terra firme
Quick Summary
Terra firma is a Latin term meaning "solid ground" or "dry land," distinguishing it from the sea and air. It refers to the solid part of the Earth's surface.12
In the context of the Amazon basin, "terra firme" specifically denotes the tropical rainforest that is not subject to regular flooding, as opposed to inundated forests like vĆ”rzea and igapĆ³. These non-flooded rainforests are characterized by a complex, layered structure with towering trees, a dense canopy, and a rich diversity of plant life, including numerous species of trees, epiphytes, ferns, and mosses.3
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
BrazilAmazon lowlandsā¦are gently undulating hills called terra firme (āsolid groundā), composed of layers of alluvial soil that were deposited as much as 2.5 million years ago and subsequently uplifted to positions above flood level. Shallow oxbow lakes and wetlands are found throughout the region.
Read Moreā¦are gently undulating hills called terra firme (āsolid groundā), composed of layers of alluvial soil that were deposited as much as 2.5 million years ago and subsequently uplifted to positions above flood level. Shallow oxbow lakes and wetlands are found throughout the region.
Read More
Amazon Riverā¦the inundations and known as terra firme. More than two-thirds of the basin is covered by an immense rainforest, which grades into dry forest and savanna on the higher northern and southern margins and into montane forest in the Andes to the west. The Amazon Rainforest, which represents about halfā¦
Read Moreā¦the inundations and known as terra firme. More than two-thirds of the basin is covered by an immense rainforest, which grades into dry forest and savanna on the higher northern and southern margins and into montane forest in the Andes to the west. The Amazon Rainforest, which represents about halfā¦
Read More- BrazilSoils
In the terra firme of the rainforest, dead organic matter quickly decays and is recycled. However, once the overlying forest canopy is destroyedāe.g., by clear-cutting or burningāthat regenerative cycle is interrupted, and many nutrients and organic matter are lost. More-fertile Amazonian soils, interspersed between the zones ofā¦
Read MoreIn the terra firme of the rainforest, dead organic matter quickly decays and is recycled. However, once the overlying forest canopy is destroyedāe.g., by clear-cutting or burningāthat regenerative cycle is interrupted, and many nutrients and organic matter are lost. More-fertile Amazonian soils, interspersed between the zones ofā¦
Read More