The Amazon is a South American river and is the deepest on the planet. In length it is second only to the Nile.
Together with its tributaries, it accounts for one-fifth of the fresh water on Earth. It crosses the continent from east to west, and its basin is comparable in area to the Australian continent.
Story
The discoverer of the Amazon is considered to be the Spanish traveler and conquistador Francisco de Orellana, who in the 16th century sailed along it from its source to its mouth.
River on the map
The map shows that the river has a vast basin formed by numerous tributaries. Some of them are themselves large and deep rivers and have a length of more than one and a half thousand kilometers.
The Amazon basin is predominantly located in Brazil. Its western and southwestern parts belong to Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The river and the tributaries that feed it form an extensive network of water routes, the length of which is over 25 thousand kilometers.
The main channel is 4,300 km, including 1,690 km for the passage of ocean-going ships. This waterway is served by five major ports, four of which are located in Brazil. In the river delta, with an area of over a hundred thousand kilometers, there is one of the largest river islands on the planet - Marajo.
Characteristic
- Being one of the largest rivers in the world, the Amazon has a length of over 6992 km.
- When it receives its tributary, the Rio Negro, its width becomes more than five kilometers and its depth from 30 to 50 m.
- Further, downstream, the width reaches eighty kilometers and the depth is 135 m.
- At the mouth of the river, its width, taking into account the peculiarities of measurements, can range from 180 to 325 km.
- The area of the river basin is 7,050,000 km2. River characteristics may vary depending on the season. The Amazon differs from other large rivers in that it is full of water all year round.
- Significant factors in its nutrition are heavy rainfall and snowmelt in the upper reaches. The uniformity and abundance of nutrition largely depends on the location of tributaries in different hemispheres.
- The lower part of the river experiences ocean tides that travel up the river for almost 1,400 km. When water rises, vast areas are flooded, forming floodplains tens of kilometers wide.
- The current speed is five meters per second.
- The climate is equatorial humid. The average annual temperature is +25 0 C.
- Average annual precipitation is 2000 - 3000mm.
Where does the Amazon flow?
The Amazon, mostly flowing through the lowland of the same name, flows into the equator Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, a huge amount of fresh water gets into it. According to scientists, even at a distance of over 60 kilometers from the coast, water in upper layers the ocean remains fresh. Important feature this mighty river flowing into the ocean, is the formation of a huge delta area and many islands of various sizes.
Flora and fauna
The basin of this great river is distinguished by unique flora and fauna, which are contained in the very big world tropical rainforest, covering 5 million square kilometers.
A quarter of the substances used in the world for the production of medicines are extracted from plants in this forest. At the same time, scientists have studied only a third of the flora of the Amazon. In their opinion, in ten square kilometers of the Amazon tropics there are one and a half thousand species of flowering plants and several hundred species of trees.
The diversity of palm trees, fast-growing vines and a huge number of other unique plants is amazing.
More than two thousand fish live in the waters of the Amazon and its tributaries. The freshwater pink dolphin is able to bend its neck at right angles, which allows it to hunt in flooded forests. This is where many come from aquarium fish. Here you can find fish that can exist without water, and many predators, including piranhas.
The world's largest guinea pig-like rodent, the 50-kilogram capybara, lives here. The largest of the snakes, anacondas, and jaguars, which can swim, hunt on the banks of the river. In total, there are hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and other fauna in the river basin.
Sources and mouth of the Amazon
The second river in the world originates in the snow of the Peruvian mountains. Tons of melting snow turn into powerful streams that accelerate downward. The origins of the Amazon, the Maranyon and Ucayali rivers, flow through the mountain canyons of the mountain into a picturesque area in the Amazonian lowland.
What rivers flow into
Numerous tributaries flow into the Amazon, some of which are big rivers. A dozen of them have a length from one and a half thousand to 3,300 kilometers. These are rivers such as:
- Madeira (3,250 km)
- Purus (3,211 km)
- Zhapura (2,820 km)
- Tocantins (2,639 km)
- Jurua (2,400 km)
- Rio Negro (2,250 km)
- Tapajos (1,992 km)
- Xingu (1,979 km)
- Ucayali (1,900 km)
- Isa (1,575 km)
- Marañon (1,415 km)
Climate
The climate in the Amazon basin is one of the wettest on Earth. Here the average annual precipitation is 2540 mm. Up to nine months of the year there are tropical downpours, which raise the water level in the river and its tributaries. It rises to one and a half tens of meters in May. When a flood begins, water floods hundreds of kilometers of forests. Trees many meters high are buried in it.
