The Amazon is a paradise in every sense, where you can enjoy countless superlatives to undergo. Peru boasts a good part of the Amazon, covering about two-thirds of its entire territory. The entire Amazon region is also known as the lungs of the world, and within Peru, this area continues to be one of the least populated. All this without mentioning a large number of animals and other endemic species that it guards under its green mantle. The Amazonia can be so big and offer so much to do. For this reason, we have decided to prepare an article with those facts you need to know before exploring its extensive territory. Below, together with the experts from Cusco Peru Travel, we have prepared a small list of the most important Amazon facts.
The most important Amazon Facts to know before you visit the Peruvian jungle
The Amazon River is one of the widest in the world since during the rainy season it reaches dimensions of 30 miles wide. While during the dry season, the width of the river can vary between 1 and 6 miles wide. By the time it empties into the Atlantic Ocean, it can reach dimensions of up to 150 miles wide. If you are planning to travel to Iquitos, the most probable thing is that you will appreciate a part of this wonderful river. Among other Amazon facts, it is also considered one of the longest rivers in the world.
The entire Amazon region contains approximately 20% of the total volume of river water in the world. The Amazon River has more than 15,000 tributaries that flow directly into the river, many of them coming from Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and from the Amazon Rainforest in Peru itself, among others. Another of the most surprising Amazon facts is that the Amazon River is born in the distant snowy Mismi, a volcanic mountain located in the same Peruvian Andes, near Arequipa.
The Amazon rainforest is home to a large number of known species and others endemic to the region. This Amazon fact is due in large part to the extensive green blanket that offers shelter for different animals and insects. More than 40,000 known species of different plants are found in the Amazon. But it is estimated that there is a much greater number for those species yet to be discovered. Within the Amazonian territory, there is little sunlight due to the dense foliage, making it a perfect place for those shade-tolerant species. But due to ongoing deforestation, an estimated 130 species of plants, animals, and insects are becoming extinct every day.
Thanks to the surprisingly rich biodiversity of Peru, a large number of mammals can be seen in its Amazonian territory. Throughout the Peruvian Amazon, you can find up to 300 different species of mammals which include several species of big cats. If you are looking to experience wildlife in Peru, Amazon is your place of choice.
Among the different Amazon facts, we can find that its climate can be divided into three well-defined main regions. Its main regions are the jungle, the high jungle, and the low jungle. The main jungle is characterized by a prevailing tropical climate and is known for being one of the wettest areas in the surrounding region. While the high forests are also characterized by a tropical climate, with temperatures that do not fluctuate much. Finally, the low jungle has a fairly humid and warm climate, with some rainfall throughout the year.
One of the biggest reasons to visit Peru is the many different towns that you can find within the Peruvian Amazon. Many of these indigenous towns are not open to tourist visits, but this does not mean that you cannot visit some of them. Within some reserves such as Manu, you will have the wonderful opportunity to visit and experience ancestral ceremonies. Many tourists decide to enter the Amazon to experience psychedelic ceremonies with Ayahuasca. Although it is not always recommended to do it without first consulting with your family doctor.
One of the best things to enjoy inside the Amazon is the many different adventure tours to go. The Amazon is home to up to 1,500 different species of amphibians of which the majority are toads and frogs. And within the Peruvian Amazon, you can find some 1,800 registered species of birds if you want to take some great photos. There is immense biodiversity of different insects, with up to more than 2.5 million different species of bugs. These Amazon facts are just a glimpse of what there is to experience in the Peruvian Amazon.
For the indigenous people who live around the Amazon, almost all plants have a strong medicinal or spiritual purpose. And several of these plants have been chosen by pharmaceutical companies for the creation of contemporary drugs that are sold in drugstores.
The entire Amazon region is also known as the “lungs of the world” since it is estimated that 20% of all the oxygen on the planet is produced in this region. It must be taken into account that the Amazon represents 54% of all the tropical forests that remain on planet earth, which is not little. If you are looking to enjoy the many luxury Peru tours that are offered in the Amazon, you better start organizing now.
“A NATION THAT DESTROYS ITS SOILS DESTROYS ITSELF. FORESTS ARE THE LUNGS OF OUR LAND, PURIFYING THE AIR AND GIVING FRESH STRENGTH TO OUR PEOPLE. “
We hope together with the experts of Cusco Peru Travel to have helped you a little with the different facts of the Amazon. These data can give you an idea of how huge this region is. If you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation on an all-inclusive cruise or inside the beautiful and classic bungalows, you can consult with our advisors.
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