How much of Brazil is covered by the Amazon rainforest?
Brazil holds approximately 60 percent of the Amazon basin within its borders, and some 1,583,000 square miles (4,100,000 square km) of this was covered by forests in 1970. The amount of forest cover declined to some 1,283,000 square miles (3,323,000 square km) by 2016,...
What countries in South America have tropical rainforests?
South America: Tropical and subtropical rainforests. …the largest part of the Amazon region, most of the Guianas, southern and eastern Venezuela, the Atlantic slopes of the Brazilian Highlands, and the Pacific coast of Colombia and northern Ecuador.
Which countries share the largest share of the Amazon rainforest?
The highly biodiverse Amazon Rainforest is shared by nine South American nations with Brazil enjoying the largest share.
What percentage of South America does the Amazon rainforest occupy?
South America: key figures on the Amazon 2021 The region occupies an area of 2.6 million square miles, which represents around 40 percent of the total South American territory.
How much of the country does the Amazon rainforest cover?
The basin -- roughly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States -- covers some 40 percent of the South American continent and includes parts of eight South American countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname, as well as French Guiana, a department of France.
What countries in South America does the Amazon cover?
The Amazon rainforest spreads across nine countries namely Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, and French Guiana. Some of these countries hold a bigger part of the Amazon forest than others.
How much of South America is covered by the Amazon River?
35.5 percentThe Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about 6,300,000 km2 (2,400,000 sq mi), or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Which country has the most of the Amazon rainforest?
BrazilBrazil holds approximately 60 percent of the Amazon basin within its borders, and some 1,583,000 square miles (4,100,000 square km) of this was covered by forests in 1970.
How much of the Amazon is in Colombia?
10%The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
What percentage of South America is rainforest?
The dominant ecological zone is the tropical rain forest, representing 36 percent of the total area, followed by tropical moist deciduous forest with 24 percent, tropical mountain forest with 10 percent and tropical dry forest with 9.5 percent.
How much of the world's rainforest are in South America?
The Amazon forest spans more than five million km2 and is by far the world's largest rainforest area, representing some 55–60% of all rainforest.
What 9 countries span the rainforest?
The Amazon forestspans across 9 countries The Amazon forest includes Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana.
Is there a river under the Amazon?
Covering more than 7 million square kilometres in South America, the Amazon basin is one of the biggest and most impressive river systems in the world.
Can you swim in the Amazon river?
There are guided tours on the Amazon to see things like the Amazon River Dolphin, some of which apparently will let people swim with them. Based on this, it's probably safe to swim in those areas, but like any river with wild-life there are no guarantees.
What percentage of the Amazon rainforest is still standing?
Estimated loss by yearPeriodEstimated remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon (km2)Percent of 1970 cover remaining20173,315,84980.9%20183,308,31380.7%20193,298,55180.5%20203,290,12580.3%33 more rows
What 9 countries span the rainforest?
The Amazon forestspans across 9 countries The Amazon forest includes Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana.
How much of the earth is covered in rainforest?
They are incredibly diverse and complex, home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species—even though they cover just 6% of Earth's surface.
Does the Amazon rainforest cover half of South America?
At 6.9 million square kilometers (2.72 million square miles), the Amazon Basin is roughly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States and covers some 40 percent of the South American continent.
What percentage of Amazon rainforest is left?
Estimated loss by yearPeriodEstimated remaining forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon (km2)Percent of 1970 cover remaining20173,315,84980.9%20183,308,31380.7%20193,298,55180.5%20203,290,12580.3%33 more rows
How large is the Amazon Rainforest?
The Amazon Rainforest stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the tree line of the Andes in the west. The forest widens from a 200-mile (3...
How many species does the Amazon Rainforest contain?
The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s richest and most-varied biological reservoir, containing several million species of insects, plants, birds, an...
How quickly is the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil being deforested?
Brazilians have settled large portions of the Amazon, clearing the land for lumbering, grazing, and agriculture. Between 1970 and 2016, Brazilian A...
What is the Amazon rainforest?
The Amazon rainforest, alternatively, the Amazon jungle or Amazonia, is a moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 km 2 (2,700,000 sq mi), of which 5,500,000 km 2 (2,100,000 sq mi) are covered by the rainforest.