In September, the showers stop, the water subsides, and the sun appears. In November the rainy season begins again. The weather changes frequently, the warm sun that melts the snow in the mountains can quickly change into rain clouds. The evergreen tropical forest is humid and hot. The temperature is 25-28 degrees, at night it does not drop below twenty.
There is no wind inside the forest, there is little light. The sun hardly penetrates through the dense foliage and dense interweaving of vines. You can only walk through the forest by cutting a road.
Attractions
- Under the Amazon basin, at a depth of four kilometers, flows the Hamza, the longest underground river on the planet, which flows at great depths into the Atlantic Ocean.
- In the north of the river basin, huge deposits of bauxite, gold, manganese, copper and tin have been discovered, on the basis of which the Brazilian government is creating a mining center.
- On the Amazon and its tributaries, 140 hydroelectric power stations have been built or are being built, the number of which will be tripled in the coming years.
- A unique lily found on the river that can support the weight of a person.
- The attraction of the river is its huge delta with one of the largest river islands on Earth.
Epithets in superlatives- the longest, deepest, greatest - best characteristic Amazon River.
Indeed, this is the most grandiose water artery on the globe, significantly surpassing all others in most respects.
It is to her that the richest man owes his existence. natural world South American continent.
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Characteristics of the deepest river in the world
It is officially recognized that the Amazon is the longest and deepest river in the world..
It not only nourishes and gives life to the animal and flora for thousands of miles around. For many centuries, it provided people with the only opportunity to move freely through the impenetrable tropical jungle, exploring new territories of residence.
Where is the Amazon
Main water artery South America Its basin covers an area of more than 7,180 thousand km—almost half of the continent.
Its main channel runs along the equator through the territory of Brazil. Many tributaries that are part of the basin also went to other countries - Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador.
Originating in the mountains of Peru, at an altitude of about 5,000 m, it carries its waters, making its way through narrow gorges, gaining power, receiving masses of water from its tributaries and regularly feeding on stormwater.
And only at the exit to the main channel does it calm down and spread out in breadth. Upon reaching the Atlantic, divided in the delta by several islands of different sizes, it flows into the ocean.
Length, width and depth
A long-standing dispute with the African Nile about primacy culminated in the victory of the Amazon relatively recently - in the 90s of the 20th century. According to the latest scientific data, its length is 7025 km– this is as much as 400,000 m more than previously stated. Moreover, it turned out to be not shorter, but longer than the Nile by more than 105,000 m.
The problem of establishing its real extent was due to the fact that not a single previously planned scientific expedition was able to get to the true source of the Amazon in the inaccessible mountainous regions of the Peruvian Andes.
Already in the upper reaches of its main channel, 4.5 thousand km from the mouth, it becomes navigable. Its depth in the area of Iquitas reaches an average value of 100 m, width - 2000 m.
Closer to the mouth, the river increases in size - the depth approaches 150 m, so ocean ships can easily enter a distance of more than 1.5 thousand km upstream. And the width in non-flood seasons is about 11,000 m.
Source, direction, mouth of the Amazon River
Only in 1996, as a result of analyzing the data collected by scientists on the expedition and using satellite technology, the coordinates of the real source of the Amazon were established, which made it possible to measure its length.
As it turned out, it originates on the snow-capped Mount Mismi, at an altitude of 5170 m above sea level.
From there, the Apacheta stream makes its way through the rocky gorges, gaining strength and speed, feeding melt water and being replenished by other mountain streams. Along its path, it changes names, becoming first the small river Loketa, then Hornillos, and having received the waters of many other streams and gaining maximum speed, turns into the roaring stream of Apurimac.
High in the mountains, it absorbs several more tributaries, called Ene, until it descends closer to the plain and flows into the Ucayali, losing a significant part of its energy and becoming much calmer. Ucayali, connecting with the powerful and stormy Marañon, comes out onto the plain and forms the main channel of a smoothly flowing lowland navigable river, which is called Solimões in the Indian dialect.
