What is the current of the Amazon River? Amazon River: where is it located? Flora and fauna of the world's longest waterway

You will be surprised to know that some rivers in the world are very deep. This selection contains the deepest rivers in the world, and if you carefully study the list, it becomes clear that these are also the most popular rivers in the world. All of them...

You will be surprised to know that some rivers in the world are very deep. This selection contains the deepest rivers in the world, and if you carefully study the list, it becomes clear that these are also the most popular rivers in the world. All of them are located in different parts world, flow through many cities and countries. LifeGlobe has a lot of materials about various miracles water world and rivers are no exception here.

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the most important waterway in North America, receiving water flows from more than 30 states. The depth of the river can reach 60 meters, which is quite enough for navigation and cargo transportation.

St. Lawrence River

Canada also has its own deep river. This is the St. Lawrence River, or St. Lawrence, which surprises with its depth of 65 meters. The St. Lawrence is also connected to the greater Great Lakes system, connecting them to the Atlantic Ocean as well as other rivers in North America.

Hudson

When you go to New York, the first thing you will learn about is this famous American river. The Hudson River originates here. The maximum depth of the Hudson is 65 meters, and the most beautiful view on the Hudson opens in Manhattan.

Yellow River Yellow River

The Yellow River, also known as the Yellow River, is the most popular river in China. In addition to its incredible length, the river is also distinguished by its depth and water volume of approximately 1.6 billion tons. The depth of the Yellow River allows such a volume of water to pass through and reaches 80 meters in places. It is also a very important transport artery for China.

Amazon river

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, but many people don't know that the river is also very deep. The most maximum depth The Amazon reaches 90 meters in places, which is a lot for a river. This allows tourism to develop here, with many ferries and river cruises. You can read more about Amazon in a separate article.

Mekong River

The Mekong River is the longest in the Southeast Asian region. It stretches 4,350 kilometers and flows through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Mekong Basin is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. Only Amazon has more high level. On average, there are about 20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians, and approximately 850 fish species. The depth of the river in some places reaches 100 meters.

Zambezi River

The Zambezi is the fourth longest river in Africa and the largest flow in Indian Ocean from Africa. Its basin area is 1,390,000 square kilometers, which is half that of the Nile. The 3,540 kilometer long river has its source in Zambia and flows through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe again, into Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean. Depth - approximately 116 meters.

Danube

The Danube is the second longest river in Europe, after the Volga, classified as an international waterway. A river is born in the Black Forest mountain range in Germany in the form of two smaller rivers Brigach and Breg, which unite in the German city of Donaueschingen. The Danube then flows in a south-easterly direction for a distance of approximately 2,872 km, passing through four central and eastern European capitals before entering the Black Sea through the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine. The Danube flows through four capitals, more than any other river in the world. The depth of the Danube reaches 178 meters.

Yangtze

The Yangtze River is the most long river in China and Asia, and the third among the longest rivers in the world. The Three Gorges is the most important and famous part of the Yangtze River for tourism, flood control, power generation and water conservation. The depth of the river reaches 200 meters.

The deepest river is the Congo

The Congo is the eighth longest river in the world at 4,690 km long. It begins at the junction of the Lualaba and Luvois rivers, and flows southwest into the Atlantic Ocean. Major tributaries include the Aruvimi, Kasai and Lomami rivers. The river forms most of the border between Zaire and the Republic of Congo. The Congo carries 43,300 cubic meters of water into the Atlantic Ocean every second. The only river on Earth with a high emission rate is the Amazon. The Congo Basin has 30 waterfalls and thousands of islands, at least 50 of which are more than 10 miles long. The depth of the river can reach 250 meters.

The Amazon (Amazonas) is a river flowing in the northern part of South America.

It is the longest, deepest river with the largest water basin in the world.

A quarter of the total fresh water planets (220 thousand cubic meters) are carried into the ocean by the great Amazon River.

How the world found out about her

The largest river was discovered by the Spanish conquistadors in 1542.

