Page 127 - Super Earth Encyclopedia

TROPICAL

FOREST GIANT

AMAZON RIVER

The mighty Amazon River flows across South America from
the Andes to the Atlantic. Fed by at least 1,100 tributary rivers
draining off a region the size of Australia, the Amazon carries far
more water to the ocean than any other river. Its course takes it
through the world’s biggest tropical rainforest—a wildlife paradise
with more species of plants and animals than any other habitat.
The river itself is also teeming with life, from river dolphins to
fearsomely voracious red-bellied piranhas.

STATS AND FACTS

RECORD BREAKER DEPTH
Fed by the largest As well as being
drainage basin in the largest river, In some places
the river is as
the world, covering the Amazon is much as 330 ft
40 percent of also the widest (100 m) deep.
South America, river in the world.
the Amazon River
accounts for a fifth VOLUME In the rainy season, the
of global river flow flow reaches 11 million cubic ft
into the oceans. (300,000 cubic m) per second.
cu m 200,000 300,000 400,000
AGE OF RIVER WATER WORLD
cu ft 7 11
(in millions)
ABOUT
11
MILLION
YEARS OLD
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