Unique factors
The Amazon is actually the world's largest tropical rainforest. It covers more than 1.4 billion acres of land in South America. It also contains 10% of the world's species, and in particular is home to 2.5 million species of insects. The Amazon Rainforest is also known as the "lungs of the Earth," as it produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen. Without the Amazon, carbon dioxide levels would increase exponentially and significantly change the world as it is. Also, the foliage is so thick in the Amazon that in some places the floor is pitch black, and only 5% of light reaches the bottom.