Mismi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mismi |
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Mismi seen from South-East
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,597 m (18,363 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mismi
Location in Peru
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| Location | Arequipa Region, Peru |
| Parent range | Andes, Ch'ila mountain range |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Mismi is a tall mountain in the Andes mountains of Peru. It is about 5,597 meters (18,363 feet) high. This mountain is special because a small stream of melting ice on its side was found to be the furthest source of the mighty Amazon River.
Scientists first confirmed this in 1996. They confirmed it again in 2001 and 2007. The water from Mismi flows into streams like Carhuasanta. These streams then join the Apurímac River. The Apurímac River eventually connects with other big rivers, like the Ucayali and Marañón, to form the main Amazon River.
Contents
Where is Mismi Located?
Mismi is in the Arequipa Region of Peru. It is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of Lake Titicaca. It is also about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southeast of Lima, the capital city of Peru. Mismi is one of the highest points near the famous Colca Canyon. You can find several glaciers, which are like large, slow-moving rivers of ice, on the top of the mountain.
Finding the Amazon's Source: The Cousteau Expedition
In 1982, a famous explorer named Jean-Michel Cousteau led a huge science trip. This trip was called the "Cousteau Amazon Expedition." It cost a lot of money and resulted in a six-hour TV show. The goal was to explore the Amazon River from its end to its very beginning.
For a long time, no one was sure exactly where the Amazon River started. Many small streams could have been the source. Explorers usually look for the longest stream that feeds into a river system. Before 1982, several places claimed to be the Amazon's origin. However, in 1971, an explorer named Loren McIntyre actually found the true source first. Satellites later confirmed his discovery.
Cousteau's team included twelve experts from different countries. They used special equipment to explore the difficult jungle and mountains. This included a unique Land Rover vehicle for land travel. They also had a float plane for looking from the air. The Peruvian Air Force even helped with a helicopter to reach the high mountains.
The team set up bases in cities like Cuzco and Arequipa. They also had a base high in the Chila mountain range at Caylloma. This helped them search for the Amazon's origin. The mountain team traveled up the Selinque River towards Mismi. At the base of Mismi, Cousteau sent a team of German climbers up the volcano. They found melting ice water flowing into a narrow crack in the ground. This stream flowed for about 50 meters before going underground. It then came out again further down the mountain.
The team realized the water in the crack was deep enough for a small boat. So, they brought a kayaker named Caril Ridley to the spot. In June 1982, Caril Ridley became the first person to kayak the very beginning of the Amazon River. Later trips helped scientists understand even more about the river's many starting points.
National Geographic Society Confirms the Source
In 2001, the National Geographic Society sent its own expedition. They confirmed that the main starting point of the Amazon River is indeed on Mismi. They found that the Qarwasanta stream, which flows into the Apurímac River, begins on the northern side of Mismi. This stream then joins other rivers to form the mighty Amazon.
In 2007, scientists from Brazil also confirmed this. They agreed that the Apurímac River's headwaters are the source of the Amazon. They also pointed to Mismi as the most likely place where the Amazon truly begins.
See also
In Spanish: Mismi para niños
- Carhuasanta, the source of the Amazon
- Cantumayo
- Ripon Falls, considered to be the source of the Nile river
