Rainforest WALT: to know what a rainforest, in particular the Amazon.

RainforestRainforest

WALT: to know what a rainforest, in WALT: to know what a rainforest, in particular the Amazonparticular the Amazon

What is a Rainforest?What is a Rainforest?

Rainforests are very dense, warm and Rainforests are very dense, warm and wet forestswet forests

They are havens for millions of plants They are havens for millions of plants and animalsand animals

They are very important in the ecology of They are very important in the ecology of the Earth as the plants of the rainforest the Earth as the plants of the rainforest generate much of the Earth’s oxygengenerate much of the Earth’s oxygen

““Rain Forests”Rain Forests”

The name rain forest was first used at The name rain forest was first used at the end of the 19the end of the 19thth Century to describe Century to describe forests that grow in constantly wet forests that grow in constantly wet conditionsconditions

Today, scientists define rain forests as Today, scientists define rain forests as forests that receive more than 2,000 mm forests that receive more than 2,000 mm of rain evenly spread throughout the of rain evenly spread throughout the yearyear

A rainforest is often referred to as a A rainforest is often referred to as a jungle, which is a Hindi word from India jungle, which is a Hindi word from India meaning a wildernessmeaning a wilderness

A true jungle is a thick tangle of A true jungle is a thick tangle of vegetation, through which people have to vegetation, through which people have to force and cut their wayforce and cut their way

Rainforests contain patches of jungle, but Rainforests contain patches of jungle, but mainly they are more openmainly they are more open

Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests

Tropical rain forests are found in a belt around the Tropical rain forests are found in a belt around the equator, where temperatures and rainfall are very high equator, where temperatures and rainfall are very high all year roundall year round

There is very little variation between the seasonsThere is very little variation between the seasons They will have an even distribution of rainfall annuallyThey will have an even distribution of rainfall annually Warm temperatures with less variation during the yearWarm temperatures with less variation during the year The best known rain forests are found in tropical The best known rain forests are found in tropical

regions between the Tropics of cancer and Capricornregions between the Tropics of cancer and Capricorn

Temperate RainforestsTemperate Rainforests

The precise definition of a temperate The precise definition of a temperate rainforest has still not been fully rainforest has still not been fully decided by scientistsdecided by scientists

They will have one long wet They will have one long wet winter/spring season, and a dry winter/spring season, and a dry foggy summerfoggy summer

It will have a range of differences in It will have a range of differences in daytime and night time temperatures daytime and night time temperatures

DifferencesDifferences

These are just some differences between These are just some differences between a Temperate and Tropical rainforest.a Temperate and Tropical rainforest.

Do you think there will be any others?Do you think there will be any others? Different types of plants and treesDifferent types of plants and trees Different animal lifeDifferent animal life

The Amazon RainforestThe Amazon Rainforest

One of the most well known rainforests is the One of the most well known rainforests is the AmazonAmazon

Where is the Amazon?Where is the Amazon? South AmericaSouth America The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest

in the worldin the world It covers an area about two thirds the size of It covers an area about two thirds the size of

the USthe US Two thirds of the Earth’s fresh water can be Two thirds of the Earth’s fresh water can be

found therefound there

AmazonAmazon

The Amazon was given its name by The Amazon was given its name by European explorers, after a tribe of fierce European explorers, after a tribe of fierce women called Amazonswomen called Amazons

Whether this tribe really existed is one of the Whether this tribe really existed is one of the many mysteries of the junglemany mysteries of the jungle

Mysteries of the AmazonMysteries of the Amazon

Can you think of any other mysteries of Can you think of any other mysteries of the Amazon?the Amazon?

There are stories of gold and lost citiesThere are stories of gold and lost cities Strange and wondrous people, animals Strange and wondrous people, animals

and plantsand plants

The Amazon RiverThe Amazon River

The Amazon River, The Amazon River, which snakes which snakes through this through this rainforest, is the rainforest, is the largest river system largest river system in the worldin the world

Hundreds of small streams join larger Hundreds of small streams join larger ones and keep getting bigger until they ones and keep getting bigger until they join the Amazonjoin the Amazon

The whole area is called the Amazon The whole area is called the Amazon BasinBasin

Well done, now you know what a Well done, now you know what a rainforest is!rainforest is!

Next time we will find out where you find Next time we will find out where you find the rainforests!the rainforests!