Amazon River

Iquitos is the largest city in the rainforest of Peru and is considered the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road, only by airplane or boat. The population is approx. 400,000 people which is roughly the size of Walnut Creek, CA. Above is a picture I took from Google Earth comparing the size of Iquitos to the grand size of the Amazon River.

This summer I will have the amazing and terrifying opportunity to travel on the Amazon River. Here are some facts about the Amazon:

• At its widest point the Amazon River can be 11km/6.8 mi wide during the dry season.
• The Amazon River the largest river in the world by volume, with greater total river flow than the next eight largest rivers combined.
• The average depth of the river in the height of the rainy season is 40 m (120 ft).
• The Amazon is home to the Anaconda snake and my greatest fear: the Piranha!

FISH!!

I have a fear of fish. Here are pictures of fish I have found that live in the Amazon river:

Piranhas - Are a group of carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers.They are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat and flesh. They also have taste buds which cover their entire bodies. "It is thought a shoal of the fish devoured up to 300 people when their boat capsized and sank near Obidos in Brazil in September 1981."

Arapaimas or Pirarucus - The world's largest fish. Maximum length of 9.8 feet and weight of 440 lbs. Diet includes other fish and small animals, like birds. Has the ability to breathe air from the surface due to a lung-like lining of its throat.

Boto or Pink River Dolphin - Is a freshwater river dolphin endemic to the Amazon River. Largest of river dolphins. The 1994 and 200 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classified it as vulnerable.

As long as the boat doesn't sink or I fall in the water, I should be fine?