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The Amazon River in South America is the world's largest river by water flow — carrying approximately 20% of all the fresh water that flows from continents to the oceans. At its mouth, it discharges 209,000 cubic meters per second — 10 times the volume of the Congo, the second-largest. During flood season, the Amazon's width can exceed 50 km in places.
The Amazon basin contains over 3,000 species of fish — more than the entire Atlantic Ocean. Its waters support electric eels, piranhas, giant river otters, river dolphins (boto), anacondas, and arapaima (the world's largest freshwater fish at over 3 meters). The Amazon is technically debated for 'longest' with the Nile, but is definitively the mightiest.
# Top 10 Amazon River facts
- 1The Amazon discharges 20% of all the world's river water — more than the next 7 largest rivers combined
- 2It contains over 3,000 species of fish — more than the entire Atlantic Ocean
- 3In flood season, parts of the Amazon exceed 50 km wide, and forests are submerged under 15 meters of water
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The Amazon discharges 20% of all the world's river water — more than the next 7 largest rivers combined
- ◆It contains over 3,000 species of fish — more than the entire Atlantic Ocean
- ◆In flood season, parts of the Amazon exceed 50 km wide, and forests are submerged under 15 meters of water
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