Amazon Basin (sedimentary basin)

Amazon Basin
Bacia do Amazonas
The basin is located in the center and center-right of the picture
Coordinates	2°29′47″S 57°3′25″W / 2.49639°S 57.05694°W / -2.49639; -57.05694
Etymology	Amazon River
Location	South America
Region	North
Country	Brazil
State(s)	Amazonas, Pará
Cities	Manaus
Characteristics
On/Offshore	Onshore
Boundaries	Guiana Shield, Gurupá Arch; Marajó Basin, Brazilian Shield, Púrus Arch; Solimões Basin
Part of	Amazon basins
Area	620,000 km2 (240,000 sq mi)
Hydrology
River(s)	Amazon River
Geology
Basin type	Continental rift basin
Plate	South America
Age	Cambrian-recent

The Amazon Basin is a large sedimentary basin (620,000 square kilometres (240,000 sq mi)) located near the middle and lower course of the Amazon River, south the Guiana Shield and north of the Central Brazilian Shield. The basin developed on a rift that originated about 550 million years ago during the Cambrian.