Rivers of South America. Inland waters south america south america rivers really
A developed network of inland waters has formed on the mainland. The rivers of the mainland are mainly rain feed type . Streams that feed the largest rivers of the plains originate from mountain snows and glaciers.
The territory of the mainland is divided by the features of the relief into two main sewage basins. Atlantic Ocean basin occupies the entire flat part of the continent with the largest rivers. To Pacific Ocean belong to relatively short rivers flowing down from the western slopes of the Andes.
In the area of \u200b\u200bthe inner plateaus of the Andes, there are basins of insignificant size. internal runoff . There are few glaciers in the mountains. Despite the fact that the Andes mountains are high and reach the snow line, there is little rainfall due to the dry climate of the Pacific coast (influence of the cold Peruvian current).
The first explorers of the rivers and lakes of the mainland were the Spanish conquerors, who used the rivers as transport arteries.
Rivers of South America
The most famous and largest rivers of the mainland are Amazon, Parana, Orinoco .
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Remark 1
Amazon - not only the main water artery of South America, but also the most full-flowing river in the world.
Amazon Basin is more than $7$ million $km²$. The Amazon itself originates from the confluence of the rivers Maranion and Ucayali and flows from west to east, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The total length of the channel, taking into account the river. Maranyon as the main tributary, is $6400$ km. The Amazon Valley is a flat plain with a very slight slope. On its way, the river receives more than $500$ inflow. Since the maximum precipitation in the northern hemisphere occurs in April-October, and in the southern - in October-April, the Amazon receives a large amount of water all year round. That's why she bears the title the deepest river in the world . The maximum water level falls on March-April (there are more right inflows). During this period, the water level rises by $10–15$ m. Rivers overflow their banks, spilling over the entire valley.
In the middle reaches, the width of the river is $5$ km, and in the lower reaches it exceeds $20$ km. During ocean tide, a wave up to $4 m high moves upstream for many kilometers. The locals call this wave "pororoco". In the delta and lower reaches of the river, there are many islands formed by river sediments. The origin of the name of the river is explained in different ways:
- In local language "amazunu" means noisy, rushing water .
- But a more common version says that the river was named after warlike women from ancient legends - Amazons . The reason is that the first explorers of the river were attacked by warlike tribes of Indians, among whom there were many women.
Orinoco river originates from Guiana Plateau and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In the middle reaches, a branch separates from the Orinoco River and carries water to the Amazon. Such a phenomenon is called bifurcation . The mouth of the river, like that of the Amazon, has a vast delta.
On one of the tributaries of the Orinoco is Angel Falls
. Its height is $1054$ m.
This is the highest waterfall in the world.
Parana river originates from brazilian plateau . It is the second largest river in South America. On its tributary Iguazu the most picturesque waterfall of the same name is located. Parana and Orinoco are characterized by seasonal fluctuations in water levels.
The waters of the rivers are inhabited by rare animals (fish, reptiles). Unique natural complexes have formed on the banks of rivers and lakes.
mainland lakes
There are few lakes in South America. The largest lake in the Central Andes Titicaca . It lies in a deep depression, at an altitude of $3812$ m.
Among large lakes, this is the highest mountain lake in the world.
The largest water surface area is Lagoon Maracaibo . It is located in the northern part of the mainland and occupies a deep-sea basin of tectonic origin. The water in the lake is fresh. But during high tides, the salty water of the Caribbean Sea enters here.
Environmental problems
The rivers of South America play an important role in human economic activity. These are transport arteries (often the only ones in that part of the mainland), and a source of energy, and habitat for commercial fish species.
But the exploitation of natural resources requires a balanced approach. Because, violating the natural balance, a person can destroy the unique natural complexes of rivers and forests located along these rivers.
South America is the wettest continent on the planet, as this is facilitated by the abundance of precipitation and rich water resources. There are more than 20 major rivers on the mainland, among which the majestic Amazon, one of the largest rivers in the world, certainly occupies the palm. The rivers of South America stretch across all countries of the continent, saturating them with valuable moisture.
Amazon
The Amazon belongs to the three largest rivers of the Earth, including the Nile and the Yangtze. With all its numerous tributaries, the Amazon carries about ¼ of the world's river water reserves.
The dimensions of the largest river in South America are impressive:
- the length reaches almost 7 thousand km;
- width - up to 50 km;
- depth - up to 100 m.
During the rainy season, which begins in March and ends in May, the Amazon overflows its banks. During this period, the water level in the river rises to 20 m or more. As a result, large areas of land are flooded. And so it goes on year after year.
Rice. 1. Amazon Delta
The longest river of the continent crosses the territories of nine countries, and plays a big role in transport communication. This is due to the fact that one of the most developed sectors of the economy throughout South America is river navigation.
