3. The Amazon River is one of the longest rivers in world, measuring between 3,903 and 4,195 miles long. It is up to 6.8 miles wide during the dry season and 24.8 miles wide during the rainy season The Amazon River carries more water than any other river in the world. It gathers water from both hemispheres, including areas within Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. The mouth of the Amazon River is so wide that ocean ships have been able to travel two-thirds of the way up its length.

4. Amazon Rainforest Deforestation Facts The Amazon Rainforest is home to almost half of the world's species of plants and animals. It is a sad fact that humans are quickly destroying one of the world's most valuable natural assets. What was once a vast rainforest is rapidly shrinking. There are many reasons why deforestation is taking place such as: cattle ranching, logging, mining, farming, and road construction all contribute to the destruction of the rainforest. When the rainforest is cut-down at the alarming rate it has been, the earth loses 137 species of plants and animals each day. Amazon Rainforest General Deforestation Facts About one quarter of the western medicine used today has ingredients that originated in the Amazon Rainforest. With so many unidentified trees and plants, it is logical to conclude that many more have medicinal value that has not yet been discovered. If deforestation continues, we may never know how many more have potential to help save lives. People need oxygen to survive and the Amazon's trees and plants are responsible for providing more than 20% of the world’s oxygen. That is why the Amazon was given the nickname, Lungs of the Planet. People from around the world rely on the Amazon for a huge portion of their daily diets. Fruits, nuts, rice, corn, coffee, potatoes, vegetables, spices, and many other important foods are grown here. The availability of these foods will become scarce if the rainforest, as we know it, disappears.

5. The Amazon rainforest climate is typically a tropical climate, also known as equatorial climate, found approximately 12 degrees to the North and South of the equator. Like any other tropical rainforest, it's hot and humid throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 27°C (80.7°F). There isn't such a thing as summer or winter, or it's not pronounced, the annual temperature range is about 2°C. In fact, the difference between day and night temperature (2 to 5°C) is greater than the difference between any two seasons.