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…That
there are more different types of plants in only one hectare of
Amazonian forest than on all the European continent?
native
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The Amazônia is one of the richer livings creature systems of the planet. There are more than 6 million km2. Almost the size of Australia. Situated on the north part of the South America, it today represents 1/3 of the native forests of all the planet. If you imagine that today these native forests on all planet are today 1/5 of that they were, you´ll see what see what the Amazônia represents. The forest spreads for nine countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Equator, Peru, Suriname, French Guyana, Guyana and Brazil. In Brazil there are 60% of the forest. The name Amazônia comes from a legend, of that the warlike women "Amazon" lived there. European conquerors, when arrived there, believed that they existed. The legend of the Eldorado is famous also, the gold city that they also found that was there, inside the forest. Water, much water The landscape is various. There are loamy and fishfull rivers, as Amazon and the Solimões. Or there are also dark rivers, as Black, or transparent, as the Tocantins. The rivers are enormous, and many: almost seven thousand (7.000!). The central River, named Amazon, measures five kilometers of width and is near fifty meters on depth. It cuts thee region and leaves on Atlantic Ocean, launching in the sea, about 175 million liters of water. In general landscape is flat, but there is the highest point of Brazil, Pico da Neblina, with 3,014 meters height. It has great trees, that reach up to 60 meters of height. Inside of the forest it is dark, humid and very hot... Good thing for the insects, that are for all part. In the highest places of the forest, on the trees, there are birds as the kiss-flowers, parrots and periquitos, always looking fruits, sprouts and chestnuts, beyond the Toucans, that fly a little be likes high trees. More under, more birds: jacus, gaviões, owls and hundreds of small birds. Already in land there are jabutis (land turtle), cotias, pacas, tapirs etc, that live from fallen fruits of the trees. Harassing them, come the great felinos, as the ounce and snakes, always with much hunger! Although all this natural wealth, the local ecosystem is very fragile. The forest lives of its proper organic material, or either, it feeds the leaves that fall down and turn on húmus, serving of food for more plant. It happens in a very humid environment, with abundant rains, what makes delicate to change anything. When the covering of plants leaves, for example, rains wash the ground. and quickly takes off all its organic layer. Despite the destroying that Amazônia has started to suffer on last 30 years, it still keeps 60% of its original covering of tropical forest. Over there live and reproduce more than one third part of the existing species in the planet. The
Amazônia is, in fact, an enormous and very rich region. Beyond
thousand types of animals and plants, there are great supplies of
wooden, rubber, chestnut, fish, ores and others. Despite this, few
people live there: the average is of 2 inhabitants for km sq. Good
part of its wealth is in the culture of the indians and other peoples
who live there. They understand the local plants and its effects.
Moreover, they know very well the way to use it and other natural
resources
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