The Amazon rightfully ranks first in the diversity of flora and fauna - there is no such rich nature in the whole world as in the Amazon Delta. That is why the river annually attracts scientists, researchers and ordinary tourists from all over the world who want to admire its natural beauties.
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Rice. 2. Fauna and flora of the Amazon
Paraná
In second place in the list of the largest rivers in South America is the Parana. It flows through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. This is a very picturesque river with numerous tributaries and waterfalls. Their formation is associated with the structural features of the river bottom, as well as its full flow.
The real pride of the entire continent is the complex of Iguazu Falls, located in the national parks of Brazil and Argentina. The complex has the shape of a crescent and consists of many large and small waterfalls, the number of which can reach 275, depending on the pressure of the water and the season.
Rice. 3. Iguazu Falls
On the map of rivers and lakes of South America, such large rivers as the Orinoco, Paraguay, Madeira, Tocantis, Araguaia, and Uruguay occupy a special place. Each of them has unique characteristics and features, but all of them are united by great importance in the economic sphere of the entire continent. In addition, the rivers of South America are home to a large number of fish, amphibians, aquatic animals and birds, and plants. They take an active part in the water cycle on the mainland, providing it with a sufficient level of moisture.
June 4, 2015The continent of South America is the richest in terms of water resources. Of course, there is not a single sea on the mainland, but the rivers of South America are very full-flowing and so wide that in a weak current they resemble huge lakes. According to statistics, there are about 20 large rivers here. Since the continent is washed by the waters of two oceans, the rivers also belong to the basins of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. At the same time, the Andes mountain range is a natural watershed between them.
The largest river on the mainland of South America. The Amazon is one of the greatest rivers on the planet
From the school geography course, we all know that one of the largest rivers not only on the South American continent, but also in the world is the Amazon. It, together with its many tributaries, carries a quarter of the world's river water. The Amazon flows immediately through the territories of nine countries and is an important water artery for them, especially in terms of transport links. River navigation is one of the most developed sectors of the economy on the entire continent of South America. The Amazon River in some parts reaches 50 km in width (well, why not the sea?), And its depth in some areas is as much as 100 meters. It is not surprising that in terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, the Amazon also holds the palm. More than 2,000 species of fish live in its waters, including piranha, eel, stingray, etc. In fact, there is no such rich nature on the entire globe as on the mainland of South America. The Amazon and its tributaries annually attract tourists from all over the world. There are many scientists among them (entomologists, ornithologists, zoologists, etc.)
Paraná
Like the rest of the largest rivers in South America, the Parana passes through the territory of several countries: Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. It got its name from the Indian tribes living on its shores. "Parana" is translated from Indian as "big". This river has many tributaries. Some of them have beautiful waterfalls. Their formation is associated with the relief of the basin of these rivers, as well as their full flow, which is explained by the fact that they receive food from many small channels and streams. They carry their water streams resulting from the huge amount of precipitation. That is why almost all the full-flowing rivers of South America form waterfalls. Parana has four of them, with the most famous of them being Iguazu. But on the tributary of the La Plata is one of the most beautiful cities in South America - the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo.
Orinoco
In the list of “Largest rivers in South America”, the Orinoco takes third place. It flows through the territories of two South African countries, namely Venezuela and Colombia. This river differs not so much in width as in length, being one of the longest on the continent. The Orinoco coast is a favorite place for tourists from various countries. Here you can see beautiful natural landscapes.
Paraguay
Several geographic features can be found under this name in South America. Translated from the Indian, this word means "horned." Paraguay flows through the territories of two large countries - Brazil and Paraguay, and in some areas it represents a natural border between these states. And in other areas, it is a watershed between two parts of Paraguay - South, undeveloped, and North, where more than 90 percent of the country's total population lives. By the way, some rivers of South America also serve as natural boundaries separating the territories of two or even three neighboring countries.
Madeira
This river is also one of the largest. It is formed as a result of the confluence of many small rivers. Its name is Portuguese and means "forest". Isn't that a strange name for a river? However, the fact is that the bark of trees growing on the banks constantly floats along it. This river was first described at the beginning of the 18th century by the Portuguese Francisco de Melo Palleta. It was he who named her Madeira. Later, it was already well studied by Landrad Gibbon, a lieutenant in the US Navy. By the way, this river serves as the border between Brazil and Bolivia.
Tocantins
As noted above, the largest rivers in South America flow through several states at once. But the basin of this river is completely located on the territory of one country - Brazil. It is the central water artery of this state. The inhabitants of the states of Goias, Maranhao, Tocantins and Para use the water of this particular river. Its name translates as "toucan's beak".
Araguaia
Araguaia is a tributary of the Tocantins and also claims to be one of the largest Brazilian rivers. Depending on the season, it can be both calm and stormy. In the area of Bananal Island, Araguaia forms two branches and smoothly bends around it.
