South America is one of the continents of the planet Earth belonging to the part of the world (continent) America and mainly in the southern hemisphere. In South America, there are 14 countries, twelve of which is independent.

At the same time, two: Falkland Islands and French Guiana are overseas territories, respectively, Great Britain and France. Brazil is the largest country in the area of \u200b\u200bthe territory and population.

The mainland occupies an area of \u200b\u200babout 17,840,000 km2, which is only slightly less than 3.5% of the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe earth's surface. Mainland population as of 2012 exceeds 386 million people

According to the territory of Continent, South America is the fourth in the world (after Asia, Africa and North America).

The west coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean, North and East - Atlantic (including the waters of the Caribbean). The land border with Central America runs between Panama and Colombia.

Countries of South America

• Map of South America

Most of the population of the continent speaks in the languages \u200b\u200bof the Romance group (Spanish and Portuguese), which is due primarily by historical factors: it is the Spaniards and Portuguese first colonized South America.

However, the languages \u200b\u200bof the Indian peoples of South America (Kechua, Aimar, Guarani and others) are still in the go - in some countries (for example, Bolivia or Paraguay) they are given state status.

Viniki

Mountains of South America

On the territory of the continent (if not to take into account the narrow and extended coastal plains on the Pacific coast), three topographic zones can be distinguished: Andes, central lowland, Brazilian and Guiangian alpine plateau.

The Anda system is the longest (more than 7,000 km) of a mountain varnish in the world. The continuous chain of the mountains stretches along most of the west coast of South America - the width of the ridge in different parts ranges from 200 to 700 km. The average height is about 4,000 meters.

It is curious that the Andes are the three most high-mountain capital of the world. This is Bolivian La Paz (3,660 meters), Ecuadorian Quito (2,850 meters) and Colombian Bogota (2,640 meters)

Titicaca and Andes.

• Therefore, you should not be surprised that the mountains of South America are great and ... just great!

The highest mountain of South America (and the highest on the planet outside Asia) - Akonkagua Peak (ACONCAGUA) 6,962 meters high. It is located in the Argentine Province of Mendoza, on the West of the country: the distance from the border from the neighboring Chile is only 15 km away.

• And the highest mountain in general on earth, however, if you count from the center "Ball" -!

The northern and central part of the Andes are so much that contains in itself both extensive plateau (plateau), such as altiplano (which is translated from Spanish and means "high plain") and whole deserts (for example, an attack desert, which is considered the most anhydrous Place on Earth).

• The latter is famous for its unique climetrium area of \u200b\u200babout 1,000 km2 (966 km2) is tightly isolated by Andes and Chilean Cordillera from any moisture. This area is sometimes used by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) - US Space, as a landfill for the design of future expeditions to Mars.

Eastern (Peruvian) part of the Andes , Due to their untouched forests, it is considered a completely unique natural reserve. In the West, she adjoins the world-famous Amazon River basin. In the pool of this river there are ambitious rave forests, which are often called "light" planets.

• Flora and fauna here is amazingly diverse: hundreds of species of parrots, jaguars and kouguars live here, Giant Python, Anaconda, who has already become a proverb in pags, the ostroducture of Piranha fish ...

Rivers of South America

The largest river of South America, Amazon River at the same time is the largest river system in the world: it covers 40% of the mainland territory (about 6,915,000 km2) and in the rainy season, the area of \u200b\u200bonly the water surface can be 350,000 sq. Km The length of the mainstream of the river is about 6,400 km - a little less

• The bulk of the influx of Amazon is located in the central part of South America and on its Atlantic coast - Nevertheless, the most remote origins almost reaches the Pacific Ocean

Other large rivers of South America are:

• Orinoco (with a length of 2 140 km), rolls its waves on the territory of Venezuela and Colombia
• Parana (own length - 2,570 km, if you consider together with the Paranaibo river, the natural continuation of which is Paran, then the length will be about 4,000 km), which flows through the territory of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina

South America is the birthplace of the highest waterfall in the world. Angel Falls (Angel Falls) or Salto Angel is located in Canaima National Park National Park in Venezuela, its height (979 meters) is only the smallest no longer reaching 1 kilometer.

