Rainforests are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, teeming with life and playing host to an array of organisms. But while they may seem expansive and too vast to measure, there is one rainforest that stands out as being much smaller than all the rest: the smallest rainforest in the world. This remarkable ecosystem is located on Santa Cruz Island, one of just four islands which comprise the Galapagos Islands off Ecuador’s coast. What makes this special rainforest so small? It’s certainly not because of a lack of biodiversity.
In fact, it is home to a variety of flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, such as unique species of plants, insects and birds. So how big is this smallest of rainforests? Well, it covers an area of only 200 hectares — approximately 494 acres — making it easily among the smallest rainforests on the planet. Despite its small size, however, it contains many interesting specimens from diverse environments, including mangroves along its coast line and two distinct elevations within its interior areas. The low-lying coastal region hosts a wide variety of shrubs and bushes as well as palm trees; upslope, taller vegetation dominates with impressively tall trees reaching heights up to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet).
Within these trees are nests for several species including frigatesbirds and finches along with other wildlife found here such as large iguanas or giant tortoises able to grow up to 5 feet long. Interestingly enough, while much attention has been focused on the various endemic plant species found in this forest (of which there are more than 200), few studies have looked at what kind of animal life might be present here or even how they support each other mutually within this tiny ecosystem. Clearly, further study could offer us many exciting new insights into our world’s ecology not seen elsewhere! It’s fascinating to think about all the secrets held by such a small piece element consisting only 0.0045 percent of Earth’s landmass — secrets yet worth uncovering after centuries since its discovery by Charles Darwin during his voyage aboard H.M.S Beagle back in 1835!