What is the name of the drainage basin that splits the Amazon rainforest?
Aerial view of the Amazon rainforest. During the mid-Eocene, it is believed that the drainage basin of the Amazon was split along the middle of the continent by the Purus Arch. Water on the eastern side flowed toward the Atlantic, while to the west water flowed toward the Pacific across the Amazonas Basin.
Why is remote sensing important?
Given the objectivity and lowered costs of satellite-based land cover and -change analysis, it appears likely that remote sensing technology will be an integral part of assessing the extents, locations and damage of deforestation in the basin. Furthermore, remote sensing is the best and perhaps only possible way to study the Amazon on a large scale.
How many people died in the Amazon rubber boom?
During the Amazon rubber boom it is estimated that diseases brought by immigrants, such as typhus and malaria, killed 40,000 native Amazonians.
Why do leaves expand in the rainforest?
Leaves expand during the dry season when sunlight is at a maximum, then undergo abscission in the cloudy wet season. These changes provide a balance of carbon between photosynthesis and respiration.
Why do tribes use remote sensing?
The use of remote sensing for the conservation of the Amazon is also being used by the indigenous tribes of the basin to protect their tribal lands from commercial interests. Using handheld GPS devices and programs like Google Earth, members of the Trio Tribe, who live in the rainforests of southern Suriname, map out their ancestral lands to help strengthen their territorial claims. Currently, most tribes in the Amazon do not have clearly defined boundaries, making it easier for commercial ventures to target their territories.
Where is the majority of the rainforest?
The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Four nations have " Amazonas " as the name of one of their first-level administrative regions, and France uses the name " Guiana Amazonian Park " for its rainforest protected area. The Amazon represents over half of the planet 's remaining rainforests, and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world, with an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species.
How much oxygen does the Amazon rainforest produce?
The Amazon rainforest generates more than 20% of the world’s oxygen and around a quarter of pharmaceuticals use ingredients that are sourced there. Interestingly, it was established in 2006 that before the rise of the Andes, the Amazon once flowed east to west.
How big is the Amazon basin?
The Amazon basin covers an area of approximately 2,900,000 square miles (7,500,000 km²), around 40% of South America. The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s largest tropical forest, home to at least 10% of the planet’s biodiversity, 16,000 types of tree, 4,000 species of plants, more than 2,000 different types of fish and 1,300 types of bird, around 2½ million species of insect and hundreds of varieties of amphibians and reptiles.
How many suites are there in the Aria Amazon?
The Aria Amazon has just 16 beautifully designed suites, each of which has a floor to ceiling window. Itineraries include off-ship excursions in groups of 8, each led by experienced local naturalist guides. Superb cuisine. Itineraries start and end in Iquitos, Peru.
How many cabins does the M/V Manatee have?
The M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer has just 10 standard cabins and 4 suites for a maximum of 30 guests to experience unparalleled adventures in the Ecuadorian Amazon. We will book return flights from Quito to Coca in conjunction with your itinerary.
What is the largest rainforest in the world?
The Amazon rainforest is a wet broadleaf forest that takes up the majority of the South America’s Amazon basin. This rainforest covers an area of 2,123, 561.8 square miles. Because of its vast biodiversity, it stands to be the world’s largest rainforest. Many rivers including the Amazon River crisscross the forest.
Why is the Amazon rainforest important?
Deforestation is the biggest enemy the rainforest faces and if not well addressed it could face extinction in the next 40 years. Thousands of animals and plants of different species also depend on the Amazon forest for survival, so protection of the rainforest is of vital importance.
What is the rainforest in Peru?
Peru. With species like the blue and yellow macaw found here, the Amazon rainforest in Peru takes a 10% of the land cover in Peru. It has the second largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil. Many species of animals including kinkajou, squirrel monkey, and jaguar live in the rainforest. Many plant species are also found here.
What are the animals that live in the rainforest in Bolivia?
Some of the reptiles and amphibians found there include; freshwater turtles, venomous snakes, iguanas and poison dart frogs.
How much land does the Amazon cover?
