Epiphyte Trees: Epiphyte trees are different to normal trees. This is because they wrap themselves around other trees to deprive them of oxygen and kill them. They then take the dead trees place so that it can grow up to the emergent layer. The tallest trees are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around. Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here. Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies. Little sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet. Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards. There is a large concentration of insects here. The canopy layer inhabits most of the animals. These include : toucans, macaws, spider monkeys and many more. It acts like a big sponge as it rains a lot in the Amazon Rainforest. The forest floor is the darkest place of all. Not many animals live there. These include most land animals that cannot climb trees.

The Amazon Rainforest is located in the heart of South America. It spans across 9 countries. These include Brazil, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela and many more. It is the largest rainforest in the world.

The Amazon River is one of the largest rivers in the world. It is not as long as the Nile but it is the largest in width. It is home to many animals and insects such as the pink river dolphin and the piranha. Sadly, the river is under threat because of deforestation. This is because many cars get too close to the river so that it gets polluted by all of the cars fumes.

The Amazon rainforest is very important for many different reasons. Firstly, it provides a home for the biodiversity that lives there. Secondly, it is known as the worlds lungs. This is because it takes in 20% of the worlds carbon dioxide. Also, it is known as a rainforest pharmacy because it provides 25% of our medicines. Another reason why we need the rainforest is because many tribes live there. Finally, it provides with many products we use everyday.

The Amazon rainforest is under threat. Logging companies, mining practices, farming, agriculture and cattle ranching are all reasons that people are still destroying the rainforest. These are all economic reasons for deforestation. What you can do to help: To help you can start putting paper in the recycling bin instead of the normal bin. Also, you can plant trees everywhere to help the environment and to restore the 580,000 Km of trees that have already been destroyed.

Fast facts The Amazon Rainforest contains over half of the worlds animals, plants and insects. It provides us with many of the products we eat and use today. The Amazon River is one of the largest rivers in the world and it contains many animals. The Amazon Rainforest is known as a Rainforest Pharmacy as it provides us with 20%of our medicine.

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