Lake South America

• The largest lake of South America, (Titicaca), is located on the altiplano alpine plateau (at an altitude of 3,812 meters at sea level), on the border of Peru and Bolivia. And covers an area of \u200b\u200b8 372 km2

Glaciers

At the extreme south of the continent, in the Argentine Patagonia, one of the most beautiful land glaciers is located ,. From others it is distinguished by affordable - tens of thousands of tourists arrive annually on blue ice.

Features of the relief and climate of South America predetermined its exceptional wealth of surface and underground waters, a huge amount of drain, the presence of the largest river of the globe - Amazon. Taking a 12% land of land sushi, South America receives about 2 times more (1643 mm) of the average amount of precipitation per unit of the entire area. The full river stock is 27% of the entire flow of the Earth, the average layer of drain (58 cm) is also almost 2 times more of the average for all sushi. But the value of the drain varies sharply on the territory of the mainland - from a few mm to hundreds, see Extremely unevenly distributed and rivers between the ocean pools: the pool of the Pacific Ocean is 12 times smaller than the atlantic pool (the watershed between them takes place mainly on the Andes of the Andes); In addition, about 10% of the territory of Yu. A. Refers to the field of internal drain, crossing the mainland from the Gulf of Guayaquil through the Central Andyian Highlands to the South Pamp. Rail-powered rivers are predominant, in the extreme south - also snow-glacier.

The greatest value of the average layer of the annual flow of 150-400 cm (up to 90% of precipitation) reaches on Y. Chile, which is explained not only to the abundance of precipitation, but also the steepness slopes, low evaporation and stocks of ice in the upper reaches of rivers that cause summer floods, including and in the "transit" rivers of Patagonia; The share of underground nutrition of the South Andes Rivers is not more than 20-25%. The stock (individual rivers is even up to 800 cm) on Z. Colombia, but there are rain nutrition and storm summer-autumn floods; Underground stock increases to 40%. There are similar characteristics of the drain and amazon, decreasing in its central and southern parts to 40-60 cm. The mode of large rivers, like the Amazon itself, depends on the rains season in the upper and middle course of its tributaries. On well and more or less uniformly moistened outbreaks of the Brazilian and Guiangsky Plane, the average annual stock is also 40-60 cm (in places up to 150 cm) with a share of underground flow up to 50%. In the inner areas of the Brazilian plateau, the flow decreases (on S.-V. up to 5 cm) and it becomes extremely uneven: Stormy summer floods are replaced by a sharp reduction in water consumption in winter, up to the dryness of small watercourses. Similar to the drain mode and on the plain territories of sub-screen and tropical belts with rain nutrition of rivers (Llanos-Orinoco, Plains of Beni Mamor, Grand Character). A sharply pronounced seasonality in the fallout of precipitation leads to drainage of the drain (the average runoff decreases from 50-80 to 15-20 cm) and even major watercourse (Rio-Bermecho, Rio-Salado, etc.) They are divided into separate plates with saline waters, in the summer the flood flood extensive spaces; Paraguay and Parana lakes of the Pantanal and Laplat lowland are served by regulators. The smallest stock (3-5 mm) is timed to the desert tropical west of Yu. A., where even the thah snowy water with highly accumulates in foothill loops and tectonic depressions, raising up to 50% of the underground power supply of episodic rivers (only Loa River has a permanent stock in ocean).

