Our world abounds with the wonders of natural beauty. Readers of the books in this series will discover mysterious, exciting, and exotic natural landforms. Through the study of science and social studies, the authors show the diversity of our planet and provide information on the geological history, plants, animals, and people who populate each landform, as well as the environmental issues by which each landform is threatened. Each title in the series also establishes the importance of the history, culture, and environment of the landform in relation to the region in which it is located. with stunning photography, maps, and informative sidebars, Nature's Wonders offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the natural wonders of the world.
DEVELOPMENT AND DISTURBANCE IN AMAZON FORESTS Contrasting Impressions 6 2 The rain forests of the Amazon Basin cover approximately 5.8 x 10 km (Salati and Vose 1984). Flying over even just part of this basin, one gazes hour after hour upon this seemingly infinite blanket of green. The impression of immen sity is similar when viewed from the Amazon River itself, or from its tributar ies. From a hammock on the shaded deck of a riverboat, the immensity of the forest presents an incredible monotony as one view of the shoreline blends unnoticeably into another. From both perspectives, the overwhelming reaction to the sea of trees that stretches from horizon to horizon is a sense of the vastness of the rain forest. In September 1985, I got a different impression of the rain forest. Several students and I journeyed in a self-propelled car along the single-track railroad that stretches almost 1000 km from the Carajas iron ore mine in the rain forest of Para State, Brazil, all the way to Sao Luis on the coast (Fig. 1.1).
A unique, lavishly illustrated e-guide to the beauty and diversity of the Amazon--the rainforest and the river, its flora and fauna, and the people who live in the region. Applying the award-winning DK Eyewitness formula to the subject of the largest and most bio-diverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world, and the vast river that winds its way through it, this title profiles everything from the birds, animals, and insects that live there to the nine South American countries it extends across.
Barbosa (sociology, San Francisco State University) provides a global, world-systemic analysis of the problem of deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. He shows how changes in global ecopolitics demanding sustainable development, coupled with the onset of democracy in Brazil, substantially altered the battle over the future of Amazonia. He describes deforestation in the region in the context of an expanding frontier of global capitalism, and compares Amazon experiences with those of Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Where in the world will you find 427 different types of mammals, 1,294 birds, 2,200 fishes, 378 reptiles, 428 amphibians, and about 1 million insects? The Amazon Rainforest, of course! Get lost in the largest rainforest in the world to climb trees that are 500 years old, swim with a pink dolphin, avoid the deadly poison dart frogs, and sleep with a troop of twenty howler monkeys. In What's Up in the Amazon Rainforest, you'll learn all about the plants and animals, as well as the people that live there and the habitat itself.
Biomes are home to unique animals and plants. Give beginning readers an introductory look at the Amazon rain forest! Readers will get an up-close look at the characteristics of the land and weather and how monkeys, parrots, anacondas, sloths, and other animals have adapted to life in this amazing biome.
The Amazon is a land of superlatives. The complex ecosystem covers an area about the size of the continental U.S. The Amazon River discharges 57 million gallons of water per second--in two hours, this would be enough to supply all of New York City's 7.5 million residents with water for a year. Its flora and fauna are abundant. Approximately one of every four flowering plant species on earth resides in the Amazon. A single Amazonian river may contain more fish species than all the rivers in Europe combined. It is home to the world's largest anteater, armadillo, freshwater turtle, and spider, as well as the largest rodent (which weighs over 200 lbs.), catfish (250 lbs.), and alligator (more than half a ton). The rainforest, which contains approximately 390 billion trees, plays a vital role in stabilizing the global climate by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide--or releasing it into the atmosphere if the trees are destroyed. Severe droughts in both Brazil and Southeast Asia have been linked to Amazonian deforestation, as have changing rainfall patterns in the U.S., Europe, and China. The Amazon also serves as home to millions of people. Approximately seventy tribes of isolated and uncontacted people are concentrated in the western Amazon, completely dependent on the land and river. These isolated groups have been described as the most marginalized peoples in the western hemisphere, with no voice in the decisions made about their futures and the fate of their forests. In this addition to the What Everyone Needs to Know� series, ecologist and conservation expert, Mark J. Plotkin, who has spent 40 years studying Amazonia, its peoples, flora, and fauna. The Amazon offers an engaging overview of this irreplaceable ecosystem and the challenges it faces.
Take a journey through the heart of the Amazon rain forest to discover why it's so important for life on Earth. Even though rain forests take up less than 10 percent of Earth’s land, they are home to more than half the world’s plants and animals. In this adventure, readers climb aboard a river boat and tour the Amazon with a local guide. Observe howler monkeys, harpy eagles, and other wildlife as you discover how the planet’s largest tropical rain forest became endangered, and why it’s up to us to protect it.
