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Distant storm clouds over the Amazon River

Jul 08

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This video clip showing two large rainstorms was taken from Holland America’s MS Prinsendam on 25 November 2006 on the Amazon River while departing from Parintins, Brazil. Afternoon rainstorms such as these are common in the humid, equatorial Amazon basin. Some 20% of all the fresh water on earth flows through the Amazon. The maximum flood discharge at the mouth of the Amazon is 175000 cubic meters (6180000 cubic feet) per second. This is four times that of the Congo and more than ten times the amount of water carried by the Mississippi. A single day’s discharge into the Atlantic is sufficient to supply New York City with a nine-year supply of fresh water. The Amazon’s immense volume of fresh water dilutes the ocean’s saltiness 161 km (100 miles) from shore. More than two-thirds of the Amazon basin is covered by an immense rain forest. In fact, the Amazon rain forest, which represents over one-third of the earth’s remaining rain forest, also constitutes earth’s largest reserve of biological resources. During recent decades deforestation has accelerated due to the development of new highways and airports and the discovery of minerals. The current population of Brazil’s Amazon region is some 17 million, or 3.4 inhabitants per square km. 62% of this population lives in urban areas while only 38% lives in rural areas.

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