Amazon Basin

Amazon Basin

The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about 6,300,000 km2, or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

Geography

Most of the basin is covered by the Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia. With a 5,500,000 km2 area of dense tropical forest, this is the largest rainforest in the world.

Biodiversity

The Amazon Basin is home to the richest biodiversity of any place on Earth. It hosts millions of species of insects, plants, birds, and other forms of life, many still unrecorded by science. The diversity of plant species in the Amazon Basin is the highest on Earth.

Climate

The Amazon Basin has a tropical climate, with temperatures that range from 22 to 34 degrees Celsius (72 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit). The region has a wet season and a dry season, with the wet season lasting from November to June.

Human Activity

Human activity in the Amazon Basin includes agriculture, logging, and urbanization. This has led to significant deforestation in the region, threatening the biodiversity and climate regulation provided by the Amazon Rainforest.

Conservation

Efforts to conserve the Amazon Basin include the establishment of protected areas and implementation of sustainable practices. However, these efforts face challenges due to economic pressures and lack of enforcement.

See Also

• Amazon Rainforest
• Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest
• Climate of the Amazon Rainforest
• Flora of the Amazon Rainforest
• Fauna of the Amazon Rainforest

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