The Amazon is the world's tropical rainforest. It area of nearly 2.8 million square miles, which is nearly the size of the continent of . The Amazon Rainforest gets its life from the majestic Amazon River, the world's second largest river, which directly the heart of the region. The rainforest itself is simply the drainage basin for the river and many tributaries. The vast forest consists of layers, each featuring its own ecosystems and adapted and animals.