Amazon

Amazon commonly refers to several related entities in geography, commerce, and technology. The Amazon River, one of the longest and most voluminous rivers in the world, flows across northern South America, coursing through Peru, Colombia, and especially Brazil, and discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding Amazon rainforest spans multiple countries, notably Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, and is renowned for its biodiversity and role in Earth’s climate system.

Amazon.com, Inc., is an American multinational technology company founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 as an online bookstore and later expanding into e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, it operates the world’s largest online retail platform and the Amazon Web Services cloud business, which underpins a large portion of the internet. The company also produces consumer electronics (Echo devices, Kindle e-readers) and manages a global logistics network including fulfillment centers and delivery services.

Economically, Amazon is a major employer and a significant driver of e-commerce and cloud computing growth. It faces regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions over competition, data practices, and labor conditions, along with debates about its environmental impact. The company has publicly committed to sustainability initiatives, including the Climate Pledge and net-zero targets, while also investing in renewable energy and forest protection programs.

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994; since 2021, the chief executive officer has been Andy Jassy. The name Amazon, in addition to its corporate identity, also refers to the vast river system and rainforest that shaped the region and its biodiversity.