Thanks to rivers, melt or rainwater returns back to the ocean. Therefore, these watercourses can safely be called the main part of the water cycle on the planet. Each river system has a separate character, which depends on the climate and topography of a particular area.
River length
When compiling river characteristics, the following factors are taken into account: length, water regime, flow, water content, width, and depth of the channel. First, they find the source, then determine the final place where it flows into the ocean or sea, after which they conduct research along the entire length. In order to understand which river is the longest, you need to correctly measure its size, which is sometimes not very easy. Determining the length between the mouth and the source is difficult due to the lack of accurate maps. Therefore, measurements will directly depend on the scales used. The most objective option would be to measure the length using a small map, this way it will be possible to show not only its size, but also the width of the stream. Despite the difficulties, scientists were still able to compile a list of the 5 longest rivers. However, after new expeditions the results may change.
Yenisei - fifth position on the list
One of the largest rivers in Russia is the Yenisei. Its length is approximately 5500 km and its depth is 70 meters. It rightfully occupies fifth position in the world list of “The Longest River on the Planet”. Thanks to her, the development of lands in the north of the country began several centuries ago. It is impossible not to note its importance for the state: the largest ports are located on the banks of the Yenisei, and the river itself is the country’s navigable artery. It flows in almost all geographical and climatic regions and serves as the border for Eastern and Western Siberia. The river is replenishing different ways, but mainly due to snow melting. High water is typical in the spring season. Also, due to the formation of ice “plugs”, the size of the river in some areas increases many times. It should be noted that in the Yenisei there are about 40 species of fish: from crucian carp to sturgeon. It is not uncommon to see some birds nesting on the river. A serious problem for the Yenisei is the hydroelectric power station, after the construction of which the water flow has greatly decreased, resulting in a significant threat to the flora and fauna of the river.
The longest river is the Mississippi
Fourth place went to the river, which originates in the USA. Its importance for the world is very difficult to overestimate; it is rightfully the greatest in the world. The area of the Mississippi is a little more than 3,000 km, and together with the Missouri (the main tributary), this figure becomes twice as large - 6,000 km. The Mississippi is almost the longest river on the continent, second only to the Amazon. The food is varied: rain, mixed and snow. However, it is impossible to name the exact method of replenishing water for the entire river, since each region has different climatic conditions. It is characterized by high water in spring and summer. Also, often due to melting snow, severe floods form, which leads to floods. The Mississippi is a large and also the most important transport artery of the United States of America, which paves the way from the mainland to the Gulf of Mexico. Small water streams flow into the river, which originate in the mountains and rocks. Another interesting fact is that the distance from the Great Lakes to the nearest bay is the Mississippi basin. The tributaries on the right side are in a dry climate, because of this it is impossible to call the river full-flowing (even at the confluence with the Missouri). It becomes a major river only at the point of connection with the Ohio.
Third place on the list - Yangtze
In third place is the longest river in Eurasia - the Yangtze. Its total area is 6300 km. It, being a high-water river, flows throughout the entire territory of the Republic of China. Its waters are often used to irrigate fields. It should be noted that the Yangtze is the main highway of China. The water flow is replenished with rainwater. Top part The rivers are fed by melting glaciers and snow. The river is also rich in fish. Its main inhabitants are carp, carp (black and white) and silver carp. The Yangtze is practically free of ice in the winter. Only those areas that are calmest and located only in the upper reaches are susceptible to freezing. An interesting fact is that in different areas the river is called differently. For example, in the Himalayas - Dangku, and in Tibet - Jichu. The Yangtze originates in the Himalayan ice and flows through its gorges. What is surprising is that in a small area the river sharply descends from a height of 5000 m to 1000 m. This makes its appearance most attractive. In some areas, the Yangtze expands due to many tributary lakes and rivers. It also houses the world's largest hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges.
African Nile River
In second place was the “blue vein” of Africa - the Nile. The longest river on Earth until the beginning of the 20th century. Its total length is 6800 km. The Nile has a sufficient number of tributaries, but the river flows without them for the last 4 km before its confluence with the Mediterranean Sea. It should be noted that the river has no analogues in the world in terms of its functional purpose. Residents of Africa call this river sacred; a temple was erected in its honor and a holiday was held. The Nile is the longest river in the country; it is still worshiped by the Greeks, Arabs, and Egyptians. Until the 19th century, this water flow completely determined the life of peoples. Due to certain factors, the river level could rise sharply many times, flooding the valleys. After the decision to build dams, an irrigation system appeared, human controlled. Today, the Nile fully meets the needs of the country. It flows through different climatic zones, is divided into several branches and irrigates massifs (the so-called “black earth”, formed several centuries ago). You can always see tourists, fishermen, peasants and traders on the banks of the river.
The longest river on Earth is the Amazon
The first place and absolute leadership belongs to the Amazon. It is located in South America and is the largest not only in length, but also in the size of the basin, as well as in terms of depth. The river is fed mainly by rain and groundwater. There is no snow or glacier feeding. In 2011, it was included in the list of wonders of the world. It is surrounded on all sides by forests of various types: white, black and dry. Since the Amazon is the longest river, you can find many different fish and reptiles in it: piranhas, crocodiles, snappers, caimans, mammal fish, stingrays, etc. Its characteristic feature is that it often rises several meters, flooding large areas. The flora is quite rich, with more than 3,000 species.
Hydrologists' disputes
Deciding which is the longest river in the world , scientists are in constant debate. Until the beginning of the 20th century, many were convinced that Neil was a leader. However, after discovering the starting point of the Amazon in the south of Peru (previously it was believed that the source was located in the north of the country), Brazilian scientists found that the total length of the Nile is 100-150 m less. During the study, special beacons were installed, which made it possible to carry out additional calculations . The final result was announced in 2015, it confirmed the accuracy of the preliminary findings. And if we take into account all the branches of the Amazon tributaries, then its length will reach about 7000 km. It is rightfully called the deepest and longest river.
The longest river in the world When asked what the longest river is, not everyone can answer correctly. Moreover, the length of reservoirs is constantly changing due to the human factor. In this regard, it is recommended that you read the text below so as not to ask yourself such questions again.
The longest river in the world is the Nile or the Amazon? The nature on our planet is incredibly diverse and amazing. Yes, you can endlessly admire the creations created by human genius, but no one can compare with the beauty and power that nature has created. The waterways of the globe deserve special attention, and the most important of them are the Nile River and the Amazon. So what longest river in the world Nile or Amazon? Even at school, all students will unconditionally answer this question in unison: “Of course, Neil!” But scientists are currently debating whether this is actually true.
Official data says that the length of the Nile is 6695 km. The river originates from Lake Victoria and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, crossing the territory of Egypt, Sudan and Uganda. In ancient times, it was this river that became the main source for life and the emergence of one of the first human civilizations.
