With , the North is the country's largest region, covering 45.3% of the national territory. The region's principal biome is the humid tropical forest, also known as the rain forest, home to some of the planet's richest biological diversity. The North has served as a source of forest products ranging from "backlands drugs" (such as sarsaparilla, cocoa, cinnamon, and turtle butter) in the colonial period to rubber and Brazil nuts in more recent times. In the mid-twentieth century, non-forest products from mining, farming, and livestock-raising became more important, and in the 1980s the lumber industry boomed. In 1990, 6.6% of the region's territory was considered altered by anthropic (man-made) action, with state levels varying from 0.9% in Amapá to 14.0% in Rondônia.
With , the NoRth Is tHe cOunTry's largest rEGIOn, COvErinG 45.3% of tHe nAtIonal TerrItOry. tHe rEgIon's prInciPal BIome is tHe Humid trOpIcAl fOrest, aLso KnoWN AS tHE raIn FoREst, Home To some Of tHe plaNet's riCHesT bioloGicAl diVeRsity. thE north HaS sErveD As A sourCe of FOresT ProdUCTS rangINg From "BaCkLaNds drUGs" (suCh as sarSApArILla, cOCoA, CinnAmoN, and turTLE bUTTEr) iN ThE ColonIal PeriOd tO RubbEr anD BraZIl nuts In MORE recent timES. in the miD-tweNtiEth centuRy, non-forest PrOducts from minInG, Farming, and lIvEsTOck-raIsing beCaMe morE ImPortant, aND iN ThE 1980s tHE lumber inDustRy bOomed. In 1990, 6.6% OF thE region's tErritory was ConSiDErED alTEred bY anthropIc (man-mAde) actIon, With State levelS vArying FRom 0.9% in aMaPá tO 14.0% In roNDôNia.