Uruguay
Uruguay merges with the Parana, and these two rather large rivers of South America form the bay-estuary of La Plata, the maximum width of which is 48 km. It stretches to the Atlantic coast for 290 km and has a funnel-shaped depression. When it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the river forms many waterfalls. Its power is also used in energy.
Pair
“Big River” is what the local Indians call it. It is a right tributary of the Amazon. As already mentioned, the entire basin of the most powerful river is distinguished by a large variety of flora and fauna and is of considerable interest to biologists, zoologists, etc. The same can be said about the Para river.
Rio Negro
And the name of this river is translated as “black”. It originates in Colombia, but flows mainly through Brazil. In its upper reaches, it is very stormy and swift, but when it descends to the Amazonian lowland, it becomes a real "quiet". Its main tributary is the Rio Branco.
Iguazu
This river was named in this way because of its full flow. After all, from the Indian its name is translated as “big water”. This river forms a whole cascade of waterfalls, and such a beautiful sight is simply breathtaking. The banks of this magnificent river are considered reserved and are included in the territory of the National Park of Argentina and Brazil.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you have learned which rivers in South America are the largest and deepest. There are many such rivers on the mainland, but the largest are the legendary Amazon, named after the Greek warriors, as well as the Parana and Orinoco.
The most famous and significant rivers of the region are the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana.
The Amazon is the main waterway of South America. It is also the first river on the planet that contains the largest volume of water. This is the most full-flowing river.
The area of the Amazon is more than 7 million square meters. km. Its source is located at the confluence of the Ucayali and Maranyon rivers. This reservoir flows from west to east and ends its journey, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The Maranion River is the main tributary of the Amazon. The total length of these two rivers is 6400 km. The Amazon flows through the plain, which has a slight slope. More than 500 tributaries flow into it along the entire path of its movement. In the northern hemisphere, the abundant period of precipitation occurs in April-October, and in the southern hemisphere - in October-April. The Amazon is replenished with water throughout the year. Therefore, it is the most full-flowing river on the planet. The largest amount of water in the river can be found in March-April. Its right tributaries bring large volumes of water. At this time, its level increases by 10-15 meters. Reservoirs are not kept in their banks, and flood the entire valley. The Amazon crosses half of Brazil, spreading to neighboring states. This river and its tributaries contain 20% of the fresh water of the entire planet.
The width of the river is 5 km - in the middle reaches, 20 km - in its lower reaches. This is where the ocean tides come in. At this time, a wave up to 4 m high can be observed on the river, which moves upstream for a long distance. This wave is called "pororoco". That's what the locals call it. Along the course of the river (in its delta) and in the lower reaches there are many islands. They were formed due to river sediments. There are several explanations for the origin of the name of the river:
- In the local language, "amazunu" is noisy, thundering water.
- But more true and common is the assumption that the river is named after the warlike Amazon women who attacked the Indian tribes. Ancient legends tell about these events.
The Orinoco River begins on the Guiana Plateau and ends its journey when it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is 2.74 thousand km. It is located in the subequatorial zone. In the region of the middle course of the river, a wide water branch departs from it, which carries its waters to the Amazon. This phenomenon is called bifurcation. Both the Orinoco and the Amazon have a wide delta at their mouths. In its lower reaches, the Orinoco is divided into many small rivers. During the flood, its width reaches more than 22 km, and the depth is 100 m. The water flow is replenished due to heavy rains. The river is navigable. Orinoco is called the "paradise river" - for its unique beauty and magnificence of local landscapes.
One of the tributaries of the Orinoco River became famous for the highest waterfall in the world. It's called Angel. Its height is 1054 m.
The Parana River begins in the Brazilian Plateau. She is the second great river of South America. It is located in the southeastern part of the mainland. The Parana River links the three countries and serves as the natural state border of Brazil. The Iguazu Stream is a tributary of the Parana River. It is on it that there is a rather picturesque waterfall with the same name. In different seasons, both on the Orinoco and on the Parana, one can observe changes in the water level.
Rare animals live in local rivers - reptiles and fish. On the shores of lakes and rivers, you can see unique natural biocenoses.
Lakes of South America
There are few lakes on this continent. The largest lake is Titicaca. It can be found in the Central Andes at an altitude of 3812 m, it is located in a deep depression. There is a large area and the highest mountain lake in the world.
Lake-lagoon Maracaibo can be found in the north of the continent. Its location is a deep depression of ancient origin. The lake is characterized by a large water surface area. The water in it is fresh. But sometimes the tides bring salt water here from the Caribbean.
Environmental problems
The rivers of South America are actively involved in human economic activity. They are a source of energy, transport routes for moving goods, and a habitat for fish species.
But natural resources should be exploited rationally. The main thing is not to disturb the natural balance, not to harm the unique natural complexes of rivers and forests that are located next to the rivers.