The climate on planet Earth is changing rapidly. And this is due to the human factor. What seemed incredible yesterday is today a harsh reality. This is what prompted Brazilian scientists in 2005 to recalculate the length of the reservoirs, since it was not clear which the longest river in the world was the Nile or the Amazon. It turned out that the river became 57 km shorter. Now the length is 6852 km, which is 140 km shorter than the Amazon. We should also not forget about the construction of the Aswan Dam, which also led to the shallowing of the Nile reservoir.
Based on all of the above, we can say with confidence that the longest river in the world is the Amazon, which was officially approved in 2013.
What is the longest river in the world? Recent school graduates learned in geography lessons what the longest river in the world is. However, at present this knowledge can be safely questioned. The fact is that the construction of the Aswan Dam in the 60s, as well as the influence of some natural factors, led to the fact that the once most powerful river became 140 km shorter. This means that Amazon now owns the palm. This river has several tributaries - the Ucayali and Marañon - and more recently, scientists discovered that the length of the South American river has exceeded 7 thousand km due to the fact that it was led from the source of the Ucayali. A few more Amazon records
Today, the longest river in the world is not the only record that belongs to a South African river. The Amazon is the largest basin in size and the deepest river, for which special “thanks” to the heavy rainfall. The river discharges about 200 cubic meters of water into the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the Amazon is capable of providing every inhabitant of the globe with 1 liter of fresh water per second. By the way, approximately 1/5 of all fresh water that enters the World Ocean comes from the Amazon.In some places, the width of the longest river in the world reaches such dimensions that it can easily be called a sea, since there is no way to see the opposite bank without an optical device.
In addition, the longest river can boast of its rich biological diversity - rare representatives of flora and fauna are found along the banks of the Amazon.
The length of the Amazon River is 6992 km.More recently, in 2013, the length of the Amazon River took the palm from the Nile and now it is the longest river in the whole world. It originates in Peru. Then, flowing through a narrow mountain valley, it forms several waterfalls and only 700 km after its beginning it becomes a wide navigable river. By the way, in some places the distance between the banks is 1600 m. The Amazon flows through the Andes, then directs its waters through the forested plain of South America and after that it turns into a full-fledged navigable river, continuing its movement through the lowlands of Peru and Brazil, and only after that it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The river received this name due to a legend that said that a tribe of female warriors, “Amassona,” lived along the banks and destroyed boats.
Tributaries
In total, the Amazon has more than 200 tributaries. The most important of them are Ucayali and Marañon. Recently, the length of the Amazon has increased due to the fact that it was led away from the source of the Ucayali, which means that the total length of the Amazon River has exceeded 7,000 km. About 17 rivers of the first magnitude flow into it, the length of which varies from 1500 km to 3500 km. Several particularly outstanding tributaries exceed the Rhine in their length and depth, but even the largest of them do not have any effect on the measured flow of the Amazon.Entering the reservoir is dangerous not only because the Amazon River is incredibly long, but also according to legends. She, like those female warriors who lived along its banks, is impulsive and unpredictable, unlike the Nile with his calm and balanced character. The thing is that the Amazon flows through different belts in the equatorial direction and floods to incredible limits due to constant rains. The shores of the Amazon are home to amazing representatives of tropical flora and fauna.
Shipping capabilities
The length of the Amazon River also forms a continuous route for heavy ships - this is the distance from the mouth to the Andean slopes. The South American river is also favorable to sailing ships, since high trade winds dominate most of it. The total length of the navigable part of the Amazon is 9,900 km. Many sailors, scientists and travelers strove for this rebellious element and tried to learn all its secrets and mysteries. Some of them discovered the mouth (Vincent Pinzon), others (Francis de Orellana) talked about the beautiful Amazons, and still others (the expedition of Herndon and Gibbon, the Prussian Prince Adalbert, etc.) were able to explore this natural attraction, which is still distinguished to this day disobedience and obstinacy.
The length of the Nile River is 6670 km.One of the most majestic rivers on Earth is the Nile. The mere fact that the very first civilization in human history arose on its shores thousands of years ago speaks volumes. Even ancient people recognized the deep-sea Nile as a source of life, they worshiped it, made sacrifices, asked for help and advice from it, and also built the greatest structures along the banks, many of which have survived to this day. But no one knew where the beginning of the longest river in the world, which ends its course in the Mediterranean Sea, begins.
Where is it - the beginning of the Nile?
In fact, the answer to this question is not so simple. As it flows across the African continent, the length of the Nile River has many water arteries, so the ancient Egyptians and the earliest explorers could not accurately answer where the deep-sea reservoir originates.John Henig, who was an officer in the British army, accidentally discovered Lake Victoria. It was at this time that the firm belief emerged that the White Nile began its flow from here. A little later, Henry, an English journalist, partially confirmed this hypothesis when he went in search of the missing Livingston. He decided to explore this region at the same time. As a result, it turned out that Lake Tanganyika has nothing to do with the Nile, unlike Lake Victoria, which is the source of the river.
Length
From the beginning to the Mediterranean, the length of the Nile River is 5600 km. But if we count the length of the river from the beginning of its river system (the source of Rukarar), then its length in this case will be equal to 6758 km. The mighty river carries its waters to the north and constantly strives downward - it is for this reason that there are many rapids and waterfalls here. The total water drop is about 700 meters.The stormy stream ends its course on Lake Albert, from which the calmer and more balanced Nile originates. This section belongs to Uganda, whose residents cross the river by ferry. In South Sudan, the length of the Nile River reaches 716 kilometers and is called Bahr al-Jabel. The terrain in this region is flat and marshy - this is what caused the Nile to branch into many branches. Further movement of water is directed towards the capital of Sudan. It is in this place that the White and Blue Nile join forces and merge into one large river, which is called the Nile. A little north of Khartoum (the capital of Sudan), they are joined by the last tributary - the Atbara River, whose length is 800 km.
After this, the Nile moves through the Sahara and the Arabian Desert, through the territory of Egypt and, leaving Cairo, the Nile begins to branch into many branches, forming a delta, the length of which from north to south is 160 km. Many cities were founded on this site, including the well-known Alexandria. Thus, the length of the Nile River is indeed the main factor in the origin of life along its banks.
The shores of the reservoir are fertile lands, many natural, architectural and historical attractions, as well as incredible representatives of flora and fauna.
The longest river in Europe As you know, the longest river in Europe flows through the territory of only one country - Russia. We are talking about the powerful and majestic Volga, which originates on the Valdai Hills and flows into the Caspian Sea. The total length of the river is 3530 km, and the pool area ( 1361 thousand sq. km) in size exceeds a third of the entire European part of Russia. The very beginning of the longest river in Europe is a small stream that formed from a small source of groundwater near the village of Volgoverkhovye. Gradually, receiving about 150,000 large and small tributaries, the river gains strength and flows into the Caspian Sea.
