Amazon River

Amazon River, world's second-longest river (3,900 mi/6,280 km). The Amazon rises in Andean Peru near the Pacific Ocean and flows east through the world's largest equatorial rain forest to the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the world's largest river in volume and drainage area. Its basin drains 40% of South America, and it has hundreds of tributaries. Most of the Amazon is navigable, and oceangoing vessels can travel 2,300 mi (3,700 km) to Iquitos in Peru. Other ports are Belém and Manaus in Brazil. The Amazon is important for commerce in hardwoods and other forest products.

See also: Brazil.