Introduction to Amazonia
The Amazon Rainforest, or Amazonia, is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth, covering over 5.5 million square kilometers across nine countries in South America.
Biodiversity Beyond Comparison
Amazonia boasts unparalleled biodiversity, home to about 10% of the world's known species. This includes over 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fish species, and 1,300 bird species.
Unique Amazonian Tribes
Over 350 indigenous groups live in the Amazon, some of which have never had contact with the outside world, maintaining a traditional lifestyle that's centuries old.
The Amazon's Carbon Role
The Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate by absorbing millions of tons of carbon emissions annually. However, deforestation threatens this vital carbon sink.
River of Myth and Mystery
The Amazon River, winding through the forest, releases 20% of the world's freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean. It's so vast that it even has its own name for the ocean-like section - the River Sea.
Pharmaceutical Treasures
The Amazon's flora is a source of untapped pharmaceutical compounds. About 25% of modern drugs are derived from rainforest plants, yet less than 1% of Amazonian plants have been studied for medicinal potential.
Deforestation's Dramatic Impact
Alarmingly, the Amazon loses approximately 8,000 square kilometers of forest yearly, equivalent to more than 1.4 million football fields, threatening its survival and global environmental health.Underground River Discovery
Under the Amazon River, there's a massive underground river called the Hamza, flowing at nearly the same length but much deeper and slower.
How many countries span Amazonia?
Nine South American countries
Seven South American countries
Ten South American countries
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