The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most fascinating places on Earth. If you’ve seen images or footage of the area, it’s easy to be captivated by the breathtaking landscape. Home to an incredible diversity of plants, animals, and trees — the largest rainforest on Earth is teeming with life.
Where the Amazon Rainforest is Located
Located in South America, the Amazon Rainforest spans 9 countries.
The Amazon is part of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
Size of the Amazon Rainforest
How big is the Amazon basin? Covering an area of approximately 6 million square kilometres, it’s home to the world’s largest rainforest.
As a whole, the Amazon Biome covers about 40% of the continent of South America.
The Amazon River and Rainforest Ecosystem
The Amazon River is the world’s largest river by volume of flow and size of the drainage basin.
Covering at least 6,400 kilometres, it carries the largest volume of freshwater on Earth—about 20% of the world’s liquid freshwater.
Why the Amazon Rainforest is Important
The Amazon: Earth's Air Conditioner
The Amazon contributes 20% of the oxygen produced on land via photosynthesis. In contrast, phytoplankton produce a staggering 70% of Earth’s oxygen.
For this reason, it makes more sense to call the Amazon Earth’s air conditioner, rather than its lungs.
Home to 1/5th of Earth's Land Species
The Amazon Rainforest is one of the world’s richest and most varied ecosystems,
Home to one-fifth of the world’s land species, including many found no-where else in the world, studies have shown one hectare of Amazonian forest may contain 300 or more tree species.
It’s safe to say you will find many interesting and diverse creatures lurking the forest floor, or moving from tree to tree. Â
Unique Biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Contains Deadly Creatures
While many of the animals within the Amazon are gentle and friendly, there are definitely a few that you would want to keep your distance from, such as venomous snakes, poisonous frogs, jaguars and flesh-eating piranhas!
Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon
Hundreds of Indigenous Groups Call the Amazon Home
In addition to being home to thousands of different tree and animal species, the Amazon Rainforest is home to more than 30 million people, including hundreds of indigenous groups and several dozen uncontacted or isolated tribes, showing that there are still parts of the Amazon that remain untouched.
A Lost City Was Recently Discovered in the Amazon
In 2024, the BBC reported the discovery of an ancient city deep beneath lush vegetation in the Amazon Rainforest, where it was hidden for millennia. Built around 2,500 years ago, the city was likely inhabited for around 1,000 years. The area lies in the shadow of a volcano that helped form unusually rich soils for the region but may have also led to the society’s demise.
Challenges the Amazon Faces
Deforestation and Climate Change
Over the past 40-50 years, 17% of the Amazon has been lost to deforestation and climate change—and it is estimated that if deforestation continues at this rate, there might not be much left in the next 40 years.
While all of these facts and figures are fascinating, the Amazon continues to face profound deforestation.
This is why it is more important now than ever to act to preserve and restore this amazing forest and all that it has to offer.
One Tree Planted (Wild Wood Chopping Boards donate to One Tree Planted every month) is working to support reforestation around the world and you can help by supporting reforestation in areas like the Amazon Rainforest through purchasing a Wild Wood Chopping Board or directly through One Tree Planted ( www.onetreeplanted.org ).
TL; DR - Facts About the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, spanning nine countries and covering about 40% of South America. It is home to roughly one fifth of known land-based species, stores vast amounts of carbon, and helps regulate global climate and rainfall. However, deforestation, fires, and climate change have already destroyed about 17% of the forest, putting it at risk of reaching a tipping point. Protecting and restoring the Amazon is critical for biodiversity, Indigenous communities, and climate stability.
