Amazon River

by
Sophie Walker

Welcome to the Amazon! My name is Beatriz, and this is my friend Pico the macaw. We are going on an adventure. Did you know the Amazon River is the biggest river in the whole world? It carries more water than any other river on Earth! It is like a giant moving ocean inside a forest.

Did you know the Amazon River is very long? It flows through South America for 6,400 kilometers! That is like traveling from the top of the United States to the bottom and back again. Beatriz and Pico are looking at a map to see how many countries the river touches, like Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.

Look at the banks of the river. Do you see any bridges? Did you know there are no bridges across the Amazon River? In some places, the river gets so wide during the rainy season that you cannot see the other side! People use boats and canoes to move from one side to the other.

Look closely at the water. Did you know that pink dolphins live here? They are not grey like the dolphins in the ocean. They are bright pink! They use their long noses to find fish among the trees when the river floods the forest. They are very friendly and smart.

Be careful! Did you know the Amazon is home to the piranha? These fish have very sharp teeth. Many people think they are scary, but they usually only eat other fish or insects. Pico is staying high in the air because he doesn’t want his toes to become a snack!

Did you know some leaves on the Amazon are big enough for a child to sit on? These are called Giant Water Lilies. Their leaves can grow up to three meters wide! They look like giant green plates floating on the water. They are very strong, but Beatriz is just going to touch one gently.

Look at the water here. It has two colors! Did you know this is called the “Meeting of Waters”? The dark Rio Negro and the sandy Amazon River flow side-by-side for many kilometers without mixing. It looks like a giant cake with chocolate and vanilla layers.

It is starting to rain! Did you know the Amazon Rainforest creates its own rain? The trees breathe out moisture, which turns into big clouds. The river needs the rain to stay full. Pico found a friend to stay dry with under a big leaf.

Look up in the trees! Did you know the Amazon has more types of animals than anywhere else? There are thousands of birds, butterflies, and monkeys. Beatriz found a very slow friend hanging from a branch. It is a sloth! He moves so slowly that green moss grows on his fur.

Our journey is ending, but the Amazon River never stops flowing. Did you know the river provides oxygen and water for the whole planet? It is a very important place. Beatriz and Pico hope you learned something new today. The world is full of wonders if you just keep asking, “Did you know?”