Rio Negro Basin
The above Landsat 7 scene shows the Rio Negro flowing through the
eastern edge of Brazil’s Jau National Park. The river is the big strip
of blue running from left to right across the image, and the other
blue ribbons are tributaries. Originating at the border of Venezuela
and Brazil, the Rio Negro meets up with the Amazon in central
Brazil to become its largest tributary. Half-submerged islands can be
seen in the center of the river. Between November and April when the
river is at its peak, many of these islands disappear.
The land to the left of the river is the eastern edge of the Jau National
Park. The park is the largest forest reserve in South America and
covers an area greater than 5.6 million acres. Requiring the direct
permission of the Brazilian government to enter, the park forms
one of the most exquisite examples of tropical rainforest and
conservation in the Amazon. It houses spotted jaguars, manatees,
pink river dolphins, and numerous other species of animals
and plants.
Photo courtesy of NASA.
