The Nile is the most common name that pops up when considering big rivers around the globe. The Amazon River and its rainforest surrounds hold the number one position in a long list of superlatives and should not be overlooked just because it is about 100 miles shorter than its Egyptian counterpart.
It’s like travelling to another world when you go to the Amazon. You may not believe that your local conservation area is home to many critters. The Amazon River and Amazon rainforest are bursting with life. It’s something most people cannot even imagine.
Amazon Basics
The Amazon is the clear winner if you consider the water that has been released. The Amazon River releases nearly 8 million cubic yards of water every second. This is a lot of water and cannot be easy to comprehend.
About 1/5th of the flow of rivers in the world is controlled by the Amazon basin. It covers approximately 2,720,000 sq miles and is the winner of the award for the largest drainage basin.
The Amazon’s width varies according to the season. The river’s width varies from about 1 mile to 6 miles in the dry season. The river’s width can reach up to 30 miles during the wet season.
The Ucayali–Apurimac river is the primary source of the Amazon. This incredible river flows down from Nevado Mismi Mountain through the Carhuasanta glacial streams.
Because of its immense size, the Amazon ends at a wide estuary. The main stem mouth can be more than 50 miles wide, while the entire estuary can reach 150 miles.
Many people associate Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and river with Brazil. This river flows through Colombia and Peru.
Geologists have discovered that the Amazon River used to flow in the other direction. This is a very interesting and surprising fact. It is now flowing west to east but once flowed east to west. The Andes Mountains formed, blocking the river’s flow towards the Pacific and causing it to flow back towards the Atlantic.
Are you planning to visit Amazon with your partner? These travel tips are for two.
Fauna facts about the Amazon River
More than 3000 species are known to inhabit the Amazon basin. Each year, new species are discovered.
The most common creatures found in this river are piranhas and electric eels. The fascinating and terrifying Green Anaconda can also be found in the basin.
You’ll be walking through the habitats of many turtles, crabs and algae if you visit the Amazon River. Although it might not seem like an exciting creature to encounter, microbes are vital in maintaining the ecosystem.
The Amazon River is a support for the vast Amazon rainforest, which is one of the most biodiverse pieces of tropical rainforest in the entire world.
Visit the Amazon if you love animals. The Amazon rainforest is home to more than a third of all known species.
The forest canopy, beyond the river, is a symphony composed of singing birds, monkeys, and insects. These tropical forests are home to more than 8,000 different species of insects. It is easy to assume that this is just the beginning. This aspect has a downside: the abundance of mosquitoes in the rainforest can transmit mosquito-borne diseases you probably want to avoid.
You’ll also need to be aware of the different species of monkeys you might encounter on your travels. You’ll hear howler monkeys in the morning and evening to alert you to the day’s beginning and ending. You will also find spider monkeys, capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and other fascinating species.
It is home to large cats, but they are becoming increasingly rare. Along with other smaller carnivorous mammals, the Amazon rainforest is home to pumas, ocelots and Jaguars.
If you are more relaxed than the rest, you might want to look for a friend: the sloth. You will also find armadillos, iguanas and anteaters in the tropical environment.
The Amazon’s animal situation could be a topic for a lifetime. It would not be very smart of us, not to mention the different types of birds we might have the privilege of seeing. The sight of macaws or parrots, which are colourful and call out clearly, is enough to make the trip worthwhile.
Fun and Interesting Facts about the Amazon River: The Flora
When you make your first trip down the Amazon River, one word will likely come to mind: lush. The Amazon is where life thrives and grows more than anywhere else. The underlying soil isn’t very fertile, and the nutrients that make up the rainforest system are kept in the vegetation.
One acre can contain as many as 100 different species of trees in the river’s rainforest. The hierarchical structure and beauty of the flora can be breathtaking. A canopy that covers two to three levels of trees will be visible. These trees are more tolerant of shade.
