Rainforests are known to house exotic wildlife, spectacular flora and fauna and breathtaking water bodies. They can be fascinating holiday spots for all age groups in a family. Here are some of the great rainforests of the world that you must visit.
Daintree Rainforest, Australia
1. Daintree Rainforest, Australia
The Daintree tropical rainforest is located north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Named after famous Australian geologist Richard Daintree, this rain-forest is around 1000 square miles in area. Daintree is said to be a home to exotic species of reptiles, bats, frogs and butterflies. This rainforest is a must visit because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it runs along the beautiful coastline of the Daintree River and it naturally extends itself into beautiful and rare coral reefs that Australia is world famous for.
Photo Courtesy: Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It. World Tour
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
2. Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
The Amazon rainforest is one of the largest rainforests in the world as it extends its coverage to several Latin American countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and French Guiana amongst many others. This rainforest is said to have maximum variety of wildlife and plant species across the globe. Amazon River, one of the longest rivers in the world, also runs through the Amazon rainforest in a serpentine formation. Although many parts of the Amazon rainforest remain inaccessible to visitors due to dense coverage, you can visit the areas open to public.
Photo Courtesy: CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Monteverde Preserve, Costa Rica
3. Monteverde Preserve, Costa Rica
The Monteverde rainforest in Costa Rica is famously known as a cloud forest and is said to be one of the 7 Wonders of the nation. It is also claimed to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The cloud forest reserve area of this rainforest appears as if it is floating amongst mist and clouds. If you are interested in seeing a wide variety or orchids and migratory birds, the Monteverde Preserve is a rainforest that you must visit. The adjoining town of Monteverde also offers other nature related sightseeing spots.
Photo Courtesy: maveric2003
Tongass National Forest, Alaska
4. Tongass National Forest, Alaska
One of the largest national forests in America, Tongass is a temperate rainforest which is located in south east Alaska. Tongass falls under an eco-region as mapped out by WWF and houses many endangered species of wildlife and plants. This rainforest still houses many Alaskan native tribes and is said to be home to rarely seen species of bear, eagles, salmon and birds like Arctic Tern. The reason this rainforest is a different in its landscape from others is because it falls in the Tundra region. To see ice, snow, glaciers, limestone and winter vegetation, you can consider visiting the Tongass National Forest.
Photo Courtesy: markcbrennan
Congo Rainforest, Africa
5. Congo Rainforest, Africa
The Congo rainforest is located in Central Africa and is famous because it houses mammals like the Pygmy Chimpanzee, Hippopotamus, African elephants, Gorillas and the Okapi. The Congo rainforest is said to be the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. If you want to experience rainforests laced with savannahs, swamps and grasslands, this is the rainforest you should visit.
Photo Courtesy: Valerius Tygart