The main source of nutrition for the Volga is external meltwater. Rain and groundwater, which feed the river in winter, play a minor role. That is why the hydrological regime can be divided into three periods: long spring flood, summer and winter low water.
The mighty and longest river in Europe is the most important shipping canal in Russia. Conventionally, the water creation of nature can be divided into several sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Volga, respectively. The flora and fauna along the river banks is ambiguous. Thus, the Lower Volga is distinguished by the greatest diversity - it is for this reason that the Astrakhan nature reserve was formed in the river delta, representatives of the flora and fauna of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Natural resources of the river and its unique geographical position has long attracted people, they began to build small settlements here, which over time turned into powerful cities such as Kazan, Volgograd, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod.
Ecological situation
Environmentalists are very puzzled by the current situation on the river. According to monitoring data, the load on water resources is 8 times higher than permissible standards, and 65 of the 100 especially polluted cities are located near the Volga. The most serious environmental problems arise as a result of the construction of a large number of dams, the activities of large industrial enterprises, large amounts of polluted wastewater and heavy navigation.The main reason for the pollution of the longest river in Europe is the abundance of wastewater that appears as a result of the work of industrial and municipal enterprises, as well as the inefficiency of treatment facilities. As a result of this, the flora and fauna of the Volga delta suffers greatly - data from some studies made it possible to identify mutations and congenital deformities of some representatives.
Development of special government programs aimed at improving environmental situation in the region - this is the only right decision that can save the situation.
- ranks eleventh in the world ranking, but is the longest river in Russia. The total length is 4400 km. It originates on the Baikal ridge, from a small lake. It’s embarrassing to admit, but this small body of water, which gives rise to a great and powerful river, doesn’t even have a name. After Baikal, the Lena makes a sharp turn towards Yakutsk and rushes north, flowing into the Laptev Sea. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on what length to give to the great Russian river. The fact is that the South American Parana River does not have a specific source, which is why its total length fluctuates. That is why some sources indicate that Lena is in 10th place, and some award her 11th position.
All this confusion does not in any way affect the total length of the river from the mouth to the delta itself. Conventionally, the longest river in Russia is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower reaches. After the confluence of the Vilyui, the river spreads into an incredible width, turning into that very powerful Siberian river.
The upper reaches (up to the Vitim River basin) of the Lena have a typically mountainous character. It is winding, fast and impetuous; in some places there are rapids. It calms down slightly only near Kirensk, where the Kirenga River flows into it. Here the mountains begin to gradually recede, and they are replaced by majestic coniferous forests. Fir, cedar and spruce, mighty pines and light-coniferous larch are the pride of Siberia.
The longest river in Russia becomes even more powerful after the right tributary Olekma flows into it. The famous Lena Pillars are one of the most striking landmarks located along the river. It was in this place that it was formed national park with the same name. Here it turns into a deep river, with a depth reaching 20 meters. The field of Yakutsk two more tributaries flow into the Lena - the Aldan and Vilyuy rivers. Here the Russian beauty already has wide banks (on average about 10 meters), the width of which in some areas reaches 30 m.
The river is one of the cleanest in the whole world. This is probably due to the fact that coniferous forests grow over a large area along the coast. The bed of the longest river in Russia has not been touched by “human genius”; there are not so many settlements, which means that the nature of Lena has been preserved almost in its original form. Moreover, in some places not favored by humans, you can drink water directly from the river.
TOP 10 longest rivers in the world
Amazon River The Amazon is one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world and is one of the most unique on the planet. It originates in the Peruvian Andes, flows through Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and then carries its waters to the Atlantic Ocean. The largest river in the world has a length of about 6500 km and the largest basin in the world, over 7 million km2, which corresponds to the area of the Australian continent. Two large rivers, the Ucayali and the Marañon, form this grandiose natural wonder. History and geography
It is believed that several centuries ago, when the Spanish conquistadors conquered these lands, they were amazed by the courage of the Indian women. Therefore, since then, the Amazon River has been named after the legendary female warriors. In fact, these were men, traditionally for the Indians, who had long hair and skirts made of reeds.During drought, the Amazon River extends 11 km in width, and during the rainy season it increases two to three times and overflows for tens of kilometers. The river is navigable along almost its entire length. It is filled with its waters by numerous tributaries, some of which reach 1500 km.
Animal world
The Amazon stretches along the equator with jungles, swamps and tributaries of rivers. For biologists, these regions are the Earth's unexplored treasure trove. On an area of just 10 km2 there are from 1 to 1.5 thousand species of flowers, 700 - 750 various types trees, more than 100 species of mammals and at least 400 species of birds.Only a third of the vegetation has been thoroughly studied; a quarter of it is used in folk medicine. The largest tropical forest grows along the river. These lands are called lungs of the planet. There are many unusual plants here: 800 species of palm trees, hundred-meter vines and massive water lilies.
In the waters of the Amazon River you can find pink dolphins, five-meter bull sharks, caiman, anacondas and piranhas. The most popular aquarium fish swim there - angelfish, guppies and swordtails. The coast is home to many strange animals: capybaras, tapirs, jaguars and many others.
Environmental threat
The mindless destruction of the Amazon forest continues today. In large areas, cutting down trees causes soil erosion. In addition, thousands of species of flora and fauna are disappearing. Due to the construction of many artificial structures, the river’s ecosystem and its flow are disrupted.The Amazon River holds many secrets, attracting the attention of scientists around the world, who expect many sensational discoveries from research. The main thing is to save this recognized wonder of the world from extinction.
is the second longest river in the world. Its length is about 6700 km. It plays a huge role in the life of a large part of the African continent. The river originates on the East African plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Its basin is 350 thousand km2. The Nile River, as it was several thousand years ago, is the main source of fresh water for millions of people, a means of irrigating land and a major waterway. The sludge that remains on the fields after a spill, as before, is an excellent fertilizer. History and Geography
The Nile is mentioned in ancient sources. He was then known as Neilos. Even at the dawn of civilization, people understood its value for survival and prosperity, so they idolized it. The ancient Egyptians revered the river as the generous and caring god Hapi.There is still debate about the source of the Nile River. There are many assumptions about how Africa’s largest waterway replenishes its waters, but all of them remain guesses.
The river's tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, are named after the shades of the water surface. There are many countries located in these territories: Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Ethiopia and others. A fifth of these lands are controlled by the Egyptian authorities. They are home to a huge tourist center and simply a paradise for lovers of archeology and connoisseurs of monuments of ancient history and culture. Egyptian museums, the largest of which is in Cairo, the pyramids, the Temple of Karnak, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings are just a few of the most famous attractions located along the coast. Unique river does not dry out in hot seasons, but spreads, coloring the soil bright red.
