The Amazon River Basin is the largest in the world, covering over 6 million square kilometers, representing 44% of the terrestrial territory of South America, according to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia.
This ecosystem is crucial for the hydrological balance of the region and generates approximately 70% of the freshwater discharge in Latin America.
Origin and Course of the Amazon River
The Amazon River originates in the Andes, at the Mismi snowfield in Arequipa, Peru, and stretches for nearly 7000 kilometers until it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, according to a document from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) of the Brazilian government.
This river system pours over 6700 cubic kilometers of water into the ocean each year, representing 70% of the freshwater discharge in Latin America and around 20% of the global discharge, according to the Amazon Project: Regional Action on Water Resources, created by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
Sharing the Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is shared among eight countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. These countries have prioritized regional integration through development policies, establishing the Amazon Cooperation Treaty on July 3, 1978, which gave rise to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization.
Touristic Attraction of the Amazon River
According to the Official Tourism Portal of Peru, the Amazon River has become a tourist attraction for its natural beauty, and the basin is recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
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