A large number of precipitation brought from the Atlantic, extensive plateaus, hollow-descending to huge lowlands and plains that collect stock and with the adjacent chairs, contributed to the formation of the Upada East of Yu. A. Large River Systems: Amazon, Orinoco, Parana with Paraguay. Uruguay; In Andes, the largest system is the highest. Magdalena flowing in the longitudinal wpadine of wet northern Andes. For shipping, only the lowland rivers are suitable. Mountain rivers of the Andes and plane, replete with thresholds and waterfalls (Angel, 1054 m, Kaietour, 226 m, Iguazu, 72 m, etc.), as well as full-water watercourses constantly wet plains have a huge hydropower potential (over 300 million kW).

Large lakes, mainly glacial origin (end basins), are focused mainly in Patagonian Andes (Lago-Argentino, Buenos Aires, etc.) and on Y. Middle Chile (Llanokiue and others). In Central Andes, there is the most high-mountainous lakes of the Earth - Titchka, there are many residual lakes (Popo and others) and large salt marshes; The latter is typical and for depression between Pampinsky Sierra (Salinas Grandez, etc.). Large lagural lags are located in the north (Maracaibo) and in the south-east of Yu. A. (Patus, Lago-Mirin).

The biggest rivers of South America

Name	Length in km	Pool area in thousand km
Amazon (from Watti)
Amazon (with Maranon)
Parana (with Rio Grande and Estoarium La Plata)
Madeira (with Mamor)
San Francisk
Zhapur (with a kotea)
Tokantins
Paraguay, river
Rio-Negora
Uruguay, River
Magdalena

Amazon river

The largest river of South America - Amazon. Most of its pool is south of the equator. The area of \u200b\u200bthis most extensive river basin of the world is over 7 million km 2, the length of the river from the main source (Maranyon River) is 6400 km. If, for the origin of the Amazon, take the ukyali and apurimac, then its length reaches 7194 km, which exceeds the length of the Nile. Amazon water consumption is several times the consumption of all the largest rivers of the world. It is equal to an average of 220 thousand m 3 / s (the maximum flow rate may exceed 300 thousand m 3 / s). The average annual camps in the lower current (7000 km 3) is most of the drain of all South America and 15% of the drain of all the land of the Earth!

The main source of Amazon - the Marandon River - begins in the Andes at an altitude of 4840 m. Only after a merger with the first major influx - Ukyali - within the plain the river gets the name Amazon.

Amazon collects its numerous tributaries (more than 500) from the slopes of the Andes, Brazilian and Gwiang Nagrai. Many of them in length exceed 1500 km. The most numerous and large amazon tributaries are the Southern Hemisphere River. The biggest left inflow - Rio-Nehru (2300 km), the biggest right, and the largest, Amazon's influx - Madeira (3200 km).

Part of the tributaries, blurring clay rocks, carry very turbid water ("white" rivers), others, with transparent water - dark from dissolved organic substances ("black" rivers). After putting into the Amazon, Rio-Nehru (black river) light and dark water flowed in parallel, without mixing, for about 20-30 km, which is clearly visible on space images.

The width of the Amazon's channel after the merger of Maranyon and Ukyali is 1-2 km, but it increases rapidly downstream. Manaus (1690 km from the mouth) is already reached up to 5 km, in the lower current expands to 20 km, and in the mouth, the width of the main line of Amazon, together with numerous islands during the spill, reaches 80 km. In the western part of the lowland, Amazon flows almost at the level of shores, in fact, without having a formed valley. In the east, the river forms a deeply embedded valley, which represents a sharp contrast with water-seated spaces.

Approximately 350 km from the Atlantic Ocean begins the Amazon Delta. Despite the ancient age, she did not advanced to the ocean beyond the limits of indigenous banks. Although the river makes huge masses of solid material (on average 1 billion tons per year), the process of increasing the delta is hampered by the activities of tides and ties, the effect of currents, as well as the lowering of the coast.

In the lower target of the Amazon, tides and flowing are a large influence on its regime and the formation of the shores. The tidal wave penetrates upwards by more than 1000 km, in the lower reaches of its wall reaches a height of 1.5-5 m. The wave rushes against the flow at a huge speed, causing strong excitement on sandy shallows and banks, destroying the shore. At the local population, this phenomenon is known as Pororok and Amazun.

