Amazon RiverIntroductionThe Amazon River is one of the largest rivers in the world. It is currently officially the second longest river in the world, but there is debate over whether it is longer than the Nile. The approximate distance to the Amazon is 6,280 km, about the same distance as New York and Rome. (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/18722/Amazon-River). The Amazon River and surrounding areas are teeming with wildlife such as jaguars, piranhas and macaws. Its name comes from when the first explorer saw female tribes fighting, which reminded him of the Amazons in Greek mythology. Location The Amazon River is located in the northern part of South America. The mouth of the Amazon is located in the Atlantic Ocean, near Brazil. The Amazon River rises in the Andes and flows through Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil, to the Atlantic Ocean. (See appendix 1).Processes responsible for its formationThe formation of the Amazon began approximately 135 million years ago with movements of the earth's crust. The Amazon basin formed when the South American and Nazca plates collided, creating shock waves forming mountains and a depression or hollowed-out bowl. Over time, it filled with rainwater and this was the beginning of the Amazon River. The mouths of the Amazon are formed from pieces of rock and sediment that slowly accumulate on the river bed when the current slows. (Pollard 1997, p. 10). Changes in Appearance Over Time The appearance of the Amazon River has changed only slightly over time, like other rivers. All rivers change gradually. The Amazon has expanded in places and shrunk in places because of the accumulation of sediment and also because of erosion on hundreds of o...... middle of paper ... ... meeting involving more than 100 world leaders. This led to a significant change in the way Brazilians viewed the development of the Amazon. The future of the Amazon River The future of the Amazon depends on how the world uses it. The human race has the greatest impact on this environment and must recognize its role in protecting the river and surrounding forest. If conserved and maintained, it will continue to be a wonderful physical feature of the earth's landscape. Conclusion The Amazon River is a long and complex river in South America. Combined with the Amazon rainforest, it makes for an important and beautiful physical environment. Although parts of the river are still intact, the modern world has contributed to its development. After research and exploration, it was established that the human race must preserve this characteristic..