Getting to know the Amazon (in my 7 Continents AB)

As promised, we are visiting the Amazon today.  Of course, I'm joining Art Journal Journey where this month the theme, Nature's Wonders, was chosen by our host Gill of Gibby Frogett Craftations.

The Amazon covers about 50% of Brazil.

The Amazon river contains about 1/5 of the world's free-flowing fresh water.

The Amazon rain forest is vital to Brazil.

Both flora and fauna coexist here.

Like with every natural wonder, there are risks involved when visiting.

Materials for this side include my used file folder as my substrate that I painted turquoise using a sea sponge.  Three images were taken from three travel magazines, and information gathered from the internet was computer generated.  One 3-D item was included for this side.

Side two shows the Amazon river and its tributaries, the biggest in the world, and the Amazon rain forest, a broadleaf forest, the largest in the world, are both called the Amazon, most of which is found in Brazil.

Lily pads line the river

where over two and a half times as many freshwater fish species as any other river can be found.  In fact, over 400 mammal species, 1,300 types of birds, almost 400 reptile species, at least 3,000 types of fish, over 400 species of amphibian, and 40,000 plant species call the Amazon home.

The Amazon rain forest has four layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. 

The tallest trees in the forest are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around.  In the Amazon, they are primarily broadleaf.

The canopy is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers. 

Many animals live in the understory, or underbrush, including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs, and leopards.  There is also a large concentration of insects in the understory.

The forest floor receives practically no sunlight, so most things, plants, animals, and trees etc., begin to decay quickly. 

Nature has a way of protecting itself, so the Amazon is truly one of nature's wonders.

Materials include the opposing side of the used file folder, also colored using a sea sponge.  Three images were taken from three travel magazines, and information gathered from the internet was computer generated.  One 3-D item was included for this side, too.

I greatly appreciate your visit and hope you learned something about the amazing Amazon, as I did.  Please don't forget to visit Art Journal Journey and Gill to see even more of nature's wonders.