This children’s article, Discover the Amazon River: a kids’ guide to a special rainforest river, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore one of the world’s most amazing rivers. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, an experienced teacher and children’s writer.
The mighty Amazon River
The Amazon River is one of the most important rivers on Earth. It flows through South America, winding its way across several countries, including Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. At around 6,400 kilometres long, it is one of the longest rivers in the world, only slightly shorter than the Nile in Africa.
Its enormous size makes it a lifeline for the millions of people and animals that live near it.
A home for wildlife
The river is full of life. There are all kinds of fish swimming in the Amazon, including the sharp-toothed piranhas. The Amazon is also home to unique mammals, such as the famous pink river dolphins. In the surrounding rainforest, you can find jaguars, monkeys, sloths, and countless birds and insects.
The Amazon is sometimes called the “lungs of the planet” because its forest produces a large amount of the oxygen we breathe. If you would like to learn more about the rainforest itself, you can read A kids’ guide to the Amazon Rainforest.
People and culture
For thousands of years, people have lived along the Amazon River. Many Indigenous communities rely on the river for fishing, farming, and transport. Large cities such as Manaus in Brazil have also grown up on its banks, where boats are still one of the main ways to travel.
The Amazon is not just a river, it is part of people’s daily life, culture, and traditions.
Why the Amazon matters
The Amazon River and rainforest are under threat from deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Protecting them is important for the whole world, not just the people who live nearby. Scientists and conservationists work hard to keep this natural treasure safe for the future.
To read more about why the Amazon is so important, visit the World Wildlife Fund’s page on the Amazon.
Article vocabulary list
- Amazon River – One of the longest and largest rivers in the world, flowing through South America
- Freshwater – Water that is not salty, found in rivers and lakes
- Species – A group of living things that are similar and can reproduce
- Indigenous – People who have lived in a place for thousands of years, often before others arrived
- Deforestation – Cutting down or destroying large areas of forest
- Conservationists – People who work to protect the environment and animals
Comprehension questions
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1. How long is the Amazon River?
a) About 640 kilometres
b) About 6,400 kilometres
c) About 64,000 kilometres
Answer: b) About 6,400 kilometres
2. Name two animals that live in the Amazon River.
Answer: Piranhas and pink river dolphins (other correct answers possible)
3. Why is the Amazon rainforest called “the lungs of the planet”?
Answer: Because it produces a large amount of the oxygen we breathe
4. What is one danger the Amazon faces today?
Answer: Deforestation, pollution, or climate change
5. Which animal in the Amazon River is a mammal, not a fish?
a) Piranha
b) Pink river dolphin
c) Sloth
Answer: b) Pink river dolphin
Sinead is a writer and EFL teacher with eight years’ experience. She’s a native English speaker who loves making news stories fun and easy to understand for children around the world. Her passions include travel, animals, and helping to make the world a kinder, more sustainable place.
