17th March, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
● Location: Sprawling across South America ● Size: 6.7 million square kilometers (2.6 million square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: The Amazon is the undisputed king of rainforests, a vast wonderland of rivers and towering trees.
● Location: Central Africa ● Size: 1.6 million square kilometers (620,000 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: The heart of Africa beats with an ancient rhythm here as gorillas, forest elephants, and the elusive okapi roam within its green depths.
● Location: Island of New Guinea ● Size: 786,000 square kilometers (303,000 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: A land of extremes – with soaring mountains and misty valleys – New Guinea's rainforest boasts an astonishing range of unique creatures.
● Location: Island of Borneo ● Size: 428,438 square kilometers (165,420 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: Orangutans, clouded leopards, and the bizarre proboscis monkey call this rainforest home.
● Location: South America (Chile and Argentina) ● Size: 248,100 square kilometers (95,800 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: This cool, damp rainforest is home to ancient trees like the alerce (the world's second longest-living tree species).
● Location: Island of Sumatra, Indonesia ● Size: 2.5 million hectares (9,653 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: This UNESCO World Heritage site is a critical habitat for endangered species like the Sumatran tiger, orangutan, and rhinoceros.
● Location: Stretching along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Northern California ● Size: Varying estimates due to fragmented nature, with significant protected area ● Why it's awe-inspiring: Giant redwood trees, shrouded in mist, create a cathedral-like atmosphere in these rainforests.
● Location: Southeastern Australia ● Size: Covers a wide area with fragmented forest patche ● Why it's awe-inspiring: Home to unique marsupials like koalas, wombats and a remarkable array of eucalyptus trees.
● Location: Northern Nicaragua ● Size: 2 million hectares (7,722 square miles) ● Why it's awe-inspiring: A vital Central American biodiversity hotspot, home to jaguars, tapirs, and the dazzling quetzal bird.
● Location: Across mainland Southeast Asia and islands like Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippine ● Size: The area has decreased significantly due to deforestation ● Why it's awe-inspiring: A region of exceptional biodiversity, with tigers, elephants, gibbons, and a staggering array of insects and plants.