GracieBigRiver

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The Amazon River



=The Area (Amazonia):= Quick Facts...
 * sometimes called the “Lungs” of the Planet. (20 percent of earths oxygen produced here)
 * River begins in Peru in the Andes (snowmelt) flows to atlantic on east side of Brazil
 * >4000 mi long
 * winds through 9 countries
 * Its drainage basin covers 2,722,000 million square miles (1)
 * Twenty eight billion gallons of water flow into the Atlantic every minute, diluting the salinity of the ocean for more than 100 miles offshore. (1)
 * The Amazon rainforest watershed is home to the world's highest level of biodiversity.
 * At some points, the Amazon River is one mile wide, while at other points it can be thirty-five miles wide.

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=Amazonian Wildlife:=

The Amazon contains the most diverse population of species that can be found anywhere on the planet. There are every kind of microscopic organisms present in the river, from Hydra to Diatoms. Acai berries grow on the banks, algae nourishes the small fish and plankton. Intriguing mammals such as kapybaras tapirs are prey for the Amazonian leopard. In the water, dwarf caiman feast on piranhas, which in turn devour anything they can get their teeth into.





Swimming with Piranha video



. The leopard is the only creature who had a chance of beating an anaconda in a fight. The leopard populations are slowly dwindling as they need wide expanses of forest to hunt. It will not be afraid to jump in the river to catch fish, such as the piranha.



The arowana is also referred to as the monkey fish because of it's jumping ability. It is one of few fish who have both canines and molar teeth. Many types of this fish have been domesticated and kept as pets in large aquariums.

The capybara is the largest rodent. It grazes by the river and is also a detritivore because it eats its own feces.

The Açai berries grow on trees that line the river. They are eaten by the fish, the birds, and the herbivorous animals. Açai berries are known for their high nutritional content and medicinal qualities, which is why they have recently been the face huge diet trends like "Açai Cleanse."

Microscopic Organisms:



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=Our Impact:=

Humans are responsible for the destruction of 1.5 acres of rainforest every second. (4) At this rate, the last of the Amazon could be gone in 40 years, producing dreadful consequences. De-forestation is the cause of the loss of 137 species every day. (4) Key species that become extinct because they lose their habitat or food source will, and have been, upsetting the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Taking out the trees, polluting the water, and hunting certain species of animals are three things that humans consistently do for profit, yet these things will eventually lead to our destruction when we have 20 percent less oxygen, an upset in the balance of the salt water the ocean causing massive floods, and very few animal species left alive. The Amazon River and surrounding area is home to some of the worlds most fascinating insects, mammals, fish, birds, reptiles... who deserve a chance at life.

Humans are these animals only real big threat.

=**Critically** Endangered Species:=
 * Black-faced Lion Tamarin
 * Brazilian Arboreal Mouse
 * Capuchin, Ringtail Monkey
 * Coimbra's Titi
 * **Golden-rumped Lion Tamarin **
 * Northern Bahian Blond Titi
 * Northern Muriqui

 (Read moreread more here__ http://www.animalinfo.org/country/brazil.htm#ixzz0z6U1XjOT __)

=References:=

(1) "Peru Unit 5." //Wilderness Classroom//. Wilderness Classroom, n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2010. .

(2) "Amazon River Animals." //Destination 360//. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2010. <http:/ <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> []>.

<span style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(3) //Ask the Aquarium// <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">. National Aquarium in Baltimore, n.d. Web. 4 Sept. 2010. <http:/http://www.aqua.org/downloads/pdf/ <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> AsktheAquarium_amazonriveranimals2.pdf>.

<span style="line-height: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> (4) <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"Rainforest Facts." //Rainforest//. Raintree Nutrition Inc, n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2010. <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm>.