It is the richest in terms of water resources. Of course, there is not a single sea on the mainland, but the rivers of South America are very full-flowing and so wide that in a weak current they resemble huge lakes. According to statistics, there are about 20 large rivers here. Since the continent is washed by the waters of two oceans, the rivers also belong to the basins of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. At the same time, the Andes mountain range is a natural watershed between them.
The largest river on the mainland of South America. The Amazon is one of the greatest rivers on the planet
From the school geography course, we all know that one of the largest rivers not only on the South American continent, but also in the world is the Amazon. It, together with its many tributaries, carries a quarter of the world's river water. The Amazon flows immediately through the territories of nine countries and is an important water artery for them, especially in terms of transport links. River navigation is one of the most developed on the entire continent of South America. The Amazon River in some parts reaches 50 km in width (well, why not the sea?), And its depth in some areas is as much as 100 meters. It is not surprising that in relation to the diversity of flora and also belongs to the palm. More than 2,000 species of fish live in its waters, including piranha, eel, stingray, etc. In fact, everything does not have such a rich nature as on the mainland of South America. The Amazon and its tributaries annually attract tourists from all over the world. There are many scientists among them (entomologists, ornithologists, zoologists, etc.)
Paraná
Like the rest of the largest rivers in South America, the Parana passes through the territory of several countries: Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. It got its name from the Indian tribes living on its shores. "Parana" is translated from Indian as "big". This river has many tributaries. Some of them have beautiful waterfalls. Their formation is associated with the relief of the basin of these rivers, as well as their full flow, which is explained by the fact that they receive food from many small channels and streams. They carry their water streams resulting from the huge amount of precipitation. That is why almost all the full-flowing rivers of South America form waterfalls. Parana has four of them, with the most famous of them being Iguazu. But on the tributary of the La Plata is one of the most beautiful cities in South America - the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo.
Orinoco
In the list of “Largest rivers in South America”, the Orinoco takes third place. It flows through the territories of two South American countries, namely Venezuela and Colombia. This river differs not so much in width as in length, being one of the longest on the continent. The Orinoco coast is a favorite place for tourists from various countries. Here you can see beautiful natural landscapes.
Paraguay
Several geographic features can be found under this name in South America. Translated from the Indian, this word means "horned." Paraguay flows through the territories of two large countries - Brazil and Paraguay, and in some areas it represents a natural border between these states. And in other areas, it is a watershed between two parts of Paraguay - South, undeveloped, and North, where more than 90 percent of the country's total population lives. By the way, some rivers of South America also serve as natural boundaries separating the territories of two or even three neighboring countries.
Madeira
This river is also one of the largest. It is formed as a result of the confluence of many small rivers. Its name is Portuguese and means "forest". Isn't that a strange name for a river? However, the fact is that it constantly floats growing on the banks. This river was first described at the beginning of the 18th century by the Portuguese Francisco de Melo Palleta. It was he who named her Madeira. Later, it was already well studied by Landrad Gibbon, a lieutenant in the US Navy. By the way, this river serves as the border between Brazil and Bolivia.
Tocantins
As noted above, the largest rivers in South America flow through several states at once. But the basin of this river is completely located on the territory of one country - Brazil. It is the central water artery of this state. The inhabitants of the states of Goias, Maranhao, Tocantins and Para use the water of this particular river. Its name translates as "toucan's beak".
Araguaia
Araguaia is a tributary of the Tocantins and also claims to be one of the largest Brazilian rivers. Depending on the season, it can be both calm and stormy. In the area of Bananal Island, Araguaia forms two branches and smoothly bends around it.
Uruguay
Uruguay merges with the Parana, and these two rather large rivers of South America form the bay-estuary of La Plata, the maximum width of which is 48 km. It stretches to the Atlantic coast for 290 km and has a funnel-shaped depression. When it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the river forms many waterfalls. Its power is also used in energy.
Pair
“Big River” is what the local Indians call it. It is a right tributary of the Amazon. As already mentioned, the entire basin of the most powerful river is distinguished by a large variety of flora and fauna and is of considerable interest to biologists, zoologists, etc. The same can be said about the Para river.
Rio Negro
And the name of this river is translated as “black”. It originates in Colombia, but flows mainly through Brazil. In its upper reaches, it is very stormy and swift, but when it descends, it becomes a real "quiet". Its main tributary is the Rio Branco.
Iguazu
This river was named in this way because of its full flow. After all, from the Indian its name is translated as “big water”. This river forms a whole cascade of waterfalls, and such a beautiful sight is simply breathtaking. The banks of this magnificent river are considered reserved and are included in the territory of the National Park of Argentina and Brazil.
Conclusion
After reading this article, you have learned which rivers in South America are the largest and deepest. There are many such rivers on the mainland, but the largest are the legendary Amazon, named after the Greek warriors, as well as the Parana and Orinoco.