Rainforests

=What is a rainforest?= Rainforests have four layers. The __emergent__ layer is at the top. A veryfew tall trees grow above the top of canopy. Eagles live in this layer and swoop into the canopy for prey. The __canopy__ is like a roof of leaves and branches over the rainforest. Most rainforest animals live in the canopy e.g. monkeys. The __understorey__ is the crown of trees that haven't reached the canopy. It's not as thick as the canopy, and birds fly in and out of the branches. Plants less than 5 metres high grow in the __understorey.__ There is not much light here and so there are not many plants. Many fungi (e.g. mushrooms) grow in the understorey because it is cool and damp.

Weather and climate
All rainforests are warm and damp. It is very shady on the forest floor and there is no bright sunlight in the day time. At night it is totally dark and cooler. Day temperatures in tropical rainforests average 35 o C. Night temperatures average about 18 o C. = = =Dangers= It rains __a lot__ but the water is mostly not safe to drink. Campers must carry water purifying tablets. Some of the fruits you can see are poisonous to eat. There are mosquitoes and leeches everywhere. Scorpions and snakes live on the forest floor so beds and shelters must be raised off the ground.

=Interesting Things to See and Do= There are always many rivers in rainforests so it's fun to travel along in a canoe or kayak. Pitcher plants that trap and eat insects grow in the rainforest, e.g. the Purple Pitcher Plant grows in the Tasmanian Rainforest. [|Check this link] for a great list of rainforest animals - but be careful to research animals from the rainforest you have chosen as your topic. They are all different! =Where can you visit rainforest?= Rainforests are mainly in the Tropics, near the Equator. There are rainforests in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia. Australia is unusual because there are
 * tropical rainforests in the north (mainly in North Queensland e.g. the Daintree)
 * sub-tropical rainforests in southern Queensland (e.g. at Noosa) and New South Wales
 * temperate rainforests in Victoria (the Otways) and Tasmania. They get between 200-500cm of rain each year.

=Clothes and Equipment needed= It's shady so you don't need sunscreen, but you need clothes to protect your skin from scratches. Clothes should cover you from your neck down to your feet to protect you from leeches and mosquitoes, Clothes need to be tough, light and cool, and they should dry quickly because wet clothes are very uncomfortable. You need a hat to keep insects from falling on to you. You need boots that cover your ankles to keep the leeches out. You may need a machete to cut plants that are in your way, a compass to help you find your way, and a GPS tracker in case you get lost. All members of a tour will need to carry a backpack, a sleeping bag and a one-man tent.

Interesting Rainforests to Visit
Amazon Rainforest Queensland rainforests Tasmanian Rainforests

Useful websites
Learning about Rainforests Back to Landscapes