And only in the area of the port city of Manaus, after merging with the Rio Negro, does it receive its official name.
The current is directed along the equator to the east - towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Like the main basin, the mouth belongs to Brazil. Its length is about 250,000 m.
The world's largest delta, with an area of over 100 thousand km², consists of three branches that form three islands, and one of them, Morayo, is considered the largest river island in the world, with a total area of 19,270 km².
About 15-20% of the total volume of fresh water entering the world's oceans is discharged by the Amazon. The scale of this process can be assessed in satellite images - the flow flowing into the ocean waters is visible at a distance of more than 350 km from the mouth.
Main tributaries
The Amazon basin is made up of about 200 tributaries of varying sizes, half of which are fully navigable waterways. Two dozen tributaries have a length of more than 1,500 km.
Northern tributaries:
- Havari;
- Guallaga;
- Tocantin;
- Ucayali;
- Hingu;
- Khutagi;
- Rio Preto;
- Teffe;
- Madeira;
- Aofi;
- Purus.
Southern tributaries:
- Marogna;
- Trombetas;
- Santiogo;
- Uatuma;
- Pastaca;
- Rio Negro;
- Nalo;
- Yapura;
- Putumayo.
Description of the Amazon River Basin
Its unique basin consists of more than 500 aquifers, large and small, feeding an area of 7,180 thousand km², most of which belongs to Brazil, but occupies part of the territory of neighboring countries - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia.
Starting its journey high in the mountains, the Amazon overcomes a descent from a height of 5 km to the foot of the Andes, where it slows down, becoming a full-flowing river with a smooth coastline.
A significant part of the basin forms the Amazonian lowland with an area of more than 5 million km², densely populated by various representatives of the animal world and completely covered tropical forest with extensive swamps.
During floods, hundreds of hectares of it are flooded, representing a continuous water surface with areas of vegetation. In the lower reaches, the basin feels the action of ocean tides, which flood the delta over vast distances with water of increased mineralization.
When coastal zones are not exposed to tidal and flood phenomena, the Amazon returns to its shores.
River feeding
Equatorial geographical position gives her a big advantage. The rainy seasons in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres do not occur simultaneously, so the filling of the right and left tributaries alternates. Accordingly, the order of water discharge into the main channel changes.
Thus, the Amazon is guaranteed to be full of water in any season.
The second most important source of its nutrition is rain. Since the basin is overwhelmingly a subtropical jungle with warm humid climate, the amount of water thrown onto the earth by showers is very large.
River regime and its dependence on climate
The hydrological regime of the reservoir is determined by the peculiarities of its nutrition. Tributaries carrying waters into the Amazon from southern hemisphere, provide high water from October to March, and the northern tributaries - from April to October.
The rainy season, which occurs in the area of the Amazonian lowland in March-May, provides it with such a volume of water that it does not have time to discharge into the ocean, so the water level quickly rises by two tens of meters. The consequence of this is the flooding of most of the coastal zone.
As it approaches the mouth, the river becomes more dependent on the tidal regime. When a wave front passes, rising quite high upstream, it overflows its banks, spilling over a vast area.
The annual volume of solid particles that the river discharges into the ocean is about 1 billion tons.
Seasonal fluctuations in water flow when approaching the mouth are from 70 to 300 cubic meters per second.
Amazon Features
The lowland along which the main channel runs is the largest in the world in area, and the difference in elevation on it is completely insignificant. When the rainy season comes and the water level rises, the river does not have time to discharge it into the ocean, flooding the surrounding area.
The low slope of the channel is the reason for the strong influence of ocean tides. This is one of the few rivers where you can observe a rare phenomenon - boron, locally called "pororoka".
When an ocean tidal wave collides with the Amazon current, a 4-meter water shaft is formed, which, with a loud roar, moves up the main channel for a distance of up to 1 thousand km, sweeping away on its way all ships that did not have time to take refuge in side tributaries and creeks. The name given to this phenomenon by the South American Indians means “thundering water.”
