Amazon Basin (sedimentary basin)

Amazon Basin
Bacia do Amazonas
Map showing the location of Amazon Basin
Map showing the location of Amazon Basin
The basin is located in the center and center-right of the picture
Coordinates2°29′47″S 57°3′25″W / 2.49639°S 57.05694°W / -2.49639; -57.05694
EtymologyAmazon River
LocationSouth America
RegionNorth
Country Brazil
State(s)Amazonas, Pará
CitiesManaus
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOnshore
BoundariesGuiana Shield, Gurupá Arch; Marajó Basin, Brazilian Shield, Púrus Arch; Solimões Basin
Part ofAmazon basins
Area620,000 km2 (240,000 sq mi)
Hydrology
River(s)Amazon River
Geology
Basin typeContinental rift basin
PlateSouth America
AgeCambrian-recent
Amazon alluvium deposit
Amazon alluvium deposit

The Amazon Basin is a large sedimentary basin (620,000 square kilometres (240,000 sq mi)) located near the middle and lower course of the Amazon River, south the Guiana Shield and north of the Central Brazilian Shield. The basin developed on a rift that originated about 550 million years ago during the Cambrian.