The Amazon is an amazing river. It is unique
in many ways. It is the second longest river in
the world. It is 6,500 kilometers long. It starts
up in the Andes Mountains. Its drainage basin
(the area of land that collects water) covers 40
percent of South America. The Amazon River
has many small rivers that supply it with water.
It is the widest river in the world. The river
rises more than nine meters during the rainy season.
It overflows its banks. It floods large areas of the
rainforest. During that time, in some parts, it has a
width of up to 40 kilometers. The Amazon River is
over 325 kilometers wide at its mouth. It has more
water than any other river in the world.
The Amazon River is also home to many animals.
Over 2,000 types of fish live in the Amazon
River. One kind of fish is the piranha. The piranha
is a terrifying fish. A piranha grows up to 60
centimeters long. It hunts in a group. A group of
piranha can kill and eat cattle in a matter of minutes.
They are so efficient that only the bones are left.
This fish is one of the most dangerous creatures in
the Amazon River.