Wednesday 29th Jan 2020
The Amazon River in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and is generally considered the second longest, after the Nile (both around 6400 km). The river’s most distant headwaters are in Peru.
At an average discharge of about 209,000 cubic metres per second it is greater than the next seven largest independent rivers combined, the Amazon represents 20% of the global riverine discharge to the ocean. The Amazon basin s the largest drainage basin in the world, over seven million square kilometres. Brazil’s portion of the river's drainage basin is larger than any other river's basin. The Amazon enters Brazil with only one-fifth of the flow it finally discharges into thenAtlantic Ocean, yet already has a greater flow at this point than the discharge of any other river.
More than one-third of all known species of flora in the world is found in the Amazon rainforest. Notable mammals of the Amazon include Pink River Dolphins, Amazon Manatee and Giant Otter. Reptiles include the Anaconda and Caimans. Over 5600 species of fish, plus about 50 new species per year inhabit the waters, including the Arapaima, a freshwater fish up to 4.6m long, up to 60 species of Piranha, only a few species are man-eaters!, about 1200 species of Catfish, 100 species of Electric Fish plus Electric Eels and River Stingrays. Between 700 and 1500 species of birds are found in the Amazon rainforest.
Last nights performance by Bruce Morrison very good, quite an accomplishment for a solo performer with just orchestra, many songs from Les Mis and lots of facts about the musical over the last 30 years.
This morning well on our way up the Amazon, looks like we are sailing through very thin mud.
Started precautions with anti bug spray today, better safe than sorry. River seriously wide, in places the banks just disappear in the distance, amazing. Weather hot, steamy and fairly murky.
Temperature in the 80’s. Early afternoon anchored for a couple of hours near Macapa for official procedures by the Brazilian authorities and to pick up a river pilot.
Short rain storm cleared the air quite nicely, much more pleasant. Lots of vegetation etc. floating by and a few birds starting to appear. Very few signs of civilisation except a few boats crossing the river to who knows where. Looks like pretty much nothing but jungle.
Tonight it’s the “Singers in Concert” with the combined ship’s orchestras, strings and harpist.
Thursday 30th Jan 2020
More river, few more scattered buildings and river traffic.
The landscape continues consisting mostly of what appears to be rain forrest and some patches of farmland with cows.
More sun today, very humid with a couple of showers plus thunder, very soon gone.
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