Amazon+River+2

=//Location//=

The river I am studying is the Amazon River witch is in South America. It flows from the Andes Mountains through Brazil and into the Atlantic Ocean.It runs through three countrys Columbia,Ecuador and Peru. The Amazon River is the second biggest river in the WORLD after the Nile river in Egypt.But is the largest by volume of water. There are over 1100 rivers that flow into the Amazon. The longest three rivers are the Madeira River the Purus River and the Japur River. The Amazon river starts in the Andes Mountains and flows for 6436 Kilometres. there are no bridges across the Amazon River. There are many cities that the Amazon River flows through but here are the important ones. There are four. Iquitos,Manaus and Belem do Para. The widest part of the Amazon River is 11 km long.It is the widest river in the world. It has more capacity than the Mississippi, the Nile and the Yangtze put together. It has about 95000 cubic units. The Amazon Rivers deepest area is 100 metres deep. =//Issues//=

There are many problems and concerns like deforestation, pollution and abuse of natural recources. There has been alot of pollution from everyday people who simply think of the Amazon River as a trash can. But there is also alot of companies and industries that are causing pollution in the river. From drinking this water people have suffered diseases and some even deaths. Deforestation can causethe river to flood and kill many animals and threaten the lives of people. There is also lots of natural abuse in the river. Natural abuse is when people put weeds and and fish in the river that are not native wich can destroy the environment =//Wildlife//=

There are known to be Bull Sharks in the Amazon River. There are many other animals such as Piranhas, Crocodiles, Dolphins etc.There is about 30 different types of Piranha living in the Amazon.Piranhas are man eating fish. There are known to be over 5000 different species of fish. There are 800 different mamals that live in the Amazon. The best known mamals are the Jaguar the Squirrel Monkey the Brazilian Tapir the Bush Baby and the Capybara.I found the Lion Tamarin because it looks like a small squirrel like monkey.They live from Southern Central America to the Amazon.There are only a few hundred of this creatures left.There are only a small amount of areas in Brazil were they can be found.Eventhough they are protected by law these monkeys are sold illegaly as pets.They enjoy eating flowers, fruit, plant saps, and nectare.They also eat some insects, frogs and lizards. media type="youtube" key="OuW4V5RD27k" height="312" width="380"

=﻿Characteristics of the Amazon River=

The Ammazon river has many waterefalls one of them is the Rio Reventador.It is in Ecuador high up in the Andes Mountains. It is Ecuadors largest waterfall.It is over 45 metres high in the Andes Mountains it connects with the Amazon River. The Amazon River has flooded many times. Sometimes they can be over 12 metres deep during seasonal flooding.The lowest flood stage occurs in August and September, while the highest stage occurs in April and May. They also eat some insects, frogs and lizards.Sport fishing in South America is a fairly new sport for example with, North American game fishing.The best time to fish is during the dry season but this changes from year to year.During the long wet or rainy season the Amazon River can over flow at at some points into the jungle.The dry season varies from the south when it usually starts in may until October.North of the equator the dry season is from January.The most famous danger in the Amazon River is Piranhas.However there are other dangers. These include Snakes such Anacondas that can grow large enough to suffocate humans. Another danger is a small cat fish called Candiru that can attack other fish Dolphins and humans. There are also poisonous frogs along frogs along the banks. The Amazon River is used as a major trade route through many countries in South America. Boats of all sizes are used.

=//Recreation//=

People use the Amazon River for fishing it is also used for/ native/goods/people transportation and as a water source. It also attracts tourist for sightseeing and vacations. Locals use the Amazon River for drinking, bathing, swimming, swimming and laundry. Some annual events on the Amazon include the Boi Bumba festival. It includes floats, music drums, singing and dancing.

=//Transportation//=

=History= People use transportation for sightseeing maybe on a cruise ship or on there own boat. There are no locks in the Amazon River to help the boats.

=//Importance//=

The Amazon River is important for fishing to provide food, transportation of produce through South America. Also the Amazon as does all rivers carries water and nutrients around the surrounding land. The Amazon River provides a source of food and transportation for the communities that live along the river. Yes, people who live along the river in ancient times for agriculture transportation It is still the same today. The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the worlds oxygen. The Amazon basin is drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. This in turn supplies minerals and nutrients from the mountains to the flood plains along the river enriching the soil and keeping it all living.

=//Water Quality/Problems//=

The Amazon River only provides only 11% of the fresh water that flows into the ocean from the continent South America. It is not very clean partly because of the black water! Today people are working towards providing clean water for the communities along the Amazon River but it is a difficult job! The Amazon River floods each wet season and as a result it lifts soil and other organic matter back.

=//History//=

There are no bridges that cross the Amazon River. There is no need for them because most of the river runs through rainforest rather than dams or even roads.The Spanish explorer Francisco-de Orellana gave the river its name and he was the first European to travel the length of the river. There are many strange and frightening fish living in the Amazon River. The Arapima is a true prehistoric river monster. Records show that it has been in the Amazon River since Jurassic age. According to legend piracy a disrespectful son of an Amazonian chef was put into the river by the gods and became a Arapima. Today Brazilian refer to the fish as Piraruca.