THE AMAZON BASIN
A major part of the Amazon basin lies in Brazil, between the Guiana highland in the north and the Brazilian highland in the south. The first European to discover the Amazon river was a Spanish explorer, Vicente Yanez Pinzon.
Amazon is the most important river in South America. It is the second-longest river in the world (6,280 km) and it discharges the largest volume of water. The Amazon river originates in the Andes mountains and drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
Maranon river, which is the headstream of the Amazon river, rises from the snow-covered Andes mountains in Peru. The Amazon river flows eastwards and on its way it is joined by more than 1,000 known tributaries. The river along with its tributaries forms the largest river basin in the world.
The vast alluvial plain of the Amazon basin has been formed by the sediments brought by the Amazon river and its tributaries. This drainage basin covers half of Brazil and parts of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Climatic Conditions
The Amazon basin experiences an equatorial type of climate. This type of climate is characterized by hot and wet conditions, throughout the year. The temperature is uniformly high. The daytime temperature becomes oppressive and unbearable due to bright sunlight and high relative humidity.
The rainfall is heavy (about 250 cm per year) and it is well-distributed throughout the year, There is no dry season. There is more rainfall in the afternoon than in any other part of the day. It is accompanied by thunder and lightning. Most of the rainfall is of conventional type.
The summer and winter seasons are not well-marked due to high temperatures and well-distributed rainfall throughout the year. There is the little horizontal movement of air. This, when combined with high humidity, produces sultry weather conditions.
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In 1541, a Spanish explorer named Francisco de Orellana set out on a journey down one of the Amazon's tributaries in Ecuador. On the way, he and his men had to fight with some fierce female warriors. Orellana compared these warriors to the Amazons-the legendary female warriors in Greek mythology. That is how the river got its name.
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The hot and humid climate in the Amazon basin helps in the rich growth of natural vegetation. The forests found here are the largest and thickest in the world. These are called the evergreen equatorial forests these forests are also known as selva in South America.
The important trees found in the Amazon basin are ebony, palm, rubber, and cane. These trees provide hardwood timber. Balsa, the lightest wood, is also found in these forests. Balsa wood is widely used to make rafts, toys, models of airplanes, etc. Other products from the forests are rubber, cocoa, nuts, gum, cork, resins, and quinine from the bark of the cinchona tree and wax from the carnauba palm tree.
Trees in the Amazon basin grow very close to each other. Their trunks are almost bare, but the foliage at the top gives the trees an umbrella shape. Creepers and climbers are very common. Nowadays, these forests are being cut down to provide land for farming, plantations, industries, and settlements.
The Amazon basin also has a rich variety of wildlife. There are mammals such as monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, pumas, sloths, anteaters, armadillos, etc. A large variety of birds, such as toucans, hummingbirds, and many with brilliantly colored plumages are found here. Many species of reptiles and snakes also live- in these forests. The anaconda is an almost 10 m-long snake. Giant turtles, alligators, and crocodiles are found in the marshy regions. There are also many varieties of insects and fishes. The flesh-eating fish piranha is found in the Amazon river and its tributaries.
People and their Economic Activities
The forested areas are inhabited by different tribes. They have a primitive way of life. They obtain food by hunting, gathering, and fishing. The 'slash and burn' method has cleared some forested areas to prepare land for farming. Shifting agriculture is widely practiced by the tribes.
The more advanced tribes live in small villages. They build their huts on stilts to protect themselves from the floodwaters. They clear patches of the forests, where women grow pineapples, bananas, yams, and manioc. The tribes are fond of turtles' eggs as well as the flesh of turtles and monkeys.
Rubber trees are scattered in the forests. The seringueiros collect latex from the rubber trees and convert it into usable rubber cakes. The main cash crops produced are coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, and maize. In some areas, the Europeans have developed plantations.
The settlements are small and scattered. Wood from the forests is widely used to make houses. Some families live in thatched huts which are shaped like beehives. The large apartment-like houses have steep slanting roofs. These are called Maloca.
The life of the people is slowly changing due to contact with the Europeans. A few small towns have developed along the river banks. The tribal people are migrating to these towns in search of work.
Manaus, which was developed as a rubber collecting center along the Amazon river, is now a popular port for ocean liners. With its red-roofed houses, Belem is now surrounded by groves of banana and palm trees. Today, Belem is called the 'Port of the Amazon river
In the past, the Amazon river was the only waterway to link the forested areas with other places. In the last 50 years, several roads have been developed to connect the scattered settlements. The Trans-Amazon highway is the most important road link. It has made all parts of the forested region accessible
In recent years, there has been massive deforestation in the Amazon basin. The ecological balance has been disturbed. In many parts, the evergreen forests have turned into a barren landscape
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