The Amazon Basin and the Amazon Rainforest are closely related but not the same. The Amazon Basin refers to the large geographical area drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. It spans across several countries in South America, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and others. This basin covers approximately 7 million square kilometers.
On the other hand, the Amazon Rainforest is the vast tropical rainforest that grows within the Amazon Basin. It is the largest rainforest in the world and is known for its incredible biodiversity. The rainforest covers about 5.5 million square kilometers of the basin.
In summary, while the Amazon Basin is the entire drainage area of the Amazon River, the Amazon Rainforest is the dense forest that occupies a significant portion of this basin.