A new research has come out from the University of Amsterdam and University of Brasilia (Brazil) that determined the age of formation of the Amazon River at 9 to 9.4 million years ago with a concrete data that refutes substantial younger estimates. These results are also published in the journal Global and Planetary Change.
According to Science Daily, this study of determines the exact formation year of Amazon comprised of a study of geochemical and palynological analysis of sediments from a hydrocarbon exploration borehole which is situated on the offshore of Brazil that reaches more than 4.5 kilometers below sea level.
Amazon River is known as the world's largest river as it contains 20 percent of earth's fresh water. The river located in Peru flows through Brazil and ends at the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its size, it is sometimes called sea. There have been many studies done on Amazon.
The U.S National Park Service did a study regarding, finding the exact measurement of Amazon River. They suggested that Amazon River is 3,980 miles (6,400 kilometers) long. There were various studies also done to calculate the age of the river. In 2009, scientists have suggested that the Amazon River originated 11 million years ago.
According to Snaxzer, the recent study suggests that the Amazon River is not younger than 9 or 9.4 million years. Dr. Carina Hoorn stated that the study confirms Amazon River's old age. It also discovers a fact about an expansion of grasslands during the Pleistocene that was unknown till now. All the further answers of the untold questions can be given by further research on land and at sea but it will require investment in both continental and marine drilling.
Thus the study also gives an insight into overall changes in the Amazon drainage basin. However, the Amazon River consists of the largest drainage basin of all rivers in the world.
