Amazon River Facts
- This utterly breathtaking creation of natural geological processes remains best known by the english language name of the Amazon River. Yet, other tongues obviously also hold their own version of this. Some of these include Río Amazonas and Amasone.
- This true marvel of the natural world stands out from others in several ways. In terms of discharge volume, it ranks as the largest river in the entire world. It also shares the contested title of longest river system on earth with the Nile river, located in Africa.
- The timeline for when humans first arrived in its region is still a subject of somewhat heated debate among researchers and archaeologists. However, evidence strongly suggests that humans have been present in the area for at least 11,000 to 13,000 years.
- Indigenous Peoples therefore clearly knew of its existence long before European explorers ever discovered it. The annals of history credit that to the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana. He encountered it in 1541, while seeking lengendary El Dorado.
- Unfortunately, the mighty Amazon River also faces numerous challenges. These endanger both its ecosystem and the indigenous communities still dependent upon its resources. Ongoing climactic changes continue to alter the surrounding environment.
- Thankfully, some portions of its length, at least, do enjoy a certain degree of protection. That’s because four sizeable protected areas currently exist. Two surrounding National Parks appear in Brazil, along with one each in the nations of Peru and Colombia.
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Amazon River Physical Description
The stunningly beautiful Amazon River haunts the dreams and memories of those fortunate enough to view this natural wonder. Yet, it has so much to offer, different visitors find themselves impressed with varying attributes of this creation of natural processes.
Chief among these qualities however, has to be its sheer size. It has a length measuring a staggering total of approximately 4,086 mi (6,575 km). Obviously, its width varies countless times along its length, but at its greatest, this reaches an astounding 6.8 mi (11 km).
The depth of this incredible waterway also varies significantly along its lengthy course. That’s influenced by factors such as rainfall, geography, and human activities. In some areas, the river can be relatively shallow, while in others, it sometimes reaches significant depths.
During the rainy season, the water level understandably rises, often appreciably. At these times, its depth often measures as much as 100 ft (30 m), or more in the channels. In the dry season, though, this occasionally drops in certain locations to as shallow as 3 ft (0.9 m).
Given its sheer size, the Amazon River boasts numerous mind-boggling statistics. Among those is its astounding volume of flow. During the wet season, that’s estimated to be over 7 million cubic feet per second (cfs) or around 200,000 cubic meters per second (m³/s).
Nature further blessed this magnificent river with yet one more aspect to challenge one’s imagination. That’s the point at which the journey of the enormous flow comes to an end. The mouth of the river formed with an astonishing width of roughly 205 mi (330 km)!
Amazon River Location, Formation, and Ecology
The mesmerizing Amazon River formed in a portion of the globe that practically embodies the concept of natural beauty and wonder. The exact location of this feature therefore likely won’t surprise those few of you who don’t yet know it. It lies in a region of South America.
There, it resides in the general northern part of the landmass. Its course takes its primarily from east to west, through several countries. The majority of its extent runs through the territory of Brazil. Other sections, however, also extend through Colombia, Peru, and others.
It’s virtually imposible to date the age of this body of water with accuracy. That’s due to the fact that it’s actually had different incarnations. Doubtless, many rivers in the region have existed over countless millions of years, all taking different shapes and paths in each case.
The formation of the Amazon River begins with tectonic activity. The continent has undergone significant geological changes over millions of years due to plate tectonics. The Amazon Basin, where the river is located, was shaped by the movement of tectonic plates.
The uplift of the Andes began around 65 million years ago as a result of the collision between the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate. This uplift created a topographical gradient, with the Andes acting as a barrier to moist air coming from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Basin, situated to the east of the Andes, also receives abundant rainfall during the year. This, combined with the steep slopes of the peaks, leads to the erosion of rocks and the formation of rivers and streams that eventually coalesce into the mighty flow.
Over geological time scales, the course of this masterpiece of Nature has likely further changed multiple times due to powerful tectonic movements, erosion, and sediment deposition. These changes shaped the landscape of the surrounding region in many ways.
The Amazon River supports and nourishes the surrounding Amazon Basin. That itself serves as home to an estimated 10% of the known species on earth! This includes countless species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, as well as a vast array of plant life.
The flow itself supports a rich aquatic ecosystem. It’s home to thousands of species of fish, including iconic species like piranhas, electric eels, and various types of catfish. The river also supports populations of river dolphins, including the Amazon river dolphin, or boto.
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