The image to the left is the widely known Amazon rainforest, a tropical landscape stretching across South America. Tropical forests are common to regions close to the equator, average climate ranging from 20-31°C. A distinct characteristic of tropical forests is their seasons, only consisting of rain and dry. The landscape provides a diverse amount of life, due to its consistent warm, wet weather with abundant sunlight. 10% of all known species can be found in the Amazon alone. The Amazon Rainforest is predicted to be formed during the Eocene era, approximately 56 million years ago, and like all forests began with soil. Surprisingly, rainforest soils are nutrient poor, missing key minerals like calcium and magnesium. Most rainforests consist of 4 layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor. The 4 layers all play distinct roles and characteristics depending on how much sunlight, water, and air it receives.