Rainforests
Rainforests and jungles can be some of the most lush, life-supporting regions on the planet.
One of the many dangers of living in a tropical rainforest is animals. There are many venomous snakes and insects, as well as carnivorous animals that can attack people. The land can also be extremely dangerous and uneven, and the forest is so thick in some places that it would be nearly impossible to navigate.
The Amazon Rainforest is the area around the Amazon River basin. It is the largest rainforest in the world and covers 7,000,000 square km. The Amazon has the largest variety of species of life on the planet. Perhaps it is because of this that life in the Amazon is so difficult for humans - there is so much opportunity to get bitten, attacked, infected drowned or injured.
One of the many dangers of living in a tropical rainforest is animals. There are many venomous snakes and insects, as well as carnivorous animals that can attack people. The land can also be extremely dangerous and uneven, and the forest is so thick in some places that it would be nearly impossible to navigate.
The Amazon Rainforest is the area around the Amazon River basin. It is the largest rainforest in the world and covers 7,000,000 square km. The Amazon has the largest variety of species of life on the planet. Perhaps it is because of this that life in the Amazon is so difficult for humans - there is so much opportunity to get bitten, attacked, infected drowned or injured.
When the Amazon floods in the wet season, it can take out entire villages. People have had to adapt to these floods and build villages that float or are either elevated by stilts. Like the man in this pictures, people must wade, swim or use boats as transportation.
The map below shows the rainforests of the world. And yes, Vancouver Island is a rainforest! Areas that are not tropical rainforests are called temperate rainforests. They, too, can be extreme environments, but the characteristics of tropical rainforests are often more extreme. This usually means more rain and flooding, more dangerous animals. Tropical rainforests also have more hot, humid conditions, which means that dehydration is more likely and poisonous and diseased insects are more abundant.