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The Amazon River in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
The Amazon River dominates South America from its source in the Peruvian Andes to its mouth on the east coast of Brazil. The first European to find it was Francisco de Orellana in 1542.
The Amazon is the longest and broadest river in the world, and covers the largest land area.
Its 6756 kilometers or 4,197 miles long, more than 40 kilometers longer than the Nile.
For most of its length the river is sinuous, creating a web of channels and thousands of islands.
On average the Amazon is 50 meters deep and between 4 and 6 kilometers wide.
River boat tours leave from Iquitos to the eastern edge of the Amazon in Brazil, a journey that takes weeks, but shorter trips can take visitors to jungle lodges for a glimpse of the rivers abundant wildlife.
