The Iriri River is a large tributary of the Xingu River in Brazil, in the state of Pará. It is 1,300 km long making it the 116th longest river in the world (with Krishna River, India) and the 15th longest in the Amazon basin. The headwaters are the traditional home of the Panará people.

Course

The river rises in the 342192 ha Nascentes da Serra do Cachimbo Biological Reserve, a strictly protected conservation unit established in 2005 in the Serra do Cachimbo. It is one of the headwaters of the Xingu River. It flows for 900 km before joining the Xingu, running through the 3373133.89 ha Terra do Meio Ecological Station. The river varies greatly in volume depending on the season, and in the dry season includes waterfalls, rocks and rapids. The Iriri River flows through the Tapajós–Xingu moist forests ecoregion. The river is rich in fish, including many species found only there and in the Xingu. Large sections remain unexplored due to its remoteness in a region surrounded by Amazon rainforest, and sections with strong current and cataracts.

Sources