Amazon River Facts

Check out these fun Amazon River facts for kids. Learn about where the Amazon River is located, how long it is, the wildlife that it supports and more. Enjoy our range of interesting facts about the Amazon River.

• The Amazon River is located in South America. It runs through Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru.

• The length of the Amazon River is approximately 6400 kilometres (4000 miles).

• During the wet season, the Amazon River can reach over 190 kilometres (120 miles) in width.

• There are no bridges that cross the Amazon, mostly because there is no need, the majority of the Amazon River runs through rainforests rather than roads or cities.

• The largest city along the Amazon River is Manaus. Located in Brazil it is home to over 1.7 million people.

• There are over 3000 known species of fish that live in the Amazon River, with more constantly being discovered.

• Anacondas lurk in the shallow waters of the Amazon Basin, they are one of the largest snakes in the world and occasionally attack larger animals such as goats that get to close the water.

• The Amazon River is also home to the piranha, a meat eating type of fish! Being carnivores, piranhas are known to attack in groups, preying on livestock that strays into the water and possibly appearing in one or two of your own nightmares!

Source:http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/earth/amazonriver.html