where is the amazon

When someone asks, “where is the Amazon,” it’s a question with more than one answer. Most often, they are picturing the vast Amazon Rainforest, a sea of green so immense it creates its own weather. But this incredible ecosystem is defined by the lifeblood that flows through it: the Amazon River. To truly know where the Amazon is, you need to find both the forest and the river.

The Amazon’s Place on the Map

The heart of the Amazon is located in South America. The vast majority of the rainforest, about 60%, is found within Brazil. The remaining portions spread across eight other nations: Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It’s a truly international treasure, covering an area so large it could contain most of the continental United States.

Following the Mighty Amazon River

The Amazon River itself begins its journey in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It then flows eastward across the continent, carving a path through the rainforest before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil’s northeastern coast. For much of its length, the river is so wide you cannot see the opposite shore, and its powerful outflow of fresh water can be seen far out into the sea.

What Makes This Region So Special

Knowing its location is one thing, but grasping its scale is another. The Amazon is often called the “lungs of the planet” because its countless trees produce an enormous amount of the world’s oxygen. It is also home to one in ten of all known species on Earth, from playful pink river dolphins to elusive jaguars and countless insects and birds found nowhere else.

So, the next time you wonder where the Amazon is, picture a massive, green carpet draped across the top of South America, nourished by a winding, powerful river. It’s a place of global importance, a vibrant and vital world all its own.