The Amazon Rainforest | A Hidden World of Unknown Species

The Amazon Rainforest: A Hidden World of Unknown Species

Amazon Rainforest roughly about the size of twice as India is an unsolved mystery. These forests present in Brazil and 8 other countries aren’t discovered fully yet. We’re still unaware of what sort of species do exist here. But why is it unsolved?

Let’s Explore!

Geography

The Amazon Rainforests are located in 9 countries of South America, which are Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French-Guiana. Around 40% of the South-American continent is covered by these massive forests.

Being the largest Tropical forest, it’s home to millions of species and many unknown forms of life, these unknown lives here are yet left to be explored. Also there are over 400 tribes and more than 30 million people living there many of them are still un-contacted. So it could be considered the richest biological reservoir.

Species

It is believed that Amazon Rainforests are home to over 3 million species. Including 40,000 species of plants. In animals more than 1300 bird species, 430 + mammals, 1000+ amphibians and more than 400 retiles. In total of more 3130 species of animals. And the estimate for insects is 2.5 million   species. And another estimate is that it’s just 10% of the total species of Amazon Rainforests discovered yet.

History

Amazon Rainforests were first explored by a European explorer Francisco de Orellana in 1500s.

Then in late 1800s Alexander Von Humboldt’s who was a German Naturalist explored Amazon Rainforests.

Then gradually the interest in Amazon Rainforests when naturalists such as Henry Walter Bates and Alfred Russel Wallace started exploring South America and Amazon Rainforests.

Then after the Second World War when researchers started focusing on Amazon Rainforests they noticed the vast production of oxygen and absorption of Carbon-di-oxide by the Amazon Rainforests and they named them “The Lungs of The Earth”.

Then with the advancement of satellites allowing scientists to monitor the rainforests better. Especially the deforestation which actually started in late 1800s and early 1900s when the rubber was discovered, so to monitor accurately satellites were very effective.

Then from 1980s till now the organizations have been focusing more and have been working to reduce the deforestation and to protect the rights of the indigenous people since the knowledge of the indigenous people is crucial to manage the forests.

Now the organizations are still working to preserve the Amazon while maintaining the economy development.

Unexplored Regions of Amazon Forests

There are a lot more of regions left to explore. The reason is the challenging journey with massive trees which block the way.

It isn’t easy to explore these regions in fact it’s not very much possible to contact those tribes, what if they get violates?

It’s all the nature and mystery!

Some of the incredible mysteries are Jabuticaba which is a Brazilian Grape Tree. Giant Water Lily which are so and strong that the weight of an adult person can be supported on them. Rafflesia is also a mysterious plant for a couple of reasons like this fruit has no leaves or roots. Then, it produces heat without photosynthesis. Also an unpleasant smell is released by it which seems like meat which is rotten. And a lot more mysteries are hidden in Amazon Rainforests.

So Amazon Rainforests are dangerous, aren’t they?

We can say they are since it has a lot of mysteries, the structure and the disputes among the population of the forest make it a dangerous place.

Then who won’t be afraid in such places which are dark even in the day. Well, you might wonder who turned the lights off, so there are thick leaves which capture light up to 99%.

But what about the people who already live in the forests?

So they are the native people, farmers, miners etc. As told that there are over 400 Indigenous tribes living there. But sometimes they face threats as well.

Amazon Rainforests can unsafe for the people who live there because of the many dangers such as animals including Green Anaconda, Amazon Giant Centipede, and Amazon Tarantula etc.