Amazon Rain Forest in Peru
The Amazon Jungle of Peru covers about two-thirds of the state, making it the second-largest jungle in the world, trumped only by the Brazilian Amazon jungle. It is situated east of the Andes Mountains and stretches all the way to the borders of Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia, and Bolivia. Like the Brazilian jungle, it is considered one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet and is home to innumerable species of plants and animals, some found only is that part of the world.
Peru’s Amazon jungle is generally divided into two
sections: the lowland jungle and the highland jungle. The former, known
as Selva Baja to the native Spanish speaking Peruvians, is the
rainforest portion of the jungle. It is Peru’s largest eco-region and at
its lowest point is about 200 feet above sea level. The weather
conditions here are as one would expect from a jungle rainforest – hot
and humid. The average temperature is about 83 degrees Fahrenheit and
the humidity almost always tops 75 percent. Rainfall is heavy as well.
This part of the jungle is also dotted with numerous large rivers
including not only the Amazon but also the
Apurimac, Mantaro, Amazon, Urubamba, Ucayali, Huallaga, Marañón, and
Putumayo.
In
contrast, the highland jungle (Selva Alta) ranges from about 3,000 to 12,000
feet above sea level, so temperatures and humidity are markedly lower in the
higher elevations. Because this area is largely isolated, explorers will
find many endemic (peculiar to this area) species of animals in the Selva
Alta.
Because of
the Amazonian jungle, Peru earns the title of being the most bio-diverse
country in the world, boasting the largest number of bird species on Earth
and the third largest number of mammals. In all, there is an estimated 1,816
species of birds in Peru’s jungle, 403 species of amphibians, 462 mammalian
species, 395 kinds of reptiles, and 900 species of river fish in the
Amazonian area of Peru. There are also more than 3,300 species of butterfly
and some 17,000 species of flowering plants, including a large number of
orchids.
Though the
Peruvian Amazon Jungle is the most expansive portion of Peru, it is also the
least populated. The largest cities are in the lowland area, like Iquitos,
which is only accessible by boat or plane. Other towns include Pucallpa,
Yurimaguas, Nuata, and Puerto Maldonado in the lowlands and Tarapoto, Jaen,
Moyobamba, Bagua, and Rioja in the highlands. Many roads to some of these
cities are now being paved, making them more accessible.
Numerous
national parks and reserves are located within the Amazon rainforest as well
and are a joy to explore, especially for the nature lover. These include
Tambopata National Reserve, home to about 90 percent of Peru’s amphibians,
reptiles, and fresh-water fish; and Manu National Park, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site that’s incredibly bio-diverse.
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