In its jungle they encountered a tribe of warlike Amazon women, entered into battle with them and were so impressed by their courage that they named the river they discovered the Amazon.

Scientists believe that, most likely, these “Amazons” were Indians from long hair or their wives.

Many expeditions searched for the source of the river, but huge swimming pool and many tributaries created difficulties in the search.

And only in 1996, with the help of space technology, the real source of the Amazon was found.

Description

The great river originates at an altitude of 5,170 meters in the Andes, located in Peru. It begins with the small Apacheta stream, which, together with other streams and numerous mountain rivers, flows into the largest tributary of the Amazon - the Ucayali River. The length of the “queen of rivers”, according to the latest research, is 7,100 kilometers, and the Amazon has every right to be called the longest river in the world.
The second place is occupied by the Nile River.

Delta

The river delta occupies an immense area of ​​100 thousand km², its width is 200 km.

It is dotted with many straits and channels, between which there are numerous small and large islands.

The delta area, equal to 100 thousand km², is the largest in the world. The Amazon Delta moves inland due to ocean tides, which with their power form a four-meter wave.

A huge wave rolls upstream of the river, having a speed of 25 km/h, which decreases as it travels along the path. Local residents feel the tide even 1,000 km from the ocean.

Estuary

At the mouth of 250 km, the river branches into three branches, which, washing three islands, carry the waters of the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the islands, Morayo, with an area of ​​19,270 km², is considered the largest river island in the world.

The depth of the deepest river in the world reaches 100 meters at the mouth.

Not only river steamers, but also ocean liners sail in the lower reaches of the river. The Amazon includes about 100 navigable rivers, some of which stretch for 1,500 km.

Amazonia

More than 500 tributaries, rivers and streams, which are spread over a vast territory of the mainland, fill the Amazon with water. All of them, together with the great river, create a unique pool, which has no equal on planet Earth. The Amazon River basin has a truly immense area - 7,180 thousand square km. The borders of this giant water system include countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador.

The basin is located in the Amazonian lowland - Amazonia - whose area is 5 million km². The tropical rainforest, the largest forest in the world, grows here. It consumes a huge amount of carbon dioxide and releases an equally huge amount of oxygen. No wonder the Amazon is called " green lungs» planet Earth.

The territory of the Amazon is located on the equator, so the climate here pleases with its consistency. The air temperature throughout the year remains stable during the day between 25–28°, and at night not lower than 20° Celsius. The rainy season lasts from March to May. Because of heavy downpours rivers overflow. Water in the Amazon, rising 20 m, floods forests around for several tens of kilometers. After the rains stop, the river returns to its channel.

Vegetable world

Ideal climatic conditions contribute to the development of lush and most diverse vegetation in the world in the Amazon forests. The composition of the Amazon rainforest is amazing with countless plant species. There are about 4,000 species of trees alone. You can give a list of the most interesting of them.

• Hevea is the most famous rubber plant.
• Chocolate tree.
• Cinchona.
• Papaya.
• Palm trees up to 60 meters high.
• Red tree.

On the lower tier of the tropical jungle, various types of ferns, bromeliads, and bananas grow. The wide variety of orchids amazes with their bright colors and beauty.

And on the surface of the waters you can see the largest water lily in the world - Victoria Regia. Its leaves reach two meters in diameter and support a weight of about 50 kilograms. Large fragrant flowers blooming from white gradually turn purple. Its seeds are edible and have a pleasant taste. Due to the vast territories and in some places impenetrable jungle 30% of the flora has not been studied.

Animal world

The humid environment of the tropical forest, where heavy rains alternate with periods of heat, as well as a numerous network of large rivers and small streams have created excellent conditions for the richest and most colorful aquatic fauna on the planet to appear in the waters of the Amazon.

Amazing aquatic creatures

Ichthyologists have discovered 2,500 species of fish in the river - this is one third of all freshwater species. This diversity is due to the fact that many Amazon rivers originate in different areas from different conditions, which is why they chemical composition water varies greatly. Therefore, each of them has its own special species of fish and amphibians.

