News tagged with amazon river

Internet takes 'distance-learning' into the Amazon

The Internet is letting a school sprout in the Amazon where teachers tend not to linger due to harsh living conditions and a scarcity of students.

Technology / Internet

created Aug 20, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 1

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon up 15%

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon increased by 15 percent during the past 12 months, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Aug 18, 2011 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 4

Amazon deforestation on the rise again in Brazil

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon accelerated in June, with more than 300 square kilometers destroyed, a 17 percent increase over the previous month, government researchers said Tuesday.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Aug 03, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 12

Study shows best places to protect marine mammals

(AP) -- From sea otters to blue whales, marine mammals are under stress from climate change, ocean acidification, hunting and other threats. Researchers have identified 20 important sites around the world ...

Biology / Ecology

created Aug 01, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 1

Amazon deforestation increases six-fold

A sharp increase in forest destruction in March and April in the Amazon has led Brazil to announce the creation of an emergency task force to fight against deforestation.

Space & Earth / Environment

created May 19, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 5

Overfished Amazon fish disperse seeds long distances

(PhysOrg.com) -- The gamitana fish, a close relative of the flesh-eating piranha, mostly eats fruit and can carry seeds down the Amazon River as far as 3 miles (5 kilometers), reports a new Cornell study, ...

Biology / Ecology

created Apr 19, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Huge ocean 'Frisbees' spin off Brazil's coast

As the North Brazil Current (NBC) moves northward along the northeastern coast of Brazil, it draws water from the South Equatorial Current and the freshwater outflow from the Amazon River, providing a source for warm, nutrient-rich ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 21, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Jaguar-like species of catfish discovered in the Amazon

A series of expeditions to explore the unknown biodiversity of the forests of the northern margin of the Amazon River in Brazil yielded a new species of catfish, researchers from Brazil announced today. Published ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Mar 02, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

The Amazon: from wetland to river

(PhysOrg.com) -- How do you turn a mega wetland into the world's largest river? By continental tilting, suggests an international team led by a University of Sydney group.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Nov 22, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Brazil unveils fresh aid for Amazon drought

Brazil's government announced new aid of 13.5 million dollars for northern regions hit by the worst drought in decades which has stymied navigation on the Amazon River and tributaries.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Oct 22, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Drought shrinks Amazon River to lowest level in 47 years

A severe drought parching northern Brazil this year has shrunk the mighty Amazon River -- the world's longest river -- to its lowest level in 47 years, officials said Wednesday.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Sep 15, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Water mission reveals insight into Amazon plume

(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's SMOS water mission has taken another step forward by demonstrating that it will lead to a better understanding of ocean circulation. Using preliminary data, scientists can clearly see ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Sep 03, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Amazon at lowest level in over 40 years in Peru: experts

The Amazon, the world's biggest river, is at its lowest level in over 40 years near its source in northeastern Peru, causing havoc in a region where it is used as the only form of travel, authorities said.

Space & Earth / Environment

created Sep 02, 2010 | popularity 3.3 / 5 (3) | comments 0

First satellite measurement of water volume in Amazon floodplain

For the first time, scientists have been able to measure the amount of water that rises and falls annually in the Amazon River floodplain.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Aug 05, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Mediterranean Sea filled in less than two years: study

The Mediterranean Sea was mostly filled in less than two years in a dramatic flood around 5.33 million years ago in which water poured in from the Atlantic, according to a study published Wednesday.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Dec 09, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (23) | comments 2

Amazon River

The Amazon River (Portuguese: Rio Amazonas; Spanish: Río Amazonas; pronounced /ˈæməzɒn/ (US); pronounced /ˈæməzən/ (UK)) of South America is the largest river in the world by volume, with a total river flow greater than the next eight largest rivers combined. The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world, accounts for approximately one fifth of the world's total river flow. During the wet season parts of the Amazon exceed 120 miles (190 km) in width. Because of its vast dimensions, it is sometimes called The River Sea. At no point is the Amazon crossed by bridges. This is not because of its huge dimensions; in fact, for most of its length, the Amazon's width is well within the capability of modern engineers to bridge. However, the bulk of the river flows through tropical rainforest, where there are few roads and even fewer cities, so there is no need for crossings.

While the Amazon is the largest river in the world by most measures, the current consensus within the geographic community holds that the Amazon is the second longest river, just slightly shorter than the Nile. However, some scientists, particularly from Brazil and Peru, dispute this (see section below).

For more information about Amazon River, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.