Amazon Rainforest

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Why the
Amazon rainforest
is special

The Amazon rainforest is immense (it's larger than Europe). The 6280 kilometer (3900 mile) long Amazon River is fed by a thousand rivers - some over 1600 kilometers (1000 miles) long.

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Amazon Rainforest
tips & insights

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Geography

Broadly defined, the Amazon Rainforest extends into nine South American countries. Nearly two-thirds lies in Brazil. Peru is the runner-up.

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Getting there

The Amazon's two major gateway airports are in Manaus (Brazil) and Iquitos (Peru).

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Getting around

On my first trip to the Amazon, I quickly discovered that road trips are severely limited because the jungle is thick and dissected by numerous snaking rivers. Watercraft and occasionally small airplanes are the most effective means of transportation.

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Cruising down
the Amazon

Although it is a popular childhood dream, in reality the view from the deck of a passenger ship soon becomes monotonous. You get a bored dèjá vu feeling as the river and its banks remain virtually unchanged for days on end. And, the dense riverside greenery hides nearly all the wildlife you came to see.

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The better
Amazon cruises

They explore the Amazon tributaries and offers interesting land excursions.

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Amazon
rainforest lodges

An alternative to cruising is staying in one of the lodges along the small Amazon tributary streams. They range in quality from budget to luxury. Use the lodge as a base to explore nature up close along jungle trails and narrow waterways.

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Amazon Rainforest
is vital to life

The Amazon Rainforest produces 20% of the earth's oxygen (and is the source of 20% of our planet's fresh water).

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Medicine

A large number of medicines we take for granted come from Amazon plants. And, because so many of the plant species have not yet been analyzed, we should see new drug discoveries.

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Amazon Rainforest
survival

About 14% of the world's land was once rainforest. Today it is down to 6%. Greenpeace, an environmental organization, warns that if deforestation continues at the present clip, the Amazon Rainforest will be history in 80 years. Some scientists predict an even earlier demise.

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Biologically
rich environment

More than a million colorful plant, animal and insect species inhabit the Amazon Rainforest.

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Amazon rainforest
flora & fauna

Although the Amazon rainforest looks like other rainforests to the amateur eye, nearly all its plants and animals are unique.

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Nutrient recycling

The Amazon ground must be nutrient rich because it fosters profuse plant growth. Right? Wrong. The soil is nutrient poor. The rain forest survives because it quickly recycles its limited nutrient sources.

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Water recycling

The Amazon also rapidly recycles its water. When it rains, the trees absorb the water, then let it evaporate, which creates clouds, which generate rain. Half that rain falls on the rain forest. The water shortcoming is made up by westbound clouds from the Atlantic Ocean.

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Rainfall

Average annual rainfall approaches 3 meters (10 feet). Some areas can experience twice that amount.

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The canopy

High trees create what is called the canopy, a dense umbrella of leaves. Little reaches the ground plants. To survive, they have developed broad leaves to capture as many defused sun rays as possible.

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