Animals and plants
The Nile, as one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world, is the only source in a large area of arid lands. It revives even the sands of the Sahara. The waters are home to many species of fish, of which the Nile perch can be distinguished, weighing up to 140 kg. Snakes, crocodiles, and turtles live on the banks of the Nile River. The most famous birds are the ibis, heron, stork, lapwing and kite.Date palms, mimosas, cypresses, and papyrus grow in the Nile valley; there are banana plantations.
Meaning to people
Almost the entire population, more than 95% of Egypt and other countries live exclusively in the coastal strip. The waters of the Nile are of great importance for agriculture. The Nile River is an advantageous means of transportation and an interesting tourist route.
Mississippi River Translated from the Indian language river Mississippi means Great River. Its greatness is sung by many writers and poets, such as Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, and Mayne Reed. It flows through the United States and divides it into two parts. This powerful stream flows through 10 American states and ends in a huge delta in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also the natural border of these administrative entities. The largest tributaries of the Mississippi: Missouri, Illinois, Red River. The length of the Mississippi is about 4000 km. It ranks fourth in the list of great rivers. Geography and history
The Mississippi, which is also one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world, can be divided into two large parts, lower and upper. The border is Cairo, Illinois. Throughout its rich history, the river has changed its course several times, both on a small scale and on a large scale. This inexplicable phenomenon also occurred with numerous tributaries, some of them appeared, while others disappeared without a trace. The Mississippi River has even changed its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico more than once. Due to the strange and frequent changes that constantly occur with the river, Mark Twain called it the world's biggest liar.Indians have settled on the banks of this mighty river since ancient times. Hernando de Soto, who arrived in America in the sixteenth century, is considered the discoverer of the Mississippi River for Europeans. It has been depicted on several famous nautical charts this century. The Spaniards called it "River of the Holy Spirit". In the seventeenth century, it became part of France, later divided between Great Britain and Spain, and as a result of the Battle of Orleans in 1812, it became completely owned by the United States.
The turbulent 19th century is considered a golden age for this river. Steamboats traveled along it in large numbers, and new cities grew on its banks. The decisive moment in the civil war between the North and South was the capture of this important trade and transport artery. As industry develops, the river becomes even more navigable. Many bridges, dams, dams and other structures appear on it.
Ecological problems
The thoughtless use of the Mississippi River basin has led to environmental problem. Large-scale water pollution from household and industrial wastewater has caused the emergence of a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. This river experiences significant flooding from time to time. The harm of these phenomena is sometimes very enormous. One of them caused flooding of 7,000 km2 and caused damage amounting to more than $400 million.
Yangtze River Translated from Chinese, the river means “long river”, because it is not for nothing that it is included in the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world. In ancient times, its name was “blue river,” but its muddy waters did not justify this name. In the ranking of the largest rivers by length, it occupies an honorable third place. The Yangtze stretches across the territory of the People's Republic of China for 6,300 km, its basin is about 2 million km2. It occupies the territory where a third of the country's inhabitants live. The gorge through which it flows through the territory national park, in the west of the country, is a UNESCO heritage site. The river plays an important role in China's economy. The largest hydroelectric power station in the world is located here. The rich delta region produces up to 20% of China's total GDP. History and geography
The ancient civilization of Southern China arose in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Finds on the banks near the Three Gorges historical region indicate active human activity 25 thousand years ago. During the Spring and Autumn periods, in the west of the river there was the kingdom of Shu. These were rich lands where agriculture flourished, thanks to the mild climate in the coastal areas. The confrontation between North and South China made it a natural border between them. A large number of important battles of antiquity took place here. Due to the large mass of impurities, due to its geographical location, the river waters are yellow. The water can rise 20 meters. On the river, in order to avoid large-scale floods, a large number of dams and dams were erected. The water in the river is successfully used to irrigate fields over a large area, especially in the lower reaches. Its basin is the most significant waterway in the country.
The shipping route is quite long. The total length of all river routes is about 20,000 km. This is the busiest river in the world. Freight transport volumes are approaching one billion tons per year. The Grand Canal connects the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. A project for transferring water to the north from the south has been implemented. Unlike the “turning back the rivers” in the Soviet Union, this is a carefully thought out and cost-effective innovative project.
Animal world
The Yangtze River is a unique ecosystem and a natural habitat for a large number of endangered species, such as the Chinese river dolphin, Chinese alligator, Korean alligator, Chinese paddlefish. Apart from the United States, alligators live only on the banks of the Yangtze. In China, some territories on the coast of this river are protected by the state as protected areas.
Yellow River is one of the largest waterways in Asia. Its name, translated from Chinese, means Yellow River. It is associated with the yellow tint that abundant sediment gives to its waters. For this reason, the sea into which it flows is also called yellow. The river basin is considered the place of origin and formation of the Chinese ethnic group. The Yellow River begins in the east of the Tibetan Plateau and runs through a vast area to the Bohai Gulf, where it flows into the Yellow Sea. The length of this river is about 5,000 km, its delta has a total area of more than 750 thousand km2. Due to its geographic features, the Yellow River threatens the surrounding areas with frequent and large-scale floods. To protect against this thunderstorm, a large system of dams and dams was built. Their total length is more than 5000 kilometers. But as a result of dam breaks, more big floods, and also the riverbed moves and a large number of people die. Another name for this river is “The Mountain of China.”
History and geography
The Yellow River was famous for disasters back in ancient times. It has always been prone to spills, which led to floods. They have happened approximately 1,500 times in the last 3,000 years. Its course has changed at least 12 times over the last millennium. In the eleventh century, the transition to a new direction caused a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe and caused the fall of the Xin Dynasty. These tragedies were of natural origin.In 1938, a dam was broken, which was supposed to stop the Japanese army. It only stopped its movement, but it took the lives of about a million Chinese people themselves and 54 km2 of inhabited territory were flooded. Floods and dam failures claim millions of lives across the Chinese Plain. Scientists believe that the cause of these cataclysms is anthropogenic factors, and that the construction of dams and other protective structures only provokes them.
More than 140 million people are provided with water from the Yellow River basin and water comes from the same place, irrigating a large number of fields located along it. In its lower reaches there is the “Sources of Three Rivers” nature reserve. Hydroelectric power stations are located on it. The Grand Canal connects the two Great Rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze. On certain sections of the Yellow River it is navigable. Many cities grew along it.
Ecology of the Yellow River
China has released data that due to unreasonable use, 1/3 of the river is not even suitable for use for agricultural and industrial purposes. This tragedy occurred due to the dumping of industrial waste into the river. The expansion of cities leads to water pollution from runoff. Activities to restore the ecosystem of the Yellow River are controlled at the highest level.
