The largest river on Earth is actually in the sky - Iseult Gillespie
1,041,842 Views
3,156 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
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, bigger waterways are on the move. These flying rivers are almost invisible, but are essential to life on Earth. Iseult Gillespie explores how this crucial system keeps the rainforest alive.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
To learn more about how Indigenous people are leading the way in protecting the environment, visit Nia Tero and If Not Us Then Who, an organization that “highlights the role indigenous and local people play in protecting our planet.”
Learn more about The Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation here, then read the Wampís’ climate strategy here. This video and website provide more information on the Wampís Nation’s history and culture, and you can read their statute of independence here.
Learn more about Amazon Watch and their work protecting the rainforest and our climate in solidarity with Indigenous peoples here.
As this article explains, the Wampís Nation practices sustainable land management and is making significant climate solutions. To learn more about how the Wampís people fight deforestation, click here. Read more about the preservation of the flying rivers by the Wampís Nation here.
Flying rivers are important because they regulate the climate naturally. Learn more about the flying rivers of the Amazon in this short documentary, then read about the dangers of flying rivers disappearing here.
Across the world, forests that are managed by local and Indigenous groups have higher rates of biodiversity and better survival rates – to read more about this fact, click here. Read more about the crucial role of Indigenous knowledge in the fight against climate change here.
Learn more about The Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation here, then read the Wampís’ climate strategy here. This video and website provide more information on the Wampís Nation’s history and culture, and you can read their statute of independence here.
Learn more about Amazon Watch and their work protecting the rainforest and our climate in solidarity with Indigenous peoples here.
As this article explains, the Wampís Nation practices sustainable land management and is making significant climate solutions. To learn more about how the Wampís people fight deforestation, click here. Read more about the preservation of the flying rivers by the Wampís Nation here.
Flying rivers are important because they regulate the climate naturally. Learn more about the flying rivers of the Amazon in this short documentary, then read about the dangers of flying rivers disappearing here.
Across the world, forests that are managed by local and Indigenous groups have higher rates of biodiversity and better survival rates – to read more about this fact, click here. Read more about the crucial role of Indigenous knowledge in the fight against climate change here.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Iseult Gillespie
- Director Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, Otter Studios
- Narrator Christina Greer
- Animator Rishav Mohanty, Upamanyu Bhattacharyya
- Music Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
- Sound Designer Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Sazia Afrin
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Iseult Gillespie
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
- Expert Consultant Shapiom Noningo, Roberto Espinoza, Ricardo Pérez Bailón, Carlos Nobre
