亚马逊河 The Amazon

　　For the last century the length of the Amazon and the Nile Rivers have been in a tight battle for title of world's longest river. The exact length of the two rivers varies over time and reputable sources disagree as to their actual length. The Nile River in Africa is reported to be anywhere from at 5，499km/3，437mi to 6，690km/4，180mi long. But there is no question as to which of the two great rivers carry the greater volume of water - the Amazon. 亚马逊河和尼罗河总是在长度上有所争议， 但水容量最大的却一定是亚马逊河。

　　At its widest point the Amazon can be 11km/6.8 mi wide during the dry season. The area covered by the Amazon River and its tributaries more than triples over the course of a year. In an average dry season 110，000 square km of land are water-covered， while in the wet season the flooded area

　　of the Amazon Basin rises to 350，000 square km. When the flood plains and the Amazon River Basin flood during the rainy season the Amazon River can be up to 40km/24.8 mi wide. Where the Amazon opens at its estuary the river is over 325km/202 mi wide！ 在干旱是最大宽度达到11千米

　　Because the Amazon drains the entire Northern half of the South American continent （approx. 40% landmass）， including all the torrential tropical rains that deluge the rainforests， it carries an enormous amount of water. The mouth of the Amazon River， where it meets the sea， is so wide and deep that ocean-going ships have navigated its waters and traveled as far inland as two-thirds the way up the entire length of the river. 水容量之所以大是因为亚马逊河排出了整个南美洲北部（40% 的覆盖率）的全部水源， 甚至包括了热带雨林的雨水。