The global importance of Amazonian waters
Water, lots of water, largely makes the Amazon what it is, which is why it must be considered the largest wetland in the world.
Over a course of more than 5,000 km, from the snow-capped Andes to the vast estuary, the mouth of the Amazon in the Atlantic, the Amazon waters take many forms, shaping various types of wetlands that support our planet’s greatest aquatic biodiversity. This biological richness is a foundation for human wellbeing.
The Amazon Waters Alliance conceives the Amazon Basin as a large aquatic ecosystem that depends on its forests to maintain its integrity. In the Basin, there are not only tropical forests important for biodiversity and carbon storage, but also vast water bodies, wetlands and river systems that add a necessary dimension for its proper conservation.