When we think of the Amazon, we often picture the vast rainforest and the mighty Amazon River snaking through it. But did you know there’s an even larger river flowing above the trees? These “flying rivers” are streams of humid air that carry massive amounts of water across the sky, playing a crucial role in Earth’s climate.
Here’s how it works: Rainwater seeps into the soil, and the trees absorb it through their roots. The water travels up the tree trunks and is released through the leaves as water vapor in a process called transpiration. In the Amazon, a single tree can release between 200 and 1,000 liters of water vapor each day! This creates huge streams of moist air, or flying rivers, that flow above the forest.
These flying rivers carry about 20 billion tons of water through the air daily, which is more than the Amazon River releases into the ocean. They are carried by trade winds from east to west along the equator. When these winds hit the Andes Mountains, the flying rivers are pushed southward. As they meet colder air, they release rain, cooling and humidifying much of South America.
Unfortunately, these vital waterways are under threat. Deforestation for agriculture and industry is causing the flying rivers to dry up, leading to droughts and higher temperatures. If this continues, large parts of South America could become deserts in just a few decades.
In the northwest of the Peruvian Amazon, the Wampís Nation, a community of over 15,000 Indigenous people, is fighting to protect the rainforest and its flying rivers. They have lived sustainably in the forest for thousands of years, practicing hunting, fishing, and agriculture that don’t harm the environment.
The Wampís have a long history of defending their land. They resisted the Incas and Spanish colonists in the past, and today they battle against industries that threaten their way of life. Since the 1960s, the Peruvian government has allowed corporations to mine for gold and extract oil on Wampís land, which harms the environment and their community.
In 2015, after years of protests, the Wampís formed the Autonomous Territorial Government to manage their lands and protect their culture. They focus on collective land ownership and conservation, following their philosophy of Tarimat Pujut, which means living in harmony with nature.
The Wampís Nation’s forest is crucial to the flying river cycle, releasing over 34 million liters of water vapor daily. They monitor rainfall, wind, and water levels to protect this natural system. Between 2016 and 2018, they successfully expelled illegal gold miners from their land and stopped an oil company from operating there in 2017.
Despite their efforts, Indigenous groups like the Wampís need more recognition and support. They manage over a quarter of the world’s land but have legal ownership of only a small part. Less than 1% of international climate funds go to their conservation efforts, even though forests managed by Indigenous people are healthier and more sustainable.
The Amazon is often seen as a living organism, breathing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Its survival depends on a complex web of water, air, soil, and human activity. While we still have much to learn about this incredible ecosystem, the Wampís and other Indigenous communities are leading the way in understanding and protecting it.
Build a simple model to demonstrate the water cycle, including transpiration. Use materials like a clear plastic container, soil, small plants, and water. Observe how water evaporates and condenses, simulating the flying rivers. Discuss how this relates to the Amazon’s flying rivers and their impact on climate.
Divide into groups and role-play a debate between deforestation advocates and conservationists, including the Wampís Nation. Research each side’s arguments and present them. This will help you understand the complexities of environmental issues and the importance of protecting flying rivers.
Using a world map, trace the path of the flying rivers from the Amazon to the Andes Mountains. Mark key points where they impact weather patterns. This activity will help you visualize the scale and significance of these atmospheric phenomena.
Choose a tree in your local area and research its role in the water cycle. Write a creative interview with the tree, asking questions about its daily water intake and release. Share your findings with the class to highlight the importance of trees in creating flying rivers.
Create a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of flying rivers and the threats they face. Design posters, social media posts, or a short video. Present your campaign to the class and discuss ways to support Indigenous communities like the Wampís in their conservation efforts.
The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon, exists between two rivers—but not in the way you might think. At ground level, the Amazon River and its tributaries weave their path. But above the canopy, larger waterways are on the move. These “flying rivers” are almost invisible but are essential to life on Earth. As rain seeps into the soil, trees draw water back up through their roots and pump it through their trunks for nourishment. The leaves and stems transpire, or release, excess water in the form of vapor. In the Amazon, a fully grown tree can transpire between 200 and 1,000 liters of water a day. This collective release creates a remarkable phenomenon: huge jets of rapid, humid air that constantly flow above the canopy. Dubbed “flying rivers” by a Brazilian climatologist, these aerial waterways carry about 20 billion tons of water through the air per day, which is more than the Amazon River’s daily output into the ocean.
