Q 01/05

The Amazon is the largest river in the world by which measure?

A) Length

B) Discharge volume

C) Number of bridges

D) Depth at the mouth

Answer · why

B) Discharge volume

Its length is disputed with the Nile, but nothing comes close to its flow of over 200,000 cubic metres per second.

Q 02/05

Into which ocean does the Amazon empty?

A) Atlantic

B) Pacific

C) Southern

D) Indian

Answer · why

A) Atlantic

For millions of years it flowed the other way, toward the Pacific, until the Andes rose and blocked it.

Q 03/05

Which is the largest city on the Amazon?

A) Belém

B) Santarém

C) Manaus

D) Iquitos

Answer · why

C) Manaus

With about 1.9 million people it holds roughly half the population of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

Q 04/05

After meeting, the Rio Negro and Solimões flow side by side without mixing for over how far?

A) 40 km

B) 1 km

C) 500 metres

D) 6 km

Answer · why

D) 6 km

Brazilians call the junction the Meeting of Waters, and it is where the river officially becomes the Amazon in Brazilian usage.

Q 05/05

The Amazon's discharge is greater than that of how many of the next-largest independent rivers combined?

A) Seven

B) Two

C) Twelve

D) Three

Answer · why

A) Seven

It accounts for about 20% of all river water entering the world's oceans.