According to a research trip directed by National Geographic it was determined that the Amazon River has its humble beginnings atop the Peruvian Andes . One might think that this massive river would have a thunderous beginning but it is just a tiny trickle of water high in the mountains.
The Amazon River is located in the northern portion of South America, flowing from west to east. 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 . What countries does the Amazon River run through?
A follow-up National Geographic expedition in 2000 that included Johnston, further confirmed Lake Ticlla Cocha at the base of Mismi as the headwaters and the Apurímac as the longest upstream extension of the Amazon River. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
It flows through the tropical forests of South America, mainly in Brazil. Its headwaters are in the Andes Mountains in Peru , on the western edge of South America and flows eastward into the Atlantic Ocean near the equator.
Some believe that at present, the Amazon River is not considered to have one unique source but a number of headstream areas. These are headwaters of three different Peruvian rivers that can be found in the high Andes: the Marañón, the Apurímac, and the Mantaro .
But when the Mantaro is dry, ” the Apurímac is once again the place where water flows the greatest distance into the Amazon.” The Apurímac River is the longest tributary flowing into the Amazon when the Mantaro is dry. Please be respectful of copyright.
Where amazon river basin rainfall?
Rainfall in the lowlands typically ranges from 60 to 120 inches (1,500 to 3,000 mm) annually in the central Amazon basin (e. g, Manaus ). On the eastern and northwestern margins of the basin, rainfall occurs year-round, whereas in the central part there is a definite drier period, usually from June to November.
What is the total area of Amazon River?
The Amazon basin, the largest in the world, covers about 40% of South America, an area of approximately 7,050,000 km 2 (2,720,000 sq mi ). It drains from west to east, from Iquitos in Peru, across Brazil to the Atlantic.
Another frequently asked query is “What percentage of the Amazon River drains into the ocean?”.
The Amazon represents 20% of the global riverine discharge into oceans. The Amazon basin is the largest drainage basin in the world, with an area of approximately 7,000,000 km 2 (2,700,000 sq mi). The portion of the river’s drainage basin in Brazil alone is larger than any other river’s basin.
Four centuries after the European discovery of the Amazon river, the total cultivated area in its basin was probably less than 65 km 2 (25 sq mi) , excluding the limited and crudely cultivated areas among the mountains at its extreme headwaters. This situation changed dramatically during the 20th century.
In an average dry season, 110,000 km 2 (42,000 sq mi) of land are water-covered, while in the wet season, the flooded area of the Amazon basin rises to 350,000 km 2 (140,000 sq mi).
Where is the true source of the Amazon?
Explorers and scientists have argued over where to locate the start of the Amazon River since at least the mid-1600s, with no fewer than five rivers in southwestern Peru given the honor over the years. Now the authors of a study published in the journal Area say they’ve located the mighty river’s true source: the Mantaro River in southwestern Peru.