Hidden Gems in the Amazon Rainforest

When most people think of the Amazon rainforest, they think of the vast expense of green spaces and the world’s longest river of the same name. However, there are many hidden treasures worthy of your time. This stunning ecosystem dates back 55 million years. Spanish explorer Francisco Orellana named the forest after female warriors from the Tapuya tribe. These fighters reminded Orellana of the women from the Greek myth known as the Amazons. Nature, scientific discoveries, and history are reasons to enjoy a trip to this area. Anyone visiting this area will have a new appreciation for the Amazon rainforest’s global contributions.

Ancient Settlements and Cultures

man archaeologist carefully cleans the find with a brush
Photo by Evgeny on Adobe Stock

Archaeologists uncovered 81 settlements dating from 1250-1500 A.D in March 2018. Jonas Gregorio de Souza, the archaeologist behind this discovery, estimates hundreds of similar settlements might exist in this area. Based on these discoveries, de Souza and his team estimated that as many as a million people may have occupied these cities. Additional research is necessary to determine whether more of these types of locations exist.

Impressive Animals of Many Sizes

Flock of scarlet and red-and-green macaws flying in amazonas rainforest in Manu National Park/Peru close to chuncho clay lick in Tambopata
Photo by Miguel on Adobe Stock

The Amazon jungle hosts some of the world’s most unique animals. These species have impressive survival skills suited to their environment.

Goliath Birdeate

Macro shot of a tarantula
Photo by Ronja Meyer on Pexels

The Goliath birdeater is the world’s heaviest tarantula and has a 5.1 in length. This colossal spider can easily catch and eat birds. This spider isn’t venomous, a relief to many Amazon explorers. However, the creature has prickly hairs that it may shed if you get too close, irritating your skin.

Potoo

Common Potoo, Nyctibius griseus, hidden on the tree trunk, wildlife from Asa Wright Nature Centre on Trinidad.
Photo by ondrejprosicky on Adobe Stock

The potoo is one of the more bizarre-looking birds you may come across. However, the avian’s appearance aids its camouflage skills, among some of the best in the animal kingdom. This bird can spend days without movement and keeps its eyes half-closed most of the time. One way the creature avoids detection is by perching on branches during the day and being active at night.