The Amazon River basin is the:

Explanation

The Amazon River basin is classified as the world's largest river basin by area because its drainage system covers about 7 million sq km. It extends over about 40% of South America and carries more water than any other river. Encyclopaedia Britannica calls the Amazon the largest drainage system in the world by both volume of flow and basin area, and describes Amazonia as a vast basin of about 2.7 million square miles, or 7 million square km. Basin area is a distinct criterion from length, depth or altitude, so those comparisons point to different river systems.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Deepest is the wrong criterion for the Amazon basin. The Amazon is classified by basin area, while the Congo is associated with the depth category.
• (B) Highest altitude does not match the Amazon's defining geographical distinction. The Tsangpo-Brahmaputra system is associated with that category instead.
• (D) Longest is a length-based comparison, whereas the Amazon is classified by basin area. The Nile is the longest river.

Concept

World Geography ranks major river systems by specified criteria such as basin area, length, depth, altitude or discharge. RAS factual geography questions often turn on the qualifier in the stem, not just the famous name of the river.

Source

• Encyclopaedia Britannica

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