Amazon is full for the whole year. Twice a year, the water level in the river rises to a significant height. These maxima are associated with rainy periods of the northern and southern hemispheres. The greatest consumption on the Amazon occurs after the rain period in the southern hemisphere (in May), when its right tributaries carry the bulk of water. The river comes out of the shores and, on average, pours a huge territory, creating a kind of giant inner lake. The water level rises by 12-15m, and in the Manaus area, the river width can reach 35 km. Then the period of gradual decrease in water consumption comes, the river enters the shore. The smallest water level in the river - in August and September, then there is a second maximum associated with the period of summer rains of the northern hemisphere. On Amazon, he manifests itself with some intake, in about November. The November maximum is significantly inferior to May. In the lower river the river, the two maxima gradually merge into one.

From the mouth to the city of Manaus Amazon is available for large vessels. Courts with rather deep sediment can penetrate even to Iquitos (Peru). But in the lower flow due to the tides, the abundance of the nanos and the islands shipping is difficult. Deeper and available for ocean vessels South sleeves - a couple having a common mouth with the Tokantins River. It has a large ocean port of Brazil - Belen. But this sleeve of Amazon is now associated with the main channel only in small ducts. Amazon with tributaries is a system of water routes with a total length of up to 25 thousand km. The transport value of the river is great. For a long time, it was the only path that binds the inner parts of the Amazon lowland with the Atlantic coast.

Amazon basin rivers have large water reserves. Many Amazon's tributaries, when leaving the lowland, intersect the steep edges of the Brazilian and Gwiang Nagrain, forming large waterfalls. But these hydroresours are used yet very weak.

River Parana and Uruguay

The second largest river system of South America includes the Parana River with Paraguay and Uruguay, having a common mouth. The system received its name (La Plati) from the eponymous giant estuary Parana and Uruguay, reaching 320 km long and 220 km wide in the mouth. The pool area of \u200b\u200bthe entire system is more than 4 million km 2, and the length of Parana, by different sources, is from 3300 to 4,700 km. The origins of Parana - Rio Grande and Paranaiba are located on Brazilian Highlands. There are also many other rivers of the system. All of them in the upper course of the thresholds and form several large waterfalls. The largest waterfalls are a guairium with a height of 40 m and a width of 4800 m on Parana and Iguas height 72 m on its influx of the same name. They created a network of hydrostations.

In the lower course of Parana - a typical plain river. The main maximum flow comes in May in connection with the summer rains in Brazilian Highlands. The shipping importance of the rivers of the La Platar system and the Laa fee is very large.

Orinoko River

The third largest river of South America - Orinoco. Its length is 2730 km, the pool area is over 1 million km 2. Orinoco originates on Guiangian Highlands. Its origin was discovered and explored by the French expedition only in 1954. The Kasikiaar Orinoco river is connected to the influx of Amazon Rio-Nehru, which flows part of the water of the upper orinoco. This is one of the most significant examples of bifurcation of rivers on Earth. When pushing into the Atlantic Ocean, the river forms a large delta, the length of which reaches 200 km.

The water level in Orinoco is entirely dependent on rain rainfall, which falls out in the northern part of its pool in the summer (from May to September). Maximum for the Orinoco, coming in September-October, is expressed very sharply. The difference between the summer and winter water level reaches 15 m.

Lake

Lakes in South America are few. The main genetic groups of lakes continent - tectonic, glacial, volcanic, lagoon. Small glacial and volcanic lakes are in different parts of the Andes. The largest glacier and glacial and tectonic lakes are concentrated in the west of southern Andes.

The most large lake of the continent - Titicaca is located on Andiy's plateore at an altitude of more than 3,800 m, on the border between Peru and Bolivia. Its area is 8300 km 2, and the maximum depth - 281 m. On the shores of the lake, terraces are expressed, testifying to a repeated decrease in its level. The lake has a stock to another, more shallow tectonic lake - Popo. Water in the lake Titicaca is fresh, and in the midst of very salinated.

