The Amazon Rainforest

TThe Amazon Rainforest is a well-known, highly popular forest. It is shared by 9 countries, one of which is Colombia. It stretches out 2,300,000 miles, and goes all the way from the Atlantic Ocean’s coast to the Andes Mountains tree line. In some places near the Andes, it even gets as wide as 1,200 miles. It is a site with high rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures. The rainforest is located near the equator, so that makes it quite hot. High rainfall is actually what gave it the name “rain”forest, though it doesn’t always rain. Inhabiting these features are millions of species of insects, plants, birds, and mammals. Not only does the rainforest have abundant wildlife, but it is also a home to over 40 million people. Some of its most rare and popular animals include jaguars, manatees, red deer, and even capybaras! These animals are truly unique, and are painfully sparse. These create a high standard to upkeep. But due to these inhabitants and the vast nature, it also takes a lot to maintain the rainforest. There has been significant deforestation, due to the rise of occupants. In 2016 alone, the forested area of the forest went down roughly 300,000 miles. Procedures were put in place, and slowly the deforestation rate went down. Still, deforestation is a huge problem, as it isn’t completely gone. There is still an average 0.1% deforestation rate, which though might not seem like much, will rip apart the forest in the near future. Additionally, in 2019, a huge series of wildfires occurred, wiping out a substantial amount of the forest. Though it is rapidly disappearing, this does not mean that the forest isn’t an astonishing place to visit. With all of its natural resources and wildlife, it is a truly beautiful experience to encounter.