The Amazon covers an area of 229,985 square miles taking up 6% of the land in Bolivia. Due to excessive deforestation in the rainforest, the Certified Forest sector in Bolivia passed laws requiring the planting of trees in deforested areas.
How many countries are there in the Amazon rainforest?
The vast forest plays a critical role in keeping the local and regional climate in check. The Amazon rainforest spreads across nine countries namely Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, and French Guiana. Some of these countries hold a bigger part of the Amazon forest than others.
What are the animals that live in the Colombian Amazon?
Many species of birds including the macaws and parrots, manakins, hummingbirds, and woodpeckers call this rainforest home.
How much of the world's water is in the Amazon River?
The Amazon River basin spans six countries and covers more than a third of the South American continent. It contains roughly 20 percent of the world’s river water and generates electricity and irrigates crops across much of South America. With the exception of Chile, every South American country benefits directly from the Amazon’s moisture. Its unique hydrology makes central Brazilian agriculture possible and helps keep the lights on from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.
What did Enéas Salati discover about the Amazon rainforest?
In 1975, the Brazilian scientist Enéas Salati made an astonishing discovery: the Amazon rainforest doesn’t just receive an unusual level of precipitation but actually creates half its own rainfall. The moisture contained in air masses crossing the Amazon basin, he showed, cycles through five or six phases of precipitation and evaporation before it reaches the high wall of the Andes Mountains. There, it rises, cools, and rains down one last time in a mighty deluge that suffuses the Amazon River system with water.
Is there deforestation in the Amazon?
Unfortuna tely, some governments in the region are doing the opposite, accelerating the pace of deforestation and doing little to rep lenish the jungle. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in particular, has pursued outmoded development initiatives. In late 2019, Bolsonaro announced a measure that would grant legal land titles to irregular occupants in the Amazon, enabling them to get bank credit on their properties and to reside without fear of eviction. Without amendments to prevent additional land from being cleared, however, this policy will only reward past illegal behavior and incentivize further deforestation.
Is the city of Manaus sustainable?
Finally, South American governments must adopt a more sustainable approach to the settlement of the rainforest. While far from perfect, the city of Manaus in the Brazilian state of Amazonas is a useful model: the city of 2.5 million people is sustained largely by industries that don’t draw on raw materials from the forest. As a result, Manaus’s economy has been able to grow even as the rate of deforestation in the state of Amazonas has declined.
Overview
Geography
Nine countries share the Amazon basin—most of the rainforest, 58.4%, is contained within the borders of Brazil. The other eight countries include Peru with 12.8%, Bolivia with 7.7%, Colombia with 7.1%, Venezuela with 6.1%, Guyana with 3.1%, Suriname with 2.5%, French Guiana with 1.4%, and Ecuador with 1%.
The rainforest likely formed during the Eocene era (from 56 million years to 33.9 million years ag…
Etymology
The name Amazon is said to arise from a war Francisco de Orellana fought with the Tapuyas and other tribes. The women of the tribe fought alongside the men, as was their custom. Orellana derived the name Amazonas from the Amazons of Greek mythology, described by Herodotus and Diodorus.
History
In the Amazonas, there has been fighting and wars between the neighboring tribes of the Jivaro. Several tribes of the Jivaroan group, including the Shuar, practised headhunting for trophies and headshrinking. The accounts of missionaries to the area in the borderlands between Brazil and Venezuela have recounted constant infighting in the Yanomami tribes. More than a third of the Yanomamo males, on average, died from warfare.
Biodiversity, flora and fauna
Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. This constitutes the largest collection of living p…
Deforestation
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested areas. The main sources of deforestation in the Amazon are human settlement and the development of the land. In 2018, about 17% of the Amazon rainforest was already destroyed. Research suggests that upon reaching about 20–25% (hence 3–8% more), the tipping point to flip it into a non-forest ecosystem – degraded
Conservation and climate change
Environmentalists are concerned about loss of biodiversity that will result from destruction of the forest, and also about the release of the carbon contained within the vegetation, which could accelerate global warming. Amazonian evergreen forests account for about 10% of the world's terrestrial primary productivity and 10% of the carbon stores in ecosystems – of the order of 1.1 × …
See also
• Amanyé
• Atlantic Forest
• Bandeirantes
• Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest
• Environmental impact of meat production