What is the Daintree Rainforest?
Q: What is the Daintree Rainforest?
A: The Daintree Rainforest is a tropical rainforest in Queensland, Australia. It is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian mainland and it was named after Richard Daintree, an Australian geologist and photographer.
Q: When was the Daintree Rainforest listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A: The Daintree Rainforest was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Q: What are some of its ancient flora?
A: Some of its ancient flora include whisk ferns, club mosses, seven ancient families of true ferns, cycad Bowenia spectabilis (zamia fern), other cycads, giant Lepidozamia hopei (zamia palm), primitive angiosperm (flowering plant) families such as Cunoniaceae, Proteaceae (banksia and macadamia family), Winteraceae, Myrtaceae (eucalypt and lilly pilly), Monimiaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae, Aquifoliaceae (holly family), Chloranthaceae, Trimeniaceae, Epacridaceae (heath family), Olacacea and more.
Q: How old is the Daintree Rainforest?
A: The Daintree Rainforest is thought to be over one hundred and thirty-five million years old.
Q: What animals can be found in the forest?
A: Animals that can be found in the forest include frogs, marsupials reptiles bats butterflies birds insects saltwater crocodiles musky rat-kangaroos southern cassowary Bennett's tree-kangaroo and more.
Q: Where is the forest located?
A: The forest is located north of Mossman Queensland on the coast north of Cairns in the tropical far north of Australia. Part of it is protected by the Daintree National Park which drains into the Daintree River.
Q: What makes this area unique compared to other World Heritage Sites?
A: This area stands out from other World Heritage Sites because it meets all four natural criteria for selection to be a World Heritage Site while also being next to another World Heritage site -the Great Barrier Reef- making it one of only twelve natural sites in world where two natural World Heritage Sites meet.
