Amazon River

Amazon River
Apurímac, Ene, Tambona, Ucayali, Amazonas, Solimões
Mouth of the Amazon River
Countries	Brazil,  Peru,  Colombia
Region	South America
Tributaries
- left	Marañón, Japurá, Rio Negro
- right	Ucayali, Purus, Madeira, Xingu, Tocantins
City	Iquitos (Peru); Manaus (Brazil) and Belém do Pará (Brazil).
Source	Andes Mountains
- location	Nevado Mismi, Arequipa, Peru
- elevation	5,170 m (16,962 ft)
- coordinates	15°31′5″S 71°45′55″W / 15.51806°S 71.76528°W / -15.51806; -71.76528
Mouth	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	0°10′0″S 49°0′0″W / 0.166667°S 49°W / -0.166667; -49 ^[1]
Length	6,800 km (4,200 mi) approx.
Basin	7,050,000 km² (2,720,000 sq mi) approx.
Discharge	for mouth
- average	209,000 m^3/s (7,381,000 cu ft/s)

The Amazon River (US) or River Amazon (UK) (Portuguese: Rio Amazonas; Spanish: Río Amazonas; pronounced /ˈæməzɒn/ (US); /ˈæməzən/ (UK)) of South America is the largest river in the world with a total discharge greater than the next ten largest rivers combined. The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world, about 7 050 000 square kilometres (2 720 000 sq mi), accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world's total river flow.

In its upper stretches the Amazon river is called Apurímac (in Peru) and Solimões (in Brazil).

The width of the Amazon varies between 1.6 and 10 kilometres (0.99 and 6.2 mi) at low stage, but expands during the wet season to 48 kilometres (30 mi) or more. The river enters the Atlantic Ocean in a broad estuary about 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide. The mouth of the main stem is 80 kilometres (50 mi). 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, in the late 20th and early 21st centuries debate has intensified over the Amazon's true source and therefore its length. Some studies have concluded that the Amazon is longer than the Nile.

Water testing done in 2009 by Amica Ressearch has shown the water level to be at a 7.5, one of the cleanest water sources in the world.

Sentences:

1. A total discharge of the next ten largest rivers combined, is not as …

2. The drainage basin of the river is about ...

3. The estuary of the river is measured ...

4. The Amazon is sometimes called the River Sea because ...

5. There is no reason for crossing the river because river flows through tropical rainforest, ...

6. The current consensus within the geographic community holds the question if ...

Exercise 6. Read the following text “Drainage Area” and find in it opposites to the following words:

1. exactly –

2. marginal –

3. dry –

4. sunny –

5. irresponsible –

6. scanty –

7. sluggishly –

8. fresh –

9. heavier –

10. windless –