Tag: life in tropical and subtropical regions

 People in Amazon basin practice “slash and burn agriculture”. The staple food is manioc, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like the potato. They also eat queen ants and egg sacs. Cash crops like coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.

The kapok tree is the biggest tree in the Amazon rain forest.  They grow up to 200 feet in height and some trees grow 13 feet per year.  The wood of this tree is lightweight and used in many ways.  The seeds of the tree contain oil in it and are mainly used for making soaps. 

Cassava is the staple food of the people of Amazon basin. It is actually a starchy root plant. They cook it in different ways like boiled or fried and also make flour from this after drying it.

In the Amazon basin, rainforests provide a lot of wood for the houses. Some families live in thatched houses shaped like beehives. There are other large apartment-like houses called “Maloca” with a steeply slanting roof.

In the Amazon basin, People grow most of their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest. While men hunt and fish along the rivers, women take care of the crops. They practice “slash and burn agriculture”. 

Amazon rainforest is located in South America on the bank of the river Amazon. It covers an area of 5.500,000 sq km. Broadleaf evergreen trees are found in this forest. This rainforest is also known as Selva. 

The Amazon River originates in the Andes Mountains of Peru, specifically from the Mantaro River and Apurimac River sources.

The Amazon River system is the longest navigation channel in the world. No Dams regulates its flow, no bridges span their banks, and no dredgers alter its course. It is continuous natural river channel appropriate for tug navigation.

The Sao Francisco River is a major river in Brazil, often cited as the third most important after the Amazon and Parana.

The Paraguay and Parana rivers flow through the southwestern region of Brazil, eventually forming part of the Rio de la Plata basin.