Rainforest Facts For Kids
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Rainforests are some of the most incredible ecosystems on Earth, and they cover only 6% of the Earth’s surface. They are bursting with life, with millions of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms living in them. Let’s explore some fun and fascinating facts about rainforests!
1. Rainforests are home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species. They are the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, with new species being discovered all the time.
2. Rainforests are found near the equator, in South America, Central America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
3. Rainforests have a tropical climate, with temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (21 and 29 degrees Celsius) and lots of rainfall. In fact, some rainforests get up to 400 inches (10 meters) of rain per year!
4. The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, covering more than 2.7 million square miles (7 million square kilometers).
5. Trees are the most important living things in the rainforest. They provide food, shelter, and oxygen for animals and people.
6. Rainforests are often called the “lungs of the Earth” because they produce about 20% of the world’s oxygen.
7. Rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate, mostly due to logging, mining, and agriculture. It is estimated that we lose 80,000 acres (32,400 hectares) of rainforest every day.
8. Many medicines come from plants in the rainforest. For example, quinine, which is used to treat malaria, comes from the bark of a tree found in the Amazon rainforest.
9. Rainforests have four layers – the emergent layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer, and the forest floor. Each layer has its own unique group of plants and animals.
10. Some of the most famous animals found in rainforests are monkeys, jaguars, toucans, parrots, and sloths. But there are many more, including the poison dart frog, the boa constrictor, and the piranha.
Rainforests are truly amazing places filled with incredible plants, animals, and natural wonders. We must all work to protect these precious ecosystems so they can continue to thrive for generations to come.