Final answer:
The Amazon River is special for having the highest flow rate and the largest drainage basin in the world, as well as for flowing through one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Amazon River is indeed a natural wonder, characterized by several exceptional features. Among these, the most notable is its status as the river with the highest flow rate in the world. The Amazon discharges an enormous volume of water, approximately one-fifth of the world’s river water, owing much to its extensive network of tributaries that number more than 1,100, with a dozen stretching over 1,000 miles in length.
The Amazon is also in competition with the Nile River for the title of the longest river in the world. On top of its considerable length and discharge, the Amazon River boasts the largest drainage basin of any river, which spans 40 percent of South America and contains the largest tropical rainforest on the planet. During the rainy season, the river can expand to be more than 100 miles wide.
Furthermore, the Amazon River flows through an incredibly diverse ecosystem. It is surrounded by the rich biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, known as one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The associated environmental resource base significantly adds to the river’s distinction.