The Amazon Basin is a vast tropical rainforest in South America, covering over 3 million square miles and containing rich biodiversity. Its climate is unique with no dry spells or change of seasons. Deforestation and modern society threaten isolated tribes and their languages. Efforts are being made to protect natural habitats, and rainforest-friendly products are certified. The Amazon River, the second longest in the world, drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Amazon Basin is a huge area of tropical rainforest in South America that contains the Amazon River, the second longest river in the world, and its tributaries. Almost half of the Amazon Basin is in Brazil, but parts of it also extend into other South American countries. It covers an area of over 3 million square miles, or over 8 million square kilometers, and contains some of the richest biodiversity on the planet.
A tropical rainforest climate is one in which all months of the year have an average rainfall of at least 2.36 inches (60 mm). As with most tropical climates, the Amazon basin is located near the equator. It has little or no dry spells and no change of seasons, which makes its climate and wildlife somewhat unique.
There are few major cities in the Amazon Basin and most of them are located on the river itself. The few scattered settlements found away from the river that are part of a larger society typically focus on agriculture and ranching. Some residents in the area harvest rubber latex and Brazil nuts, both of which have minimal impact on the land, unlike agriculture which clears large swathes of forest.
Portuguese and Spanish are the most common languages spoken by the inhabitants of the area, but there are hundreds of languages spoken by isolated tribes. Many of these tribes and their languages are in danger of becoming extinct as modern society expands its borders. Extensive deforestation has occurred in large parts of the Amazon Basin, and efforts are being made every day to protect natural habitats.
Much of the Amazon basin is still unexplored, adding to both its uniqueness and its value to the world. Thus, in recent decades, many efforts have been made to save the rainforest from industry and development. This has resulted in companies having to change their policy and procedure to satisfy consumers. Many products that contain components found in rainforests are certified to be “rainforest-friendly,” meaning they only use products from companies that don’t destroy any part of the Amazon Basin or any other rainforest.
The Amazon basin is bounded to the north by the Guiana highlands, to the south by the Brazilian highlands, and to the west by the Andes. Particularly prone to flooding, the valley’s streams make up about 20% of the total amount of water carried by rivers into the oceans. The Amazon River, approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long, drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
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