Ob River with Irtysh River Ob with Irtysh- some of the greatest rivers in Russia. The Ob belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin, flowing through the territory of western Siberia. The Ob is formed at the place where the Katun and Biy merge together in the Altai Territory. Then it moves in a northwestern direction, collecting water from numerous tributaries. The Ob path is distinguished by its picturesque and natural beauty. It is the tributaries that make it the deepest river in the country. Although even at the beginning of its journey it carries 1500 cubic meters per second. And this reaches half the water content of the Irtysh, which acts as its main tributary, at its mouth. Further, the Ob follows picturesque plains, forest-steppe zones, reservoirs, and endless forests. There are many truly great cities on the Ob River, including Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, Nefteyugansk.
The most significant moment of its flow, which is especially noted by travelers, can be called its merger with the Irtysh. This is an equally interesting river, distinguished by its impressive dimensions. In total, the delta of the Ob River with the Irtysh reaches 4 thousand square kilometers. The length of the Ob River is 3650 km, and from the source of the Irtysh it exceeds 5400 km. That is why, looking at the map, it may seem that the Irtysh is the main river, and the Ob is just its tributary.
The Irtysh itself begins on the border of Mongolia and China. The Chinese call it Erzisihe. It is in this place that the long and thorny path of the Irtysh begins. Moving towards the confluence with the Ob River, the Irtysh loses quite a bit of water. It gives a significant part to Lake Ulyungur, as well as some other canals. The river flows through the territory of China, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The first shipping routes along the Irtysh begin on the border with China. Today, powerful hydroelectric power stations are located on the waters, which are becoming one of the main sources of energy. Along its course, the Irtysh has amazingly picturesque places, burnt steppes, and forest areas.
Interestingly, the confluence of the Ob River with the Irtysh led to the flooding of the valley. Also in this place there is an amazing floating chapel. It appeared here only a few years ago, but has already become incredibly popular - one of the main attractions of this place. It is located on the border of two mighty rivers. On both sides of it there are waters that extend to high banks covered with taiga. There are many legends about the Ob and Irtysh rivers. One of them calls them brother and sister.
Yenisei- a river that is considered one of the largest on the planet. It begins with two sources - Ka-Khem and Biy-Khem. The length of the Yenisei River is usually calculated from the last source. The river itself begins as a narrow stream, flowing near the Topographers Hill and moving along the slope of the Eastern Sayan. In total, the length of the Yenisei is about 5075 kilometers. Of particular importance is the area of the basin, which is 2,580 thousand square kilometers. This makes the Yenisei the second largest in Russia and the seventh largest in the world. The geographical network of the river is striking in its dimensions. In total, it is represented by 198,620 rivers, which stretch for 884,754 kilometers.
The Yenisei River moves from south to north, roughly dividing the country in half. A distinctive feature is the diversity of the pool, which is represented by three independent parts. The upper expanses of the river are represented by rocky formations. In the middle and lower channels, the river separates the Western and Central Siberian Plateaus.
The Yenisei is called the most abundant river in the country. Every year it carries at least six hundred cubic meters of water into the Red Sea, which is much more than all the rivers of the European part of the country together. It is on the Yenisei River that the most powerful hydroelectric power stations in Eurasia are located. These are the Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power stations. Also today, the upper stream of the Yenisei River has turned into a reservoir thanks to the construction of a dam along the river through the Western Sayan.
The nutrition of the Yenisei is represented by a mixed type, but a significant part is often snow, which is represented by about 50%. Additionally, rain nutrition is allocated in a percentage ratio of 36-38% to total number and underground – less than 16%. A significant part of the river is characterized by summer floods, spring floods, and a decrease in flow in winter.
The amount of runoff is quite large and reaches 624 cubic kilometers, which puts the river in first place in the country in terms of this indicator. The freezing of the river occurs in October and begins from the lower reaches. The opening occurs at the end of April, starting from the upper reaches.
There are many cities on the Yenisei, including Kyzyl, Divnogorsk, Lesosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk. In addition, the river area provides important shipping routes. Flights move regularly, starting from the Appointed, pumping at the mouth. It reaches 3013 kilometers in length.
Lena River Lena- a majestic river flowing through the northern part of the country, flowing into the Laptev Sea. Some call this body of water a kind of pioneer. He became the first who began to make his way to the sea through the endless Siberia after the melting of the glaciers. It’s interesting that many people associate the name of the river with a woman’s name. However, in reality there is nothing in common between these concepts. The “name” of the river refers to the word “Elyu-Ene”, which belongs to the Evenki language of the Tungus-Manchu group. Translated into Russian it means “Big River”. This is exactly what the explorer Pyanda called the river, who studied it in the period from 1619 to 1623.
The source of the river is a mountain stream, which is located at an altitude of 1650 meters. Following the flow, the Lena River changes its character, just like a person, showing different temperaments. At the beginning of the path, she copies a stormy choleric person, on average she resembles a calm phlegmatic person, at the bottom she represents an extraordinary sanguine person, and in her delta - a melancholic person. The main sections of the river differ in the nature of the flow:
- Upper - from the source to the village of Kachug.
- Middle - from the village of Kachug to Zhigansk.
- Nizhny - from Zhigansk to its mouth.
Ecological territories are also located here in the river delta. Among them are the Ust-Lenskie - Sokol and Deltovy reserves; it is also worth noting the Lena-Ustye reserve, which is considered the largest in the country. In total, 32 species of fish, 402 species of plants, 33 species of mammals and 109 species of birds can be found here.
The Lena River is in the top ten largest countries peace. It is also considered one of the cleanest in the world due to the absence of hydroelectric power stations and dams. That is why in many places of the river you can drink water from it without boiling and without any negative consequences for your health. There is often slush on the river. It represents the freezing of the river from the ice and the rise of pieces of ice on the surface, which can form jams due to the filling of the riverbed.
Amur River River Amur flows through the territory of Russia, Mongolia and China, occupying the vastness of the eastern part of Eurasia. The Amur begins at an altitude of 303 meters on the slopes of Western Manchuria. It was formed due to the confluence of the Argun and Shilka rivers. It is believed that the river flows into the Tatar Strait of the Sea of Okhotsk. However, a number of scientists dispute this opinion, arguing that it flows into the Sea of Japan. In total, the length of the river reaches 2824 meters, and the basin area exceeds 1,855,000 square kilometers. It is interesting that throughout its history the river has had many different names. The Chinese called it “Heilong Jiang” or the black dragon, the Mongols called it the black river or “Khan Moron”, and the Manchus called it “Amar”. However, it was the name Amur River, which was given by the Russians, that stuck better than others.
