Learn the key differences between jungles and rainforests with easy-to-understand explanations, perfect for 15-year-old students studying nature and ecosystems.
At first glance, the words jungle and rainforest might seem to mean the same thing because both describe dense, green areas filled with trees and plants. However, there are some important differences between the two, especially in terms of their environment, plant growth, and location.
A rainforest is a type of forest that receives a very high amount of rainfall every year—usually more than 2000 millimeters (about 79 inches). Because of this heavy rain, rainforests are very humid (moist) and support a large variety of plant and animal species. There are two main types of rainforests:
Rainforests typically have tall trees that form a thick canopy (a roof of leaves) which blocks most sunlight from reaching the ground.
A jungle is a type of dense forest that usually grows in tropical areas as well, but it is often found where the forest has been disturbed or cleared somewhat, allowing sunlight to reach the ground. This means that plants can grow thickly on the forest floor, including bushes, vines, and small trees. Jungles tend to be more tangled and difficult to walk through because of all this undergrowth.
While many jungles can be part of or near rainforests, the main difference is that jungles have more sunlight reaching the ground and more dense, tangled plants on the forest floor.
The Amazon Rainforest is a huge, tropical rainforest. In some cleared or disturbed parts of it, you might find jungles – a more tangled, thick growth of plants blocking the way.
So, the rainforest is the larger ecosystem known for heavy rain and tall, packed trees making a canopy, whereas a jungle is a smaller, thickly vegetated area where sunlight reaches the floor, resulting in lots of smaller plants and vines making it hard to pass through. Both are important parts of the Earth's natural environment.