AMAZON RAINFOREST FACTS.

The Amazon rainforest, world's largest remaining natural resource, represents 54% of the total rainforests left on Earth.

It covers an area of 2,5 million square miles, embracing nine South America countries: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and the Guianas - Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname, or two thirds of the South America continent.

Its live force is the Amazon river, born in theAndean mountains of Peru, flows for more than 4,000 miles to discharge its waters in the Atlantic ocean near Belem, Brazil. Along the way, it is fed by about 1,100 tributaries.

· More than 20% of Earth's oxygen is produced in this area, thus the name "Lungs of the Planet"

· With 2,5 million square miles, the Amazon rainforest represents 54% of the total rainforests left of the planet

· Amazon rainforest birds account for for at least one third of the world's bird species, being toucan the most popular icon

· More than half of the world's estimated ten million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical forest. Read more at Amazon rainforest animals

· 70% of plants found to have anticancer properites are found only in the rainforest

· The number of edible fruits found in the rainforest is estimated in 3,000. Amazon natives consume more than 1,500, but only 200 are cultivated for use today

· An estimated 90% of Amazon rainforest plants used by Amazon natives have not been studied by modern science

· In 1500 there were an estimated 6 to 9 million Amazon natives. By 1900 the number has gone down to one million lelf in Brazil.
Today, the number is believed to be of around 250,000 Amazon natives, comprising 215 ethnic groups with 170 different languages

· There may also be fifty or so Amazon tribes living in the depths of the Amazon that have never had contact with the outside world

· An estimated number of 2,700 million acres of the rainforest are burned each year