AGSM 105: Amazon River Basin Overview

Which countries are included in the Amazon drainage basin?

What percentage of the South American continent does the Amazon basin cover?

Which statement accurately describes the Amazon River?

What is the primary reason for deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?

What is the estimated weight of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt as of 2023?

How far does the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt extend?

What significant geographic change occurred affecting the flow of the Amazon basin?

Which ecosystem is primarily associated with the Amazon River basin?

Amazon River Basin

Covers approximately 6,300,000 km² (2,400,000 sq mi), accounting for 35.5% of South America.
Located in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and French Guiana.
Dominated by the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest globally at 5.5 million km² (2.1 million sq mi).

Amazon River

Stretches roughly 6,400 km (4,000 mi), making it one of the world's two longest rivers.
Debate exists over whether it is longer than the Nile, with ongoing discussions about its exact length.
Transports the highest water volume of any river system, contributing to 20% of the oceanic water flow.

Environmental Concerns

Deforestation is a significant issue due to increased cattle ranching and soybean cultivation in the region.
The Amazon basin originally flowed westward towards the Pacific Ocean until the Andes mountains redirected it to flow east into the Atlantic.

Political Divisions

Politically segmented into regions such as Peruvian Amazonia, Amazônia Legal of Brazil, the Amazon natural region of Colombia, Amazonas in Venezuela, and portions of Bolivia and Ecuador.

Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt

First documented by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century; re-emerged prominently in 2011.
As of 2023, weighs approximately 5.5 million metric tonnes and spans 5,000 miles (8,000 km) from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.
A metric tonne is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or 2,205 pounds.

Explore the fascinating Amazon River Basin, its vast watershed, and the environmental challenges it faces. This quiz delves into the geographical and ecological significance of this crucial part of South America, which encompasses several countries and a diverse range of habitats. Test your knowledge and learn more about the Amazon's critical role in the Earth's ecosystem.