Where is the source of the Amazon River?
Quick Answer
The Amazon’s headwaters are in the Andes of Peru, with source claims linked to the Nevado Mismi area. The river system begins high in the mountains before flowing east across South America.
The Full Story
The source of the Amazon River system is in the Andes of Peru, with the Nevado Mismi area often cited in modern mapping and scientific studies. From high elevation in the mountains, the river begins as small streams that merge into larger tributaries before becoming the vast Amazon basin. Determining the exact source has taken many expeditions because the river has multiple headwaters. The Amazon then flows across Peru, Colombia, and Brazil before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Its basin is the largest drainage system on Earth by volume.
Key Facts
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"The Amazon begins as tiny streams high in the Andes."