Years from now old timers in river towns along the Ucayali, Marañon, and the Amazon will tell their grandchildren the flood of 2011 was one of the worst. Here in Iquitos, out lying areas of Belen, San Juan, Punchana, and Bellavista Nanay are flooded and the water is still rising.
Official chart showing Amazon River flood levels at 118 meters and rising.
The black line rising registers the Amazon River water level until April 29, 2011, where it intersects with the 118 meter white line. The blue line is the record high, the green line represents the average, the red line is the all time low water level.
Bill Grimes reporting from Iquitos Peru.
Amazon River Flooding, 118 Meters And Rising
Follow along with this story by clicking these links to recent articles monitoring the floods;
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
hey Captain Bill,
Am confused, as I thought the “wet” season was over by April.
Is this flooding not only record-breaking….. yet also ‘running late’ ….
for the normal ‘wet’ season ??
Thx……
Hi Doug, thanks for asking. On the hundred year average the high water starts slowly going down on May 10th. On March 11th it is the same level as on June 1st but in March it’s increasing and in June 1st the level is decreasing. So March, April, and May are the months the rivers run highest. There is no wet season or rainy season, only high and low water seasons determined by weather patterns on the east slope of the Andes
Hi Bill,
Im trying to do some reseach on the amazon water levels, specifically in the Iquitos region. Is there somewhere online where i can find the chart you are referencing above? Or any other additional info on the the current water level or flow rate?
Thanks!
Hi Ben, This is the main link I consult for Amazon River water levels;
https://www.dhn.mil.pe/app/menu/servicios/rioamazonia/index.asp