he world’s mightiest river, an unrivalled wildlife-watching destination and still one of the least

explored regions on earth – find out more about the fascinating Amazon River.

It nurtures the largest rainforest on earth and provides life for a mind-boggling array of
flora and fauna – the Amazon River is one of South America’s most fascinating
destinations to discover and, despite centuries of in-depth exploration, it’s still a mystical
place that hides innumerable secrets. Learn all there is to know about this incredible
ecosystem and make your Amazon River visit in South America all the more rewarding.

Sunset over the Amazon River. Photo: Shutterstock

Here are 15 amazing facts about the Amazon River that are sure to blow you away:

1. The Amazon River originates in Peru

Believe it or not, there’s been wide speculation over the real ‘source’ of the Amazon
River for decades with researchers at constant odds over findings. The most widely
believed theory is that the Amazon River flow originates in the high Andean mountains
of Peru, namely the three rivers of Mantaro (the furthest upstream source), Apurimac
(the most distant uninterrupted source) and Maranon (the main source by volume). The
Maranon River flows upstream of Iquitos, Peru’s Amazon adventure capital and one of
the most spellbinding places to enjoy Amazon River adventures.
Maranon River, Peru. Photo: Shutterstock

2. The Amazon River System

meanders through nine South
America countries
After starting its seemingly slow and subtle voyage in the highlands of Peru, the Amazon
River traverses through Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela before entering Brazil and
flowing out of its Atlantic coast. However, its tributaries also flood the Amazon basin in
Bolivia in the south, home to the Madidi National Park (one of the Amazon’s largest
protected reserves) as well as Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. Given each
country’s distinctive tourist infrastructure, some spots are simply better and more
rewarding to visit than others, depending on whether you’re after a land-based Amazon
tour or Amazon River cruise. The most established visiting hot-spots are in Peru (Iquitos
and Puerto Maldonado), Ecuador (Coca), Brazil (Manaus) and Bolivia (Rurrenabaque).
Amazon River map. Photo: Chimu Adventures

3. A Slovenian athlete once swam

almost the entire length of the
Amazon River, in 66 days
Defying the odds of dangers in the remotest regions of the Amazon River basin, Martin
Strel took home his fourth Guinness World Record for long-distance swimming when he
took on the mighty Amazon River in 2007. Already a veteran of the sport, which saw him
complete swims along the Danube, the Mississippi, the Parana and the Yangtze rivers,
Strel swam a total of 5,268km (of the Amazon’s entire 6,400km-length), a distance which
is actually greater than the width of the Atlantic Ocean. His tactic for dodging flesh-
eating piranhas? Have support boats flanking him, ready to drop raw meat and blood
into the river to distract any hungry critters. For quite obvious reasons, Strel’s nickname
is ‘The Hero in a Speedo!’
Martin Strel, Guinness World Record holder. Photo: Amazon Swim

4. The Amazon River provides 20% of

the ocean’s fresh-water supply
It’s an astonishing percentage when one thinks about it: one-fifth of the fresh water that
flows into our earth’s seas flow into the Atlantic at the Amazon River Delta in northern
Brazil. This is the largest river delta on our planet (discharging more freshwater than the
following seven largest rivers combined) creating a muddy patch of salty-vs-fresh water
that covers an area of 2.5 million sq km!
Largest freshwater river. Photo: Shutterstock

5. Researchers discovered an entire

coral reef system at the Amazon River
Delta in 2016
It is at the very confluence between river and ocean that scientists discovered an
enormous coral reef a couple of years ago, one that stretches for more than 1,000km
and covers an area of over 9,500 square kilometres. Hidden from plain view for decades
due to the massive sediment upheaval caused by the river’s flow, the reef is believed to
be home to a unique ecosystem comprising a wealth of marine life. Hints of the reef’s
existence were first noted back in the 1950s although the find was only confirmed in
2016 and the first photos not released until 2017. Over the last couple of years,
researchers have discovered giant sea sponges ‘as heavy as a small elephant’ and an
impressive collection of exotic fish, sea stars, sponges and coral. Greenpeace, who was
responsible for the first documented research of the reef, immediately set up
a campaign to protect this incredible new natural discovery from the looming threat of
oil-drilling.
River delta of the Amazon, the largest river in the world, seen from space. Photo: Shutterstock

6. The Amazon River used to flow

backwards
The creation of the Andes Mountains some 15 million years ago can be regarded as the
most defining moment in the evolution of the Amazon River. Up until the rise of this
incredible mountainous border, the river flowed out into the Pacific Coast of South
America. Remaining landlocked for nearly five million years, the relentless river finally
found its ocean outlet once again, only this time, in the opposite direction – straight into
the Atlantic.

