The AMAZON RIVER

BASINDONE BY,

AYISHA KHATOONGRADE 6

THE INDIAN ACADEMY DUBAI

THE AMAZON RIVER BASIN

The Amazon River, according to many accounts, was named by Spanish explorer Fransisco de Orellana in 1541. The name was in honor of the female warriors he encountered on his voyage through the territory previously called Maranon.

The Amazon rain forest occupies 40 percent of Brazil's total geographical area. It is the drainage basin for the Amazon River and its many tributaries and covers 2,722,000 square miles.

Spanish explorer Fransisco de Orellana

The Amazon rain forest occupies 40 percent of Brazil's total geographical area. It is the drainage basin for the Amazon River and its many tributaries and covers 2,722,000 square miles.

GEOGRAPHY

The forests contain trees of all types, such as: Itahuba, Caricari, Tajibos, Cedar, rust - colored Cuta , Almandrillo and others. 50% of the woods are exotic.

Medicinal plants exist and are used to cure ailments such as: ulcers, asthma, blood disorders, appendicitis, cardiac diseases, respiratory problems, snake bites, digestive problems and others.

THE AMAZON FLORA

ITAHUBA PLANT

ONE OF THE UNIQUE PLANTS FOUND IN AMAZON

ITAHUBA PLANT

ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF FAUNA FOUND IN AMAZON

The Amazon fauna

The fauna makes up 80% of the diversity in the world according to some scientists.

A total of 643 species has been identified each with a family of their own: 326 birds, 185 fish, 67 mammals, 37 amphibians and 28 reptiles

LIST OF ANIMAL SPECIES

• (Panthera onca) jaguar

• (Felis yagouaroundi) jaguarundi• (Felis pardalis) ocelot• (Felis wiedii) margay• (Felis species) panther• (concolor Felis) cougar• (Cyclopes didactylus) silky anteater• (Mymecophaga tridáctyla) bear flag• (Tamandua tetradáctila) anteater• (mazama guasoubira) roe-deer• (mazama American) guazo small roe-deer• (blastocerus dichotomus) marsh deer

(Alouatta caraya) howler monkey

BIRD WATCHING

Bolivia ranks number seven for its diversity of birds. According to the scientist Pottes (1991) the following species and many more can be found.Partridge - 5 species

• Cormorant - 1 species• Herons - 11 species• Birds of prey - 40 species• Turkey hens 5 species• Ducks 13 species• Parrots 21 species• Ostrich 1 species• Toucan 4 species

BIRDS ATTRACTED AREA IN AMAZON RIVER BASIN

BRAZILIAN MACAW

ON THE RIVER

You will see many birds, animals, reptiles, and amphibians such as:The Amazon river dolphins, Inia geoffrensis

The capihuara, Hudrochoerus hydrochaeris, the world’s largest rodent, stands at between 0.5 and 0.65cm, measures between 1 and 1.5m and weighs 50kg. It lives on the riverbanks and is a good swimmer.

World’s largest rodent found in Amazon river basin

ANACONDAS CAUGHT IN THE RIVER BASIN OF AMAZON

FISHING

An American study found 2500 fish verities in the Amazon

THE LARGEST FISH IN THE AMZON RIVER

FACTS ABOUT THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST

• 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 kilometers (4000 miles).• During the wet season, the Amazon River can reach over 190 kilometers

(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!