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It is only possible to grasp the true dimension of the Amazon forest from space, occupying as it does one-third of the South American continent, an area larger than the entire European Union. Not marked are the land borders of the nine countries that share this ecosystem, although by far the largest part of the territory—over 60 percent—lies inside Brazil. At the heart of this extravaganza of nature is the Amazon River which, fed by some 1,100 tributaries, including 17 over 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) long, disgorges 20 percent of the world's freshwater when it finally enters the Atlantic Ocean. The rainforest also plays a crucial role in slowing climate change, notably as what is known as ...View all