• The bull shark, or blunt-nosed shark, is up to 3 m long and weighs up to 300 kg.
• Cayman crocodile.
• A small piranha fish. The whole world knows her bloodthirstiness. Locals They say that it is better to meet one caiman than three small piranhas.
• Pink Amazonian dolphin. Loves to hunt piranha.
• Electric eel up to 2 m long and 300 volt discharge.
• Regulars of aquariums are decorative fish. The most famous of them are guppies and swordtails.
• A living fossil is the arapaima fish, up to 2 meters long and weighing about 100 kg. Lives in the Amazon for 400 million years.
• Anaconda is a water snake up to 12 meters long. The biggest and dangerous snake in the world.

The tropical jungle of the Amazon is home to a wide variety of fauna - 250 species of mammals, 1,800 species of feathered creatures and the same number of species the most beautiful butterflies, 200 species of mosquitoes and hundreds more different types animals that have not yet been classified. Some channels in the impenetrable forests of the Amazon have not yet been explored. Among the animals of the Amazon rainforest there are species that are not found in any other part of the planet.

Rare birds and animals

• Tiny birds, the size of a butterfly, are hummingbirds. They feed on the nectar of flowers and have bright, unique plumage.
• The smallest monkeys in the world are marmosets. They weigh 100 grams, or even less.
• Howler monkeys with a voice that deafens the entire area.
• The giant capybara is the size of a large dog, but is classified as a rodent.

You can’t count all the rare animals that settle in the fertile jungle. And how many of them are still unknown to science in this unique diversity of life in the Amazon?

The role of the Amazon in the Earth's ecosystem

The unique ecosystem of the Amazon plays out in an extraordinary way important role in the global climate balance on the planet. It affects the chemical composition of the atmosphere.

“Green lungs” recycle harmful emissions, thereby reducing the danger of the greenhouse effect for the Earth. Rich when used wisely amazon forest can provide the inhabitants of the planet with inexhaustible resources of food, technical raw materials, valuable wood. 25% of all medicinal substances in the world are extracted from the green wealth growing in the Amazon.

Ecological problems

IN last years This most important natural region is facing danger on a global scale.

Unfortunately, the Amazon ecosystem is very vulnerable, especially when it is invaded by humans. New territories are being developed. Dams are being built that interfere with fish migration. The animal world is being destroyed.

Deforestation

But the main problem for the tropical jungle is uncontrolled deforestation, and not only for wood. In the countries of South America, agriculture and cattle breeding are becoming more widespread, for which forests are thoughtlessly cut down. The soil tropical forests is quickly depleted, farmers are looking for new territories and again irresponsibly cut down the precious forest.

In addition, large areas of forest are cleared for rubber, sugar cane, bananas, and coffee.

Most often, felling is carried out using the slash-and-burn method. After cutting down trees, young growth, stumps and bushes are completely burned out.

Heavy rains wash away the top humus layer of soil unprotected by vegetation, after which the felled area of ​​the forest will never be restored.

And if the forest is cut down on the slopes, then the precipitation that falls in the mountains, without barriers in the form of forest vegetation, rushes from the mountains in powerful streams of water and washes away the soil layer into the waters of the Amazon.

Soil that gets into the river causes it to silt and become shallow.

Destruction of forests threatens the disappearance of the unique gene pool of animals, aquatic fauna, medicinal plants.

For normal existence, the animal world needs large forest areas. As rainforests are cleared, the plants that provide food and shelter for most of the Amazon's forest dwellers are disappearing.

In 2000, Brazil began implementing an economic development plan called “Avansa Brasil,” which included the construction of infrastructure: power plants, roads, power lines, gas pipelines and much more. If this plan comes true, about 40% of the forest will be cut down.

Environmental scientists are sounding the alarm. If the Brazilian authorities do not take measures to protect this most important region of the Earth, then an environmental disaster on a planetary scale will not be far off.

