The Amazon discharges about 209,000 cubic meters of water per second - roughly one-fifth of the world's total river discharge - through 6,400 km of meandering channels. Watch the seasonal flood cycle and the silt plume that extends over 100 km into the Atlantic.
Published figures: length about 6,400 km; discharge about 209,000 m3/s average (about 1/5 of world river discharge); basin area about 7,050,000 km2; seasonal flood inundation up to 40 m above baseline; discharge plume extends 100+ km into the Atlantic; tropical basin supports about 1 in 10 of all known species.
Drag to orbit the meandering channels from the headwaters down toward the Atlantic mouth, and scroll or pinch to zoom in on the silt plume that pushes past 100 km offshore. This Amazon River scene renders entirely on your device with WebGL - the seasonal flood level, the channel meanders, and the discharge plume are drawn locally, and nothing about your visit is sent to a server.
Amazon River 3D Explorer
This browser explorer shows the Amazon River basin in top-down view: a meandering river channel, seasonal floodplain extent, and the silt discharge plume fanning 100+ km into the Atlantic.
The Amazon drains about 7,050,000 km2 across nine countries and discharges about 209,000 m3/s - roughly one-fifth of all river discharge on Earth. During flood season (May-June) the várzea flooded forest inundates by up to 40 m above baseline.
- Toggle between dry and wet seasons to see floodplain extent
- Toggle the discharge plume on/off
- Switch to the Mouth view for real measured terrain at Belem, where the river actually meets the Atlantic
- Read published figures in the panel
- Drag to orbit, scroll or pinch to zoom
- Runs fully in the browser - no account needed
| Figure | Published value |
|---|---|
| River length | about 6,400 km |
| Discharge volume | about 209,000 m3/s (1/5 of world discharge) |
| Basin area | about 7,050,000 km2 |
| Flood inundation | várzea inundates up to 40 m (wet season) |
| Plume extent | freshwater plume extends 100+ km into Atlantic |
| Biodiversity | about 1 in 10 of all known species |
For elevation extremes, see the Dead Sea 3D Explorer or Mount Everest 3D Explorer. Compare with the Nile River 3D Explorer.
This is an educational approximation - the floodplain relief, channel meanders, and plume cone are schematic teaching cues, not survey data. The Mouth view is different: it streams real measured elevation (Mapzen/AWS Open Data terrain tiles, derived from NASA/USGS DEMs) of the Belem / Guajara Bay reach, where the Para/Amazon river system actually widens toward the Atlantic - so that part of the scene is genuine surveyed terrain, not a teaching approximation. The 100+ km discharge plume itself is far larger than this real-terrain window, so it stays a schematic cue in the basin view above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amazon the longest river on Earth?
The Nile is about 6,650 km. The Amazon is about 6,400 km. However, the Amazon discharges far more water - about one-fifth of all river discharge on Earth.
Why is the discharge plume visible from space?
The Amazon discharges 209,000 m3/s carrying tons of silt. The freshwater plume extends 100+ km into the Atlantic, visible via satellite as lighter water from suspended sediment.
What is the várzea?
Várzea is the Amazon's flooded forest. During wet season (May-June), the river rises and inundates by up to 40 m above dry-season baseline - a dramatic seasonal cycle defining the floodplain ecosystem.
How many species live in the Amazon?
The basin supports about 1 in 10 of all known species on Earth - roughly 10% of global biodiversity - across its 7,050,000 km2 area.