The Amazon Rainforest, often simply referred to as the Amazon, spans across nine countries in South America: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering an area of approximately 6.7 million square kilometers (2.6 million square miles), which represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests.
The history of the Amazon is deeply intertwined with the indigenous peoples who have lived there for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Amazon was home to complex pre-Columbian societies, which managed the landscape through techniques like terra preta (Amazonian dark earth) creation, demonstrating a significant human impact on the forest long before European contact.
European exploration began in the 16th century, with the Amazon River first navigated by Francisco de Orellana in 1541-1542. However, due to the dense jungle and hostile environment, the interior of the Amazon remained largely unexplored by Europeans until the late 19th century when the Rubber Boom attracted a surge of interest and exploitation.
The Amazon is often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" due to its role in global oxygen production and carbon dioxide absorption. It hosts an unparalleled biodiversity with:
This rich biodiversity is not only vital for ecological balance but also for medical research, as many plant species have been used by indigenous peoples for centuries for medicinal purposes.
Deforestation due to logging, agriculture (notably soybean farming and cattle ranching), mining, and urban expansion poses a severe threat to the Amazon. The rate of deforestation has varied over the years, with significant increases noted in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Efforts to curb this include:
The Amazon is also culturally significant, being home to hundreds of indigenous tribes, each with its unique language, culture, and knowledge systems. Their way of life is intricately linked with the forest, and their rights to their lands are often at the forefront of conservation and human rights debates.