 A cloud forest is a special type of rain forest. As the name suggests much of the year the forest is immersed in clouds. Almost year round the relative humidity is 100%.
This source of water encourages the growth of epiphytes, climbers and parasites. Almost every branch is home to diverse species of orchids, bromeliads, lichens and others. This special habitat is a result of high elevation, temperature (Higher temperature than surrounding lowlands), and global conditions. Costa Rica has very diverse local weather and the Monteverde area is no expectation. There are in fact 5 life zones in the area; tropical premontian, tropical premontian wet, tropical lower mountain wet forest, tropical lower mountain rain forest and tropical premountain rain forest.
 This phenomenon of high air born moisture is in part a result of the trade winds which blow in from the Atlantic for 5 months of the year. These winds which form in the equatorial zone are created by thermal conditions in different parts of the globe and the spinning of the earth. These general wind patterns of the earth have been known to sailors for centuries.There are other cloud forests in different parts of the world, such as Washington State, but Monteverde is special in its biodiversity.
The area is home to more than 450 orchids, 100 species of mammals (that includes bats), 400 species of birds, 120 species of amphibians, and thousands of plants.The reserves are home to Ocelots and Tapir and a small number of Jaguars. Some of the more spectacular birds include the Long Tailed Manikin, Resplendent Quetzal, Bell Birds and Bare-necked umbrella birds. There are also many amazing trees and plants. For example the strangler figs, that start as a parasite in a another trees branches, lower vines to the ground and over the years cut off the host trees sunlight. In some cases the host tree dies and decomposes leaving a hollow strangler fig tree. |
