Amazon River

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/amazon-river

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is the Amazon River?Approximately 7,000,000 km2 (2,700,000 sq mi)
2. What is the Amazon River known for?Represents 20% of the global riverine discharge into oceans
3. What is the mouth?Atlantic Ocean
4. What is the average discharge?Approximately 209,000–230,000 m3/s (7,380,000–8,120,000 cu ft/s)
5. What makes the Amazon River the biggest river in the world?It has the largest water flow, sending about 209,000-230,000 cubic meters of water every second into the ocean, which is about 20% of all river water that reaches the sea.
6. Where does the Amazon River start?The farthest source is thought to be the headwaters of the Mantaro River in Peru, but some scientists say the Apurímac River on Nevado Mismi is the farthest. These rivers join to form the Ucayali, which then becomes the Amazon.

Discharge Volume: The total amount of water flowing through a river channel per unit of time.
Drainage Basin: The entire geographical area that drains water into a specific river or river system.
Tributary: A stream or river that flows into a larger river, contributing to its overall volume.
Headwaters: The source or origin of a river, typically in mountainous or high-lying areas.