Purus River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purus River |
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Purus River
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Map of the Amazon Basin with the Purus River highlighted
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| Country | Brazil, Peru |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Amazon River 3°41′35″S 61°28′12″W / 3.69306°S 61.47000°W |
| Length | 2,960 km (1,840 mi) |
The Purus River, also known as Rio Purús, is a large river in South America. It flows into the Amazon River, making it one of the Amazon's many important branches. The area of land that drains into the Purus River is about 63,166 square kilometers. On average, about 8,400 cubic meters of water flow through it every second.
The river is so important that a national park, the Alto Purús National Park, and a province in Peru, the Purús Province, are named after it.
Contents
Where is the Purus River?
The Purus River starts its journey in Peru. It forms part of the border between Peru and Brazil in the state of Acre. Along its path, it flows past the Santa Rosa do Purus National Forest. This forest is a special area created in 2001 to protect nature.
The river then flows northeast through the town of Manoel Urbano. It winds through a thick forest, located between the Madeira River and the Ucayali River. The Ucayali River flows near the base of the Andes mountains.
The River's Path in Brazil
In the Brazilian state of Amazonas, the Purus River flows through the Arapixi Extractive Reserve. This reserve was created in 2006 to help local communities use the land sustainably. The river also passes the town of Boca do Acre.
Further downstream, the Purus River forms the western edge of the Purus National Forest. This forest was established in 1988. From the town of Pauini down to Lábrea, the river is next to the Médio Purus Extractive Reserve. This reserve was created in 2008.
Below Lábrea, the river flows through the Canutama Extractive Reserve. This section is between the towns of Lábrea and Canutama. In its lowest parts, the river goes through the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve. This large reserve, created in 2003, covers much of the river's floodplains. Finally, the Purus River joins the Amazon River, west of the Madeira River.
How Long and Deep is the River?
The Purus River is known for its many curves. If you were to measure it in a straight line, it would be less than half its actual length. This makes it one of the most winding rivers in the world.
Even far from its mouth, about 950 kilometers away, its elevation above sea level is only about 33 meters. For about 1,600 kilometers upstream, its width stays very similar. For about 1,300 kilometers, its depth is never less than 15 meters.
Animals and Plants of the Purus River
The Purus River basin is home to many interesting animals and plants.
Animals Living Near the Purus River
One unique animal found here is the Purus red howler monkey. This type of howler monkey lives in Brazil, Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is known for its loud calls.
Another creature found in the Purus River basin is Peckoltia brevis. This is a type of catfish that lives in the middle and upper parts of the Amazon River system.
Natural Areas and Reserves
Most of the central and lower parts of the Purus River flow through an area called the Purus várzea ecoregion. This is a special type of floodplain forest that gets flooded seasonally.
In the area of Tapauá, Brazil, the river flows through the Abufari Biological Reserve. This is a strictly protected area where wildlife can thrive without much human disturbance.
Ancient Discoveries Along the River
In 2008, something amazing was found in the upper part of the Purus River, near the border with Bolivia. After forests in the area were cleared for farming, satellite pictures showed the remains of large, geometric earthworks. These were built by a previously unknown ancient civilization that lived there before Christopher Columbus arrived.
See also
In Spanish: Río Purús para niños
