 major tributaries of which 17 are more than 1000 miles long and 10 of which discharge more water than the Mississippi Its vegetation represents about 1/3 of the remaining forest on earth and provides about 15% of the world's new oxygen Scientists have catalogued: 2500 species of fish 1500 species of birds 1800 species of butterflys 4 types of big cats 200 species of mosquitos 50,000 species of higher plants