Size Matters

Photo from:  http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/14831/The-Amazon-River-it-is-the-longest-undammed-river-in-the-world-and-you-won-t-believe-when-they-built-its-first-bridge

Amazon River

• Largest river (by discharge) in the world.  (Greater than the next 7 largest rivers combined.)
• World's second longest river (4,000 miles).  (Nile is 4,100.  Mississippi is 3,900)
• There are *no* bridges across the entire length of this river.  
• Last 1,000 miles are 10 miles wide.  In wet seasons parts are 120 miles wide!
• Every year, the river bursts its banks - flooding a forest the size of... England!
• Water level may fluctuate  over forty feet throughout the year.
• Lowest stage occurs in August/September.
• Highest stage occurs in April/May.
• Martin Strel was the first person to swim the length of it. (2007) 
• Ed Stafford was the first person to walk the length of it. (2010)

Amazon Rainforest

• Covers 1 billion acres. If it were a nation, it would be the world's 9th largest
• One third the size of the USA, and double the size of India.
• More than 1/3 of the world's known species live in the Amazon Rainforest!

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. - Rachel Carson

Link to next blog post:  Map. 
(List of blog posts is at top right.)