The Amazon is also interesting because at a depth of about 4 thousand m, repeating the main land channel, the underground Hamza River flows slowly, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean also in the area of its mouth, but much deeper.
River inhabitants
Due to favorable climatic conditions, stable annual temperature and high humidity, the flora and fauna of the Amazon basin is diverse and rich. The abundance of the underwater world is especially striking.
Arapaima gigantea
Almost 2000 different breeds of fish that can be found in its waters - this is a third of all fish species inhabiting freshwater bodies of the globe.
Black caiman
In addition, a number of endemic species of fish and animals live here:
Cities on the Amazon
Since the Amazon is navigable at a distance of more than 7 thousand km from its mouth, the cities on it are also river ports. In addition, due to the impassability of the jungle, most cities are accessible only by water or air transport.
An example of this is the Peruvian Indian town of Iquitos.
Since the territory of Brazil is the predominant owner of the main channel of the Amazon, the most significant port cities belong to it:
Conclusion
Such an exceptional natural-geographical and climate-forming zone as the Amazon Basin requires a person to take a carefully balanced approach to economic activity on its territory.
The natural balance is easily destroyed by careless intervention, which is what is currently happening. And it may take centuries to restore it and eliminate the consequences of the damage caused.
The Amazon is one of the largest rivers on the globe. At the same time her river basin- one of the least studied on Earth. There are still places in the Amazon where no human has ever set foot. In this article you will find a brief overview of the Amazon, and also learn about the main stages of its economic development.
Amazon River: characteristics, description (brief)
Most notable natural object of all South America, of course, is the Amazon River. The basin area of this huge waterway of the planet is about 7.2 million km2. This territory, full of so-called “white spots”, is usually called in one word - Amazonia. Of course, deservedly so, the Amazon was included in the list of seven natural wonders of our planet in 2011.
The Amazon territory is divided among eight countries: Brazil (about 65%), Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and Ecuador. The Amazon river system is located in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes, and the river itself flows from west to east, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a vast delta. The size of this delta is comparable in area to that European state like Bulgaria!
The Amazon river system is very well developed due to its abundant rainfall. On its way, the river receives many tributaries, the largest of which are the Jurua, Madeira, Topajos, Tocantis, Isa and Rio Negro.
The scale of this river system can be judged by such an indicator as the average annual flow. For the Amazon River, it is over 7 thousand km 3 of water (which is approximately equal to 15% of the entire planet).
The Amazon is navigable 4,300 kilometers upstream. The main ports on the river are Santarem, Obidus, Iquitos, and Manaus.
Scientists made an amazing discovery in 2011. The fact is that under the Amazon basin flows the largest underground river in the world, four kilometers long. It was named Hamza, after the Indian scientist who discovered the miracle river.
Most of the Amazon is occupied by jungle. This is unique natural ecosystem, consisting of moist rain forests. The selva is characterized by very high air humidity, a large species diversity of plants, high swampiness and acidic, very poor soils. It is through such territories that the South American Amazon River flows.
Economic use of the river - what is it today? And how was the Amazon developed by humans throughout history? This will be discussed further.
Amazon: economic use of the river
The Amazon is often called the "green lungs" of the planet. How did the development of this region take place and at what level is the economic use of the Amazon carried out today?
The first attempts to develop this region were made by Brazil. In general, three main historical stages can be distinguished that marked the economic use of the Amazon River.
The first stage can be conditionally called “rubber”. It started in late XIX century and continued until the 20s of the 20th century, when the “rubber boom” on the continent began to decline. At that time, rubber confidently occupied the second position in the structure of Brazilian exports (after coffee).
The second stage of the development of the Amazon began in the 60s of the twentieth century and was distinguished by its scale and systematic nature. The economic use of the Amazon River at this time was completely regulated by the state, and the project itself even received its name “Operation Amazon”. It included the comprehensive agricultural development of the region, the creation of transport infrastructure, and, as a result, the mass settlement of this territory.
The third stage of development of the Amazon begins in the 80s of the twentieth century. It can be called "mineral raw material". During this period, quarries and raw material processing plants open in the river basin, and the development of oil fields begins.
