AMAZON

AMAZON is a river in South America and the largest on the globe in terms of flow of water. The river was discovered in 1500 and variously named since then. However, it was finally named Amazon after a legendary tribe of female warriors believed to live on its banks.

It flows through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean. Its basin is nearly equal in extent to the whole of Europe, drains two-fifth of the continent. It traverses the continent at its greatest breadth, rises in the Andes about 50 miles from the Pacific, and after a course of 4150 miles (6,683 km) falls by a delta into the Atlantic, its waters increased by an immense number of tributaries, 20 of which are above 1000 miles in length, one 2000 miles, and its mouth 200 miles wide. Its current affects the ocean 150 miles out. The river is navigable 3000 miles up, and by steamers as far as the foot of the Andes.

A member of a legendary race Amazons which consisted of female warriors is also called Amazon. Ancient Greeks believed in existence of such a race in Scythia, a region near the Black Sea in modern Russia, or somewhere else on the edge of the world. The word amazon is formed by joining 'a' (without) and 'mazos' (breast) which means 'breastless' in Greek.

A tall and strong athletic woman is also called amazon.

There is also a parrot of this name found in Central and South America. Its feathers are green and tail is broad and rounded. It is of the genus Amazona, and belongs to Psittacidae family.