Forests make up nearly a third of our planet. Many people think that a forest is just an endless cluster of evergreen trees, but, in fact, they can be incredibly diverse. Some different types of forests include temperate deciduous forests, boreal forests, temperate coniferous forests, tropical forests, and subtropical forests. Each forest has its own ecosystem that varies depending on the climate of the country it is found in. Check out the following 10 wonderful forests from all over the world to see for yourself how diverse they can be.
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1. Banff National Park, Canada
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Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, and it's located in the Alberta province, west of Calgary. The park is famous for its breathtaking alpine landscapes, enormous glaciers, and ice fields. The Wapta Icefields are a sight to behold.
2. Amazon Rainforest, South America
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The Amazon Jungle is located in South America and encompasses 7,000,000 square kilometers or (2,700,000 square miles). Over 60% of the Amazon can be found in Brazil. The Amazon represents half of the planet's entire rainforest, making it the largest tropical rainforest in the world.
3. Heron Pond, United States
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This stunning pond of cypress trees can be found in the Shawnee Forest of Belnap, Illinois. The forest is home to a wide variety of cypress trees, willows, ferns, and plants. You can head up the Cache River Nature Area for a scenic hike in the forest.
4. Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan
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The beautiful bamboo forest of Sagano can be found along the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. The Bamboo Grove is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the entire country. While you're in the forest, you won't want to miss Tenryu-ji Temple, which is just a short walk away!
5. Black Forest, Germany
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This forest, also known as Schwarzwald, is located along the wooded mountain range of Baden-Württemberg, in Southwest Germany. The beautiful lakes of Titisee and Schluchsee are what attracts most tourists.
6. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
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The Zhangjiajie National Park sits atop a very scenic area of the Hunan Province. The quartz sandstone pillars are the main features of this famous Chinese park. They are the result of erosion, which occurred many years ago.
7. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
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The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is noted for its diverse flora and fauna. This wonderful forest can be found along the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range within the Puntarenas and Alajuela provinces.
8. Avenue of the Baobabs. Madagascar
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The Avenue of the Baobabs can be found off a dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina, in the Menabe region of Western Madagascar. The trees can reach 800 years old, and there are only 20-25 baobab trees still growing in the forest.
9. Stone Forest, China
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This spectacular forest is located in the Shilin Yi Autonomous County, of the Yunnan Province. The towering limestone formations are said to date back over 270 million years! The forest is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. Mangrove Tunnel, Honduras
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The Mangrove Tunnel Tour is a major tourist attraction in Honduras. The tour takes you through the cultural heritage of the Caribbean and is definitely a must-see if you ever find yourself in Honduras.
