What natural phenomenon occurs where Brazil’s Rio Negro meets the Solimões River near Manaus?

The Meeting of the Waters is the natural phenomenon where Brazil’s Rio Negro meets the Solimões River near Manaus. The two rivers flow side by side for several kilometres before mixing to form the Amazon River.

Their contrasting appearances make the boundary especially striking. The Rio Negro carries dark, acidic water stained by decomposed plant matter, while the Solimões carries pale, sediment-rich water from the Andes. Differences in temperature, speed, density and sediment load slow their mixing.

The site is one of the best-known natural attractions near Manaus. A common mistake is to call the light-coloured river the Amazon at this point; locally, it is called the Solimões until the confluence. Downstream, the combined river is known as the Amazon.