Facts about Rainforests

Our world's tropical and temperate rainforests consist of rich ecosystems made up from millions of plant and animal species. There are more types of plants and animals found within the rainforests than anywhere else on Earth, many of which rely upon these incredible biomes for their survival. Some animals are at risk from becoming extinct as forests are fast disappearing due to human destruction.

Factsmania has compiled a list of the most important facts for kids with interesting information including where temperate and tropical forests are located, what animals live the rainforest, what types of plants grow in rainforests, how tall trees grow, how many layers make up the overall structure and what deforestation is. Our fast facts provide kids with an easy and interesting way to learn fun information.

Interesting Facts and Information for Kids:- Our printable rainforest fact sheets are free to school teachers and kids, and provide an ideal guide or homework help. Did you know that half of the world's plant life and animal species are found in the world's rainforests? Did you know that humans are chopping down and destroying trees every single day? Did you know that humans are not replacing the same amount of trees as they are cutting down? Did you know that our incredible forests took millions of years to grow and are fundamental to the survival of our planet?

Interesting Facts and Information for Kids:- Our free list of interesting facts are simple to print and may be used as a classroom handout or activity worksheet. Kids can learn fun facts and information with our carefully compiled list below:

Interesting Facts about Rainforests for Kids

Interesting Facts for Kids 1:- What is a rainforest?
A rainforest is defined as an area of dense forest land that receives a high amount of rainfall per year (250cm - 450cm of rainfall on average) and is dominated by tall, broad-leaved trees.

Interesting Facts for Kids 2:- How many types of rainforests are there?
There are two types of rainforests in the world: tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests experience the warmest climates as they are located closer to the equator than temperate rainforests which are situated further away from the equator, often nearer to coastal areas.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3:- What is the climate like in a tropical rainforest?
The climate in a tropical rainforest can be described as hot and wet due to its proximity to the equator. Tropical forests typically receive high temperatures above 18 C (64 F) but lower than 93 F (34 C) which determines hot weather conditions throughout the year. Precipitation is high in tropical rainforests, at approximately 250cm - 450cm per year (98 - 177 inches), which determines a wet climate. Tropical rainforests experience a rich ecosystem of animal and plant species as the climate provides a suitable biome for them to live and survive.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4:- What is the climate like in a temperate rainforest biome?
Temperate rainforests experience a cooler climate than tropical forests as they are positioned further away from the world's equator and are often closer to coastal regions. The climate is seasonal so the average temperature is subject to change throughout the year. During colder periods, it becomes increasingly difficult for plant life and animals to survive.  Similar to tropical rainforests, temperate forest also experience high amounts of rainfall. Depending on the forests location, the average annual temperature can reach between 32 degrees F (0C) and 68 degrees F (20C).

Interesting Facts for Kids 5:- How much of the Earth's surface is covered by rainforests?
At the moment, approximately 6% of the earth's land surface is covered in rainforest area, however, this figure is fast decreasing as the rainforests are constantly threatened by deforestation. Deforestation can be defined as a clearing process where trees are cut and cleared away, transforming forests into treeless land ready to build on. Human activity is destroying our world's rainforests, figures show that there were previously double the amount of rainforests on earth than there is today.

Interesting Facts for Kids 6:- Why is the rainforest an ecosystem?
Rainforests consist of rich ecosystems of living organisms; plants and animals. There are more species of plants and animals found in the Amazon Rainforest than anywhere else on Earth. A rainforest is a biome that is abundant with life from plants, trees, insects, arachnids, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, carnivores, herbivores, and mammals - all sorts of wildlife that have learned how to interact and adapt to their environment.

Interesting Facts for Kids 7:- What types of Animals live in the rainforest?
There are millions of animal species living within the ecosystems of our world's rainforests.  One of the most interesting facts is that there are more species of animals living in tropical rainforests than temperate forests or any other place in the world. At least half of the animal species on earth can be found within a rainforest biome. The types of animals living in the rainforests include insects, arachnids, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, herbivores, carnivores, and mammals of all descriptions. There are all sorts of wildlife and creatures present in forest biomes including lizards, alligators, crocodiles, snakes, frogs, toads, fish, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, cuckoos, parrots, owls, toucans, quetzals, beetles, caterpillars, worms, spiders, ticks, bats, cassowary, sloths, capybaras, binturongs, bonobos, chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, apes, tigers, great bears and jaguars. 

