Your Mission
Six countries share the Amazon River Basin—a watershed of 2.27 million square miles (5.88 million square kilometers). All water that flows within this huge drainage basin—called Amazonia—eventually ends up in the Amazon. Your task is to write an “Amazon Agreement” to ensure the sustainable use of the river.

Living in a River System
By almost every measure, the Amazon is the world’s greatest river. The Amazon and its more than a thousand tributaries make up the largest river system in the world, and drain one-sixth of the Earth’s runoff.

To get a better sense of this huge watershed, compare the size of the Amazon River network with the size of the United States. (Download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.)

The highest ground around a watershed forms its boundaries, like the edge of a bowl. The water that flows down from the high ground, whether as runoff or from streams, rivers, or even groundwater, all eventually drains into the same river, lake, or ocean. All the water that enters a watershed always flows within the watershed. That means that what people put into the water, and how people use the water available to them, is very likely to affect the quality of the water—and its users—both locally and in other areas of the watershed. What people in one area may need for agriculture, drinking water, industry, and recreation may affect the economy of a region in a distant part of the same watershed.

Sharing a River System
With more than a thousand tributaries, the Amazon River Basin encompasses a large part of six countries of South America. More than 282 million people live in those six countries. Water quality and water use in Peru—in the headwaters of the watershed—can affect inhabitants in Brazil, thousands of miles away in the same watershed.

In a team, you’ll examine one of these countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela—to learn how your country is connected to the Amazon, and to the millions of people who share the river’s basin.

To get a feel for the region, hop on a slow boat. For in-depth information, go to Britannica.com, and click on “Article.” (Exploratorium) (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Your team should consider questions such as:

• What part of the Amazon River Basin is in your country? Its headwaters? Tributaries? Floodplain? Mouth? Is your country upstream from other countries? Downstream from other countries?
• How do people and wildlife in your country use the Amazon or its tributaries (transportation, recreation)? How might the river system be used in the future?
• How does your country use the land within the watershed (industry, agriculture, mining, forestry)?
• Do people in your country engage in activities that endanger the quality of the Amazon Basin? Do any conflicts that relate to the river exist between your country and another country?
• What does your country control? What could your country change?
• Why should your country protect the Amazon River?

Agreed—We'll Save the River System
Your country, working in conjunction with the other five countries, will use the information you’ve gathered to draft an “Amazon Agreement.” Try to reach consensus on at least three things that each country will do that will protect, preserve, or restore the Amazon River to ensure its sustainable use, as well as serve the interests of all the countries. When the “Amazon Agreement” has been written, representatives can sign the document.

Take Action—Geography Action!
Where does your fresh water come from? Find out—find your watershed address.

If you’re concerned about the state of rivers in your state, make yourself heard! At EarthNet, you can e-mail your senators or congressman or enter your ZIP code to find local media organizations. (The Center for Environmental Citizenship)

Are you interested in “Saving the Amazon?” See how the World Wildlife Fund is working to support conservation efforts overseas. (World Wildlife Fund)

Whatever you decide to do, tell us about it! Fill out the Geography Action! survey, and learn what other students are doing for rivers!

Mapping activity from Amazon Geoguide. © 1995 National Geographic Society. Mickey Edwards, cartographer.

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Photographs (left to right): Amazon River, Brazil, by George F. Mobley; Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, by Jodi Cobb; Sierra Newt, California, copyright Corbis

© 2001 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.