Rain Forests

Rain forests have a continual abundance of rain with year-round growth. Most rain forests are tropical, but a few, such as the forest of the U.S. Pacific northwest, are temperate. Rain forests hold some of the largest trees on earth. Temperate rain forest trees often grow well over 200 feet (61 meters) in height. These rain forests occur in temperate zones where local conditions facilitate high amounts of rainfall, usually 80–120 inches or 2,000–3,000 millimeters per year. They are often near ocean breezes that deliver large quantities of moisture. Many are located on coastal mountain ranges where moisture from the ocean keeps them cool, even in the hottest months of summers, and mild in the winter.

Temperate rain forests occur in seven regions of the globe. ...