Fight for the environment

Nevertheless, the authorities of the countries located in the Amazon are making many efforts to protect their unique region.

• There is a fight against poachers.
• With the help of the police, illegal logging is being stopped.
• Reserves are being created and National parks. For example, in Brazil there is the Jau National Park.
• Breeding in progress rare species fish and animals in nurseries.
• Information work is being carried out among the population.
• Research and development is underway to save the Amazon.

Unfortunately, there are no quick victories in protecting nature. There is no doubt that the development of new territories by humans requires a careful approach and coordinated measures to protect unique nature and restoration of what has already been lost. In 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, at the World Environmental Forum, participating countries signed a document called “Agenda for the 21st Century.” This is essentially a global plan to save planet Earth. I would like to believe that it will be carried out.

Humanity's mission

Amazon River - incomprehensible and beautiful world with all its immense diversity of life. There is an amazing harmony of animal and plant life here. She is very fragile and vulnerable and requires extremely careful and respectful treatment. And the preservation of this precious connection depends only on us - we are also in the same chain with it.

In the 21st century, humanity will have to take on the solution at the most serious level environmental problems. We have no choice if we want to live happily ever after on a healthy planet. There is a huge amount of work ahead - preserving tropical forests and fertile lands, maintaining biodiversity and endangered species, solving problems of industrial and domestic pollution, depletion of mineral reserves, restoration of the ozone layer. And nature, including the Amazon, will be saved.

Amazon river broke many records. This is the deepest river in the world, it collects 40% of the waters of South America. The volume of water thrown by the river into the ocean is so large that it is equal to 1/5 of the total volume of river water on the planet. Many of its tributaries are in themselves the greatest rivers in the world. Recently, the Amazon is also the longest river in the world. It has the world's widest river mouth, 10 times wider than the English Channel. Not surprisingly, at the mouth of the Amazon lies the world's largest river island, the size of Scotland.

During the rainy season, it floods forests equal to the area of ​​England. During the dry season, millions of fish are trapped in its lagoons, a paradise for predators. Lives in the river more types fish than in the entire Atlantic Ocean. To cross its tropical forests by plane you need to spend 4 hours.

Characteristics of the Amazon River

Length of the Amazon River: 6992 km

Drainage basin area: 7,180,000 km?. For comparison, the area of ​​Australia is 7,692,024 km².

River mode, food: The Amazon receives its nutrition from numerous tributaries, and due to the humid climate, the river receives a lot of water from precipitation. In the upper reaches, snow nutrition plays an important role.

Amazon mode is interesting and quite challenging. It is quite full of water all year round. The right and left tributaries of the river have different time floods The fact is that the right tributaries are located in the Southern Hemisphere, and the left ones in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, on the right tributaries, floods are observed from October to March (summer of the Southern Hemisphere), on the left - from April to October (summer of the Northern Hemisphere). This leads to some smoothing of the flow. Southern tributaries bring more water and in May–July lead to maximum rises in water levels. The minimum flow is observed in August – September. In the lower reaches, ocean tides also play an important role, spreading up the river for 1400 km. When the water rises, the river floods gigantic areas - this is the largest flood in the world. The width of the floodplain reaches 80-100 km.

Average water flow at the mouth: 220,000 m3/s. The maximum flow rate during floods reaches 300,000 m3/s and even more. Minimum flow rate during the dry season is 70,000 m3/s. For comparison, the water flow in the Volga is 8060 m?/s i.e. almost 28 times less.

Where does it occur: The Amazon flows primarily through Brazil, but small parts of the Amazon basin belong to Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

The Amazon rises at an altitude of 5 thousand meters from the snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian Andes. Melt water, connecting with other streams, rushes down to the endless jungle. Except high altitude At the mouth of the Amazon, one must also take into account the fact that it is located at the latitude of the Equator and therefore the climate here is changeable; during the day, the hot sun weakens the grip of the ice and melt water descends. Connecting with each other, tons of melted snow form powerful flows and gain acceleration.

