Amazon River: Have you ever wondered how the Amazon river got its name? Well the story goes that when Spanish explorers discovered it, local tribes wearing headgears and grass skirts attacked them. At that instance, the explorers saw in them a reflection of the fierce tribes of women warriors known as the Amazons. Thus the river was named Amazon. You can learn more about the famous river here.
What is a river?
River comes from the Latin word ‘Ripa’ meaning ‘Bank’. A river is a large, natural body of water that flows in a channel . As per NCERT, water flow in a river depends on the size of its river basin. The area drained by a river and other tributaries is a drainage basin. The catchments of large rivers are river basins while those of small ones are watersheds.
What is the Amazon River?
The Amazon River is a vast water system passing through the Amazon rainforest in South America. As per the area of its basin, it is the largest drainage system in the world. Over the years, some people have claimed that the Amazon River is longer than the Nile river. The length of Amazon River and its source of origin have been matters of debate.
Where is the Amazon River located?
The Amazon River is located in South America. It is the largest river in the world in terms of the volume of water it discharges. It is the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
What is the source of the Amazon River?
The source or origin point of the Amazon River has been a point of contention among scientists since the mid 1600s. For a long time, the Apurimac River located in the Arequipa region of Peru has been considered the source of the Amazon River. In recent developments, some researchers of a new study have claimed that the Amazon’s source is the Mantaro River in southwestern Peru.
What is the Amazon Basin?
The Amazon River along with various tributaries together form the Amazon Basin. The Basin covers areas of Peru, Brazil, Columbia and Bolivia among others. It is the world's largest drainage basin covering a vast area from the Andes Mountains in Peru to the northeastern coast of Brazil. Most of the basin is covered by the Amazon Rainforest which is a dense tropical forest.
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What is the climate of the Amazon Basin?
As the Amazon River flows through the equatorial region, the basin witnesses both humid and rainy climate throughout the year. Weather during the day and night is hot. The humidity remains high throughout the day and night.
What is the flora and fauna of the Amazon Basin?
The vegetation of the Amazon Basin includes thick forests, orchids and bromeliads. Animals such as monkeys, sloth, various species of reptiles and insects are found. Birds like toucans and macaws can also be found in the area.
Who are the inhabitants of the Amazon Basin?
In the past, the life of the people living in the area was quite peaceful. The men used to hunt, while the women took care of the crops like sweet potato, maize and coffee. The inhabitants practiced slash and burn agriculture in which they cleared the land by burning the trees and then used the land for farming. Developmental events like the construction of the Trans Amazon highway have led to the degradation of the biologically rich rainforest.
CBSE Video Courses for All Subjects for Class 10 Students
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Note: All images have been taken from NCERT Class 7 Geography textbook (Our Environment).
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