On the internal plateaus of the Andes and on the plain the Grand Character, there are many lakes of tectonic origin, shallow, sleeveless and saline. In addition, saline swamps and salt marshes are common ("Salanes").

Along the lowland coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, there are large lagoon lakes. The largest of these lagoon is located in the north, in an extensive depression between the Andes Rats. It is called Maracaybo and connected to the Venezuelan bay. The area of \u200b\u200bthis lagoon is 16.3 thousand km 2, length -220 km. The water in the lagoon is almost fresh, but during tides salinity increases significantly.

Lagunas, almost lost contact with the Atlantic Ocean, are located in the south-east of the mainland. The largest of them are the Patus and Lago-Mirin.

A significant part of the continent, especially the Underland East, has large groundwater reserves. In the sandy stratas, the syneclide is not only Amazonia, but also the Gwiank lowland, Llanos-Orinoco, Grand Charo, Pamppa, and also in other areas up to 40-50% of the runaway.

Waterfalls

Angel Waterfall (Angel) or Salto Angel (Salto Angel) - the world's highest free falling waterfall in 978 meters high.

Anhel's waterfall is located in the Mountain Area Guyana, one of the five topographic areas of Venezuela, in South America. It is located on the Carrao River. Carrao River - the influx of the River of the Karony, which in the end flows into the Orinoco. Getting to the waterfall is not easy, as it is in a dense rainforest. There are no roads leading to the waterfall.

Angel's waterfall is lowered from the top of the plane mountain, called the Aborigines "Tempuy". Flat Mountain called Ayang Tempuy (Devil Mountain) is one of the more than hundreds of similar to it, scattered on Guiangian Highlands in Southeast Venezuela. These dormant giants are characteristic of their massive heights, whipping to the sky, with flat tops and completely vertical slopes. Tempuy, also called "table mountains" (which accurately describes their forms), formed from sandstone billions of years ago. Their vertical slopes are continuously destroyed under the influence of heavy rains walking on Guiangian Highlands.

Venezuela's aborigines knew about the "Salto Angel" from time immemorial. The waterfall was originally discovered in 1910 by the Spanish researcher named Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz. Nevertheless, he was not known to the world before the official opening by the American pilot and the goldfinder James Crowford Angel, in honor of which he was named. Angel was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1899.

This enterprising experienced pilot in 1935 flew over the terrain and landed at the top of a lone mountain in search of gold. His monoplet "Flamingo" stuck in the swampy jungle on top, and he noticed a rather impressive waterfall stretching down to thousands of feet. He was not too lucky with a 11-mile excursion back to civilization, and his plane remained to lie to the mountain, a rusting monument to his discovery. Soon the whole world found out about the waterfall, who received fame as angel waterfall, in honor of the pilot, who found him.

Jimmy Endzhela plane remained in the jungle for 33 years, until he was raised by a helicopter. He is currently located at the Aviation Museum in Maraca. The one that you can now see on the top of the Tempu is its exact copy.

The official height of the waterfall was determined by the expedition of the National Geographic Society in 1949. Waterfall is the main attraction of Venezuela.

Waterfalls Iguazu - a miracle of light consisting of 275 different cascades of water, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 2700 sq.m, and the height of the fall reaches 82 meters! Width of the waterfall - about 3 km. The largest waterfall is the throat of the devil, the U-shaped opening width of 150 and a length of 700 meters, denotes the border between the countries of Argentina and Brazil. The name "Iguazu" comes from the words in the language of Guarani "Water" and "Big".

Many islands separate the waterfalls from each other. Approximately 900 meters from the total width of 3 km. Not covered with water. About 2 km. The bridges connecting the islands help better see all the streams. Most waterfalls are located within the territory of Argentina, but the Brazil is a good view of the "Devil's throat".

