10 interesting facts about the Amazon rainforest that you should know

The Amazon rainforest is a true natural wonder of the world with breathtaking beauty and mesmerizing environment. Spanning a total of 9 countries, the rainforest can easily be counted among one of the best locations for tour and travel (especially for adventure and thrill seekers). It is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals. Some of the interesting facts about the Amazon rainforest are:

1. Located in South America, Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world covering five and a half a million square kilometers. 
2. Amazon is spread across the Amazon basin spanning various countries such as Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Bolivia, Suriname and French Guiana.
3. Francisco de Orellana, the first European to travel the length of the Amazon River, had to encounter with various South American tribes and went to war against them. Witnessing even the tribeswomen fighting alongside the men, Orellana called them Amazons in reference to the fierce female warriors of Greek mythology. 
4. In fact, the forest is so dense with the forest canopy that very little sunlight actually makes it through to the ground. As a result, the ground level in many parts is completely black. 
5. The Amazon forest is the source of a variety of food that nourishes the human population of several countries. Some of the important food products include bananas, black pepper, chocolate, coffee, corn, pineapple, rice and tomatoes.
6. The forest is home to a tremendous variety of natural flora and fauna, many unique to the rain forest. Some estimates include 205 bird species, 40000 plant species and about 2.5 million insect species. 
7. Many of the medicinal plants used in treatment can be found in the Amazon rainforests, with not even maybe 1% of all the plants tested for medicinal values. Tremendous scope for traditional vaccines is present in these majestic forests. 
8. The main source of life and the driving engine of the rainforest is the great Amazon River which mainly runs through the north of the rainforest. 
9. Because of the huge forest cover, Amazon is able to trap a lot of carbon dioxide off the air and releasing oxygen in the process. With an estimated 20% of the the world’s oxygen produced in Amazon, it is also known as ‘the ‘lungs of the earth’. 
10. With proper preparation and caution, it can be a feast for the adventure seekers as a tourist destination. A whole range of activities can be enjoyed in the rainforest such as hiking, swimming, wildlife photography and lots more.

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