Why are they called tropical rain forests?
Tropical means close to the equator. The equator is an imaginary belt which circles the earth and divides it into two halves. Near the equator, the sun shines directly on the earth. The areas directly above and below the equator are called the tropics and are always warm and humid, much like summertime. Most tropical rain forests are located on the continents of Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The largest tropical rain forest in the world is the Amazon Rain Forest in South America. The world’s largest river, the Amazon, flows through it. Much of this rain forest is in the country of Brazil. The Layers of the Rainforest The rain forest is divided into four main layers. Different kinds of trees, flowers, and other plants grow in each layer. These layers are called the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. Emergent Layer – The Top Layer These huge trees rise above all other trees in the forest and grow to 150 ft. tall. They receive the mo