7. The Amazon River and Rainforest

host a jaw-dropping array of unique
wildlife
The Amazon Rainforest famously hosts between 10% and 30% of the flora and fauna
species on earth (and that’s just the ones we know about) representing one of the most
biodiverse regions on our planet. The Amazon River itself and all its countless tributaries
comprise an ecosystem all their own, home to more than 2,000 species of fish and more
than 400 amphibians. The rivers in the Amazon are the basis of all life so Amazon small-
ship cruises are especially rewarding for spotting wildlife on the river shores. The most
famous creatures that inhabit this region include sloths, anacondas, piranhas, river
dolphins, innumerable birds including macaws and toucans and a crazy number of frogs,
spiders, snakes and other insects. One of the rarest and most endangered Amazon River
animals is the boto, a dolphin whose skin is so thin it can appear grey or pink (hence its
nickname – pink river dolphin) depending on how excited it gets and how much its
blood-vessels expand. The dense jungle canopy of the Amazon Rainforest may well host
a stunning amount of wildlife yet spotting them in huge numbers is an infamous
challenge. Check out the glorious wetlands of the Pantanal for more Amazon animals
and arguably some of the most rewarding wildlife encounters of all. We compared the
two stellar and distinct destinations, right here.

The boto ‘pink river dolphin’ of the Amazon. Photo: Shutterstock.

8. There are no bridges built across

the Amazon River
Bar a few unique towns that have been built on the shores of the Amazon River, there
are surprisingly few settlements along this very long river’s edge, which means no
permanent bridge has ever been built. The lack of major infrastructure is what lends
Amazon river tours their distinctly ‘remote and isolated’ feel. To really get anywhere, you
must hop aboard a boat at some point: this is the only way to travel further along the
river and to reach some of the more remote eco-camps.

Reflected jungle in the Limoncocha lagoon in the Ecuadorian Amazon, photo credit; Shutterstock

9. The Amazon River has a hidden

twin-river flowing below it
The Amazon River made headline news back in 2011 when scientists finally confirmed
the existence of an ‘underground Amazon River’, which mirrors its above-ground twin in
length and flow. The Hamza River (named after the scientist leading the research group)
flows some 4km underground and although it’s believed to be up to four times wider
than the Amazon River itself, it boasts only 1/34th of its water volume.
Underground Amazon RIver. Photo: Valiya Hamza

10. The Amazon River boasts an

impressive seasonal fluctuation of up
to 15m
The Amazon is the greatest flowing river on earth, discharging a breathtaking 200,000
cubic metres of water into the Atlantic every single second. Yet what is even more
impressive is learning about the seasonal water-level rises and the consequential
‘flooded forests’ that are created along the river’s sides. These varzeas, as they are
known, facilitate longer and deeper Amazon River cruising, allowing for greater
explorations of remote regions one wouldn’t normally reach during drier months of the
year. The Amazon River flow has been the subject of intense studies for more than a
century with a greater emphasis placed in the Amazon Basin, where fluctuations are at
their most extremes. Manaus, in Brazil, normally records the highest water-level rises
each year of between 10 and 15m. Seasonal changes are dictated by rainfall, of course,
with the highest river levels usually recorded between December and May and lower
levels (fantastic for lodge-based Amazon tours which include more hikes through the
rainforest) between June and September. Read more about the Best Time to Visit the
Amazon before planning your trip.
Sailing a boat through a flooded forest in Latin America. Photo: Shutterstock

