Treasures of the Tropical Rainforest

What are Tropical Rainforests?

Rainforests grow in places where there is lots of rain. The world's tropical rainforests lie on either side of the Equator between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. High temperatures and almost constant rainfall produce ideal growing conditions for plants. The high temperatures (around 80°F) vary by less than 3° throughout the year.

Rainforests receive rainfall all year round. The rain falls at a rate of between 80 and 400 inches a year.

Most rainforest trees and plants are evergreen - they never drop their leaves but grow all year round in the hot steamy atmosphere. In a typical single acre of primary rainforest you could expect to find as many as 100 different types of trees!

The rainforests are thought to be home to nearly half of the estimated 80 million living species on this planet, yet less than 5% have been recorded by scientists. There may be many millions, mostly plants and insects, yet to be discovered!