The Amazon Rain Forest.

by Andrew Sieveking

Location

The Amazon is located in South America and located in the countrys of Brazil, Ecuader and a few smaller countrys around there.

Climate

The seasons do not change in the tropical rain forest. It has been hot and wet for millions of years. The average temperature year-round is about 80 degrees. The tropical rain forest is the wettest place on earth. It rains every day. In one year it may rain about 100 to 400 inches. This means that 9 to 30 feet of rain may fall each year.

Geology and Land forms

Imagine rainforests as huge sponges or watersheds soaking up the rain and storing it, releasing a little at a time. In a well forested watershed, 95% of annual rainfall is trapped and then released slowly but surely over time, replenishing ground water and keeping streams and rivers flowing through the dry seasons. This constant supply of clean water running into streams, rivers, lakes, reefs and lagoons is vital for replenishing the homes of their myriad creatures.

When the forest is removed, there is no longer any sponge to absorb the water and the result is massive flooding, soil erosion and siltation of the waterways. Siltation causes the water to become choked with mud and all life that depends on that clean water eventually suffocates.

Animals

Animals and insects live in all the layers of the rain forest. Some prefer the emergent layer, some the canopy. Others thrive in the understory, or the forest floor.Here is a list of some of the animals that live in the Amazon.

MAMMALS

* Bats * Bush Baby * Squirrel * Chimpanzee * Gorilla * Jaguar * Lemur * Leopard * Mice * Monkey* Opossum * Orangutan * Sloth

REPTILES

* Lizard * Turtle * Snake

AMPHIBIANS

* Frog * Salamander

BIRDS

* Bird of Paradise * Cockatoo * Eagle * Hornbill * Hummingbird * Macaw *Parrot * Peacock* Toucan

INSECTS

*Ant * Beetle *Butterfly * Snail *Spider * Termite

Plants

The tropical rain forest is the richest source of plant life on earth. There are so many different kinds of plants there, scientists don't even know them all yet. It is a perfect place for growing plants. The average temperature is 70 to 90 degrees and there is plenty of water.

The tropical rain forest is the richest source of plant life on earth. There are so many different kinds of plants there, scientists don't even know them all yet. It is a perfect place for growing plants. The average temperature is 70 to 90 degrees and there is plenty of water.

There are many kinds of vines and ferns which connect the layers of the rain forest. Mushrooms and herbs grow on the florest floor. People can learn to gather fruits and nuts for food, as well as plants for medicine, without harming the rain forest. Rain forest people have done this for thousands of years.

These are a few difrent kinds of plants you may know. The avacado,bananna,coffee been,lemon,orange,pineapple,pepper, and peanut.

Environmantal Issues

The number on Acres each minute that is cut down or burned is 80 acres or 5000 acres in an hour. In Brazil 10 million acres are lost a year. At this rate there will be no tropical rain forests left in 1 centurie. 25% of all EarthÕs species will be lost do to deforestation by the year 2009