Environmental problems in the Amazon
The economic use of the Amazon River could not but entail certain environmental problems. The most acute among them are the following:
- soil degradation and erosion;
- uncontrolled;
- destruction of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the Brazilian jungle;
- contamination of soil and water with heavy metals, etc.
One way or another, all these problems are closely interconnected and require an integrated approach to solving them.
Finally
The Amazon river system covers over 7 million square kilometers of territory, being largest river in the world. The economic use of the Amazon River today is not so great, but even such insignificant human influence provokes a number of acute environmental problems.
The famous river, making its way throughout South America, haunts researchers around the world. The Amazon can be studied endlessly, but it is impossible to fully understand it.
Amazon at the origins of the legend
The Amazon is the most water-bearing and deepest river in the world. It provides a fifth of all water reserves to the world's oceans. Greatest River of all existing on the planet, it originates in the Andes and ends in the Atlantic Ocean from Brazil.
All of South America is washed by the waters of the longest river.
The Aparai tribe, they come from the southern coast of the Amazon.
History of the discovery of the Amazon
The confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers forms majestic Amazon, which has continued its uninterrupted path for several millennia. There is information that the Amazon received its name thanks to the Spanish conquistadors who once fought with the Indians on the banks of the mighty river.
Then the Spaniards were amazed at how fearlessly the warlike Indian women fought them.
Unexplored Amazon.
So the river acquired its name, which has always been associated with the once existing female tribes of brave warriors. What is true here and what is fiction? Historians are still guessing and conducting scientific debates about this.
In 1553, the Amazon was first mentioned in the famous book “Chronicle of Peru”.
The Aboriginal tribe makes first contact with the outside world.
The first news about the Amazons
The very first information about the Amazons dates back to 1539. Conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada took part in a campaign across Colombia. He was accompanied by royal officials, whose subsequent report contained information about the halt in the Bogota Valley. It was there that they learned about an amazing tribe of women who lived on their own and used the stronger sex only to procreate. The locals called them Amazons.
Floating houses Iquitos, Amazon river, Peru
It is mentioned that the queen of the Amazons was called Charativa. Supposedly the conquistador Jimenez de Quesada sent his brother's warlike women to uncharted lands.
But no one was able to confirm this data. And this information has little relation to the discovery of the river itself.
Taxi on the Amazon River.
Discovery of the river by Francisco de Orellana
Francisco de Orellana is a conquistador whose name is strongly associated with the name of the mighty South American Amazon. According to historical information, he was one of the first Europeans to cross the country in its widest part. Naturally, a clash between the conqueror and the Indian tribes was inevitable.
Route of the Orellana expedition 1541-1542.
In the summer of 1542, Orellana, together with his comrades, found himself in a large village, which was located on the coast of the famous river. The royal subjects saw the local aborigines and fought with them. It was assumed that conquering the tribe would not be difficult. But the stubborn Indians did not want to recognize the power of the Spanish ruler and desperately fought for their lands. Were they brave women or just long-haired men?
It is difficult to judge, but then the conquistador was delighted with such desperate resistance of the “Amazons” and decided to name the river in their honor. Although, according to the original idea, Francisco de Orellana was going to give it his name. Thus, the river of the impenetrable jungle acquired its majestic name, the Amazon.
Girls from a tribe on the Amazon River.
Amazon River Delta
About 350 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, the delta itself begins deep river peace. Ancient age did not prevent the rapid Amazon from expanding beyond its native shores. This was due to active ebbs and flows and the influence of currents.
Beauty of the Amazon: water lilies and lilies.
The river carries incredible masses of debris into the world's oceans. But this interferes with the process of delta growth.
Initially, the source of the Amazon was considered to be the main tributary of the Marañon. But in 1934 it was decided that the Ucayali River should be considered a priority.
Colombian Amazon
The South American Amazon delta has an incredible area - up to one hundred thousand square kilometers, and a width of two hundred kilometers. A huge number of tributaries and straits are what characterizes this river.
But the Amazon delta does not fall into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Wildlife by the river
Flora and fauna
Every biologist-researcher or curious traveler who is interested in the unknown world will want to visit the Amazon and be amazed by the incredible flora and fauna. The plants and animals that live along the Amazon coast make up, without exaggeration, the world's genetic pool.
