Earth’s Green Heart#
If the Earth were a person, the Amazon Rainforest would be its heart.
How big is this rainforest? 5.5 million square kilometers — bigger than all of India, making up half of the world’s tropical rainforests.
It spans 9 countries, mostly in Brazil.
The Amazon is called “Earth’s Lungs” — because the trees here absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen every day. For every 10 breaths the Earth takes, the Amazon gives it 1.
The Amazon River: The World’s Largest River#
Inside the Amazon Rainforest flows the world’s most water-rich river — the Amazon River.
How powerful is the Amazon?
- Its water volume is 20% of all rivers on Earth — one-fifth of all river water in the world
- Its estuary is 330 km wide — you can’t see the other side
- It has over 1,000 tributaries, 17 of which are over 1,500 km long
The Amazon “rises” every year — during the rainy season, the water level rises 12 meters above normal, flooding vast areas of forest. The flooded forest is called “igapó,” and fish swim through the tree canopy looking for food.
A “Headquarters” for 3 Million Species#
The Amazon Rainforest is the most biodiverse place on Earth.
It’s home to:
- 40,000 plant species — a single tree can host 1,000 species of insects
- 1,300 bird species — including colorful macaws
- 3,000 fish species — including fierce piranhas and giant Amazon river dolphins
- 400 mammal species — including jaguars, sloths, and monkeys
- Countless insects — including the world’s largest spider (Goliath birdeater)
Scientists estimate the Amazon still contains countless undiscovered species. Maybe under a leaf you step on, there’s a creature humans have never seen before.
The Rainforest Is Disappearing#
But the Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed.
Every minute, an area of forest the size of a football field is cut down.
What’s the cleared forest used for? Cattle ranching, soybean farming, agriculture.
If the Amazon continues to disappear at this rate, “Earth’s Lungs” may stop breathing within decades.
Learn from the World#
The Amazon teaches us one thing: all life on Earth is connected.
When a tree in the rainforest is cut down, it doesn’t just affect the birds and insects in the tree — it affects the entire planet’s air, climate, and ecological balance.
Protecting the rainforest means protecting ourselves.
Knowledge Card#
- Location: South America, spanning Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and 6 other countries
- Type: Natural Wonder
- Key Numbers: 5.5 million sq km, 50% of the world’s tropical rainforests
- Biodiversity: 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish species, 400 mammal species
- Fun Fact: The Amazon’s soil is actually very poor — nutrients are locked in the plants. Once trees are cut, the soil quickly becomes barren
- UNESCO: Parts listed as World Heritage Sites
- Source: World Wildlife Fund (WWF)