Amazon River

Amazonas Region, Brazil

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The Amazon River, coursing through the heart of the Amazonas region in Brazil, is a colossal force of nature — both in scale and ecological importance.

It is the largest river in the world by volume, discharging more water than the next seven largest rivers combined. Originating in the Andes Mountains of Peru, it winds eastward across South America for over 6,400 kilometers before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near the equator. In Brazil, the river is known as the Rio Amazonas, and it dominates the landscape of the Amazonas state, shaping the region’s culture, economy, and biodiversity.

The river’s basin is home to the Amazon Rainforest, the planet’s largest tropical rainforest and a vital carbon sink that supports over a million species of plants and animals. Its waters are teeming with life — from pink river dolphins and piranhas to giant river otters and electric eels. The Amazon is also a lifeline for countless communities, including Indigenous peoples who have lived sustainably along its banks for millennia.