Amazon Basin Overview Quiz

Amazon Basin Overview

• The Amazon Basin is a vast drainage system encompassing nearly 3 million square miles in South America.
• It's a major river system with the Amazon River, and countless tributaries, flowing through parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and Peru.
• The Amazon Basin is exceptionally biodiverse and lush, but sparsely populated.

Territory & Geography

• The basin spans from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Brazil contains the majority of the basin, politically recognized as the Amazonia Legal, encompassing nine Brazilian states.
• The Peruvian Amazon is a significant portion, including the Amazon River's headwaters.
• Other countries with substantial Amazon Basin territory include Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
• The Basin's remote location contributes to its underpopulation compared to other areas of South America.

History & Exploration

• Spaniard Francisco de Orellana mapped the Amazon River in 1541-1542, naming it after Amazon warriors.
• Early European accounts often downplayed the basin's complexity and dense populations.
• Centuries of European contact with the basin have negatively impacted indigenous populations through disease outbreaks and resource exploitation.
• Demand for resources like rubber and timber has historically fueled European interest in the region.

Political Issues

• Conflicts exist between industrial development (e.g., logging, mining) and environmental protection in the Amazon Basin.
• Illegal resource extraction remains a challenge despite regulations.
• Sparse population and Amerindian dominance cause underrepresentation in South American politics.
• Around 400 recognised Amerindian tribes inhabit the Amazon Basin, each with unique cultures, languages, and varying levels of contact with outside groups.
• Within Brazil, over 100 tribes are considered uncontacted, living in isolation.
• The right of un-contacted peoples to self-determination and self-governance are key issues within Brazilian politics.
• These isolated tribes are protected by entities like the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI).