Amazing Amazonia : The “ lungs of our planet ” have been attributed to the Amazon rainforest , also known as Amazonia . This Amazon jungle , or the Amazon basin in South America , covers over 1 . 7 billion acres acres ( 7 , 000 , 000 square kilometers ) ; the actual tropical rainforest is spread over 1 . 4 billion acres and 9 countries : Brazil , Peru , Colombia , Venezuela , Ecuador , Bolivia , Guyana , Suriname and French Guiana . 60 % of the Amazon jungle is contained within Brazil . The Amazon represents over half the remaining rainforests worldwide and contains the largest and most species - rich tropical forest system on our planet . Amazonia grew around the Amazon River which is the longest river , the largest river , and the basin has the largest area in the world . The Amazon River has total flow greater than the top ten world ’ s rivers combined . The biodiversity of this wet tropical forest could boggle the brain ; one in ten animal species lives here and it is the largest collection of living plants on the globe . . . and much of the Amazon is still unexplored . It definitely should be protected for the tropical jungle paradise may hold the keys , yet to be discovered , to cure countless diseases . The amazing Amazon rainforest is one of the 28 finalists in the New 7 Wonders of Nature competition . We love these pics ! The biodiversity in these wet tropical forests is mind - blowing . It is home to the largest collection of living plant and animal species in the world . One in ten known species on this planet lives in the Amazon Rainforest . Amazonia is home to around 2 . 5 million insect species , tens of thousands of plants , and more than 2 , 000 birds and mammals . So far , at least 40 , 000 plant species , 2 , 200 fishes , 1 , 294 birds , 427 mammals , 428 amphibians , and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified within this region . one in five of all bird and fish species live here . The Scarlet Macaws above are indigenous to the American tropics . The photographer wrote , “ Red - and - Green Macaws DO grow on trees in the Amazon . ” The San Rafael Falls and Quijos River are located at the foot of the highly active Reventador Volcano which rises out of the Amazon jungle east of the Andes . Based on archaeological evidence , it is believed that humans first inhabited this Amazon paradise at least 11 , 200 years ago . Streams of light in the Amazonian mist . Inside this rainforest , you never quite know what you might see . . . You might see a Tupi ‘ red bird , ’ also known as the scarlet ibis , one of the most beautiful Brazilian birds , because of the color of their plumage . Or you might see an Amazonian ‘ Godzilla . ’ In Amazonia , you might even stumble upon an Emerald Boa . Eek ! Amazon rainforest jaguar . Bet you won ’ t bump into one of these beautiful beasties in an urban jungle ? Star of the water – In the rivers of the Amazon . The photographer noted , “ The water lily ( Victoria regia ) , an aquatic plant is typical of the Amazon region . Its leaves are large and circular , with folded edges , forming a sort of basin . They can reach 2 meters in diameter . The leaves of the lily pad can withstand the weight of a small child in the water without sinking . ” According to an Indian legend about the lilypad , “ As its flowers open at night , the Indians liken to the moon and stars . They say that once in the Amazon , there lived an Indian girl that he wanted to become a star . At night , she liked to look at the sky to admire the stars . She thought that the moon could come pick her up on Earth and take it to heaven . one night , a beautiful Indian girl leaned over the side of the river , where the moon was reflected . She was mesmerized by the image of the moon , fell into the river and disappeared into the water . The moon then turned into a lilypad . So the flower of the lily pad is called ‘ star of the waters ’.” A typical house in the Amazon . Looking down at the ‘ lungs of the planet . ’ Looking up in Amazon rainforest – Ã vore Mogno . Monkeys hanging out in the tropical jungle . Brown Woolly Monkey in the Amazon . Amazon rainforest – ‘ inside of kills ’. The photographer wrote of the ‘ Wild Boy ’, “ His eyes reflects the nostalgia of an almost extinct World . Wearing an Amazon Toucan , traditionally used only for the sacred dances and very special moments , this boy is learning from the Shamans the traditional dances of the Kotococha culture , a knowledge which is only transmitted from the shaman to the few chosen by word of mouth . Origin : Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest , Kotococha tribe . ” Comunity Nova Esperança , Baré people . Cuieiras river , tributary of the Rio Negro , Amazonia , Brazil . Folklore of Amazonas is nourished from legends and