What's hidden beneath the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest?

The Amazon Rainforest, covering approximately 6.7 million sq km, is the largest rainforest on Earth. The rainforest is spread across nine countries – Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guiana, and Guyana. This amazing ecosystem supports a diverse array of plant and animal species, and several indigenous communities and their cultures.

Did you know that most of the Amazon is man-made? Yes, research shows that the earliest inhabitants of the Amazon created thousands of forest islands for sustenance. The forest that we see today, grew from that.

Let’s look at what’s hidden beneath the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest.

The Amazon Rainforest is also referred to as the Lungs of the Earth. The rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen.

The Amazon Rainforest is home to around 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians, and counting. Many of the wildlife species found in the Amazon Rainforest are endemic.

There are over 40,000 plant species in the Amazon Rainforest, out of which, a very large number of plant species help regulate the climate, and maintain the water cycle.

These are the medicinal plants, and they are widely used by the indigenous communities. They have been using these medicinal plants for centuries.

There are over 385 ethnic groups in the Amazon. These indigenous cultures have a deep spiritual connection to the rainforest and its resources. The Ticuna are the largest tribe in the Amazon.

The rainforest is home to the Amazon River, the second-longest river in the world. The river has a length of about 6400 km. It also supports a number of unique aquatic species and indigenous communities.

It may come as a surprise, but even in this day and age, a vast section of the rainforest remains uncharted and unexplored. It is believed that many undiscovered species and hidden natural treasures still await discovery.

The threat is real, and unfortunately, it is something that doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon. The rainforest is under constant threat from deforestation due to logging, agriculture, and mining activities.

Such incredible places in the world deserve their own legends and mysteries. The Amazon too has its share of mysteries and legends, including tales of the lost city of El Dorado.