A new quest aims to settle the age-old debate: Which is longer, Amazon or Nile?

Have you ever wondered about the longest river in the world, debating whether it’s the Nile or the Amazon? This question has led to heated arguments for years. However, an upcoming expedition into the depths of the South American jungle aims to finally settle this debate once and for all.

With a planned departure in April 2024, an international team of explorers will embark on a groundbreaking journey to the source of the Amazon in the Peruvian Andes. They will then navigate approximately 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) through Colombia and Brazil, all the way to the Atlantic, where the mighty river meets the ocean.

“Our main objective is to meticulously map the river and document the extraordinary biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystems,” said Yuri Sanada, the project’s coordinator and a renowned Brazilian explorer.

Additionally, the team plans to create a captivating documentary showcasing their expedition.

Past expeditions have seen around 10 individuals complete the full length of the Amazon. However, none have done so with the specific intentions of this project. Sanada, who runs the film production company Aventuras (Adventures) with his wife, Vera, highlights the uniqueness of their expedition.

The Amazon, forming the lifeblood of the world’s largest rainforest, has long been acknowledged as the largest river globally in terms of volume. It surpasses the Nile, the Yangtze, and the Mississippi combined. However, the length of the river has sparked geographical disputes that have lasted for decades. The debate has been further complicated by methodological issues and the lack of consensus regarding where the Amazon truly begins and ends.

The Guinness Book of World Records currently bestows the title of longest river to the Nile. However, the book adds a note stating that “which is longer is more a matter of definition than simple measurement.”

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Nile spans 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles) while the Amazon measures between 6,400 kilometers (3,977 miles) from the headwaters of the Apurimac river in southern Peru. In 2014, US neuroscientist and explorer James “Rocky” Contos proposed an alternative theory, suggesting that the true source of the Amazon lies further away at the Mantaro river in northern Peru. If accepted, this would mean the Amazon is actually 77 kilometers longer than previously believed.

Rafts, Horses, and Solar Canoes

Sanada’s expedition will follow both the Apurimac and Mantaro sources. One group, led by Contos, will brave the white-water rapids of the Mantaro using rafts. The other group, accompanied by French explorer Celine Cousteau, granddaughter of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, will ride horses along the banks of the Apurimac.

Once the rivers converge, Sanada and two fellow explorers will embark on the longest stretch of the journey. They will navigate the river using three specially-designed motorized canoes equipped with solar panels and pedals, enabling both sustainable and precise measurement of distance.

Sanada aims to transfer this sustainable motor technology to local Indigenous groups, providing them with efficient and environmentally friendly means of transportation.

This groundbreaking expedition has garnered support from international groups such as The Explorers Club and the Harvard map collection.

Challenges and the Importance of Preservation

As they traverse the untamed terrain, the adventurers will encounter anacondas, alligators, and jaguars. However, Sanada reveals that his biggest fears lie with drug traffickers and illegal miners, rather than the indigenous wildlife.

To ensure their safety, the boats will be equipped with bulletproof cabins, and the team is in negotiations with authorities to obtain armed escorts for the most dangerous zones.

If successful, this expedition may serve as a blueprint for a similar endeavor on the Nile. While Sanada acknowledges that the debate about the world’s longest river may never be fully settled, he emphasizes the importance of drawing attention to the Amazon rainforest’s natural wonders and the imperative to protect it as a vital buffer against climate change.

“The Amazon is right here, but preserving it and the consequences of its destruction are the responsibility of every individual,” Sanada concludes.

© 2023 AFP

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