Throughout the year, fluctuations in the river level can be observed. This is explained by monsoon rains. The minimum and maximum water have a significant difference, reaching 10-15 centimeters. Today, scientists are studying the issues of river flooding due to seasonal rains. Spills are often observed in the summer and spring seasons. In the first case, the cause is frequent precipitation, and in the second, the melting of snow and ice. Annual flow also affects the water regime of the Amur River. He can be:
- Small.
- Reduced.
- Moderate.
- Tall.
The Amur River is home to a huge number of aquatic inhabitants. There are 136 species of fish, of which 40 are commercial. The rest are protected by law or are not of interest for catch. Of particular interest are endemic fish, among which are Chinese perch, yellowjacket, killer whale, snakehead, and kaluga.
The Amur flows through numerous settlements. The largest among them are Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Heihe Amursk. At the same time, the river takes water from various tributaries. The largest is the Zeya, which acts as a left tributary of the Amur, but at the same time exceeds it in width and depth. The right tributary is Burei, which carries its waters through the territory of China. Other tributaries include the Sungari, Amgun, and Ussuri. The latter river represents the natural border between China and Russia.
The Congo River, also called Zaire, is located in Central Africa. Its channel is located on the territory of the state of the same name. The Portuguese Diogo Can introduced this river to Europeans. This happened in 1482 during one of Diogo’s voyages.
This body of water is called the deepest and most amazing on the planet. The length on average reaches 4344-4700 kilometers, and the total area of the basin reaches 3,680,000 square kilometers. The Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean through a deep channel. This river is the second longest in Africa and the second in terms of water content, second only to the Amazon.
The greatest depths are in the lower reaches of the reservoir. At this point the river flows through a hill, crossing a gorge only 300 meters wide. Waterfalls are also formed here, which are named after Livingston. They fall from a height of 270 meters. Here there are the greatest depths, exceeding 230 meters.
Floods on the Congo River occur twice a year. In December and May, the river reaches its highest level at the mouth. It reaches its minimum in August and March. The waters of the Congo can be seen far out in the Atlantic Ocean during this process.
The reservoir is famous for its huge amount of fish. Here you can catch Nile perch, mormyrops, Congo River catfish and other freshwater inhabitants. The most interesting representative of the waters can confidently be called tiger fish. This is a fairly large predator with large teeth, which is put on a par with the piranha in terms of its danger. Its dimensions can reach up to 70 kg. Local residents are ready to tell many legends associated with tiger fish, including stories about its attacks on people. Although in reality this predator prefers small fish.
The Congo is an important navigable river in Africa. It is considered its main waterway. In total, shipping routes reach 20 thousand km in length. In addition, the river acts as the main source of hydropower due to the transfer of significant masses of water. Today there are three large-scale hydroelectric power stations located on it.
The Congo River is deservedly called one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the whole world. Along its course there are evergreen tropical forests, amazing valleys, and majestic mountain ranges. The funnel-shaped mouth just before the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean also attracts attention. It is believed that the Congo is the richest river in the world in minerals. There are deposits of cobalt, radium, copper ore, uranium, silver, nickel, as well as some other metals.
Determining which of the world's longest rivers is not an easy task. While for most of us the answer would be the Nile River, there are many scientists who consider the Amazon to be the true owner of that title. The difficulty in identifying the undisputed winner is that it is quite difficult to establish the beginning or source of the river. Large rivers such as the Nile and the Amazon have numerous sources, as well as countless large and small tributaries. Therefore, it is necessary to find the farthest source of the river if its true length is to be calculated. Often these sources are located in remote and inaccessible locations, making them difficult to find. Listed below are the five longest rivers/river systems in the world according to generally accepted standards. However, with the discovery of new sources of these rivers, their order may change.
What is longer, the Nile or the Amazon??
River Nile
For most people, the answer to the question: “What is the longest river on Earth?” - This is the Nile River. Although many perceive the Nile as the lifeline of Egypt, it is, in fact, an international river flowing through 11 African countries. However, it is the main source of water in two countries: Egypt and Sudan. The Blue and White Nile are two tributaries of the river, with the latter having longer length than the first one. The source of the White Nile has not yet been fully determined, but it is believed to be somewhere in Burundi or Rwanda. According to some reports, Lake Victoria is believed to be the source of the White Nile, which in turn is fed by the Kagera River, the two main tributaries of which are the Ruvironza and Nyabarongo rivers in Burundi and Rwanda respectively. The Kagera is formed at the confluence of these two rivers near the border of Tanzania and Rwanda. The Blue Nile has a more definite origin in Ethiopia's Lake Tana. The two tributaries meet near the Sudanese capital Khartoum. The final course of the Nile River passes through Egypt before it forms a delta and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. According to some data, the length of the Nile is 6,853 km.
Amazon river
Amazon river
Amazon is undoubtedly the most big river in the world by volume of water. However, its position as the world's longest river is highly disputed, as this title has long been assigned to the Nile River. The dispute arises over the definition of the origins of the Amazon. Until now, the upper reaches of the Apurimac River were considered the source of the Amazon River. However, a recent study in 2014 claims that the origins of the Amazon can be traced to the Cordillera Rumi Cruz, where the Peruvian Mantaro River originates. This river then joins the Apurimac River (the upper reaches of which were previously considered the source of the Amazon), and then other tributaries join the river downstream to form the Ucayali River, which finally merges with the Marañon River to form the main stem of the Amazon River. Thus, if the latest data is taken into account, this adds between 75 and 92 km to the length of the river. However, many believe that the Amazon is about 6,400 km long and therefore shorter than the Nile.
Other long rivers of the world:
Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world and the longest river flowing within a single country. It is also the longest river in Asia. The Yangtze Basin is home to one third of the population of China, the most populous country on Earth. Two sources of the Yangtze River have been proposed. The Chinese government recognizes the Tuotuo tributary, located in the Tanggula Mountains, as the main source of the river. At an altitude of over 5,300 m above sea level, Tuotuo is the highest source of the Yangtze. However, according to new data, the source of the Yangtze River is located on Yari Hill, where its tributaries unite. The river covers a total distance of 6,300 km and flows into the East China Sea in Shanghai.
Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson
Mississippi River
The river system, consisting of the Mississippi, Missouri and Jefferson rivers, is considered the fourth largest river system in the world. It passes through 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. The Mississippi River begins in northern Minnesota, where its source is Lake Itasca, and flows 3,734 km into the Gulf of Mexico. However, if we consider the Jefferson River as the most distant tributary of the Mississippi River, we get the Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson River system, which is 5,969 km long. The Madison River joins the Jefferson River for 133 km to form the Missouri River, which finally merges with the Mississippi at the border between Illinois and Missouri, USA.