Interesting Facts for Kids 8:- What types of plants and trees grown in a rainforest?
More than half of the Earth's plant species can be found in the rainforests where there are millions of different types of plants and trees growing in abundance, particularly in tropical climates such as the Amazon Rainforest. Some of the main types of trees and plants that grow in rainforests include Mosses, Curcare, Bengal Bamboo, Strangler Figs, Venus Fly Traps, Bougainvillea, Bromeliads, Ferns, Jambu, Kapok Tree, Coconut Tree, Durian, Orchids, Mangrove Fores and Tualang.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9:-  How tall do trees grow in a rainforest?
In the rainforest, the tallest trees can grow more than 70 meters tall! However, the most dominant trees typically grow to around 30-45 meters tall where their leaves form the canopy layer of the rainforest biome. Some trees will grow to heights of 45-55 meters and the largest trees in the rainforest can grow over 60-70 meters high. One of the tallest trees in the rainforest is known as the Kapok tree (Ceiba tree), this type of tree can grow at a rate of 13 feet per year until it reaches around 61 meters tall (200 feet). The trunk of a Kapok tree can measure 9-10 feet wide (up to 3 meters!).

Interesting Facts for Kids 10:- What is the largest rainforest biome in the world?
The biggest rainforest in the world is the Amazon Rainforest in South America. Covering approximately 5,500,000 square kilometers of land, the incredible Amazon Tropical Rainforest is home to millions of species of plants and animals, and has a population of approximately 30 million people! The Amazon Jungle, or Amazonia, as it is sometimes named, spans across nine South American countries including Brazil, Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Over half of the Earth's rainforest areas is located in the Amazon.

Interesting Facts for Kids 11:- Why are rainforests important?
The rainforests are very important for a number of different reasons. Forests are often referred to as 'the lungs of the Earth' as one of their most important functions is vital to the survival of life on Earth. The rainforests consist of millions of plant and tree species which provide our planet with oxygen and help to cleanse the atmosphere. Many types of animals rely upon the structure of the rainforest for survival. Over millions of years, animals have learnt to adapt and evolve in order to survive life within their habitat, and the ecosystems in which they live in either temperate and tropical forest biomes across the world.

Interesting Facts for Kids 12:- What is rainforest destruction?
The destruction of our world's rainforests is defined by the term 'deforestation'. The meaning of deforestation can be described as the clearing of forests through cutting down trees, logging or burning. Logging is a term used to describe cutting down trees in preparation for timber. The Earth's rainforests are rapidly disappearing as every year, humans are destroying what remains of them. The trees and plants of the world's rainforests took millions of years to grow and evolve, and trees are not being replaced at the same rate at which they are being chopped down. Rainforest destruction poses a real threat to life and the future of our planet. Many animal species are in constant danger of becoming extinct as they rely on the forests for survival.

Interesting Facts for Kids 13:- Why are rainforests being destroyed?
Human activity is threatening the future of our world's rainforests as every single day, trees are being cut down in order to clear forest land in preparation for building roads, farms, homes etc. Trees are chopped down and used for many purposes including paper making, and wood and timber for making furniture.

Interesting Facts for Kids 16:-What are the layers of the rainforest?
The four layers of the rainforest are called the Emergent layer, the Canopy layer, the Understory layer, and the Forest Floor layer. The highest layer is the Emergent layer where the tallest trees can grow up to 60-70 meters tall! The Canopy layer is the thickest part of the rainforest where the most dominant trees grow to around 45-55 meters tall and form a canopy across the forest, the Understory layer (Under Canopy) consists of shorter, younger trees, scrubs and bushes. The Forest Floor layer (Scrub layer) consists of smaller scrubs and plants.

Interesting Facts for Kids 17:- What is the Amazon Rainforest?
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world. It is located in South America and spreads across nine countries in total. The majority of the Amazon Forest can be found in Brazil but also runs through areas of Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It is a a huge forest biome that contains more species of plants and animals than anywhere else on Earth, and has a overall population of approximately 30 million people.

Interesting Facts for Kids 18:- What animals are in the Amazon Rainforest?
There are many animal species living in the Amazon Rainforest including various types of insects, arachnids, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, herbivores, carnivores, and all sorts of small and large mammals. There are amazing wildlife and incredible creatures living in the Amazon biome includes cuckoos, parrots, owls, toucans, quetzals, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, snakes, frogs, toads, fish, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, beetles, caterpillars, worms, spiders, ticks, bats, cassowary, sloths, , tigers, great bears, jaguars, capybaras, binturongs, bonobos, chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, and orangutans.

Interesting Facts for Kids 19:-  What is a rainforest biome?
A rainforest biome can be described as a abundant ecosystem consisting of millions of plant and animal species which have learnt to evolve and adapt to their given climate and environment.

Interesting Facts for Kids 20:- What is the Daintree Rainforest?
Daintree Rainforest is the oldest surviving rainforest in the world and the largest tropical forest in Australia. It is home to millions of plant and animal species and is located on the north east coast of Queensland, Australia and covers a total area of approximately 1,200 square kilometers.