You might know it as “the lungs of the world,” but this astounding ecosystem mightn’t have many years left to breathe.
In 2023, the Amazon was 2,590,000 (2.59 million) square miles. Picture that as two nations of India put together. It’s being cleared for farmland at a rate of about 100,000 acres a day, however.
Here are some fascinating facts about the Amazon you likely didn’t know.
1. Ancient Civilizations Made the Amazon What It Is Today
We think of the Amazon Rainforest as wild, but in fact, it was shaped by mankind. There are more domesticated trees in the forest than wild ones.
This pattern of planted trees follows the path of settlements older than Columbus’s discovery of America.
2. Lily Pads as Large as a Bed
One of the Amazon’s most remarkable plants is the giant lily pad, capable of supporting up to 300 pounds. The pads of the Victoria amazonica can reach a diameter of around 10 feet. Its flowers, which span 3 feet across, bloom for just a few days, adding to their fleeting beauty.
3. Dust From the Sahara Desert Fuels Amazon Growth
Rain and run-off depletes the soil in the Amazon of phosphorus.
Each year, millions of tons of dust blow across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. This replenishes the rainforest’s store of phosphorus, essential for plant growth.
4. Many Important Medicines Come from the Amazon
Over the centuries, many cures for human diseases have been discovered in Amazon plants and animals.
One cure comes from the bushmaster snake, whose venom causes its prey’s blood pressure to drop to zero. This biological mechanism is now used to treat humans with high blood pressure.
5. The Forest Floor Is in Constant Shadow
The canopy of trees is so dense in the Amazon, only one-fiftieth of light from the sun makes it to the forest floor.
That means even the brightest noontime up above feels like an overcast day down below.
Plants and animals have adapted to thrive in these special conditions.
6. Rainforests are the Oldest Ecosystems on Earth
Tropical rainforests like the Amazon were some of the Earth’s very first habitats.
The Amazon as we know it today is about 55 million years old. That’s 5 million years before India became part of Asia in a tectonic bodyslam!
7. Entire Species Live in a Few Square Miles
Some species of animals are only found in small parts of the Amazon Rainforest. Their entire world consists of a few square miles.
They exist nowhere else on earth. These species are called endemic to the Amazon.
8. New Diseases Threaten Humans
Yes, the Amazon is a source of new medicines. It’s not all good news, however.
The Amazon could also cause the next pandemic, if certain germs cross from animals to humans.
Scientists are scrambling to discover the biggest threats and contain them before it’s too late.
9. Amazon Soil Acts Like a Giant Sponge
Water is a constant in Amazon soil. It both sustains the soil and depletes it of essential nutrients. Without regular flooding from the Amazon River, the soil could not support rich plant life.
The soil has a structure that allows it to soak up minerals from the flooding. The Amazon soil is truly a renewable resource that depends on water cycles.
10. Some Amazon People Don’t Know We Exist
In addition to being home to millions of tree and animal species, the Amazon Rainforest is also home to tribes of people. More than 34 million people live exclusively in the Amazon Rainforest.
Some of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world. That means there are still entire worlds of humanity within the Amazon that remain untouched. They know nothing about us, and vice versa.
11. Unlike Other Forests, the Amazon Is Not Adapted to Fire
Many temperate forests have evolved to use regular forest fires as part of their growth cycle. These means, for example, that certain seeds only open with high heat. Fire is an important part of the life cycle of these plants.
The Amazon is different. The Amazon has not evolved to replenish itself after fire. That means that when forestland is burned to make farmland, those trees and plants are simply gone forever. They do not produce special seeds or regrow.
12. New Species Are Discovered Every Few Days
In one decade in the early 2000s, scientists discovered more than 1,200 new species of plants and animals in the Amazon. That means a new species every three days.
This richness of life, or biodiversity, makes the Amazon unique on our planet.
13. Ants Galore
Over 90% of the species in the Amazon are insects. One naturalist discovered 43 species of ant living on a single tree in Peru. This famous naturalist, E.O. Wilson, calculated that one-third the weight of all life in that area consisted of ants!
14. Forest Clearing Led To Unexpected Discovery
As the trees fall, something surprising becomes clear: up to 1 million people lived in settlements long forgotten in the middle of the forest.
Mounds and foundations in the bare earth show that there was civilization far from the Amazon River.
Before this discovery, scientists assumed people always lived on or near the riverbanks.
15. You Could Drown in the Rainfall
The Amazon gets about 60-120 inches of rain every year. That’s 5-10 feet of rain, meaning sometimes more than the United States and the United Kingdom combined.
The Amazon would cease to exist if rainfall dropped below 39 inches per year. Climate change could mean drought and critical endangerment for this uniquely wild ecosystem.
Climate change could also cause more rainfall and flash flooding, endangering the forest and nearby people. Maintaining the Amazon’s balance of rainy days is critical for its survival. It’s one more reason to combat climate change.
16. The Largest Animal in the Amazon Lives Under Water
The Amazonian manatee is a freshwater mammal with an average weight of over 1,000 pounds.
The largest land mammal, the South American tapir, weighs around 500 pounds. You’d have to get two tapirs together to equal a single manatee.
The largest threat to manatees is hunting. Manatees are hunted for both meat and valuable blubber.
17. Some Amazon Trees Live 1,000 Years
Scientists found that some trees in the Amazon are more than 1,000 years old. Ancient shihuahuaco trees grow to be nearly 200 feet tall.
While California redwoods are taller and older, the shihuahuaco likely supports a greater diversity of species.
Preserving these ancient giants is one key to managing the Amazon ecosystem for the long term.
18. Losing the Amazon Would Raise Temperatures
If the Amazon Rainforest disappeared, temperatures in the area would likely rise by 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
That would make a big difference in the local climate. It could spell death and endangerment for lifeforms, including humans.
Losing the Amazon could increase global temperatures by nearly half a degree Fahrenheit. While that may seem minor, studies indicate the potential consequences could be severe.
It’s one more reason to take steps to save the Amazon, for the good of everyone.
Amazon: What Next For The Lungs of The World?
By now you can understand why the Amazon Rainforest holds such a mythic place in Earth’s story.
It’s an incomparably rich and ancient ecosystem that holds keys for the survival of humanity.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.