The Jesus Lizard was named because it can run on the surface of water.
More than 100 species of mammals, 400 varieties of birds, insects, invertebrates, flowers and trees - they surround the Amazon lands in a dense ring, ruling without limit. The entire basin of the mighty river is wet a tropical forest. Unique natural formation or equatorial forest The Amazon surprises with its climatic conditions. Heat and high humidity are their main features.
It is noteworthy that even at night the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees.
Jaguar in tropical jungle river delta.
Vines are thin stems that quickly reach impressive lengths. To move through these dense thickets, you will obviously need to cut your way, because almost no sunlight penetrates through the lush vegetation. A real miracle of the Amazon flora is a huge water lily that can withstand human weight.
Up to 750 species various trees will surely make even the most experienced explorer and traveler admire it.
It is in the Amazon that you can see mahogany, hevea and cocoa, as well as unique ceibas, the fruits of which are surprisingly similar to cotton fibers.
Amazon rainforest
On the coast of a South American river there are giant milk trees, the sweet juice of which appearance resembles milk. No less amazing fruit trees castanyas, which can feed you with surprisingly tasty and nutritious nuts that are somewhat reminiscent of curved dates.
The Amazon rainforests are the “lungs” of South America, so the activities of ecologists are aimed at preserving the vegetation in its original form.
Capybaras
Capybaras can often be seen on the coast. This is a South American rodent that is distinguished by its impressive size and external signs incredibly reminiscent of a guinea pig. The weight of such a “rodent” reaches 50 kilograms.
An unpretentious tapir lives near the shores of the Amazon. It is an excellent swimmer and weighs up to 200 kilograms. The animal feeds on the fruits of some trees, leaves and other vegetation.
A water-loving representative of the cat family and dangerous predator a jaguar can calmly move through the water column and even dive.
Giant Arowana
Amazon wildlife
The Amazon is home to a huge number of fish and other river inhabitants. Particularly dangerous include the bull shark, which weighs more than 300 kilograms and reaches three meters in length, as well as piranhas. These toothy fish can gnaw off an entire horse just a few seconds before the skeleton.
But they are not the ones who rule the Amazon, because the caimans pose a danger to all living things. This is a special type of alligator.
Amazon Dolphin
Among the friendly inhabitants of the dangerous stormy river are dolphins and beautiful ornamental fish (guppies, angelfish, swordtails), of which there are countless numbers - more than 2,500 thousand! One of the last lungfishes on the planet, protoptera, found their refuge in the waters of the Amazon.
Here you can also see the rarest arowana. This is a meter-long fish that can jump high above the water and swallow huge beetles in flight.
Giant snake in the Amazon.
One of the most terrifying creatures on the planet lives in the troubled waters of the Amazon. This is a river anaconda that is not afraid of caimans or jaguars. The deadly and swift snake can instantly overpower the enemy and kill the victim. The length of this water boa reaches 10 meters.
Piranha caught on a spinning rod.
Ecology
The dense Amazon forest is an irreplaceable ecosystem that is constantly under threat from massive deforestation. The banks of the river have long been devastated.
Back in the second half of the twentieth century, most of the forests were turned into pastures. As a result, the soil suffered greatly from erosion.
Deforestation
Unfortunately, little remains of the primeval jungle on the Amazon coast. The scorched and partially cut down vegetation is practically impossible to restore, although ecologists around the world are trying hopelessly to correct the situation.
Somewhere in the Amazon jungle.
Rare species of animals and plants have become extinct due to disruption of the Amazon ecosystem. Otters used to live here rare breed, But global changes natural environment led to the destruction of the population. Arapaima is a true living fossil. But giant fish also faces imminent extinction. Four hundred million years ago these aquatic inhabitants appeared. But now they prefer to breed the fish on local farms to save them from extinction. Despite all efforts, the oldest fish in the Amazon continue to go extinct due to catastrophic environmental disruption.
Endangered species include the famous mahogany and real rosewood, which is an extremely valuable wood. It is from it that expensive environmentally friendly furniture is made all over the world. It should be emphasized that active deforestation along the coast of this South American river seriously threatens not only the ecology of the surrounding areas, but also the entire world.
