Amazon Rainforest

Northern Brazil (e.g., Amazonas), Brazil

The Amazon Rainforest in northern Brazil is the beating heart of Earth’s biodiversity — a vast, verdant expanse that spans over 6 million square kilometers across nine countries, with about 60% of it located in Brazil. Within Brazil, the state of Amazonas is the largest and most forested, encompassing over 1.5 million square kilometers and serving as a gateway to the rainforest’s most pristine and awe-inspiring regions.

This lush biome is home to an estimated 390 billion trees across 16,000 species, and it shelters millions of animal species — many of which are still undiscovered. Jaguars, sloths, pink river dolphins, and poison dart frogs are just a few of the charismatic creatures that call this ecosystem home.

The forest’s dense canopy and winding waterways also support over 30 million people, including hundreds of Indigenous communities, some of whom remain uncontacted. The Amazon’s ecological role is monumental: it produces 20% of the world’s freshwater discharge and acts as a massive carbon sink, helping regulate the global climate.

Yet, it faces mounting threats from deforestation, mining, and climate change. Conservation efforts are ongoing, with Brazil’s national parks, Indigenous territories, and international partnerships working to protect this irreplaceable treasure.