The Amazon River was placed there for the purpose of draining water
from thousands of streams and rivers all across South America, and
of providing habitat for the thousands of species of insects, birds,
fish, lizards, and plants that live in or near it.
Recently, since the advent of homo humanus ... a unique species
that's always looking for a way to "use" nature ... the river has begun
to be used as a source of water for farming and drinking, as an easy
source of protein, and as a transportation route.