Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-07-14
GIGANTIC AMAZON
II Is the Greatest as Well as the
Strangest of Rivers.
ITS UPPER PART A MYSTERY.
Shrouded In lmpenetrabIe Forests and
Vine Growths Through Which a
Clean of Sunlight Never Shows-A
Curious Woodland Tanqle.

While the Amazon Is the worlds
greatest river. II not iD length at least
10 the volume of water which flows
through it. 1t is the worlds stangest
river as well
The few travellers and explorers who
have journeyed up this water course 10
its many sources In the glaciers of the
South American mountains tell stories
which are almost incredible about the
literal maze of streams which unite to
form 1t. each stream having Its birch
In one of the great ice masses. Yet a
few hundred miles below. where they
merge and create the river. the tenn
through perfect labyrinth Of tropical
vegetation.
Only the mariner can tell the place
where the Amazon really has its
mouth. because the opening II has
made on the eastern coast of South
America is SO wide that it extends over
100 miles. A long distance before one
comes to the mouth Of the river. how
ever. one Is really sailing on the wa
tiers Of the Amazon. because they force
their way 80 far out into the ocean.
They say that 800 miles out at sea of
the mouth Of the Amazon you can
hoist bucketful of fresh water out
Of the ocean from the deck Of a ship.
such is the quantity Of its water that
flows from that gigantic basin.
Long after you have entered the ac-
tual river and have Its banks north
and south OF you II you are In mid
stream you will still be out Of sight of
land. such is the breadth Of the vast
channel. The river stretches far into
the ocean AID far M the country.
Take map Of South America and
look up n place called lquitos. 1t lies
four-fifths Of the way across the con-
tinent from east to west. Yet from
Of ocean going steamers to Europe
which descend some 5000 miles Of the
river before they reach the sea.
1t is not only one branch of the Am
AEON. but many. that are thus to be re-
garded as the same as ocean highways.
The southern branches Of the Amazon
are broken by rapids along line
where low continental shelf exists
Above these rapids however. there is
again deep water Thus beyond the
falls CT the Madeira there are over
10000 miles Of navigable water on that
river and it's branches.
Not only Sir Martin Conday. but
other travellers who have ventured
along the upper river and its tributa-
ries, say that here curious woodland
tangle exists. To the surface of the
water the suns rays seldom reach and
one may go many miles along water
ways where 1t Is well nigh as dark as
night because the sky is almost com
pletely shut out by the mass Of vines
which interlace the trees and are 50
thick with leaves. Deprived of the
sunlight. all Is dark and rank. The
damp air is laden with unhealthful
vapor. The surface of the water In
places where the current is too slug
gish to carry 1t away is covered with
scum and weed.
1t requires no little courage to eX-
plore these Businesses. for man real
~ takes his life in his hands. so UNI
healthy are they. Occasionally. how
ever. one can see the upper portion of
the forest where there is little crew
ice in its roof of vines. Above this Is
really scene of life and beauty. Birds
and butterflies and other gorgeous in
sects are flying from place TO place
flowers of hundreds of hues and shapes
are blooming from the plants attached
to tree branch and trunk. While be
low all may be lifeless and silent
above the height where the mass oil
vines overshadow the river nature has
created world of brightness and AMI
nation: but. as already stated. ii Is al
most entirely shut out from the human
eye.
To attempt to break through thi.
canopy Of vines which hide ii from thu
lower world Is almost impossible be
cause the vines grow so thickly. bu
some naturalists have penetrated |
and say that the forests really hav,
two surfaces the one above this artiti
cial roof and the one below. Tha
which is above is barred from human
entrance. Its inhabitants are mostl.
birds and insects that are radiant will
beauty unequaled In the world.
Whatever grows in the Amazon mut
strives with desperate internecin
struggle to reach this sky exposed sur
face and there blossoms. Beneath
where man can walk or float. all 1
dark. Only here and there fitful ra,
Of sunlight struggles through. Orchid
blossom within this shadowy region.
You can see these bright creature
fiitfully in the cavern below. but not i
all their glory. as they must behol
one another above. Sometimes as the
fit about beneath they will chance t
cross sunbeam slanting through
hole in the vegetation: then for an II
slant they fash into view like an e1