Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The **Amazon River** does not "belong" to a single country—its **basin (7.05 million km²)** and **mainstem** are **shared by nine South American nations**:
| Country | Basin Share | Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | **~60%** | Mainstem flow, mouth, Manaus, Belém, vast tributaries (Negro, Madeira, Tapajós, Xingu). |
| Peru | ~16% | **Ultimate source** (Apurímac → Ucayali → Amazon); Iquitos (largest city unreachable by road). |
| Bolivia | ~12% | Major tributaries: **Madre de Dios, Beni, Mamoré** (via Madeira). |
| Colombia | ~6% | **Putumayo, Caquetá, Vaupés** tributaries; Leticia (triple border port). |
| Ecuador | ~2% | **Napo, Pastaza** headwaters; Yasuni biodiversity. |
| Venezuela | ~5% | **Casiquiare Canal** (unique Orinoco-Amazon link), **Río Negro** headwaters. |
| Guyana | ~1% | **Rupununi, Essequibo** headwaters (disputed). |
| Suriname | ~1% | **Sipaliwini, Corantijn** headwaters. |
| French Guiana (France) | <1% | **Oyapock, Maroni** border rivers. |
The Amazon is a **transboundary commons**—its health depends on **cooperative management across all nine jurisdictions**.