Why is the Amazon river so special?


Why is the Amazon river so special? The Amazon River is the mother and sustainer of the Amazon rain forest. The River is considered to be the largest drainage system in the world by the volume of discharge water in its basin. It is also the second-longest river in the word, second only to the river Nile.


Why might the Amazon be called one of the world greatest rivers?

The Amazon is well known for a number of reasons. It is the greatest river of South America and the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its flow and the area of its basin.


How deep is Amazon River?

The Amazon River in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river system in the world in comparison to the Nile.


Why Amazon River has no bridge?

This is not because the river would be too wide to bridge; for most of its length, engineers could build a bridge across the river easily. For most of its course, the river flows through the Amazon Rainforest, where there are very few roads and cities. Most of the time, the crossing can be done by a ferry.


What makes the Amazon river so special?

The Amazon River flows for more than 6,600 km, and with its hundreds of tributaries and streams contains the largest number of freshwater fish species in the world. Equally impressive are the unfathomable numbers of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles4 found across the biome.


Was the Amazon ever the longest river?

The Amazon River in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river system in the world in comparison to the Nile.


Has anyone walked the Amazon river?

Walking the Amazon was an expedition conceived and successfully completed by British explorer Ed Stafford. It was the first recorded time anyone had journeyed the entire length of the Amazon River from source to sea on foot and was recognised as an official Guinness World Record.


What are 2 impressive facts about the Amazon river?

The Amazon River is by far the world's largest river by volume, carrying more than five times the volume of the Congo or twelve times that of the Mississippi. It drains an area nearly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States and has over 1,100 tributaries, 17 of which are longer than 1000 miles.


What are 5 interesting facts about the Amazon river?

Here are 12 amazing facts about the Amazon.
  • The Amazon River Once Flowed in the Opposite Direction. ...
  • It's the Largest River in the World by Volume. ...
  • And the Second Longest River on Earth. ...
  • It Affects Sea Level in the Caribbean Sea. ...
  • It's Home to the Amazon River Dolphin. ...
  • The Dorado Catfish Also Lives Here.


Is the Amazon river old?

The Amazon River originated as a transcontinental river around 11 million years ago and took its present shape approximately 2.4 million years ago.


Can you swim in the Amazon river?

Can you swim in the Amazon River? No, it is generally not a good idea to swim in the Amazon river due to strong currents more so than parasites. The thing you are talking about is probably the tiny little fish, the candiru, that can swim up a stream of urine.


What is the biggest problem in the Amazon river?

Threats to the Amazon
  • Unchecked Agricultural Expansion. Uncurbed expansion of ranching and unsustainable farming practices clear forests and leaves areas more prone to fires that can quickly become uncontrolled.
  • Illegal and Unmitigated Gold Mining. ...
  • Illegal Logging.


What country owns the Amazon river?

The river system originates in the Andes Mountains of Peru and travels through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Roughly two-thirds of the Amazon's main stream is within Brazil.


Can you eat the fish in the Amazon River?

When it comes to eating the fish of the Amazon River, gamitana (Colossoma macropomum) is one of the most sought after due to its tasty flesh. Also known as tambaqui or giant pacu, the gamitana is a large bass-like fish that can weigh almost 100 pounds.