What is a rainforest?
A rainforest is a type of forest that is found in warm places. Rainforests get a lot of rain per year, that's where their name comes from!
Rainforests are wet and warm and they are an ideal place for tall trees and leafy plants to grow. Places that are full of plants are also full of animals.
Rainforests are a great place for scientists and adventurers. Many animals, plants and insects in rainforests haven’t been discovered yet.
Where can you find rainforests?
Rainforests are found on every continent except Antarctica. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforest in South America. The second biggest rainforest is the Congo in Africa.
Why are rainforests important?
Rainforests are important because they are full of plants that produce oxygen. Rainforests produce around 40% of the oxygen on the planet!
Plants also absorb carbon dioxide and help rain clouds form in the water cycle. Without rainforests, the temperature on the planet would be very hot and all the animals, plants, people and insects that depend on the rainforests would have nowhere to live.
Did you know?
- Rainforests cover around 6% of the Earth’s surface but have more than half of the world’s animal and plant life.
- Bananas, chocolate, coffee, nuts, coconuts, cinnamon and rubber all come from rainforests.
- In the South American rainforest, there are over 2,000 species of butterflies.
