What is a temperate rainforest?

Temperate rainforests are mid-latitude biomes that lie between 40° and 60° in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They receive 60 to 200 inches of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog and maintain mild temperatures in summer and winter. These forests are home to various plant and animal life, though not as much as tropical rainforests. They can be found along the western coasts of North and South America, in southeastern Australia near mountainous regions, and in other areas around the world. Temperate rainforests are vital to the environment because they store carbon and provide habitats for diverse species. They are, however, threatened by deforestation and climate change.

Where in the world can you find temperate rainforests?

Temperate rainforests thrive in middle latitudes, typically between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, needing constant moisture. They're mainly on the western coasts of North and South America and in southeastern Australia, near mountains that cause heavy precipitation. The largest temperate rainforests stretch from northern California to Alaska and along southern Chile's coast. In Oceania, they're in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and parts of New Zealand. Smaller ones exist in Japan, with remnants in the United Kingdom and Norway. These forests, vital for ecology, store carbon and offer habitats for diverse species.

What is the climate like in a temperate rainforest?

Temperate rainforests, found in middle latitudes between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, have abundant moisture year-round. They receive 150 to 500 cm of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog and support lush plant growth. Unlike tropical rainforests , temperate rainforests have mild temperatures in both summer and winter. These forests are located along the western coasts of North and South America, and in southeastern Australia near mountains. Significant precipitation occurs as moisture-laden air from the ocean moves up mountain slopes. The largest temperate rainforests stretch from northern California to Alaska and along the coast of southern Chile. Temperate rainforests of Oceania are in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and parts of New Zealand. Smaller ones are in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

What types of plants and trees are common in temperate rainforests?

Temperate rainforests, found in middle latitudes between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, are characterized by high moisture levels and lush plant growth. They receive 150 to 500 cm of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog. Common trees in these forests include both coniferous and broad-leaved deciduous trees. North American temperate rainforests are dominated by conifers like redwood, firs, cedars, and spruces. South American varieties feature broad-leaved trees like robles and laurels, as well as conifers like cypress and the endangered monkey puzzle tree. In Oceania, mountain beech trees, eucalyptuses, crabapple, and corkwood are prevalent. Temperate rainforests also host diverse plant life such as epiphytes , mosses, and ferns.

How do animals adapt to live in temperate rainforests?

Temperate rainforests, found in mid-latitudes, are vital ecological regions with abundant moisture and mild temperatures. Animals in these forests have adapted to the environment in various ways. Many forest animals have highly developed hearing and adapt for vertical movement. For example, arboreal frogs and lizards have specialized toe disks or scales for grasping and climbing trees. Birds like woodpeckers use strong feet and stiffened tail feathers to climb, while mammals use strong claws or prehensile fingers. Other adaptations include specialized behaviors, such as camouflage or nocturnal feeding, to avoid predators.

How are temperate rainforests different from tropical rainforests?

Temperate and tropical rainforests are both lush, wet environments, but they differ in key aspects. Tropical rainforests, found near the Equator, have consistently high temperatures, typically between 20 and 30°C (68 and 86°F), and high rainfall, exceeding 1,800 mm (70 inches) annually. Temperate rainforests, on the other hand, are located in mid-latitudes, generally between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, and experience milder temperatures in summer and winter. They receive heavy rainfall, ranging from roughly 150 to 500 cm (60 to 200 inches) per year, including coastal fog. Temperate rainforests are located along the western coasts of continents, such as in North and South America and southeastern Australia.

Temperate rainforest

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Images & Videos

Moss-covered trees and dense ferns in the lush temperate rainforest of Olympic National Park, Washington State.

Dense temperate rainforest in the Kepler mountains of Fiordland, New Zealand, with moss-covered tree branches and lush ferns surrounding a small stream.

Close-up of a Monkey Puzzle Tree branch (Araucaria araucana) showing sharp, spirally arranged green leaves on a thick stem.

Garajonay National Park, Canary Islands, Spain

Travel to Washington Olympic National Park's temperate rainforest to see various tree species and vegetation

Quick Facts

Also called:: midlatitude rainforest

Related Topics:: Rainforest; temperate climate

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Temperate rainforest

biome

Also known as: laurel forest, midlatitude rainforest, temperate evergreen forest, temperate rain forest(Show More)

Written by

Stephen Eldridge

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is a temperate rainforest?
Temperate rainforests are mid-latitude biomes that lie between 40° and 60° in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They receive 60 to 200 inches of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog and maintain mild temperatures in summer and winter.

These forests are home to various plant and animal life, though not as much as tropical rainforests. They can be found along the western coasts of North and South America, in southeastern Australia near mountainous regions, and in other areas around the world. Temperate rainforests are vital to the environment because they store carbon and provide habitats for diverse species. They are, however, threatened by deforestation and climate change.
5 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where in the world can you find temperate rainforests?
Temperate rainforests thrive in middle latitudes, typically between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, needing constant moisture. They're mainly on the western coasts of North and South America and in southeastern Australia, near mountains that cause heavy precipitation.

