The Amazon river basin is called the Selvas give reasons
Answers
Explanation:
The Amazon River is a massive, intricate water system weaving through one of the most vital and complex ecosystems in the world — the Amazon rainforest in South America. It is by far the mightiest river on Earth in terms of volume and width — reaching a span of nearly 30 miles (48 kilometers) in some parts during the rainy season. The river and its basin are home to many unique species of animals, trees and plants.
The Amazon River's 4,000-mile (6,437 km) journey begins high in the Andes. These mountains act as a wall blocking the warm, moist air moving in from the east, resulting in heavy persistent rainfall that consistently feeds the Amazon's headwaters. The river then makes its way east through thousands of miles of rainforests and lowlands until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the northeastern coast of Brazil.
The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, slightly shorter than the (4,258 miles or 6,853 km), although some experts contend that the two rivers are so close in length (since measuring methods vary and there is still some dispute over their true sources) that it is difficult to say which river is actually longer. With more than 1,100 tributaries — 17 of which are over 930 miles (1,497 km) long — the Amazon River has the largest drainage system in the world. It is estimated that approximately one-fifth of all the water that runs on the Earth's surface is carried by the Amazon River, according to the. In fact, it has greater volume and total discharge than the next six largest rivers combined.
During the dry season (June to November) the width of the Amazon River averages between 2 to 6 miles (3.2 to 9.6 km) depending on the area, and in the wet season (December through April) the width can reach up to 30 miles. At the height of wet season, the current can travel more than 4 mph (6.4 km/h).
The river received its name from the Spanish soldier Francisco de Orellana, who is credited as the first European to explore the length of the river in 1541, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. He named it the Amazon after encountering and engaging in battles with female warriors who reminded him of the Amazons in Greek mythology.
Amazon basin
The Amazon basin is the large area of land that drains into the Amazon River and its tributaries. It occupies about 38 percent of the total area of South America, covering a total of 2.67 million square miles (6.9 million square km), according to the .The lowlands around the river and its tributaries flood yearly, deeply enriching the surrounding soil. More than two-thirds of the basin is covered with rainforest, or selva. The basin is located in parts of six countries: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. Most of the basin and about two-thirds of the river itself is located in Brazil.
There are several large cities located in the Amazon basin: Belem, Brazil, located at the mouth of the Amazon River and home to 1.3 million people; Santarem, Brazil, located at the junction of the Amazon River and the Tapajos River; Manaus, Brazil, a city of 2 million people located in the middle of the jungle; and the large metropolis city of Iquitos, Peru, a port city and gateway to the tribal villages of Northern Amazon.
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River life
The Amazon River is home to more than 5,600 known species of fish, including 100 species of electric fish and up to 60 species of piranhas. The arapaima or pirarucu, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world (up to 15 feet or 4.6 meters long), also makes its home here. The Amazon River dolphin is the largest species of river dolphin in the world; its color changes with age from gray to pink to white. The giant otter and the Amazonian manatee also live in these tropical waters.
River reef
An international team of scientists made an unusual discovery during a recent expedition to the Amazon River — they discovered a coral reef system thriving in the river's plume, the area where the river empties into the ocean.
When river water enters the ocean, it has a significant impact on salinity levels, pH, sedimentation, temperature, light penetration and nutrient availability, typically making the environment very unfavorable for reef growth. This is particularly so in the massive Amazon plume, which can reach as far north as the Caribbean Sea.