Book 17, Question 29
What Are the Flying Rivers of the Amazon?
Flying rivers are streams of water vapor that flow through the air above the rainforest, carried by winds. They bring moisture from the Atlantic Ocean across the forest, and the trees add more along the way. The vapor eventually turns into rain far from where it started.
More fun facts
- Flying rivers are streams of humid air that carry water over the Amazon.
- Amazon trees pump out billions of tonnes of water vapor a day into these flying rivers.
- More than half of the Amazon's rainfall comes from its trees.
- Flying rivers may carry as much water as the Amazon River itself.
- Fewer trees means less water vapor for the flying rivers.
Sources: National Geographic, BBC
Questions kids ask
How much of the Amazon's rain comes from its trees?
More than half of it.