stories in which mystery and inexplicable things are always present . one example on Wikipedia includes “ if you ask people about the lagoon of Cochaconga , they will say that it is enchanted . They say it has the ‘ form of a neck ’ and that with the smallest noise provoked by an animal or the scream of a person , there will be a tremendous thunderstorm in which an enormous monster will appear in the shape of cow . This monster will become mad with the strangers . That ’ s why , whoever passes by this remote place , does it with maximum precautions for not altering the local silence . ” Aerial roots of Red Mangrove on an Amazonian river . Amazon Poison Dartfrog , also known as the Reticulated Poison Frog , can be found at the inflows of the Amazon River in Peru live high up in the rainforest . The photographer also noted that these very little beauties are only about 15 - 20 mm in size . Iracema Waterfalls . A great of deal of travel along Amazônia is by water . That may be due to the abundance of waterways . Or perhaps travel by river may simply be easier than the adventure of trying to travel muddy Amazonia roads ? Here you don ’ t get stuck in traffic , you just get stuck . Amazon Rainforest , seen from the Alto Madre de Dios river , in Peru . Before 1960 , access to the forest ’ s interior was restricted and the Amazon jungle remained mostly intact . During the 1960 s , farms were established based on crop cultivation and the slash and burn method . Deforestation was so considerable that the areas which were cleared of forest were visible to the naked eye from outer space . Strong drought in the Amazon rainforest . In 2005 , parts of the Amazon basin experienced the worst drought in one hundred years . In 2010 the Amazon rainforest experienced another horrific drought , in some ways more extreme than in 2005 . In a typical year the Amazon absorbs 1 . 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide ; during 2005 instead 5 gigatons were released and in 2010 8 gigatons were released . Just as there can be droughts , the rivers of Amazon suffer flooding for 4 or 5 months of the year . The photographer said that on a hot day , they went ‘ rock jumping . ’ Amazonas floating village , Iquitos in the Amazon Basin . It ’ s the part of South America drained by the Amazon River ; its tributaries drains an area of about 2 , 670 , 000 square miles ( 6 , 915 , 000 sq km ) , or roughly 40 % of South America . Amazon rainforest , near Manaus , Brazil . Image taken from top of a 50 m tower for meteorological observations , and the top of vegetation canopy is typically 35 m . The image was taken within 30 minutes of a rain event , and a few white ‘ clouds ’ above the canopy are indicative of rapid evaporation from wet leaves after the rain . Much of the Amazon is still unexplored , many of its indigenous plants and animals are unknown . . . perhaps even plants yet to be discovered that could cure diseases that plague the people on our planet . The leaves and branches of the rainforest are so dense that it creates a “ roof ” that does not allow the sunlight to reach the ground . The ground remains dark , damp and waiting for discovery . A Yagua ( Yahua ) tribeman demonstrating the use of blowgun ( blow dart ) , at one of the Amazonian ‘ islands ’. Another folklore of Amazona from Peru are attributed to certain animals . For example : The mochuelo that “ freezes the soul ” , or the “ quien - quien ” that makes fun of the travelers in the roads . When the singing crickets sounds like bells , it is supposedly foretelling of a “ big evil . ” Amazonian Forest and Renato River . Monkey Island , Peru , is a part of Amazonia . Amazonian rainforest , upper Amazon basin , Loreto region , Peru . Balbina Dam in Amazon , Brazil . Stormy clouds cover the Amazonian jungle . The photographer explained , “ On the Tambopata River in the Peruivan Amazon Rainforest , a group of kids play football on a tiny sand island in the middle of the river . ” Bamboo and ferns in the rainforest . Native village of Chipitiere , in the Cultural Zone of Manu National Park , Peru . Toucan , the earl of Amazonia . Waterfall flowing from the Andes down in the Amazon Basin . Three - Toed Sloth in the Amazon . The photographer noted a local superstition : ‘ don ’ t look at him if you ’ re pregnant … or your baby may look like him ! ’ Walking through paths in the Amazonian rainforest . San Rafael Falls in the Amazon jungle . The photographer wrote , “ Yacumana and Chullachaqui are two demons of the local legends . Yacumana is a demon of the water ( boa man ) ; Chullachaqui can transform itself to mimic any person … is it your mum coming to you ? No , look at his feet , that ’ s how you recognize him , he always has a big one ! ” Brazilian Amazon . Amazonian Sunset .