The Amazon rainforest stretches across 2.7 million square miles, of which 2.3 million sq mi are covered by tropical jungle. Its watershed is spread across 9 countries of which Brazil makes up almost 2/3 of the territory, followed by Peru with 1/8, Colombia with 1/10, with smaller areas in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
The Amazon River is the longest river on earth with 6,500 km from the furthest points of its origins in Peru and Bolivia to the mouth in the Atlantic and it has the largest river basin in the world. The majority of the upper-watershed in the Andes countries is very hilly, reason for which, there are few lakes in the Amazon areas of the Andean countries. []
While average temperatures are close to 26 C, the daytime temperatures on a sunny day run into the high 30s C. Rainfall falls all through the year in almost all of the watershed, as it's primarily generated by convection: surface water evaporates and rises high into the sky, where it condenses and from where it falls back as rain. The snow capped mountains of the Andean highlands add additional water to the region.
The diversity of species is the highest on Earth: Up to now, at the very least 40,000 plant species have been recorded for the Amazon watershed. Researchers have described between 100,000 |130,000 invertebrate species in Brazil alone. Some 2,000 varieties of birds and an estimated 430 type of mammals have already been recorded, many of which are rodents and bats. Fishes are represented with nearly 2,200 species, while amphibians add up to over 425 species, and reptiles to nearly 380 species.
A report from in 2001 showed that the tropical rainforest in the Amazon of Ecuador has the greatest the greatest number of species. Studies performed from the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve discovered more species per hectare compared to any other area in the world. This all makes little difference to visitors, however, as even scientists while on an casual visit can't notice the difference in diversity.
To the recreational visitor, the presence of slow flowing narrow rivers and lakes is more important. This is because it is very hard to observe wildlife, since it primarily moves about in the canopy. Looking up, the light from the sky blinds a persons vision, making the leaves appear almost black. However, when one observes the tropical jungle from the water, enough light penetrates to the lower branches and shrubs to view wildlife. Of course, along the shores one can also observe shore- and water birds. The sole protected area in the world to have slow flowing creeks and lakes is Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve. From Venezuela to Bolivia, no national park offers similar conditions and such great wildlife experience. []
Cuyabeno is only thirty minutes flying from capital Quito and an additional one and a half hour by bus over an asphalt road. This is why Cuyabeno is the greatest Amazon park on earth and tours of the Cuyabeno Lodge are the best Amazon tours in the world.
The Amazon River is the longest river on earth with 6,500 km from the furthest points of its origins in Peru and Bolivia to the mouth in the Atlantic and it has the largest river basin in the world. The majority of the upper-watershed in the Andes countries is very hilly, reason for which, there are few lakes in the Amazon areas of the Andean countries. []
While average temperatures are close to 26 C, the daytime temperatures on a sunny day run into the high 30s C. Rainfall falls all through the year in almost all of the watershed, as it's primarily generated by convection: surface water evaporates and rises high into the sky, where it condenses and from where it falls back as rain. The snow capped mountains of the Andean highlands add additional water to the region.
The diversity of species is the highest on Earth: Up to now, at the very least 40,000 plant species have been recorded for the Amazon watershed. Researchers have described between 100,000 |130,000 invertebrate species in Brazil alone. Some 2,000 varieties of birds and an estimated 430 type of mammals have already been recorded, many of which are rodents and bats. Fishes are represented with nearly 2,200 species, while amphibians add up to over 425 species, and reptiles to nearly 380 species.
A report from in 2001 showed that the tropical rainforest in the Amazon of Ecuador has the greatest the greatest number of species. Studies performed from the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve discovered more species per hectare compared to any other area in the world. This all makes little difference to visitors, however, as even scientists while on an casual visit can't notice the difference in diversity.
To the recreational visitor, the presence of slow flowing narrow rivers and lakes is more important. This is because it is very hard to observe wildlife, since it primarily moves about in the canopy. Looking up, the light from the sky blinds a persons vision, making the leaves appear almost black. However, when one observes the tropical jungle from the water, enough light penetrates to the lower branches and shrubs to view wildlife. Of course, along the shores one can also observe shore- and water birds. The sole protected area in the world to have slow flowing creeks and lakes is Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve. From Venezuela to Bolivia, no national park offers similar conditions and such great wildlife experience. []
Cuyabeno is only thirty minutes flying from capital Quito and an additional one and a half hour by bus over an asphalt road. This is why Cuyabeno is the greatest Amazon park on earth and tours of the Cuyabeno Lodge are the best Amazon tours in the world.
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