Soon descending to a height of 3.5 thousand meters, the Amazon enters the kingdom of rain forests. Here on the river there are often waterfalls, and the current of the Amazon is still as stormy, it has to make its way through the mountain ranges. Having descended from the Andes, the Amazon spills over a wide valley (Amazonian Lowland). Here it flows surrounded by tropical jungle.

The direction of flow of the Amazon is predominantly from west to east, and it does not move far from the equator. Interestingly, under the Amazon at a depth of 4 thousand meters, the underground river Hamza flows, it is fed by groundwater.

The main channel of the Amazon is navigable right up to the foot of the Andes, i.e. at a distance of 4300 km. Ocean-going ships can travel up the river a distance of 1,690 km from the mouth to the city of Manaus. Total length of all waterways in the Amazon Basin is equal to 25,000 km.

After the confluence of the Xingu River, the Amazon looks more like a sea. The width of the river reaches 15 km and it is no longer possible to see the opposite bank.

Here you can already feel the proximity of the Atlantic and you can observe the ebb and flow of the tides. The river bed is divided into many branches that flow into its huge delta. The Amazon estuary is the widest river estuary in the world. At the mouth of the Amazon there are thousands of islands, the largest of which has an area equal to the size of Scotland. In this gigantic estuary there is a constant struggle between salt and fresh water. The tides of the Atlantic Ocean make their way deep into the river, sweeping away everything in their path. This phenomenon is called an Amazon tidal wave or porovo wave.

Emerging into the Atlantic Ocean, the Amazon forms the world's largest delta with an area of ​​100,000 square kilometers. This huge delta contains the world's largest river island, Marajo.

From its three hundred kilometer mouth, the river releases more water into the ocean than all European rivers combined. From space, the flow of its muddy waters can be seen in the ocean hundreds of kilometers away. from the shore.

Amazon River at its mouth.

Amazon is one of the most famous rivers peace. Everyone knows where the Amazon is - it practically crosses South America. The river received its name in 1542. It was then that the travelers were forced to engage in battle with Indian warriors led by women. The Spaniards were reminded of the female warriors - the Amazons. It is for this reason that the waterway received the name “River of the Amazons” - Rio de las Amazonas. It is likely that the warriors were not actually women, they simply wore their hair in braids, which confused the Spanish travelers.

Another version claims that the name comes from the Indian expression " big water" - Amazonas. This version is similar to the truth, only the Indians do not use this expression in the names of other rivers. Some researchers believe that "amasunu" is the name of the destructive tidal wave that occurs at the mouth of the river. This version is confirmed by the fact that the Indians This is the name of the river only in the lower reaches, but in the middle it was called Saolimoes.

The modern name of the river is Amazonas (in Russian - Amazon). Where this beautiful river is located, what its main characteristics are and what happens on its banks - all this is worth getting to know the river better.

Source

To find out where the Amazon River is, you should start by studying its source. For a long time It was not known exactly where the river’s waters originate, but the answer to this question has now been found. Apacheta Creek, flowing from the glacier of Mount Misimi, is where the river is born. It is difficult to say where the Amazon is located - in which country - because it flows through the territory of several states. However, it begins in Peru, in the Andes, at an altitude of more than 5 thousand meters.

A little below Apacheta meets the Caruasantu stream, becoming the small Loketu River. On its way, the river is replenished with water from a huge number of different streams, gradually growing into the Hornillos River. Having absorbed the waters of several more rivers, the name Apurimac is born.

After going a long way, at the highlands the stream connects with Mantaro, turning into Yene. After merging with Perene and Urubamba, the upper course of the river becomes calmer and receives the name Ucayali. Downstream, the larger and more powerful Marañon, which originates in Lake Llauricocha, joins the river.

Merging together, the rivers give birth to the one about which we're talking about, - Amazon.

