tropical rainforest

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Animals & Nature

tropical rainforest

Also known as: tropical rain forest

Written by Jeremy M.B. Smith

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 5, 2024 • Article History

Ecuador: rainforest

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Category: Animals & Nature

Also spelled:: tropical rain forest

Key People:: Julia Carabias Lillo

Related Topics:: rainforest; liana

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Recent News

Apr. 3, 2024, 11:43 PM ET (Reuters)

Tropical forest loss eased in 2023 but threats remain, analysis shows

tropical rainforest, luxuriant forest found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands around the Equator. Tropical rainforests, which worldwide make up one of Earth’s largest biomes (major life zones), are dominated by broad-leaved trees that form a dense upper canopy (layer of foliage) and contain a diverse array of vegetation and other life. Contrary to common thinking, not all tropical rainforests occur in places with high, constant rainfall; for example, in the so-called “dry rainforests” of northeastern Australia, the climate is punctuated by a dry season, which reduces the annual precipitation. This article covers only the richest of rainforests—the tropical rainforests ...(100 of 6617 words)

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