Yenisei-Angara-Selenga
Yenisei River
It is the fifth longest river system in the world and the largest discharge of water into the Arctic Ocean. The Selenge River is considered as the headwaters of this river system. It has a length of 992 km and flows into Lake Baikal. The Angara River originates from Baikal near Listvyanka and flows through the Irkutsk region of Russia, and then joins the Yenisei River near the village of Strelka. The Yenisei finally flows into the Arctic Ocean. The total length of this river system is about 5,539 km.
Table of the longest rivers on Earth
| Place in the ranking | Name of river or river system | Length, km |
| 1 | Nile | 6,853 km |
| 2 | Amazon | 6,400 km |
| 3 | Yangtze | 6,300 km |
| 4 | Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson | 5,969 km |
| 5 | Yenisei-Angara-Selenga | 5,539 km |
| 6 | Yellow River | 5,464 km |
| 7 | Congo | 4,700 km |
| 8 | Lena | 4,400 km |
| 9 | Mekong | 4,350 km |
| 10 | Niger | 4,180 km |
| 11 | Ob | 3,650 km |
| 12 | Amur | 2,825 km |
The existence of life on our planet cannot be imagined without rivers. They are also the largest sources of fresh water for territories that cover an area of tens of thousands of square kilometers. It was the big rivers that became the cradles of human civilization. Today, a million people live along them. An excellent example would be the Yangtze or the Nile.
Of course, there is a dispute between individual groups of scientists and even entire countries about the longest and largest river in the world. Entire expeditions are sent in search of new sources in order to add several tens of kilometers to the length of the river.
The largest, largest and longest rivers in the world. List.
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Name |
Length (km) |
Basin area (thousand km²) |
Average water flow at the mouth (thousand m³/s) |
Highest water flow at the mouth (thousand m³/s) |
Solid waste (million tons/year) |
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Amazon |
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Mississippi - Missouri |
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Ob (with Irtysh) |
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Parana (from the origins of Paranaiba) |
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Amur (from the sources of Arguni) |
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Kongo (with Lualaba) |
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Mackenzie (from the headwaters of the Peace River) |
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Yenisei (from the origins of the Small Yenisei) |
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Ganges (with Brahmaputra) |
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1. Amazon (6992 m.) - the largest, longest and largest river in the world and South America.
Description of the Amazon River - the longest river in the world and South America.
The Amazon is the absolute record holder both in length and in terms of deep water and basin area. For many years it was believed that the longest river in the world was the Nile, but new research carried out through the comparison of photographs from space and computer data processing has refuted this long-known fact. The Amazon turned out to be 140 km longer than the Nile!
In 2011, according to the results of a global competition, the Amazon was recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. And this is no coincidence. The Amazon is not only the longest, largest and largest river in the world and South America, but also a unique place on our planet, home to more than a million species of different plants and animals. According to researchers, per 10 km² of tropical forest there are 1.5 thousand species of flowers, 750 species of trees, 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and countless invertebrate animals. Many of their species are not even described or identified. The Amazon and its tributaries are home to up to 2,000 species of fish, one of which is the well-known voracious predatory piranha.
The largest tropical rainforest on the planet is located in the basin of the longest river in the world. The climate here is hot and humid, all year round the air temperature fluctuates only between 25-28°C and it rains very often. There is practically no wind in the forest - the lush vegetation does not allow gusts of air to pass through. Even during a storm, only the tops of the trees sway here, and below reigns twilight and peace.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the world's longest underground river was discovered under the longest land river in the world, flowing parallel to the Amazon at a depth of 4000 m. It originates in the Andes and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its unofficial name is Hamza, in honor of the scientist who discovered it. The flow speed of the Hamza River does not exceed several meters per year, and the width is about 400 meters.
2. Nile (6852)- the second of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world and the longest river in Africa.
Description of the Nile River is the second largest, largest and longest river in the world and the longest river in Africa.
The Nile is a true “river of life”, as it is the only river North Africa crossing the sands of the Sahara without drying up. The constant water flow is carried out due to precipitation falling in the upper reaches of the river.
Almost all the settlements of Egypt are located along the Nile bed and almost all of the economic activity. The waters of the world's second longest river are used for irrigation and electricity production (the Nile's energy resources are estimated at 50 GW), fishing and fish farming, water supply and shipping.
The Nile originates on the East African Plateau (Kagera River), flows through Lake Victoria (some sources indicate this lake as the source of the Nile River). The exit from the plateau is characterized by an abundance of rapids and waterfalls. After the confluence of the El Ghazal River, the river is called the White Nile and flows through semi-deserts and deserts to Khartoum, receives the main tributary - the Blue Nile and, under the name Nile proper, flows to the Mediterranean Sea, at the confluence with which it forms a vast delta.
Floods in various parts of the river occur during different seasons: in the equator region - in the summer and winter seasons, in the northern part of the river - in the summer and autumn periods. To regulate the flow of one of the longest rivers in the world, the following dams were built: Gebel Auliya on the White Nile, Aswan and Aswan High. The construction of dams protected the population from annual floods. This, on the one hand, deprived agriculture of the most important natural fertilizer - silt, but, on the other hand, it increased the area of irrigated land and made it possible to harvest three crops per year from the fields.
3. Yangtze (5800 km) - the third of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world and the longest, largest and largest river in Eurasia. .png)
Description of the Yangtze River - the third of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world and the longest river in Eurasia.
The Yangtze River originates in the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau at an altitude of about 5,600 km and flows through China from west to east, making a large turn to the south after Qinghai Province. The lower course of the Yangtze passes through the southern part of the Great Chinese Plain, where the river is often divided into branches, with the width of the main channel reaching 2 km or more. In the area where it flows into the East China Sea, the Yangtze forms a large delta with an area of about 80 thousand km².
Four of China's five largest freshwater lakes drain into the Yangtze. The third of the longest rivers in the world has about 700 tributaries, the largest of which are the Yalongjiang, Minjiang, Jialingjiang, Tuo, Hanshui (Juhe).
The Yangtze River is of great cultural and economic importance to the country. This is China's main waterway. The total length of the waterways of the Yangtze basin exceeds 17 thousand km. The river is one of the world's busiest waterways. The volume of freight traffic in 2005 reached 795 million tons.
Covering a fifth of China, the Yangtze River basin is home to a third of the country's population and produces about 20% of GDP. The world's largest hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station, was built on the longest river in Eurasia.
The Yangtze River is home to a variety of animals, including several endangered species such as the Chinese river dolphin, Chinese alligators and Korean sturgeon. In the basin of the third of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world, there are several nature reserves and part of the Three Parallel Rivers National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Mississippi (6275 km) - the fourth largest, largest and longest river in the world and the longest, largest and largest river in North America. Mississippi .jpg)
Description of the Mississippi River - the fourth largest, largest and longest river in the world and the longest river in North America.
