Biomes of the World - Forests

What Makes the Forest Biome Unique?

The forest biome occupies about one third of the Earth's surface and there are three different types of forests found around the world: tropical forests, temperate forests and boreal forests.

Tropical Forests

Tropical forests are found near the equator, have super hot temperatures all year long and get up to 80 inches (2000 mm) of rain a year. Tropical rainforests are home to jaguars, toucans, gorillas and even tarantulas. Here you can also find an antelope called the royal antelope that is only as big as a rabbit.

Temperate Forests

Temperate forests are found in the Eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China and Japan. Temperate forests, which are also known as deciduous forests, have four distinct seasons, which means all the tree leaves fall off in the winter months. Tons of animals live in temperate forests like beavers, black and brown bears, deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks, rabbits and various bird species.

Boreal Forests

Boreal forests often get less rain than the other forests and are home to evergreen trees, which stay green all year long. This is because they have needles, which don't need as much water as regular tree leaves. Boreal forests are only in the Northern Hemisphere and can be found in every Canadian province.

Quick Forest Facts

Only 20 percent of the world's virgin forests (which are trees that have never been cut down) are still around. They are found primarily in Canada, Brazil and Russia.

Forests are home to millions of plant and animal species. Over half of the 5 to 10 million plant and animal species on Earth can be found in the rainforest.

Trees provide us with the oxygen that we need to survive. Did you know that one mature tree can produce enough oxygen for a family of four for one year?

The oldest living thing on Earth is a bristlecone pine tree in Nevada. It is 4,700 years old, which means it was around when the Egyptians were building the pyramids!

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