In the Jungle

This week Caterpillar and I took off for South America. After presenting our passports, we were allowed into Brazil. We quickly discovered we were a long way from home! It was hot and very humid! We also traveled to Venezuela and Columbia. Aaaahhh, the wonderful smell of the cacao beans! MMMMmmmm! Then we headed for the JUNGLE!

Jungles are thick green forests, which grow in hot wet countries near the equator. They are also called rain forests, as it rains nearly every day. There is no summer or winter; it is warm year round. Jungle trees grow very tall! While exploring the tropical rain forest, one small square will not do. First we explored the forest floor. We are careful for snakes, biting ants and bird's eggs.

Next, we looked up into the world of the understory. The light is dim, so we looked carefully through the vines and branches for Woolly opossums, Central American porcupines and Silky anteaters! An occasional flash of color helped us know a bird or butterfly was nearby.

In the canopy, creatures live there that never make it to the ground! Leaves are everywhere! Up in the treetops flowers are in bloom and birds are buzzing around! The tropical rain forest is the perfect place for them to live.

At the very top, we reach the emergent layer! It is often called the attic of the rain forest. It is made up of tops of trees that stick up above the rest. The view is spectacular! It is the home of the harpy eagle, the most powerful eagle in the world. You may also see beautifully colored parrots feeding and flying in the canopy. Brilliant colored butterflies sparkle in the sunlight. The rain forest is certainly a very special place!