List of Top 10 Largest Forests in the World

The following table lists the Top 10 Largest Forests in the World, which hold immense importance in preserving the health of our planet. Let’s examine each one in detail, including their location and approximate area covered:

Name of the Forest	Approximate Area Covered (in sq. km)
Amazon Rainforest	5,500,000
Congo Rainforest	3,400,000
Valdivian Temperate Rainforest	2,481,000
Taiga/ Boreal Forest	1,700,000
Tongass National Forest	68,000
Great Bear Rainforest	64,000
Black Forest	6,009
Daintree Rainforest	1,200
Bialowieza Forest	1,418.85
Yakushima	540.98

Largest Forest in the World – Amazon Rainforest

This forest has an area of 5.5 Million square kilometres.

It includes nine countries in South America.
It houses vast and rich trees which are 390 Billion in number.
It is region with 16000 species which include variety of plants and animals.
It has unique traditions and cultures and is home to indigenous tribes.
It contains several rivers including amazon river which is the largest river in the world.
It has many unique species like jaguars, anacondas, and harpy eagles.

Second Largest Forest in the World – Congo Forests

Congo Rainforest is the second largest forest in the world. Here are some important features and characteristics of this forest:

This rainforest is the second largest tropical rainforest globally following the Amazon.
This forest covers an extensive area of approximately 3.4 Million square kilometres in Central Africa.
This forest is situated in six countries.
There are around 10000 different plant species that live within the borders of this forest.
This forest provides a safe place for the very endangered mountain gorilla to live.
This rainforest is often referred to as the Lungs of the Planet.

Third Largest Forest in the World – Valdivian Temperate Rainforest

Below are a few of the important features of The Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, which is the third-largest forest in the world:

This rainforest is found in Chile and Argentina.
This forest has different types of trees and it covers a huge area of 248100 in sq km.
This forest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth displaying rich variety of plant and animal life.
This rainforest is described by its huge vegetation, tall trees, and rich greenery.
Because of its cold and wet weather conditions, this forest has a lot of special plants and animal species.
This forest is home to endangered animals like pudu deer as well as South American tapir.
It has beautiful landscapes like snow-covered mountains, rivers, and lakes which attract tourists in large numbers.
This forest benefits the environment around it by absorbing carbon dioxide and controlling the flow of water (also called water shedding).

Fourth Largest Forest in the World – The Taiga or Boreal Forest

Following are the features and characteristics of the Boreal forest:

This forest is the fourth biggest forest on Earth, and it covers an area of 17 Million square kilometres.
It is located in the provinces of Canada and Russia.
This forest is made mostly of trees that do not lose their leaves, like spruce, pine, and fir.
The Taiga started growing about 12,000 years ago when it got warmer and replaced frozen land.
In winter, this forest becomes a cold place that is very chilled and tough to live in.
This forest has different types of animals, like bears, wolves, moose, and lynx.

Fifth Largest Forest in the World – Tongass National Forest

The Tongass National Forest has the following key features and characteristics as follows:

This forest is situated in Southeast Alaska and covers an area of 68000 square kilometres.
About 40% of the Tongass is covered by ice, water, muskeg, and rock.
This forest is home to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimsian People.
This forest hosts around 400 species of wildlife.
The kinds of trees that are found in this forest are mostly made of red cedar, yellow cedar, and mountain hemlock.
This forest is often regarded as a healthy and abundant place.
This forest is owned by America and also earns a nickname called “America’s Salmon Forest”.

Sixth Largest Forest in the World – Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest has the following key features and characteristics as follows:

This forest is located in British Columbia, Canada and it is one of the huge forests of about 64000 square kilometres.
This forest is home to some really rare animals like the white Kermode bear, the grizzly bear, and the iconic salmon.
This forest includes numerous trees of which four play a vital role which are western red cedar, Douglas fir, western hemlock, and sitka spruce.
This forest is also called “Ursa Major” which is a constellation of the northern sky.
In this forest the climate ranges from 17 degrees in summers to -2 degrees in winters.
We can explore around 1400 bears in this coastal rainforest.

Seventh Largest Forest in the World – Black Forest

The Black Forest has the following key features and characteristics:

The Black Forest is a big forest in the southwest of Germany.
The Romans named it “Black Forest” because of the dark green conifer trees.
This forest is known for its typical farmhouses, Black Forest ham, Black Forest gnomes, lakes, rivers, beautiful valleys, and wildlife.
The highest mountain in the Black Forest is “Feldberg Mountain” and is 1493 metres tall.
The main trees that are found in this forest are fir and pine.
“Black forest Ham” is the most popular and most liked product of this forest.

Eighth Largest Forest in the World – Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest has the following key features and characteristics:

This forest is in Queensland, Australia.
This forest is very large and covers an area of 1200 square kilometres.
This forest has huge range of flora and fauna which includes big trees, lakes and waterfalls.
This forest has over 130 species of reptiles and 920 species of trees in total.
A famous natural wonder and freshwater spot that is found in this forest is “Mossman Gorge.”.
“Idiot fruits” is one of the unique plantation types of this forest.
This forest is famous for its rushing waterfalls, mountain ranges, lagoons, and culture.

Ninth Largest Forest in the World – Bialowieza Forest

The Bialowieza Forest has the following key features and characteristics:

This forest is one of the largest forests located in Poland and Belarus.
This forest is featured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It covers a very large area of approximately 1500 square kilometres in Poland and Belarus.
In the forest, there are 800 European bison, which are the biggest land animals in Europe.
The popular animals found in this forest are European bison, hazel grouse, and three-toed woodpeckers.
Around 7 reptiles, 250 birds, and 58 mammals live in this forest.

Tenth Largest Forest in the World – Yakushima

The Yakushima Forest has the following key features and characteristics as follows:

This forest is found in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu.
This forest is a popular natural site recognized by UNESCO.
The parts of this National Park cover the Ōsumi Islands and the waters around them.
The island of this forest is full of tall mountains and steep land, and it is famous for its ancient cedar trees.
The island is about 60 km away from the southern tip of Kyushu Island and has a mix of different kinds of plants and animals.

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Summary – Top 10 Largest Forests in the World

The world’s forests are incredibly important for the health of our planet, and the top 10 largest forests play a huge role in preserving biodiversity and maintaining the balance of nature. The Amazon Rainforest is the largest, stretching across nine South American countries and teeming with diverse plant and animal life. The Congo Rainforest comes next, providing a home for endangered species like mountain gorillas. Other notable forests include the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, known for its lush greenery and unique wildlife, and the Taiga or Boreal Forest, characterized by cold-tolerant trees like spruces and pines. These forests, along with others like Tongass National Forest and Great Bear Rainforest, offer habitats for numerous species and contribute to environmental stability by absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating water flow. Each forest has its own distinct features and plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth.

FAQs on List of Top 10 Largest Forests in the World

What is the First largest forest in the world?

“The Amazon Rainforest” is the largest forest in the world. It extends approximately 6.7 million square kilometres.

What is the Darkest Forest in the World?

“The Black Forest” is the darkest in the world. It is so dense with fir and pine trees that sunlight cannot come through it.

Which is the Oldest Forest in the World?

“Daintree Rainforest” in Queensland, Australia, is one of the oldest forests in the world and is 180 million years old.

Which is the Second Largest Forest in the World?

“The Congo Basin Forest ” located in Central Africa, is the second largest forest in the world. It is full of unique natural resources like cobalt and copper, hydropower potential, significant arable land, and immense biodiversity.

Which country has the highest number of Forests?

The country with the highest number of forests by total area of forested land is Russia.

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