The Amazon River is the world's largest river and flows through the world's largest rainforest. Its waters and those of its many tributaries support an incredible range of life: river dolphins, thousands of fish species, jaguars, anacondas, and countless other animals. The forest itself is a dense green expanse where rain falls regularly and the air stays warm and humid. People have lived here for thousands of years, and ancient rock carvings along the riverbanks tell stories of their presence. The river passes through several South American countries and connects different landscapes: flooded forests where trees stand in water, broad islands with their own wildlife, and table mountains that rise like giant fortresses from the jungle. Visitors can watch pink river dolphins, hike through thick forest, and boat along the brown waters. Places like Manaus show where different river channels meet and change color. The Mamirauá Reserve protects one of the largest flooded forest areas. In the Pantepui region, table mountains rise steeply, appearing almost otherworldly.
Manaus, Brazil
At this location, the Rio Negro and Solimões River meet and form the Amazon River. The different water densities cause the two rivers to flow side by side without mixing directly. This natural phenomenon displays the power and complexity of the world's largest rainforest system. The site sits in the heart of the Amazon region, where multiple ecosystems converge and countless species live.
Brazil and other South American countries
The Amazon Rainforest is part of the largest rainforest on Earth and extends across several South American countries. This forest is home to an extraordinary diversity of life: river dolphins swim in the waters, while millions of animal and plant species live among the trees. Ancient rock carvings tell the story of people who have lived here for thousands of years. The rainforest connects flooded forests with distinctive table mountains and creates different habitats that vary by region.
Tefé, Brazil
The Mamirauá Reserve is a vast protected area within the Amazon River system, dedicated to scientific research and species conservation in the periodically flooded forests of the region. This reserve demonstrates how the Amazon's ecosystems adapt to seasonal flooding and supports the diverse wildlife that depends on these waters.
Pará, Brazil
Marajó is an island at the mouth of the Amazon River in Pará and represents the diverse ecosystems of Earth's largest rainforest. The island features savannas and mangrove forests where river dolphins and numerous animal species make their home. Archaeological sites of the Marajoara culture document the long history of this region and its ancient inhabitants.
Brazil and Venezuela
The Yanomami Territory is a large area in Brazil and Venezuela that belongs to the Amazon River and its natural areas collection. People here live in hundreds of villages and farm the land using traditional methods. The territory is part of the world's largest rainforest and is home to a diversity of plants and animals.
Amazonas, Colombia
Leticia sits in Colombia's Amazonas region at the meeting point of three countries: Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. This city functions as a trading hub where goods and people flow between nations. It serves as a gateway to the Amazon River and its tributaries, where river dolphins swim and countless species thrive. From here, visitors can explore the surrounding rainforest and discover ancient petroglyphs that tell the story of the people who have lived in this region.
Amazonas, Brazil
The Anavilhanas is a river archipelago within the Amazon basin, comprising roughly 400 islands that form an important part of this region's ecosystem. This island group shelters numerous fish species and aquatic plants thriving in the shallow waters between the islands. The Anavilhanas demonstrates the diversity of river habitats throughout the Amazon system and helps sustain the biodiversity that defines this river and the rainforests surrounding it.
Loreto Region, Peru
Iquitos stands isolated in the rainforest of the Loreto Region and is reachable only by airplane or river transport through the Amazon. This city serves as a key gateway to understanding the largest rainforest on Earth and its varied ecosystems, from flooded forests to table mountains, which house river dolphins and many species.
Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil
This wooden accommodation at Uakari Floating Lodge sits on floating logs in the Mamirauá Reserve and rises and falls with changing water levels. Built to move with the river's rhythm, it offers direct access for observing the rainforest and its creatures. From here, guests can see river dolphins, countless animal species, and the petroglyphs that document the region's past.
Amazon Basin, Venezuela
The Pantepui Region sits within the Amazon Basin and displays flat-topped mountains with vertical walls rising 1000 meters above the surrounding forest. This geological formation is part of the largest rainforest on Earth and is home to rare plant and animal species documented in the collection about the Amazon River and its natural areas. The steep walls and flat summits create distinct habitats in one of South America's most varied ecosystems.
Amazonas, Brazil
Jaú National Park is part of the Amazon's large protected areas and contains extensive river networks that support varied aquatic ecosystems. Many fish species and other water animals live in the waterways and flooded forests here. The park shows the natural history of a region where different ecosystem types meet. Jaú National Park demonstrates the biological diversity that the Amazon River and its tributaries support.
State of Pernambuco, Brazil
The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago lies 354 kilometers off the Brazilian coast and is part of the vast natural areas connected to the Amazon region. This island group hosts coral reefs, dolphins, and sea turtles in its clear waters and contributes to the diversity of South American ecosystems, ranging from flooded forests to table mountains.
