- published: 15 Nov 2015
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The Amazon River (US /ˈæməzɒn/ or UK /ˈæməzən/; Spanish & Portuguese: Amazonas) in South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined (not including Madeira and Rio Negro, which are tributaries of the Amazon). The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world, about 7,050,000 square kilometres (2,720,000 sq mi), accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world's total river flow.
In its upper stretches, above the confluence of the Negro River, the Amazon is called Solimões in Brazil; however, in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, as well as the rest of the Spanish-speaking world, the river is generally called the Amazon downstream from the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers in Peru. The Ucayali-Apurímac river system is considered the main source of the Amazon.
The width of the Amazon varies between 1.6 and 10 kilometres (1.0 and 6.2 mi) at low stage, but expands during the wet season to 48 kilometres (30 mi) or more. The river enters the Atlantic Ocean in a broad estuary about 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide. The mouth of the main stem is 80 kilometres (50 mi). Because of its vast dimensions, it is sometimes called The River Sea. The first bridge in the Amazon river system (over the Rio Negro) opened on October 10, 2010. It is just outside Manaus.
The Zo'é people (also known as Zo'é or the Marrying tribe) are a native tribe in the State of Pará, Municipality of Óbidos, on the Cuminapanema River, Brazil. They are a Tupi–Guarani people.
They are also known as the Poturu, Poturujara, or Buré. The term "Zo'é" means "us," as opposed to non-Indians or enemies. The term "Poturu" is the type of wood used to make embe'po labrets.
The Zo'é language belongs to Subgroup VIII of the Tupi-Guarani language family.
All Zo'e wear the poturu, a wooden plug piercing the bottom lip. The Zo'e have a tradition where new fathers have the backs of their calves cut with the 'tooth of a small rodent'.
The marriage rituals of the Zo'e are complex and not fully understood. It is not known how many wives or husbands one is allowed to have. Many women practice polyandry, one or more husbands may be "learning husbands"; young men learning how to be good spouses, in exchange for hunting for the rest of the family.