How long is the Amazon River, and why is its length disputed?
Quick Answer
The Amazon is about 6,400 km long, but its exact length depends on which source and channel are measured. Different surveys have placed it close to or slightly above the Nile.
The Full Story
The Amazon River is generally described as about 6,400 km long, making it one of the world’s longest rivers. Its exact ranking has long been disputed because river length changes with measurement method, seasonal channels, and the difficulty of identifying the true source. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, different studies alternated between the Amazon and the Nile for first place. The Amazon is also the largest river by discharge, releasing roughly 209,000 cubic meters of water per second on average into the Atlantic.
Key Facts
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"Why the Amazon’s length is still a scientific argument"
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