Bitcoin's price has fallen back from its recent peak due to concerns about the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
The Amazon rainforest, spanning nine countries in South America, is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, covering approximately 6.7 million square kilometers (2.6 million square miles). It plays a crucial role in global climate regulation, producing around 20% of the world’s oxygen and absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. The rainforest is incredibly biodiverse, housing an estimated 10% of the world’s known species, including millions of insects, plants, birds, and other animals. Many of these species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. Deforestation, primarily driven by agriculture, logging, and mining, poses a significant threat to the Amazon, leading to habitat loss and contributing to climate change. Indigenous communities have lived in the Amazon for thousands of years, possessing invaluable traditional knowledge about the forest's ecosystem. Efforts to protect the Amazon involve international cooperation, sustainable development initiatives, and the recognition of indigenous rights. The Amazon River, the second-longest river in the world, flows through the rainforest, transporting water and nutrients across the region. The forest's canopy creates a unique ecosystem with distinct layers, each supporting different forms of life. Scientific research continues to reveal new discoveries about the Amazon’s biodiversity and ecological functions.