Amazon River Longer Than the Nile

The Nile is no longer mightier than the Amazon. Scientists returning from an expedition are claiming that the Amazon is actually much longer than previously supposed.

According to Brazilian scientists, scientific evidence --their evidence, that is to say -- has been produced which proves that the Amazon River is longer than the Nile, long believed to be the longest river in the world.

The Amazon River's length has been promoted from 6,400 km (or 4,000 miles) to 6,800 km (or 4,250 miles), while the Nile, at 6,695 km (or 4,160 miles), has received no such promotion.

Scientists spent two weeks in freezing and not-so-freezing temperatures to ascertain that the Amazon begins in an ice-covered mountain called Mismi 5,000 metres high in southern Peru. Co-ordinating the research with the Brazilian scientists was the ever-helpful National Geographical Institute of Peru.

Egyptian river experts and tourist mongers are no doubt working on a co-ordinated rebuttal to debunk the Brazilians' Amazon River assertion.