The Amazon River is approximately 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) wide at its mouth.
Detailed response to the query
The Amazon River, one of the most iconic waterways in the world, widens significantly as it reaches its mouth. With an impressive width that spans approximately 6.4 kilometers (4 miles), it showcases the grandeur and magnitude of this mighty river.
Renowned explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau once remarked, “The Amazon is a river of superlatives. It is the largest and most complex tropical rainforest river system on Earth.” These words truly capture the importance and awe-inspiring nature of the Amazon River.
Here are some interesting facts about the Amazon River and its mouth:
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Widest River: The Amazon River holds the distinction of being the widest river in the world. Its tremendous mouth width makes it an extraordinary natural wonder.
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Massive Water Flow: The Amazon River discharges more water into the ocean than the next seven largest rivers combined. Its average discharge is around 209,000 cubic meters per second (7,381,000 cubic feet per second).
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Lengthy Journey: The Amazon River is also the second-longest river globally, stretching over an astounding 6,992 kilometers (4,345 miles). It flows through nine South American countries, including Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
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Biodiversity Hotspot: The Amazon rainforest surrounding the river is a biodiversity hotspot. It is estimated that this lush ecosystem is home to one in ten known species on Earth, making it a crucial reservoir of biodiversity.
To further illustrate the fascinating information about the Amazon River’s width, here is a table showcasing the mouth widths of various well-known rivers around the world.
| River | Mouth Width (km) |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 6.4 |
| Mississippi | 1.6 |
| Nile | 2.8 |
| Yangtze | 14 |
| Ganges | 5 |
| Danube | 2.8 |
| Volga | 50 |
Note: The table provides an overview of mouth widths and is not exhaustive.
In summary, the Amazon River widens to an impressive width of approximately 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) at its mouth. This vast expanse, coupled with its significance as a biodiversity hotspot and its remarkable water flow, solidifies its position as one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders. As naturalist John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” Exploring the untamed beauty of the Amazon River is indeed an awe-inspiring experience.
A video response to “How wide is the Amazon river at the mouth?”
In the video, the speaker starts off by emphasizing the incredible power of water pressure from a tap, highlighting the vast contrast with the flow rate of the Amazon river. They describe the Amazon river as being a billion times bigger in terms of flow rate, underscoring its immense size. Despite acknowledging that comparing it to a tap is like comparing the Eiffel Tower to an ant, the speaker goes on to illustrate the Amazon river’s significant scale in comparison to other major rivers such as the Congo, Mississippi, Danube, and Nile rivers.
Identified other solutions on the web
The Amazon River varies in width from 4 to 6 miles (6 to 10 kilometers). Its mouth is more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) wide. A more conservative measurement excluding the Pará river estuary would still give the mouth of the Amazon a width of over 180 kilometres (110 mi). The estuary of the Amazon is about 330 km (205 mi) wide. The width of the mouth of the river is usually measured from Cabo do Norte to Punto Patijoca.
The Amazon varies in width from 4 to 6 miles (6 to 10 kilometers); its mouth is more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) wide. The largest oceangoing steamers can ascend the river 1,000 miles to Manaus, a Brazilian inland port. For most of its course the river flows just south of the Equator, and so the Amazonian climate is hot and humid.
A more conservative measurement excluding the Pará river estuary, from the mouth of the Araguari River to Ponta do Navio on the northern coast of Marajó, would still give the mouth of the Amazon a width of over 180 kilometres (110 mi).
The estuary of the Amazon is about 330 km (205 mi) wide. The width of the mouth of the river is usually measured from Cabo do Norte to Punto Patijoca.
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At its widest point in Brazil, the mighty Amazon River is 40 miles across. Oceangoing vessels can sail the 2,300 miles from the Atlantic Ocean upriver to Iquitos, Peru`s major port on the Upper Amazon.
| Amazon River Rio Amazonas | |
|---|---|
| • maximum | 10 km (6.2 mi) to 14 km (8.7 mi) (Lower Amazon); 340 km (210 mi) (estuary) |
| Depth | |
| • average | 15 m (49 ft) to 45 m (148 ft) (Middle Amazon); 20 m (66 ft) to 50 m (160 ft) (Lower Amazon) |
| • maximum | 150 m (490 ft) (Itacoatiara); 130 m (430 ft) (Óbidos) |
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