Marañón

The Marañón River is the Amazon River's main source. It begins north of Lima, Peru, and runs through the Andean Valley before passing through the rainforest Andes and into the Amazon Basin. The Marañón River flows 1,079 miles from its headwaters in Peru to the Amazon Basin. The river is distinguished by 20 hydroelectric dams built in the Andes, with the majority of the energy generated exported to Brazil or utilized locally in Ecuador and Peru.

Dams on the Marañón River have been fiercely resisted because they interrupt the Amazon River's main source and ruin fish habitat and migration. The majority of the settlements along the Maraón River's banks rely on the river for a living. The river is also a vital transportation corridor that links several villages.

Length: 1,079 miles