The Amazon Rainforest

7 Natural Wonders of The Amazon Rainforest

16 January

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most amazing places on our entire planet. Here are just a few of its gems, which currently face annihilation.

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the Earth's crown jewels. Often called the "lungs of the planet," the rainforest provides 20% of the world's oxygen and also acts as a carbon sink, picking up much of the waste from humanity's planes, cars, and power plants. It's also the source of much of the world's food and medicine.

At 7,000,000 square kilometers, it contains half of the planet's remaining rainforest and stretches through nine countries, though 60% of it is located in Brazil. It is also the world's most biodiverse rainforest, and it's likely over 56 million years old.

As many know, the Amazon has been struck by terrible wildfires over the past few weeks. Deforestation has also risen by 88% in the summer of 2019, largely thanks to the bad policies of the Brazilian government and because of man-made fires set to clear more room for cattle farms.

Because of this tragedy, largely driven by excessive human consumption of beef and leather products, so much valuable biodiversity will be lost. Ancient trees are falling and animals are dying—and so is much of the forest that allows us to breathe. Hopefully, people and governments around the world will take significant action to conserve this irreplaceable and life-saving miracle.

In 2011, the Amazon Rainforest was announced as one of the world's new seven natural wonders. In honor of it, here are seven natural wonders that you'll find within this burning paradise.

These massive water lilies are so big, they can support people. They stretch up to ten feet wide, and their stems can grow over 20 feet deep.
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Also known as the "stilt palm," these trees are found in the lowland forests of Central and Northern South America. They possess a unique system of aerial roots that help stabilize the trees and allow them to absorb important nutrients. By producing new series of roots in the direction of required nutrients or sunlight, the trees can very, very slowly move, making them fascinating examples of just how animate and sensitive nature truly is.
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This lizard takes his name from Christ, and like Jesus, it can walk on water. Typically, these miraculous occurrences only happen when the lizard is running from its predators—but when filled with the adrenaline needed for its survival, it can run up to five miles per hour.
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The Rafflesia flower is a parasitic plant that smells like rotting flesh. That smell actually attracts flies and other insects that transport pollen to the flower. As one of the world's largest flowers, it's also one of the most endangered, and it's extremely hard to grow outside of its native conditions.
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The Kapok Tree is so large, it's difficult to photograph. As the largest tree in the Amazon, it can grow up to 200 feet tall and 10 meters wide. Countless animals live in its nooks and crannies. In many indigenous myths, it's regarded as magical and sacred, believed to house spirits in its branches or to have grown straight from the center of the earth. Its structure actually resembles many modern cathedrals today.
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This visual wonder is the place where the dark Rio Negro meets the upper Amazon River, or Solimōes. The stark contrast in color is due to the differing temperatures, speed, and densities of the waters.
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These waterfalls are one of the Amazon's most famous tourist attractions, and for good reason. Located at the juncture between Brazil and Argentina, they range from 60-82 meters tall. (The tallest waterfall, called the Devil's Throat, plummets 82 meters into a cloud of mist below and has left countless visitors speechless). Located within one of the few remaining inland forests of the Amazon, the Atlantic rainforest, the falls are havens for 2,000 plant species and 80 types of mammals. They're awe-inspiring examples of the stunning, raw power of the natural world.
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