Despite being completely closed to visitors, selected researchers are allowed access to collect snake venom samples for testing. The venom causes excruciating pain, making it one of the deadliest species of snakes in the world. It is said that one bite from these snakes is enough to kill a human within an hour. Whatever the history, it is clear that this may very well be one of the most dangerous islands in the world. Other legends suggest that the snakes were brought over to the island by pirates to protect a vast bounty of buried treasure, yet to be discovered for any brave explorer. Since then, no others dared to take on the job, or even set foot, lest they befall the same fate. One night, a snake got through into the house and the entire family were killed, never to be seen again. Local legends from the mainland tell that the island used to be inhabited by a single family of lighthouse keepers, maintaining the light to deter any other ships from visiting. Closer inspection, however, would reveal that this lighthouse has long been abandoned and fallen into disrepair and no other signs of human life can be found. Evidence of man-made presence on the island is clear from patches of open grassland (a consequence of slash and burn farming technique) and a distinctive, white lighthouse, high up on the hill. Just a short boat ride off the coast of Sao Paulo in South-East Brazil, Ilha da Gueimada Grande can be spotted, rising dramatically out of the sea. Despite beautiful luscious forest and rocky terrain, this is not an island you would wish to stumble upon! Over it's 106 acres it is home to aproximately 430,000 deadly vipers. Most birds native to the taiga migrate to find warmer conditions during the forest’s harsh winters.Just off the coast of Brazil lies the tiny island of Gueimada Grande, or “Snake Island” as it is more commonly known. Moose and deer are just a couple of examples of large herbivorous mammals in this environment. Conifers, spruce, fir, and pine trees are the predominant needle-leaf plant species in boreal forests. Temperatures in boreal forests are, on average, below freezing. Boreal forests have a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Boreal forests, one of the world’s largest land biomes, are found across Siberia, Scandinavia, and North America (Alaska and Canada). The third type of forest is the boreal forest, also known as taiga. The red mangrove forest on the Panamanian island of Escudo de Veragua is home to the critically endangered pygmy three-toed sloth ( Bradypus pygmaeus). Tropical mangrove forests, characterized by trees and shrubs that grow in salty or brackish water, are found in the tropics and subtropics. Deforestation and poaching for human sustenance have caused their populations to decline. Animals include the endangered harpy eagle ( Harpia harpyja)-a large predatory bird-which has become scarce throughout Central and South America, largely due to habitat loss.īonobos ( Pan paniscus), an ape species that calls the tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa their home, are also endangered. Tropical rainforests are the epitome of biodiversity. Temperatures in tropical forests have been reported to range between 20 and 31☌ (68 and 88☏). Tropical forests are common to areas near the equator, such as Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America. Deer, squirrels, and bears are just a few examples of the fauna that call temperate forests home. Precipitation is abundant and lends to fertile soil that is able to support diverse flora like maples, oak, and birch. The temperatures of temperate forests vary throughout the year because of the four distinct seasons at these latitudes. Temperate forests are found across eastern North America and Eurasia. Experts estimate that these forests cover approximately one-third of Earth’s surface. There are three general types of forest that exist: temperate, tropical, and boreal. The word forest broadly describes an area that has a large number of trees.
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