Giants of the jungle
Both tropical and temperate rain forests are divided into layers. Rain forests have an emergent layer, in which the tallest trees poke through the canopy. Growing to more than about 61 m (200 feet), the trees of the tropical rain forest have ample space around them to spread their foliage. Between intense rainstorms, the emergent layer is exposed to extreme drying sunlight and winds. The emergent trees of the temperate rain forest can grow to heights greater than 100 m (328 feet) due to their long lives-they usually live over 500 years!