The Amazon

At 4,080 miles the Amazon is the largest river system in the world with a drainage area of over two and a half million square miles. Although the Nile in Africa is the world's longest river, for the sheer volume of water the Amazon is certainly and without any doubt, the greatest. More than 1000 tributaries lead into this mighty stream. Some of the 'feeder' rivers are over 1000 miles long.

During the rainy season the Amazon spews 28 billion gallons of water into the Atlantic, the equivalent of twelve Mississippi rivers. This fresh water dilutes the salinity of the sea for more than 100 miles off-shore. Twenty-five per cent of the world's freshwater emanates from the Amazon.

The Amazon starts its amazing journey high in the Andes in Peru less than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Many little streamlets combine to form, first the Ucayali and then the Maranon Rivers. It is also joined by the mighty Urabamba River which flows through the secret valley of the Incas near Cuzco not far from the ruins of Machu Picchu .