Which River Is Known As The King Of Rivers?

Rivers are the lifeblood of our planet. There are millions of rivers across the globe, flowing through thousands of river basins that provide water to billions of people. When we talk about the giants, the Nile is often called the world's longest river. On the other hand, the Amazon is the largest by volume and the widest river on Earth. Throughout history, these waters have earned notable titles. The Nile is the "Father of African Rivers", while the Yellow River is known as the "Mother of China". But do you know which river is truly known as the "King of Rivers"? This river is so wide that its mouth is over 200 miles across. It carries more water than the following seven largest rivers combined. In this article, we will take a look at the history, the power, and the incredible facts behind this majestic "King".

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Which River Is Known As The King Of Rivers?

The river known as the "King of Rivers" is the Amazon River. This massive waterway is the world's largest river by water volume. It starts high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, specifically from the headwaters of the Mantaro River. From there, it travels eastward across South America. The river flows primarily through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, but its vast basin also touches parts of Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. After travelling about 4,000 miles, the Amazon finally empties into the Atlantic Ocean. At its mouth, it is so powerful that it dilutes the ocean's saltiness for over 100 miles.

10 Fascinating Facts About the Amazon River

• Millions of years ago, the Amazon actually flowed in the opposite direction, from east to west, until the rising Andes Mountains forced it to reverse course.
• There is a "secret" underground river called the Hamza that flows 4,000 metres beneath the Amazon, following a similar path but moving much more slowly.
• Despite its length, there is no bridge across the entire Amazon River. People must use boats to get across.
• Near the city of Manaus, the dark "Blackwater" of the Rio Negro and the sandy "Whitewater" of the Amazon flow side-by-side for miles without mixing.
• During the rainy season, the river can expand up to 30 miles wide, making it look more like a moving sea than a river.
• The Amazon provides 20% of all the freshwater that enters the Earth's oceans, affecting sea levels even in the Caribbean.
• It is home to the Boto, a unique species of dolphin that turns bright pink as it ages.
• Every year, millions of tonnes of dust travel across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon, providing essential minerals to the soil.
• The river's basin supports the Amazon Rainforest, which is so large it creates its own weather and produces a significant portion of the world's oxygen.
• In some parts, the river is over 100 metres deep, enough to submerge a 30-storey building.

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Why is the Amazon River known as the King of Rivers?

The Amazon River is called the "King of Rivers" because it is the undisputed leader in size, power, and environmental impact. While the Nile is traditionally considered the longest, the Amazon "rules" by every other metric that defines a great river.

Why it Reigns Supreme

• Massive Water Volume: The Amazon carries more water than any other river. In fact, its discharge is greater than the following seven largest rivers combined.
• The "River Sea": It is so wide and deep that it earned the nickname Rio Mar (The River Sea). During the rainy season, it can expand to over 30 miles wide, making the opposite bank disappear from view.
• Global Freshwater Source: The Amazon alone provides about 20% of all the freshwater that flows into the world's oceans. Its flow is so powerful that it creates a "freshwater plume" in the Atlantic Ocean, detectable hundreds of miles from the coast.
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• It sits at the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, the world's most biodiverse place. The river system supports over 3,000 species of fish, more than the entire Atlantic Ocean.

The Power of the King

The river is so dominant that it creates its own weather system. Through a process called evapotranspiration, the trees and water of the Amazon basin release enough moisture to make "flying rivers" in the atmosphere, which provide rain for much of South America. Without this "King", the global climate and water cycle would look vastly different.

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