Known as the "Carotid Artery of the Earth" , the Amazon River is also known as the "Lungs of the Earth" for the Amazon rainforest that nourishes more than 400 indigenous tribes nearby. It is the "mother river" of South America .

As the largest river in Asia, the Yangtze River is the river with the longest length, the largest water volume, and the widest drainage area in China. It has nurtured Chinese civilization and is our "mother river . "

They are all mother rivers. We often hear about people swimming in the Nile and Yangtze River, but rarely see people playing in the Amazon River. Why? What is the difference between the Yangtze River and the Amazon River? Why hasn't there been a bridge across the Amazon River yet?

Compared with the Yangtze River, how powerful is the Amazon River?

Although the Amazon River ranks second among the world's three major rivers, its mystery and terror far exceed that of the Nile River, which ranks first, let alone the Yangtze River, which ranks third.

• Biodiversity is rich and complex:

Most of the movies about pythons eating people and giant crocodiles chasing people take place in the Amazon River Basin, because there is the world's largest virgin forest - the Amazon Rainforest, which can be called the "kingdom of life" and "the gene pool of the earth" . Also known as "Forbidden Land for Humans".

> > The species of flora and fauna here account for 20% of the world's total, including more than 40,000 plants and more than 2.5 million insects. >

Scientists speculate that there may be 75,000 species of trees and 150,000 advanced plants per square kilometer of rainforest , and half of the proven insect species are highly poisonous, as well as giant pythons and various large dangerous creatures.

In contrast, the area around the Yangtze River Basin is more suitable for human habitation. The biological resources mainly include more than 300 kinds of mammals, more than 300 kinds of aquatic organisms and more than 100 kinds of amphibians, most of which are edible.

• The length of the river is long and the water energy reserves are large:

According to official data, the total length of the main stream of the Amazon River is 6,440 kilometers , second only to the Nile River, while the length of the main stream of the Yangtze River is 6,380 kilometers . The difference in water energy reserves between the two rivers is about 10 million kilowatts;

Some scientists believe that if the length of the river is measured according to another standard, the Amazon is the longest river in the world , but no matter which method it is, it is longer than the Yangtze River.

• Large average flow and wide width:

Thanks to the tropical rainforest climate and plain terrain , the Amazon River has a wide channel and a rainfall of more than 2,000 mm. The average flow almost crushes all rivers. It is the largest river in the world .

Scientists compared the flow of the two rivers and found that the average flow of the Amazon River is 7 trillion cubic meters, while the Yangtze River has only 1 trillion cubic meters.

In other words, the average flow of the seven Yangtze Rivers combined can be equal to that of the Amazon River.

Not only that, the average flow of the Amazon River is as high as 219,000 cubic meters per second, which is several times more than the sum of the Nile River, the Yangtze River, and the Mississippi River. The maximum can reach 280,000 cubic meters, turning seawater within 160 kilometers into fresh water , so terrifying.

• Wide drainage area and many tributaries:

The Amazon River starts from the Andes Mountains in the west, and flows Atlantic Ocean , accounting for 20 % of the world's total river flow . There are more than 15,000 tributaries .

In contrast, the basin area of ​​the Yangtze River is much smaller, only 1.8 million square kilometers , about 1/5 of the entire Amazon basin area .

The Amazon River is so rich in water resources, why don't the nearby residents dare to swim in the water no matter how hot it is?

15 million people live nearby, why no one dares to swim in the Amazon River?

Overlooking the Amazon River from a high altitude, the water body is black and yellow, contains a lot of sediment and humus, and has a transparency of about 30 cm, which is extremely gloomy.

Statistics show that there are still about 15 million people living near the Amazon River Basin . Most of these people are indigenous people who know how to survive in such a complex and dangerous environment, but even experienced indigenous people dare not enter the water easily. There are the following reasons.

• The river has a large flow and a fast flow:

The Amazon River has a large flow, with a flow rate of up to 2.22 meters per second , and the current is turbulent. Once a person enters the water, it is likely to be washed away directly;

At the same time, the depth of different river sections is also different. During the flood period, the water level is 10-15 meters higher, and there are many hard stones and dead trees at the bottom, so it is easy to drown or be cut.

• Dangers abound in the water:

Species that can survive in the Amazon River Basin are either poisonous or ferocious beasts . Piranhas and electric eels are just the smallest and most inconspicuous dangers. People who enter them become the bottom of the food chain. Swimming in the water is tantamount to courting death. .

> > For example, the anaconda with a body length of more than 10 meters is the largest anaconda in the world and weighs 500 catties; its speed in the water is so fast that no creature can escape the anaconda's mouth, and it can even strangle the black armor door with brute force Crocodile, then open its mouth to 180° and swallow it raw; >

> > The "top predator", the black caiman, can grow up to 6 meters in length and weigh up to 850 kilograms. It eats anything. At the water's edge, no creature can leave its territory alive. >

In 2016, Brazil reported that a giant python with a body length of 9.75 meters and a weight of about 1 ton was blown up in a rainforest area , which was terrifying.

Unless there is a necessary reason, no one is willing to risk their lives to go into the water. Of course, there are some daring explorers who want to find out for themselves. Ordinary people lack experience, so it is best not to try it lightly.

Why are there no bridges across the Amazon River?

First of all, from the perspective of economic value , although the Amazon River Basin is rich in biodiversity, it is too mysterious and dangerous . Except for the original indigenous people and some scientific research teams, few people have nothing to do to go shopping or enjoy the scenery. Building a bridge can generate The economic benefits are not high.

Secondly, from a technical point of view , humans currently do not have such high technology to build bridges on such wide, complex and dangerous rivers.

The Amazon River has a wide channel and a large average flow rate. Different river sections have different depths, widths, and flow velocities. The water level also varies greatly from year to year. In addition to sedimentation , building a bridge is even more difficult .

> > For example, the water depth difference between the upper and lower reaches of the Amazon River is more than 100 meters, the water level changes by 9 meters, and the width at the mouth of the Amazon River can reach 330 kilometers, and it is trumpet-shaped. bridge. >

Finally, there are too many tributaries and easy diversions .

There are more than 15,000 tributaries of the Amazon River. A large amount of sediment and river water flow in at the same time, and diversions are prone to occur. For a certain period of time, the Amazon River passes through one place, and it may change to another area after a period of time. Even if it is built, the bridge loses its original meaning.

The Amazon River Basin is rich in biodiversity and is a natural "animal and botanical garden" , but these animals and plants are not good, and the locals dare not swim in the water easily;

Perhaps hundreds of years later, when humans have enough technology and conditions to avoid all risks and build bridges, they will be able to travel freely in the Amazon rainforest !