Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Amazon rainforest is drained by a vast network of rivers, the largest of which is the Amazon River itself. This intricate system includes numerous major tributaries that together create one of the most water-rich regions on the planet.
The second-longest river in the world and the largest by discharge volume, the Amazon flows through Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Guyana, draining an area of approximately 7 million square kilometers.
In Brazil, the upper Amazon is known as the Solimões River. It flows westward from the Andes to Manaus, where it converges with the Rio Negro to form the main stem of the Amazon River.
One of the world's largest tributaries, the Rio Negro flows north from the Guiana Highlands through Venezuela and Brazil. Its dark, tea-colored waters meet the sandy-colored Solimões at Manaus in a striking "meeting of waters" that runs side by side for kilometers.
A major tributary originating in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, the Purus flows westward to join the Amazon near Manaus, meandering through vast floodplain forests.
The Madeira is the Amazon's largest tributary by discharge. It flows from the Bolivian Andes to Porto Velho, Brazil, where it meets the Amazon, contributing massive sediment loads from the Andes.
This clear-water tributary flows south from Mato Grosso to Santarém, where it joins the Amazon. Its transparent waters contrast with the main river's sediment-laden flow.
Another clear-water river from Mato Grosso, the Xingu flows south to Altamira before meeting the Amazon. It is known for its unique biodiversity and indigenous cultures.
Flowing north from the Guiana Highlands in Brazil to Oriximiná, the Trombetas joins the Amazon in the lower basin, draining ancient shield landscapes.
Beyond these major arteries, countless smaller streams and creeks permeate the basin, sustaining the rainforest's unparalleled biodiversity and regulating the global climate.