Waterfalls Iguazu are considered the largest in the world in the number of falls. During the rainy season in November - March, the flow rate of water can reach 750 cubic meters per second. The roar of falling water creates an impressive roar that can be heard even a few kilometers away.

Smaller waterfalls are formed by the ledges of durable rock, which turns the water falling on them into the tuman clouds and splashes. Sunlight adds the last touch, creating overflowing rainbow. Below, among the water, the island covered wonderfully, covered with trees. On one side of the island where water flows calmly, there is a yellowish sand beach.

08/10/2019 at 16:37 · VeraschegoLeva. · 790

Top 10 longest rivers of South America

South America Located in the south of Western Hemisphere, length - 7350 km from north to south. it the most wet mainland of our planet.

The most moisturized the slopes of the Andes. Here is the majority of the lakes, some of which are the most ancient on the planet. The mainland is famous for its: the highest in the world is Angel, and the most powerful - Iguazu. He has an extensive river system.

The longest rivers of South America are known for the whole world and stretch for thousands of kilometers.

10. Pilkomoio, 2 500 km

It occurs in the central part of South America, the influx of Paraguay. The name of the river was taken from the Language of Indians -Kuchua. In their language "PISHQU" means "bird", and the word "MAYU" translated as "river".

But the Guaranian Indians call her Araguay: "ARA" - this is " parrot", but "Gua" – “water". Pilkomoyo Takes the beginning of B, and at the end joins the Paraguay River. This is a natural natural border separating Paraguay and Argentina.

Unfortunately, in the 70-90s of the twentieth century, mining waste and other garbage were thrown into the river. Most water is started on the irrigation of the fields, which is why the river is on the verge of drying.

9. Paraguay, 2 535 km

This is 5 largest the river of the continent, one of the main tributaries of Parana. She divides the Paraguayan Republic on 2 parts: Northern, rarely populated and little mastered, and South, where about 98% of the population lives.

Name " Paraguay"Translated from the Language of the Guarani Indians as "Hingst River". There are no dams throughout its length, so shipping is developed. Residents are breeding livestock and are engaged in agriculture. Thanks to the channels feed on the river, there were huge areas of irrigated land, as well as pastures and forests.

In the upper reaches of the river there is a pantanal, a swampy blooming lake. He has a unique flora and fauna. So, a scaly, an amazing fish, which has lungs, and gills, feels well here. Tourists may not affect giant pitchers, 10-meter palm trees and many types of wild roses, lilies.

8. Zhapur, 2 615 km

This is the influx of Amazon, which originates in Eastern Cordillera. Most of the river is located on the territory of Colombia, there it is called Anya. Approximately one third flows through Brazil, where the name " Zhapura».

The river is winding, feeds mainly rainwater. From December to May, the time of the sibling begins when she comes out of his shores, forming a lot and swamps.

Zhapur serves many local residents as a means of movement. They float on it on canoe, transport goods and small loads.

Here you can see unique and reptiles: pirands, turtles, extraordinary electric eels, as well as huge soms, whose weight sometimes reaches up to 91 kg and they grow up to 1.8 m, many other amazing animals.

7. Araguay, 2 627 km

This river flows through Brazil, at the end flows into Tokantins. The name translated from Guarani denotes "River-Ara". Ara, as you know, motley feathers. Water in the river Aragaya Also constantly changes its color, becomes muddy, although basically it is reddish-brown.

The banks of rivers are buried in coastal vegetation, which has become an ideal habitat of wild animals. Here you can meet unique species. So here lives river dolphin. Unfortunately, the rainforest on the banks of the river are cut down, and if it is not stopped, after half a century, the river can dry.

6. Tokantins, 2 699 km

Brazil flows river Tokantins. She was a source of drinking water and fish (about 350 species). Here you can meet Amazonian Lamanins and rare Aragian river dolphins, large sea turtles. On the river there are several HPPs used to obtain hydropower.

5. San Francisk, 3 180 km

San Francisk It is 3 along the length of the South America River, proceeds through the territory of Brazil. The river was first discovered in 1500, Pedro Mendoza called her Olenya..

