Shanay-Timpishka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shanay-Timpishka |
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| Countries | Peru |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) |
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| Basin features | |
| River system | Amazon River |
The Shanay-Timpishka is a special river in Peru. People call it "the only boiling river in the world." It is also known as La Bomba. This river is a tributary, which means it flows into a larger river, in this case, the mighty Amazon River. It is about 6.4 km (4.0 mi) long. What makes it amazing is how hot its water is. The temperature can range from 45 °C (113 °F) (which is very hot!) to almost 100 °C (212 °F) (boiling hot!). Even though its name means 'boiled by the heat of the sun', the heat actually comes from deep inside the Earth.
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Where is the Boiling River?
The Shanay-Timpishka river is found in a special place called the Mayantuyacu sanctuary. This area is part of the Huánuco high forest in Peru. An Asháninka community lives there. These local people have a unique belief about the river. Their shamans, who are like spiritual leaders, say that a giant snake spirit named Yacumama creates the boiling water. Yacumama is known as the "Mother of the Waters."
Why is the River So Hot?
A scientist named Andrés Ruzo, who studies heat from the Earth, has looked into why this river is so hot. He first heard about this amazing river from his grandfather when he was a child.
Usually, hot rivers are found near active volcanoes. But the Shanay-Timpishka is not close to any known volcanoes. So, where does the heat come from?
Scientists think the heat comes from the Earth's natural warmth. This is called the geothermal gradient. The deeper you go into the Earth, the hotter it gets. This is because you get closer to the Earth's mantle, which is very hot.
Here's how it might work:
- Rainwater falls in the Amazon Rainforest.
- This water then seeps deep into the ground through cracks in the Earth's crust.
- As the water goes deeper, it gets heated up by the Earth's natural warmth.
- Finally, this super-heated water flows back up to the surface through natural hot springs.
- These hot springs then heat up the Shanay-Timpishka river along its path.
National Geographic has said that this boiling river is a completely natural wonder. It's a special geothermal feature that flows with unusually hot water, even without volcanoes nearby.
What Threats Does the River Face?
Sadly, the Shanay-Timpishka river is in danger from deforestation. Deforestation means cutting down too many trees. Most of the tree cutting around the river is done by local people. They often sell the biggest and most expensive trees. Then, they burn the rest of the forest. This causes a lot of damage to the environment around the river.
However, there is some good news. A company that deals with oil and gas, called Maple Energy, has actually started helping to protect some of the jungle in the area. This effort helps to save the unique environment around the boiling river.
See also
In Spanish: Shanay-timpishka para niños
