The Amazon River in South America joins the Atlantic Ocean from Brazil.
It is the second longest river in the world and holds the record for the largest amount of water released into the sea in a single day.
It is the largest body of water in the world. The Amazon River is a vast river of tributaries.
Its length is 6400km or about 4000 miles. The widest point of this river is 28 miles.
This great river originates from a series of small icebergs formed by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers in the Andes Mountains.
There are several theories as to how the Amazon River got its name.
One suggests that the name may have been derived from the fact that a Greek woman named Amazon loved the area.
According to another opinion, it may have come from the American word 'Amazon'. It means 'boat destroyer'. This huge river flows a long way through the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon River is the largest wetland plain in the world, fed by flowing water.
These forested areas, which are prone to heavy rains throughout the year, receive most of their rainfall during the months of January-June.
During this time the speed of the water, the width of the river as well as the mass of the overflowing water increase exponentially.
As a result, the lowlands surrounding the river valley are flooded. The ancients called the Amazon River 'Sea River' because of the great flood that occurs every year and the enormity of the river.
