Amazon River
The Amazon River is a major waterway in South America that flows eastward across the continent and drains a vast rainforest basin.
Also known as: Amazon, Rio Amazonas
How big is it?
6,400 km long
Also 3,977 mi
Approximate main-channel length · approximate
Typical recorded range: 6,200 km to 6,800 km.
A little perspective
About the same scale as Mars.
Mars: Mars is a rocky planet orbiting the Sun, with a reddish surface due to iron oxide.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Amazon River
The Amazon is represented by a rounded 6,400 km main-channel length. Its source and channel conventions are disputed, so published totals differ; the line is not a route map.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Amazon River and rainforest
The marked approximate main-channel length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Mars
Mean-radius spherical model for Mars; actual shape is not perfectly spherical.
NASA JPL — planetary physical parameters
The marked mean diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 6,400 km
For comparison, this page uses approximate main-channel length. This is labelled approximate; the central value is useful for comparison, while real values or measurement solutions can vary. The recorded range is 6,200 km to 6,800 km.
The Amazon is represented by a rounded 6,400 km main-channel length. Its source and channel conventions are disputed, so published totals differ; the line is not a route map.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Amazon River dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,400 km | 6,200 km to 6,800 km | approximate |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · PlacesYenisei5,539 kmThe Yenisei is a major river in Siberia, Russia, flowing northwards from Mongolia to the Arctic Ocean.
Around the same scale · SpaceMars6,779 kmMars is a rocky planet orbiting the Sun, with a reddish surface due to iron oxide.Nearest higher value · PlacesNile6,650 kmThe Nile is a prominent river in northeastern Africa, flowing northward through several countries before reaching the Mediterranean Sea.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Amazon River and rainforestRounded river length and broad rainforest-area context; geographic definitions vary.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
PlacesAmazon rainforest5,500,000 km²The Amazon rainforest is a dense tropical forest in South America, home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life.PlacesNile6,650 kmThe Nile is a prominent river in northeastern Africa, flowing northward through several countries before reaching the Mediterranean Sea.SpaceMars6,779 kmMars is a rocky planet orbiting the Sun, with a reddish surface due to iron oxide.
SpaceGanymede5,262 kmGanymede is a natural satellite of Jupiter and contains a magnetic field generated by its partially liquid core.
SpaceTitan5,150 kmTitan is a natural satellite of Saturn, with a thick nitrogen-rich atmosphere and surface lakes of hydrocarbons.
SpaceMercury4,879 kmMercury is a rocky planet orbiting closest to the Sun in the Solar System.
SpaceCallisto4,821 kmCallisto is a natural satellite of Jupiter, with a heavily cratered icy surface.
SpaceIo3,643 kmIo is a natural satellite of Jupiter, covered with active volcanoes and sulphur deposits.