Tropical forests are defined as any forest located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which are latitudes of 23° 26′ 12″ north and south of the equator, respectively. This means that tropical forests can be found in a variety of climates, from wet equatorial climates to dry savannas.
Rainforests, on the other hand, are a type of tropical forest that receives a very high amount of rainfall, typically over 200 cm (79 in) per year. They are usually found near the equator, where the climate is hot and humid. They consist primarily of tall, broad-leaved evergreen trees such as mahogany, rosewood, teak, iroko, ebony, sandalwood, balsa, etc. They are usually characterized by a dense canopy of leaves and high biodiversity.
In summary, tropical forests can be characterized by the amount of rain they receive, whereas rainforests receive at least 200 cm per year.