Along the equator, trade winds blow from east to west. Caught in these winds, flying rivers flow in the same direction before encountering the Andes. The mountains act as a barrier, causing the winds and rivers to redirect southwards. When flying rivers meet masses of cold air, they grow heavier and release torrents of water. In this way, they bring rain, cooler temperatures, and humidity to much of South America. However, these waterways are under threat. Clearing the Amazon for agriculture and industry is causing flying rivers to dry up, leading to drought and hotter temperatures across South America. If this pattern continues, large areas of the continent may be reduced to desert in a matter of decades.
In response, a movement is working intensely to keep the rainforest—and the flying rivers—alive. The northwest of the Peruvian Amazon is home to the Wampís Nation, a community of over 15,000 people who manage over 130,000 square kilometers of land. These Indigenous people have lived in the rainforest for thousands of years, practicing sustainable hunting, fishing, and agriculture. For the Wampís, protecting the rainforest has long meant fighting against invaders. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Wampís people resisted and expelled the Incas and later the Spanish colonists who exploited the rainforest. Today, the Wampís Nation continues to battle extractive industries and the policies that support them. Since the 1960s, the Peruvian government has been licensing the Wampís’ territory to corporations for gold mining and oil extraction. These activities poison the rivers, clear thousands of trees, and threaten the Wampís way of life.
In 2015, after years of protests and negotiations, the community formed the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation. While the Wampís people remain Peruvian citizens, they seek recognition as a government responsible for their own lands, forests, and internal affairs. The Wampís Nation prioritizes collective land ownership, cultural preservation, and conservation of animals, plants, and natural cycles that protect the rainforest. This is the foundation of their philosophy of Tarimat Pujut, or living in harmony with nature to ensure food, friendships, and quality of life.
The high, humid forest of the Wampís Nation is crucial to the flying river cycle, transpiring over 34 million liters of water a day that flow to Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. To track this output, Wampís scientists measure rainfall, monitor the wind, and weigh water levels in leaves and soil. One of their climate goals is to defend this and other natural systems, including native soil that acts as a carbon sink and the forest itself as a fire barrier. The Wampís Nation constantly battles corporations that threaten these systems. Between 2016 and 2018, the community fought illegal gold mining along the Santiago River. They organized protests, uncovered pollution, guarded the area, and removed illegal machinery for months, eventually expelling the miners. In 2017, the Wampís Nation successfully petitioned a court to bar a private oil company from their land.
While these are significant victories, the Wampís Nation and other Indigenous groups need more recognition and support. Indigenous people and local communities manage more than a quarter of the world’s land but only have legal ownership to a small percentage of it. Less than 1% of international climate and forest funds go to their crucial conservation efforts, despite the fact that forests managed by Indigenous people have better survival rates. The Amazon is often described with language evocative of a giant organism—one that grows, dies, breathes in carbon dioxide, and exhales oxygen. The processes that sustain it weave together in a complex and often invisible web of water, air, soil, and human activity—both destructive and protective. We are far from understanding it in its entirety, but some are closer than others.
Amazon – The Amazon is a vast tropical rainforest in South America, known for its biodiversity and role in regulating the Earth’s climate. – The Amazon plays a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, making it vital for the planet’s health.
Rainforest – A rainforest is a dense, tropical forest with high annual rainfall, home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. – The rainforest is often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” because of its ability to produce large amounts of oxygen.
Water – Water is a vital natural resource that supports all forms of life and is essential for ecosystems and human activities. – Protecting water sources from pollution is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and providing clean drinking water.
Rivers – Rivers are large, flowing bodies of water that move across the land and are important for ecosystems, transportation, and agriculture. – Many cities are built along rivers because they provide water for drinking, irrigation, and industry.
Deforestation – Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees from forests, often resulting in damage to the environment and loss of biodiversity. – Efforts to reduce deforestation are important for preserving habitats and combating climate change.
Climate – Climate refers to the long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in a region. – Scientists study climate to understand how changes in the atmosphere can affect weather patterns and ecosystems.
Indigenous – Indigenous refers to the original inhabitants of a region and their cultural practices, often closely connected to the environment. – Indigenous communities often have valuable knowledge about sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation.
Conservation – Conservation is the protection and management of natural resources to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect. – Conservation efforts aim to preserve endangered species and protect natural habitats from human impact.
Ecosystem – An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. – Healthy ecosystems provide services such as clean air, water, and fertile soil, which are essential for life.
Humidity – Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air, affecting weather and climate conditions. – High humidity in tropical rainforests contributes to the lush growth of plants and diverse wildlife.
