Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2019
  4. June 22
  5. Aerial view of the Amazon River basin near Manaus, Brazil
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Aerial view of the Amazon River basin near Manaus, Brazil

June 22, 2019

Aerial view of the Amazon River basin near Manaus, Brazil

© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimon

Meet the ‘Lungs of the World’. Reflections on the mighty Amazon

For World Rainforest Day, we take you below these clouds to the Amazon River basin and the largest rainforest in the world. At more than 2.1 million square miles, the Amazon accounts for half of Earth’s remaining tropical rainforests. And a fifth of the world’s fresh water flows through this river basin. Perhaps a tenth of the planet’s known species call it home, many of which have yet to be identified – that’s trees, plants, fish, mammals and a third of Earth’s bird species. Now take a deep breath. The ‘Lungs of the World’ produces 20 per cent of Earth’s oxygen while storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide, earning it an all-star ‘carbon sink’ status.Why’s it called the Amazon? Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco de Orellana gave it that name after encountering indigenous women of the Pira-tapuya tribe who fought alongside men. The women warriors of the region reminded Orellana of the Amazons of Greek mythology. Today the Amazon rainforest still sounds almost mythologically powerful – and it is. Yet, all rainforests are fragile biosystems. Worldwide, we lose swathes of these precious environments to agriculture and mining. However, the pace of deforestation is slowing as farming methods improve and advocacy efforts build awareness around these rich biodiverse tropical rainforests. The more we learn about rainforests, the more we appreciate how our own future, and the future of our planet, hinge upon their health.

water snow outdoor sky cloud nature covered landscape clouds

Related Images

View from the cupola of the International Space Station above the South Pacific OceanView from the cupola of the International Space Station above the South Pacific Ocean
Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, CanadaPolar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Castle Stalker on Loch Laich, Argyll, ScotlandCastle Stalker on Loch Laich, Argyll, Scotland
Sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United StatesSandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United States
Red deer, CanadaRed deer, Canada
Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, GeorgiaMedieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
Ribblehead Viaduct and Ingleborough mountain, North Yorkshire, EnglandRibblehead Viaduct and Ingleborough mountain, North Yorkshire, England
Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, GermanyKönigstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany

Today on Bing

Amazon rainforest, Brazil

Amazon rainforest, Brazil

Jun 22, 2024
Amazon rainforest, Peru

Amazon rainforest, Peru

Jun 22, 2023
A view of the Glastonbury Festival site from Pennard Hill, Somerset at dawn, June 2009.

A view of the Glastonbury Festival site from Pennard Hill, Somerset at dawn, June 2009.

Jun 22, 2022
Reading the news aboard the Empire Windrush on arrival at Tilbury, Essex on 22 June 1948

Reading the news aboard the Empire Windrush on arrival at Tilbury, Essex on 22 June 1948

Jun 22, 2021
Male southern double-collared sunbird on rocket pincushion flower, Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town, South Africa

Male southern double-collared sunbird on rocket pincushion flower, Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town, South Africa

Jun 22, 2020

Related Tags

snow outdoor sky mountain nature landscape water tree animal cloud canyon valley painting winter ship polar polar bear bear white carnivore
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.