Did you know that Amazon rainforest has pink dolphins?
The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest which provides 20% of the world's oxygen. Its dense flora functions as a gigantic air filter, absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen on a continuous basis. Even though it only occupies 6% of the earth's surface, the rainforest is so large that it contains more than half of the world's remaining rainforests. It could fit Ireland and the United Kingdom within it 17 times. The Amazon encompasses a large area of South America (6.7 million sq km), mostly in Brazil but also in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Here’s a list of some amazing facts about the Amazon Rainforest that we’ve compiled for you. Read below to know more.
Amazon rainforest is called the Lungs of the Planet
Since Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere through photosynthesis, it is known as the lungs of our planet.
Multiple biodiversity species exist in the Amazon rainforest
Around 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 2,200 fish species, 427 mammal species, 430 amphibian species, 380 reptile species, and 2.5 million insect species live in the Amazon's incredibly diverse ecology. It is home to 10% of all known biodiversity on the planet. The Amazon is home to one in every five bird and fish species.
The Amazon rainforest is influenced by the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert has a significant impact on the Amazon rainforest by delivering phosphorus, which is required for fertilisation. Phosphorus-rich dust comes in from the Sahara via the Atlantic Ocean, boosting the rainforest's growth.
Amazon rainforest is home to some strange animals
The Amazon rainforest is home to a variety of strange and deadly species. Some of these creatures, from pink dolphins and green anacondas to poison dart frogs, bullet ants, electric eels, and flesh-eating piranhas, can astound you with their powers.
75% of the Amazon rainforest could be destroyed due to climate change
Climate change might wreak havoc on the Amazon rainforest, as just a three-degree increase in temperature could wipe out 75% of it. According to experts, the rainforest could perish in just a century due to current global temperatures. Even if it is not noticeable now, the impact of rising temperatures will become apparent over time.
The Amazon rainforest also has a sizable human population
Although the huge rainforest conjures up ideas of exotic and potentially dangerous creatures, it also has a sizable human population. The Amazon is home to 21 million people, including an estimated 50 isolated tribes that have yet to touch contemporary society.
The Amazon rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate
Every second, 1.5 acres of the Amazon rainforest disappears, resulting in the extinction of 137 species on average. Deforestation in the Amazon accounts for 30% of global carbon emissions, and if current trends continue, the Amazon will be deforested in 40 years. The majority of the destruction is to make place for cow pastures, so it's about time we started thinking about cutting back on red meat.