The Amazon Exploration

The Amazon is the biggest rainforest in the world. It is in South America and has a giant river running through it. For hundreds of years, explorers have tried to learn about this amazing place. They found tall trees, hidden animals, and people who live deep in the jungle.

Early Explorers

A Spanish explorer named Francisco de Orellana was the first European to travel down the whole Amazon River in 1542. His trip was long and hard because of bugs, heat, and fast water. Later, a scientist named Alexander von Humboldt explored parts of the Amazon in the 1800s. He wrote many books about the plants and animals he saw.

What Lives in the Amazon

The Amazon is home to millions of kinds of plants and animals. You can find jaguars, pink dolphins, giant spiders, and colorful parrots there. The river has fish called piranhas with very sharp teeth. Scientists still find new animals and plants in the Amazon every year. Many native tribes have lived in the rainforest for thousands of years.

Fun Facts

• The Amazon River is about 4,000 miles long.
• One out of every ten known animals in the world lives in the Amazon.
• Some trees in the Amazon are taller than a 20-story building.

Did You Know?

The Amazon rainforest makes so much oxygen that people sometimes call it the 'lungs of the Earth.'