What Is the Amazon Basin? The World's Largest Rainforest Watershed

The Amazon Basin is the 7.05 million km² (2.72 million mi²) drainage area of the Amazon River and its 1,100+ tributaries—covering ~40% of South America.

Key Facts

• Countries: Brazil (60%), Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana.
• Rainforest: ~5.5M km² of the basin is the Amazon Rainforest—over half the planet’s remaining tropical forest.
• Biodiversity: Estimated 10% of all known species; 40,000+ plants, 2,200+ fishes, 1,300+ birds, 430+ mammals.
• People: 400+ Indigenous groups (many uncontacted); 30+ million total residents.
• Major Cities: Manaus, Belém, Iquitos, Santarém, Porto Velho, Macapá, Leticia.
• Key Rivers: Amazon, Negro, Madeira, Tapajós, Xingu, Purus, Juruá, Ucayali, Huallaga.

Global Significance

Carbon sink (150–200 Gt CO₂), "flying rivers" moisture pump for continental rainfall, climate stabilizer. Threats: deforestation, fires, mining, dams, climate change.

The basin is a planetary life-support system—not just a South American asset.