Amazon on the world map
Amazon nature video
The Amazon is one of the natural wonders of the planet, familiar to everyone from school. In terms of popularity, this river can compete with the Egyptian Nile and the Indian Ganges. The unique ecosystem of the longest waterway on earth (more than 7 thousand km from the source of the Apachete) attracts thrill-seekers, exotics, South American flora and fauna, and just ordinary tourists who want to expand the boundaries of their travels.
Emerging into the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon forms the world's largest delta. The largest river island of Marajo, located right in the delta, the giant water lily Victoria regia, huge palm trees, the largest freshwater fish on the planet and river dolphin included in the list of Amazonian “rarities”.
The Amazon is believed to have been discovered by the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana in the 16th century. Initially, the conqueror of the New World wanted to give the river his name, but eventually changed his mind. The river owes its name to a mysterious tribe of female warriors who attacked Orellana’s detachment. The real existence of the Amazons is now being questioned. Their role could well have been played by men with long hair.
Headwaters and tributaries
The main question that arises in the debate about the Paraná Tingo or “Queen of the Rivers”, as the Amazon is called by the locals, is whether its waters are the longest on the planet, and, if so, where the source of the river is located. 15 years ago, in the mid-90s. 20th century, an international expedition, going to the Peruvian mountains, was able to give an accurate answer, which is currently official version included in geography textbooks.
The source of the Amazon is the Apachete stream, which, after going quite a long way, merging with other streams and rivers, turns into Apurimac, and then through Ucayali - into the Amazon. It is noteworthy that the Ucayali River is located in Peru, just like the Marañon River, which for a long time was considered as the main source.
Before the expedition to the Andes, which put an end to the debate about the Amazon, the Nile occupied first place among the longest rivers on the planet, but persistent South American researchers were able to prove that the Amazon is longer. The difference is literally several hundred meters.
The number of tributaries making the Queen of Rivers the deepest on the planet is enormous. Over five hundred rivers and streams flow into the Amazon. 9 are considered the largest, among them about 20 are more than 1.5 thousand km long. An interesting effect is associated with one of the tributaries: at the confluence of the Rio Negro, near the Brazilian city of Manaus, the Amazon is two-colored. Some of the water is white, some is dark. The light shade is due to the fact that Amazon tolerates a large number of silt.
Until the confluence with the Rio Negro, the Amazon has a completely different name - Solimões (that's the name of the river in Brazil) or Rio de Janeiro Marañon (Peruvian name).
Amazon Hotels
The main means of accommodation in the Amazon are lodges, and the lodges are very diverse in terms of service and quality of service provision - from modest 3* to luxurious 5*.
Flora and fauna of the Amazon
The navigable Amazon is home to many animals. Species diversity freshwater fish up to one third of total number all over the earth. The most famous among the river inhabitants are the giant arapaima, the maximum known weight of 200 kg, length up to 3 m, and the piranha, dangerous for people, with a length from 13 cm to 40 cm. The hero of many horror films - a huge anaconda boa constrictor - also lives in the waters of the Amazon and at a certain circumstances may cause harm to a person. Generally speaking, the local nature is extremely dangerous for bipeds, and stories about bloodthirsty caimans are not fiction, but the harsh truth, although, as the aborigines testify, in order to get into their teeth, it is necessary, at a minimum, to get out of the deep water and go deep into rain forests.
One of the main tourist attractions for travelers in the Amazon is catching piranhas for raw meat. Day and night canoe trips are also popular, during which you can get acquainted with the animal and plant world.
Almost the entire Amazon basin is framed by jungle, covering the territory of nine South American countries - Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, etc. The abundance of vegetation, in addition to the river itself, is responsible for the rains, of which a huge amount falls here.
Amazon nature
Amazon cities
Most of the river flows through Brazil. The largest Brazilian port is Manaus, which is also the capital of the state of Amozanas. It’s good to come here to see the aborigines, the jungle, watch how the Rio Negro flows into the Amazon and feel like a pioneer.
In Peru The largest city on the Amazon - Iquitos, a city in the jungle, connected to civilization only by air and water transport. Houses on stilts, an Indian village, and high humidity can be a real test for a city dweller accustomed to comfort.