There are four major areas to the Amazon including the
Guyana Shield to the north; the Brazilian Shield to the south and east; the
Andean Highlands (upper Amazon) to the west; and the Tertiary lake bed located
in the central Amazon. The flat Tertiary lake bed makes up most of the Amazon
and is referred to as the Amazon Basin. This area once was a lake connected to
the Atlantic Ocean and is now known as the Amazon River. Each of the areas are
surrounded by highlands. The highest mountain range of the three areas is the
Andes to the west.
The Amazon is a tropical region with lots of rain and high humidity. The seasons are relatively static, with an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, the temperature falls dramatically to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Heavy rainfall occurs at short durations of time and accumulates to about 300 cm per year. January through April is the wettest season, while June through November are the dry months.
The plant life of the Amazon consists
mainly of tropical forests, thick underbrush, and grassy vegetation on the
savannah. Twenty to thirty percent of the trees in the Amazon
are deciduous and include the Acetic, Corozo Palm, Coco de Mona, and Divedive.
In the space of an acre or two, more than 100-120 different species of trees
can be found. Most of these trees are found in the tropical regions of the
Amazon and make up the canopy upon which nearly all of the Amazonian fauna are
found.
Much of the animal population found in the forest
canopy of the Amazon are birds, monkeys, and cats, as well as a
variety of invertebrates such as insects. Land roaming animals like wild pigs
and deer populate the Amazon floor. Because of the wet seasons found in the
Amazon, waterfowl such as the Wood Ibis and White Faced Duck thrive on the
rivers and sloughs as they swell from annual rainfall. Finally, a large variety
of fish are located in these same areas expanding their habitation as the rains
flood the forest.
