The Amazing Amazon
The Amazon River is the largest river in the world and
is located in South America. At its mouth, it is more than
150 miles wide, which is about the distance between
Manila and Baguio. In certain parts of the river, it reaches
a width of nearly 300 miles, or a distance equivalent to
that between Manila and Ilocos Norte.
It has 1,100 known tributaries. Its source is only 80
miles from the Pacific Ocean, and its mouth drains into the
Atlantic Ocean. It has a navigable distance of more than
2400 miles. In no section of the Amazon could a bridge be
built across its great width.
All along the Amazon are dangerous denizens of the
waters. Alligators by the thousands are found on both
banks of the river and in the hundreds of islets dotting he
river. The deadly piranhas which can devour a man in a
matter of minutes ma be found, too, around its extensive
area. Although the water is fresh, saltwater monsters like
sharks, sawfish, swordfish, and porpoises may be found.
The Amazon is a dangerous river but it is also the
scene of indescribable beauty. Eighty- six percent of the
world’s plant and animal life are found in numberless
variety in the area. All varieties of edible nuts abound
here, so with the delicious golden mango, several species
of bananas, and thousands of varieties of orchids and
gourds.
The Amazon basin is the home of birds of all colors
and sizes. In it may be found millions of vari- colored
butterflies from the size of a half- centavo piece to giant
white ones the size of herons, storks, and cranes.
The Amazon region contains ¼ of the world’s forests.
The forest area represents only 1/10 of the Amazon
country. The remaining 90% lies safely above the river and
is suited for agriculture and cattle raising.
The climate is cool and sweet; there is no extreme hot
weather although the region is in the equatorial belt.
The 3, 000, 000 square miles of Amazon country is
very sparsely populated. It has a population of only ½ of
that of the City of Manila and suburbs which has an area
of only about 200 square miles. Don’t you think it offers
great possibilities as home for the world’s crowded
population?