What is a rainforest?
Q: What is a rainforest?
A: A rainforest is a type of forest that receives heavy rainfall and has extraordinary biodiversity, with over half of all plant and animal species living there.
Q: Where are the most notable rainforests located?
A: The most notable rainforests are in the tropics or subtropics, mostly in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The biggest rainforest is the Amazon rainforest, which is mostly in Brazil.
Q: What percentage of Earth's land area do they cover?
A: Rainforests only cover 6% of the Earth's land area.
Q: How much precipitation does a rainforest get on average?
A: A rainforest gets an average of 50 to 250 inches (1.2-6.3m) of rain through the year.
Q: What temperature range does it usually stay within?
A: It is warm all year round rarely getting above 34°C (94°F) or getting below 20°C (68°F). It has an average humidity of 77 to 88%.
Q: What geographical areas have tropical rainforests?
A: Tropical Rainforests occur in three major geographical areas around the world - parts of South and Central America, Africa and South Asia and Australasia.
Q: What is a temperate rainforest?
A: A temperate Rainforest is one that receives more than 140 cm (55in) annual precipitation and has mean temperatures between 4-12 °C (39-54 °F).
