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| 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.)