Estuary

The answer to the question of where the mouth of the Amazon is located is very simple - in Brazil. Despite the fact that the mouth of this river is all located in one country. The area of ​​the Amazon delta is more than 100 thousand kilometers. Two of the largest branches of the river form the largest island, which is surrounded by fresh water - Marajo. The mouth of the Amazon is a fifth of the fresh water of the entire planet.

When observing the river from space, the flow of water that the Amazon gives to the ocean can be discerned almost 400 kilometers from the shore.

River mode

The main reservoir of fresh water on the planet is the Amazon. Where is its source, where does the river get such a huge amount of water? The river gets its food from large quantity tributaries In addition, a humid climate provides a large influx of water due to precipitation. Upstream The river is fed by melting snow in the Andes.

The river regime is complex and interesting. Wherever the Amazon is located, you can see a deep river all year round. Tributaries on opposite sides of the river have different flood times. This is explained by the fact that tributaries from the right bank are in the Southern Hemisphere, and from the left - in the Northern Hemisphere. For this reason, floods near the right-bank tributaries occur in October - March, and near the left-bank tributaries - in April - October. The result of these floods is a smoothing of the flow.

The lower reaches of the Amazon River, where its source is located, are largely dependent on ocean tides. The tidal wave rises almost one and a half kilometers upstream. When the water rises, huge areas along the banks of the river are flooded - this is the largest flood. The width of the floodplain can reach 100 kilometers.

Where does it leak

It has long been known where the Amazon River is located - it flows mostly in Brazil, but some parts of the basin include parts of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

In its middle course, at an altitude of 3.5 thousand meters above sea level, the river runs along the picturesque banks of humid forests. There are frequent waterfalls in this area, and the current is stormy, because the river has to make its way through a mountain range. Having descended from the mountain slopes, the Amazon spreads across the tropical jungle, across a wide

The river flows along the equator, practically without changing direction from west to east. It is curious that at a depth of 4 thousand meters an underground river flows under it, fed by groundwater - the Hamza.

Navigability

The main channel remains navigable all the way to the foot of the Andes, which is more than 4 thousand kilometers from the source. Ocean-going ships can go as far as the city of Manaus, located just 1,690 kilometers from the mouth. The average length of all waterways is 25 thousand kilometers.

Closer to the source, the width of the Amazon reaches 15 kilometers - here you can’t even see the opposite bank.

Animal world

The Amazon, home to many plants, is home to a huge number of fish and animals. Thanks to severe water spills, aquatic inhabitants are far from the last place in the huge list of animals in the Amazon. During major floods, you can observe a unique spectacle - entire islands float along the river with many species of plants and animals that did not have time to escape.

One of the most famous fish in the Amazon is the piranha. This fish can sense blood from a great distance. Having learned that there is prey, the flock rushes towards the target with great speed. These predators, in the process of chasing, go so far as to rush at each other. Even the largest animal that falls into the water has no chance of saving its life - piranhas cope with the task in minutes.

The Amazon is home to a large number unique fish and animals that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Scientists all over the world are studying the banks of the river, but it is still impossible to say what about the river, its animals and flora everything is known - the dense forests of the Amazon banks are very difficult to study.

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 the 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 amazing tribe women who lived on their own and used the stronger sex only for procreation. 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 and his comrades found themselves in a large village located on the coast 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

Approximately 350 kilometers from 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.

Animal world 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 occupied by tropical rainforest. Unique nature education or equatorial forest The Amazon surprises with its climatic conditions. heat and high humidity- here 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 through lush vegetation almost does not penetrate sunlight. A real miracle of the Amazon flora is a huge water lily that can withstand human weight.

Up to 750 species of different trees will surely delight even the most experienced explorer and traveler.

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 resembles milk in appearance. 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 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 on the planet lungfish protopters 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 mass felling trees. 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. Previously, a rare breed of otters lived here, but global changes in the 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, ancient fish The Amazon continues to die out due to catastrophic environmental breakdown.

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