2. Rainforests are thick growths of plants found in very hot, steamy, wet places around the world. The areas shaded green on this map of the world are where rainforests can be found.
3. Why is it called a Rainforest? The reason it is called a "rain" forest is because of the high amount of rainfall it gets per year. Rainforests have a rainfall of at least 254 centimetres a year and often get much more.
4. Why are Rainforests important to us? They are very important because the plants of the rainforest generate or make most of the Earth’s oxygen. Interesting Rainforest Fact Rainforests are found on every continent across the Earth, except Antarctica.
5. There are two types of Rainforest: 1. Temperate Rainforests 2. Tropical Rainforests Temperate rainforests are found along coasts in the temperate zone. Tropical rainforests are found close to the equator where temperatures and rainfall are very high all year round.
6. A rain forest has four layers. Emergent Layer Canopy Layer Understorey Layer Forest Floor
7. Emergent Layer The emergent layer is very sunny because it is the very top of a rainforest. Only the tallest trees reach this level. Who lives here?Birds, butterflies and small monkeys live with bats, snakes and bugs.
8. Canopy Layer Most trees in the forest grow to the height of the canopy. There are plants that grow in the canopy layer. Their roots don't reach the ground. These are called air plants. Who lives here?Birds, monkeys, frogs, and sloths, as well as lizards, snakes and many insects.
9. Understorey Layer The understorey layer has many vines and dense vegetation. There is not much light in this layer. Who lives here?Insects, frogs and snakes.
10. Forest Floor The Forest Floor is dark, damp and full of many dead leaves, twigs and dead plants. The forest floor is dark due to the trees above stopping the sunlight from entering the forest. Who lives here? Larger animals such as jaguars, gorillas, leopards, tapirs, tigers and elephants as well as insects, snakes and lizards.
11. The trees of a tropical rainforest are so densely packed that rain falling on the canopy can take as long as 10 minutes to reach the ground. An area of a rainforest the size of a football field is being destroyed each second. Many of the things we have in our homes comes from the rainforest. As many as 30 million species of plants and animals live in tropical rainforests.
