Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests are found near the equator — the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. Countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have large rainforests.
These forests are warm and wet ALL year. Temperatures stay between 70°F and 85°F (21°C to 29°C), and it rains almost every day — some tropical forests get over 80 inches of rain per year! All this warmth and water makes them the most biodiverse places on Earth.
Biodiversity means the variety of living things. A single acre of tropical rainforest can contain hundreds of different tree species, thousands of insect species, and countless other organisms. Scientists are still discovering new species in rainforests every year!
Tropical rainforests have very clear layers. The canopy is so thick that the forest floor is almost completely dark. Huge vines called lianas hang from tree to tree. Colorful parrots, toucans, jaguars, and poison dart frogs all call the rainforest home.
Rainforests are sometimes called 'the lungs of the Earth' because their trees produce enormous amounts of oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
**Wow Factor:** Tropical rainforests cover only about 6% of Earth's land surface, but they contain more than HALF of all plant and animal species on the planet!