At the Meeting of Waters near Manaus, which two rivers flow side by side?

At the Meeting of Waters near Manaus, the dark Rio Negro and the muddy Solimões River flow side by side before joining to form the Amazon River.

The two rivers remain visibly separate for several kilometres. Their contrasting appearance is caused by differences in sediment, temperature, acidity, and current speed. The Rio Negro carries dark, tannin-rich water, while the Solimões carries sediment-laden water from the Andes.

After their confluence, the combined river is generally called the Amazon River in Brazil. In much of the upper basin, however, the main river is known as the Solimões before reaching the Meeting of Waters.

The site is a major tourist landmark near Manaus and is also important for studying the physical and chemical differences between Amazonian rivers.