But the river was fixed by another name, invented by the Portuguese Gonzalu Kuelu. His expedition reached the mouth of the river on the day of St. Francis, so it was decided to call it in his honor.

On the shores of this river there are no major cities or industrial enterprises, except for Belo Horizonte, where the manganese and gold deposits are being developed, precious stones are mined.

Local population catches fish or breeds cattle. There are those who serve the Expedition Alloy Expeditions. Tourists enjoy melted on canoe and kayaks on water, which rapidly rushes in the gorges.

4. Madeira - Mamor - Rio Grande - Rio Kane - Roca, 3 239 km

The Madeira River is a major influx of Amazon. Her name translated from Portuguese "Madeira" denotes "Forest or Wood"because The river is surrounded by Amazonian jungle. Her length is 3239 km.

The river is formed due to the merger of the Beni and Mamor rivers. The latter is the main source of Madeira. It feeds on rainwaters. Her length is 2 thousand km. The influx of Mamor is the Rio Grande River, one largest rivers of Bolivia, in the pool of which 35% of the country's population lives. Her length is 1438 km.

total length Madeira - Mamora - Rio Grande - Rio Kane - Rock It is 3239 km, and the water collection pool is 850 thousand.

3. Purus, 3 379 km

This is the right influx of Amazon, the 90% of the basin is located on the territory of Brazil. It is difficult to determine its exact length, because It is considered one of the most winding rivers in the world, but experts agree that it is at least 2960 km.

The water in the river is light, but muddy, there are many nutrients in it. Purrus It is considered one of the deepest Amazon basin, most of it is part of shipping. In the period from December to May it comes out of the shores, overpaying coastal areas. Because of this, about 40 thousand km² of water-swampy land is formed.

2. La Plata - Parana - Rio Grande, 3,998 km

The second along the length of the continent's river - Paranaincluded in the list of major water systems of the world. Title Translated from the Indian Tribe True Tribe Indicates "Similar to the sea"and the Indians Guayaki called her " River misfortune ".

It is formed due to the merger of 2 major rivers, Rio Grandi and Paranaiba. The first river is located in Central Brazil, originates in the Mantikair mountains. Her length is 1230 km.

The Parran River, in turn, merges with the Uruguay River, and forms La Plata. Its length is about 320 km. She has a very wide mouth. This is an important water resource of South America, 70% of products from 5 countries, in the territory of which it proceeds (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia) are obtained thanks to the La River, which increases the water consumption every year.

1. Amazon, 6,992 km

It is considered the largest river in the world. Her length is a discussion question, because It can be measured from different points. If Maranyon is 6400 km, then it is 6,400 km, from Apache - 6992 km, and from Watti - 7100 km. In 2011, it was recognized as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

Most of Amazon Located in Brazil. It was opened by Conquistor Francisco de Oreliano. In 1542, he fought allegedly with the Amazon tribe, the tribe of women who live by themselves, without men. Historians believe that he encountered or with the tribe of the Indians, where women fought and took long-haired men for them.

More than 1 million different animals and plants live on the river around the river, many species of which are not described.

Name	Length in km	Pool area in thousand km
Amazon (from Watti)
Amazon (with Maranon)
Parana (with Rio Grande and Estoarium La Plata)
Madeira (with Mamor)
San Francisk
Zhapur (with a kotea)
Tokantins
Paraguay, river
Rio-Negora
Uruguay, River
Magdalena

Amazon river

The largest river of South America - Amazon. Most of its pool is south of the equator. The area of \u200b\u200bthis most extensive river basin of the world is over 7 million km 2, the length of the river from the main source (Maranyon River) is 6400 km. If, for the origin of the Amazon, take the ukyali and apurimac, then its length reaches 7194 km, which exceeds the length of the Nile. Amazon water consumption is several times the consumption of all the largest rivers of the world. It is equal to an average of 220 thousand m 3 / s (the maximum flow rate may exceed 300 thousand m 3 / s). The average annual camps in the lower current (7000 km 3) is most of the drain of all South America and 15% of the drain of all the land of the Earth!