11. The Amazon Rainforest & River

rely on the Sahara Desert for their
very existence
We all know that we live on a planet whose incredible ecosystems are linked in more
ways than we could ever understand yet, in the Amazon, the proof is in the nutrients.
Both the rainforest and river of the Amazon are fed pivotal minerals (like phosphorus)
from sands which blow across the Atlantic all the way from Africa’s Sahara Desert. It’s
been tens of millions of years since Africa and South America were joined, and it’s
astonishing to know the two continents are still so intrinsically linked. Check out this
incredible 3D video created by NASA using satellite info on the Sahara sand’s long
journey across the seas.
12. The apex predator in the Amazon
River, the Black Caiman, is also one of
the most endangered wildlife of all
Long hunted for its valuable skin, the Amazon River’s Black Caiman is something of a
legend. The most feared predator in the entire rainforest, the Black Caiman is one of the
largest members of his species, anywhere on earth. Unlike the ‘run of the mill’ Amazon
caiman, which is relatively small and weighs up to about 40kg, the Black Caiman can
weigh 25 times as much and grow to an average of 5m in length. The bad news is that
this fearsome creature is highly endangered and the good news is that your chances of
running into one, accidentally, are quite low.

Keep all hands and feet in the boat, kids!

Amazon River Caiman. Photo: Shutterstock

13. Biologists studying the Amazon

River have a wicked sense of humour
Scientists are indeed renowned for their quirky sense of humour, and it seems most of
them work in the Amazon. Some of the most unusual animals to see in the Amazon
include the Jesus Christ Lizard (yes, it walks on water), the Prince Charles Stream Tree
Frog in Ecuador (apparently named after the Prince’s rainforest conservation efforts), the
Vampire Fish (those fangs are real!) and the Peanut Head Bug. Read more about the Top
10 Animals to Spot in the Amazon.

14. Thrill-seeking daredevils surf the

Amazon at select times of year
Pororoca is the name given to a spectacular tidal-wave phenomenon (tidal bore) that
occurs in the Amazon River delta during select full moons about 2-3 times a year. In
these unique circumstances, the ocean tide manages to beat the Amazon River flow,
causing colossal (and backwards) tidal waves that can travel up to 800km inland. An
annual surfing championship has been running here for the last 20 years.

15. The Amazon River and its entire

ecosystem are facing their biggest
threat yet
The Amazon is facing its biggest fight to date. The Brazilian president seems to be intent
on relaxing protection laws for the Amazon Rainforest, appearing to favour agricultural
interests over those of indigenous Amazon reserves. The indigenous inhabitants of the
region have historically been its most fervent protectors: given that they rely on the river
and forest to survive, they are the most ardent protesters against deforestation, mining
and oil drilling. The Amazon is the largest remaining rainforest we’ve yet to completely
ruin on our planet. Although it may seem ‘too big a fight’ to take on, individually, there
are many personal and straightforward steps we can all take to help curb the impact on
this incredibly precious natural asset. They include:

 Reducing your meat consumption (Latin America is one of the largest exporters of
beef on the planet, and pivotal rainforest land is being bulldozed for farming)
 Reducing your use of paper and wood (purchase products with the highest rate of
recyclable materials)
 Do some research before buying ‘big-brand’ items (many mega-corporations
invest in toxic oil pipelines in pristine Amazon wilderness)
  Support Rainforest Action Groups (environmental action groups can be highly
effective in forcing change – in the 1980s, ecological activists convinced Burger
King (US) to stop buying beef from the Amazon regions of South America in one
of the most successful campaigns ever held).

Want to experience one of our planet’s most astonishing destinations? Then join us on
an Amazon cruise and explore some of the most inaccessible corners of this glorious
natural wonder. Swim with dolphins, dodge black caimans, and be awe-struck by the
inherent beauty of the magical Amazon River. We offer bespoke tours aboard luxurious
riverboats, and include overnight stays in charming eco-lodges built along the shores of
the Amazon River in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Don’t wait any longer and go on
a South America Adventure! Click here for more information about Chimu.

Author: Laura Pattara
“Laura Pattara is a modern nomad who’s been vagabonding around the world, non-stop,
for the past 15 years. She’s tour-guided overland trips through South America and
Africa, travelled independently through the Middle East and has completed a 6-year
motorbike trip from Europe to Australia. What ticks her fancy most? Animal encounters
in remote wilderness, authentic experiences off the beaten trail and spectacular Autumn
colours in Patagonia.”

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