The largest temperate rainforests stretch from northern California to Alaska and along southern Chile's coast. In Oceania, they're in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and parts of New Zealand. Smaller ones exist in Japan, with remnants in the United Kingdom and Norway. These forests, vital for ecology, store carbon and offer habitats for diverse species.
2 Britannica Sources
1. temperate rainforest: Geography
2. forest: Types of forests
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What is the climate like in a temperate rainforest?
Temperate rainforests, found in middle latitudes between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, have abundant moisture year-round. They receive 150 to 500 cm of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog and support lush plant growth. Unlike tropical rainforests, temperate rainforests have mild temperatures in both summer and winter.

These forests are located along the western coasts of North and South America, and in southeastern Australia near mountains. Significant precipitation occurs as moisture-laden air from the ocean moves up mountain slopes. The largest temperate rainforests stretch from northern California to Alaska and along the coast of southern Chile. Temperate rainforests of Oceania are in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and parts of New Zealand. Smaller ones are in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Norway.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What types of plants and trees are common in temperate rainforests?
Temperate rainforests, found in middle latitudes between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, are characterized by high moisture levels and lush plant growth. They receive 150 to 500 cm of precipitation annually as heavy rain and coastal fog.

Common trees in these forests include both coniferous and broad-leaved deciduous trees. North American temperate rainforests are dominated by conifers like redwood, firs, cedars, and spruces. South American varieties feature broad-leaved trees like robles and laurels, as well as conifers like cypress and the endangered monkey puzzle tree. In Oceania, mountain beech trees, eucalyptuses, crabapple, and corkwood are prevalent.

Temperate rainforests also host diverse plant life such as epiphytes, mosses, and ferns.
5 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do animals adapt to live in temperate rainforests?
Temperate rainforests, found in mid-latitudes, are vital ecological regions with abundant moisture and mild temperatures. Animals in these forests have adapted to the environment in various ways.

Many forest animals have highly developed hearing and adapt for vertical movement. For example, arboreal frogs and lizards have specialized toe disks or scales for grasping and climbing trees. Birds like woodpeckers use strong feet and stiffened tail feathers to climb, while mammals use strong claws or prehensile fingers. Other adaptations include specialized behaviors, such as camouflage or nocturnal feeding, to avoid predators.
6 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How are temperate rainforests different from tropical rainforests?
Temperate and tropical rainforests are both lush, wet environments, but they differ in key aspects. Tropical rainforests, found near the Equator, have consistently high temperatures, typically between 20 and 30°C (68 and 86°F), and high rainfall, exceeding 1,800 mm (70 inches) annually. Temperate rainforests, on the other hand, are located in mid-latitudes, generally between 40° and 60° in both hemispheres, and experience milder temperatures in summer and winter. They receive heavy rainfall, ranging from roughly 150 to 500 cm (60 to 200 inches) per year, including coastal fog. Temperate rainforests are located along the western coasts of continents, such as in North and South America and southeastern Australia.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Temperate rainforest, in ecology, a biome dominated by a mix of broad-leaved or coniferous trees that occurs in the middle latitudes, mostly between approximately 40° and 60° in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, and characterized by abundant moisture present throughout the year. Like all rainforests, these forests are wet, receiving between roughly 150 and 500 cm (about 60 and 200 inches) of precipitation per year in the form of heavy rain and coastal fog, and have lush plant growth. They differ from tropical rainforests in that they experience mild temperatures in both summer and winter. These ecological regions are of vital ecological importance, acting as both stores of carbon and habitats for a wide variety of plants and animals.

Geography

Temperate rainforests are found primarily along the western coasts of North America and South America and in southeastern Australia near mountainous areas, where moisture-laden air from the ocean moves up mountain slopes, producing significant levels of precipitation (see orographic precipitation). The largest temperate rainforests extend from northern California north to Alaska and along the coast of southern Chile. The temperate rainforests of Oceania are found in southeastern Australia, Tasmania, and in several parts of New Zealand. Smaller temperate rainforests are found in Japan, with remnant temperate rainforests occurring in parts of the United Kingdom and Norway.

Flora and fauna

Although not as biologically diverse as tropical rainforests, temperate rainforests still contain an abundance of plant and animal life. The trees of temperate rainforests are among the tallest in the world. As in other rainforests, most of the animals are small and live close to the forest floor beneath the shelter of the canopy, but the habitat is also home to several species of large mammals and birds of prey.

Environmental impact

Temperate rainforests are important for their biodiversity, and the biomass (the weight or total quantity of living organisms in an area) and the soil in these areas are also important for storing carbon. Temperate rainforests contain an enormous amount of living and fallen trees, leaves, mosses, other plants, animals, and fungi. This biomass, along with the soil, can hold more than 900 metric tons (about 1,000 tons) of carbon per hectare (1 hectare = 2.47 acres), and old-growth trees in temperate rainforests can actually produce even more biomass than those of tropical rainforests. However, these relatively small biomes are threatened by deforestation and climate change. Logging has reduced the footprint of old-growth forests in some locations, such as British Columbia, where less than one percent of tall old-growth trees have survived. Warmer global and regional temperatures have enabled forests to grow faster, which leads to carbon from cast-off branches and leaves being released into waterways at a higher rate, reducing the efficiency of carbon sequestration.