The main source of Amazon - the Marandon River - begins in the Andes at an altitude of 4840 m. Only after a merger with the first major influx - Ukyali - within the plain the river gets the name Amazon.

Amazon collects its numerous tributaries (more than 500) from the slopes of the Andes, Brazilian and Gwiang Nagrai. Many of them in length exceed 1500 km. The most numerous and large amazon tributaries are the Southern Hemisphere River. The biggest left inflow - Rio-Nehru (2300 km), the biggest right, and the largest, Amazon's influx - Madeira (3200 km).

Part of the tributaries, blurring clay rocks, carry very turbid water ("white" rivers), others, with transparent water - dark from dissolved organic substances ("black" rivers). After putting into the Amazon, Rio-Nehru (black river) light and dark water flowed in parallel, without mixing, for about 20-30 km, which is clearly visible on space images. South America River Waterfall

The width of the Amazon's channel after the merger of Maranyon and Ukyali is 1-2 km, but it increases rapidly downstream. Manaus (1690 km from the mouth) is already reached up to 5 km, in the lower current expands to 20 km, and in the mouth, the width of the main line of Amazon, together with numerous islands during the spill, reaches 80 km. In the western part of the lowland, Amazon flows almost at the level of shores, in fact, without having a formed valley. In the east, the river forms a deeply embedded valley, which represents a sharp contrast with water-seated spaces.

Approximately 350 km from the Atlantic Ocean begins the Amazon Delta. Despite the ancient age, she did not advanced to the ocean beyond the limits of indigenous banks. Although the river makes huge masses of solid material (on average 1 billion tons per year), the process of increasing the delta is hampered by the activities of tides and ties, the effect of currents, as well as the lowering of the coast.

In the lower target of the Amazon, tides and flowing are a large influence on its regime and the formation of the shores. The tidal wave penetrates upwards by more than 1000 km, in the lower reaches of its wall reaches a height of 1.5-5 m. The wave rushes against the flow at a huge speed, causing strong excitement on sandy shallows and banks, destroying the shore. At the local population, this phenomenon is known as Pororok and Amazun.

Amazon is full for the whole year. Twice a year, the water level in the river rises to a significant height. These maxima are associated with rainy periods of the northern and southern hemispheres. The greatest consumption on the Amazon occurs after the rain period in the southern hemisphere (in May), when its right tributaries carry the bulk of water. The river comes out of the shores and, on average, pours a huge territory, creating a kind of giant inner lake. The water level rises by 12-15m, and in the Manaus area, the river width can reach 35 km. Then the period of gradual decrease in water consumption comes, the river enters the shore. The smallest water level in the river - in August and September, then there is a second maximum associated with the period of summer rains of the northern hemisphere. On Amazon, he manifests itself with some intake, in about November. The November maximum is significantly inferior to May. In the lower river the river, the two maxima gradually merge into one.

From the mouth to the city of Manaus Amazon is available for large vessels. Courts with rather deep sediment can penetrate even to Iquitos (Peru). But in the lower flow due to the tides, the abundance of the nanos and the islands shipping is difficult. Deeper and available for ocean vessels South sleeves - a couple having a common mouth with the Tokantins River. It has a large ocean port of Brazil - Belen. But this sleeve of Amazon is now associated with the main channel only in small ducts. Amazon with tributaries is a system of water routes with a total length of up to 25 thousand km. The transport value of the river is great. For a long time, it was the only path that binds the inner parts of the Amazon lowland with the Atlantic coast.

Amazon basin rivers have large water reserves. Many Amazon's tributaries, when leaving the lowland, intersect the steep edges of the Brazilian and Gwiang Nagrain, forming large waterfalls. But these hydroresours are used yet very weak.