Amazon+River

** Amazon River ** By Jake Broekhuizen and Matt Lewin                [[image:http://www.mcguiresplace.net/The%20Cradle%20of%20Civilization/1%20amazon%20river.jpg width="316" height="198"]]
**The Amazon River is the world’s largest river in terms of volume. It is located in South America. Most of the Amazon runs through lush rainforest. This provides habitat for native people, plants and animals that are affected by its issues.**


 * The Amazon River starts at Nevado Mismi in the Peruvian Andes and flows downstream through seven countries ending at the Pacific Ocean in Brazil. ** The beginning of the Amazon River starts as a small glacial stream at the snow capped mountain of Nevado Mismi, and runs through Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Guyana. It passes the small towns of Manaus, Iquitos and Santarem. After Santarem it runs out into the Pacific Ocean.


 * The Amazon River runs through a lush rainforest where more than one-third of all species in the world live. ** The Amazon Rainforest, a giant tropical forest and river basin with an area that stretches more than 5.4 square kilometres. The Amazon River has over 3000 species of fish, one of the main is Boto also known as Amazon River dolphin. It is the largest species of river dolphin and can grow up to 2.6 meters long.


 * The historic Amazon River contains a range of mythological and historical events. ** The Amazon River has many myths and historical events. For example the Boto has a legend about itself where it turns into a man and seduces maidens by the riverside. The Amazon River was discovered in 1541 by Francisco De Orellana who was a Spanish explorer. The name ‘Amazon’ comes from a fierce Amazonian tribe who encountered Francisco on his exploration, Francisco called them ‘Amazon’ then named the river after them. And the name stuck to the river.


 * The Amazon River has many uses that are essential to the people who live along it. ** These contain fishing, drinking, recreation and agriculture. Fishing is the main use, because many different species live in the river. More than 1200 people fish there a year.


 * Those who use and rely on the Amazon River are affected by deforestation and waterborne diseases. ** People, plants and animals who rely on the Amazon take full effect of its issues. For example deforestation has a major effect on plants and animals habitat resulting in extinction. Also people who drink from the Amazon are infected with deadly diseases such as typhoid, cholera, yellow fever and malaria.