The Mississippi is one of the world's greatest rivers. Together with the Missouri, it is the fourth longest river in the world and the largest, largest and longest river in North America. The Mississippi flows through ten US states from north to south. The source of the river is considered to be Nicolette Creek (according to other sources, Lake Itasca), the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The river basin (the third largest after the Amazon and Congo river basins) extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Appalachians and from the Great Lakes region to the Gulf of Mexico, occupying an area of 3268 thousand km2, which is 40% of the area of the United States, not counting Alaska.
The length of the Mississippi River is 3950 km (according to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia) or 3774 km (Wikipedia). It takes a drop of water 90 days to travel from its source to the mouth of a river.
Speaking about the Mississippi as the fourth of the longest rivers in the world, it should be borne in mind that we're talking about about the length of the Jefferson-Missouri-Mississippi river system. In total, the length of the three rivers is 6275 kilometers. When it comes to the longest river in North America, various sources call either the Mississippi River (3,774 km) or its tributary, the Missouri (3,767 km). In our classification of rivers by length, we proceeded from determining the length of the river from the source of its longest tributary to the mouth. Considered this way, the Mississippi is definitely the longest river in North America.
The Mississippi is a convenient waterway from the Gulf of Mexico to the central parts of the mainland, an important transport artery of the United States, connecting the developed industrial and agricultural areas of the country. The rivers of the Mississippi system have a large economic importance. The total length of the basin's shipping routes is over 25 thousand square meters. km. A number of large power plants have been built on tributaries of the Mississippi.
The river is fed by mixed snow and rain. The right tributaries bring mainly meltwater formed by snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains, while the left tributaries feed the Mississippi with rain and stormwater. The Mississippi regime is characterized by spring-summer floods and stormy rain floods.
The longest, largest and largest river in North America is divided into three sections, the boundaries of which are where its largest tributaries, the Missouri and Ohio, flow into the Mississippi.
In the upper section, the river flows through small lakes, overcoming rocky rifts and rapids in many places, the most significant of which are in the cities. Minneapolis (St. Anthony Falls), Davenport and Keokak. From Minneapolis to the mouth of the Missouri, the river is locked; there are more than 20 dams in this section.
In the middle section, the fourth longest river in the world flows predominantly in one channel. The width of the river valley, limited by steep slopes, is 15-20 km. In the middle section of the Mississippi it has interesting feature: For 150-180 km, the dirty, murky waters of the Missouri flow next to the relatively clear water of the Mississippi without mixing.
In the lower section, the Mississippi River flows through a vast valley that gradually widens from 25 to 70 km. The river bed is winding, with numerous branches and oxbow lakes, forming in the lower reaches a labyrinth of channels, oxbow lakes, and vast floodplain swamps that are flooded during floods. At the end of the delta, the longest, largest and largest river in North America branches into 6 main relatively short branches 20-40 km long, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.
5. Yellow River (5464 km) - the fifth of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world and the second longest river in Eurasia. .jpg)
Description of the Yellow River - the fifth of the largest, largest and longest rivers in the world and the second longest river in Asia.
The Yellow River is one of the world's greatest rivers, the second longest river in Asia and the fifth longest river in the world. The name of the river means "Yellow River" in Chinese. The yellow color of the river's waters is given by the abundance of sediment, of which there is so much in the river that the sea into which it flows is called the Yellow Sea. The Yellow River ranks first in the world in terms of sediment volume (1.3 billion tons/year).
The Yellow River originates in the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau at an altitude of over 4000 m, flows through lakes Orin-Nur and Dzharin-Nur, spurs of the Kunlun and Nanshan mountain ranges. When crossing the Ordos and the Loess Plateau, in its middle course it forms a large bend, then through the gorges of the Shanxi Mountains it enters the Great Chinese Plain, along which it flows about 700 km before flowing into the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, forming a delta in the confluence area. According to various sources, the length of the river is from 4670 km to 5464 km, and the area of its basin is from 745 thousand km² to 771 thousand km².
The Yellow River is fed by rain; in the mountainous part of the basin it is also fed by snow. The fifth of the longest, largest and largest rivers in the world has a monsoon regime during summer floods with a rise in water levels of up to 5 m on the plains and up to 20 m in the mountains. In order to protect against floods, a system of dams with a total length of more than 5,000 km was built along the river. Dam breaks led to catastrophic floods, accompanied by large-scale destruction and changes in the river bed (the maximum change in the river bed was about 800 km). Due to the incredible catastrophic floods, the Yellow River received the nickname “The Mountain of China.” It is known that over the past two thousand years, the Yellow River has overflowed its banks more than a thousand times, broken through dams, and at least 20 times significantly changed the trajectory of its bed. In 1931, during the Yellow River flood, according to various estimates, from 1,000,000 to 4,000,000 residents of the North China Plain died.
But despite this, the Yellow River basin provides about 140 million people with drinking water and water for irrigation. A number of hydroelectric power stations were built on the river. Through the Grand Canal, the fifth largest, largest and longest river in the world is connected to the Huaihe and Yangtze Rivers.
The Yellow River flows through a total of seven modern provinces and two autonomous regions, namely the following (from west to east): Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia Hui, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. The mouth of the Yellow River is located in Kenli County (Shandong).
The river is usually divided into three parts - upper, middle and lower reaches. The upper course of the river passes through the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau and the Loess Plateau of northwestern China; the middle course includes the valley between Ordos and Shaanxi and the gorges further downstream; the lower course of the river passes through the Great Chinese Plain.
6. Ob River (with Irtysh)
The Ob River is one of the largest rivers not only in Russia, but throughout the world. It flows from south to north across Western Siberia almost parallel to the greatest Russian river, the Yenisei. A mighty stream flows in the north into the Kara Sea. At the confluence there is a huge bay. It is called the Gulf of Ob, and its length exceeds 800 km. This is a kind of river mouth, called an estuary in scientific circles. It is characterized by the absence of river sediments. Their creation is hampered by sea currents. In Russia, in addition to the Ob Bay, the Yenisei Bay can also be called an estuary.
Like all the large rivers of Siberia, they flow into the Laptev Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. To some extent, Lena can be called a pioneer: after the melting of the glacier and the formation of flora and fauna, it was this river that was one of the first to blaze a path to the sea, exploring the endless taiga expanses of Siberia.
The name “Lena”, familiar to Russian speakers, has nothing to do with a woman’s name - it is only a derivative of the Evenki word of the Tungus-Manchu language group “Elu-Ene”, which translates as “Big River”. The Evenki hydronym was used by the discoverer of the river, the Russian explorer Pyanda (Penda), who explored the river in 1619-1623, following downstream from the modern region of Kirensk to Yakutsk. Like all the great rivers of Siberia, the Lena flows north, emptying into the Laptev Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.
The question of what exactly is considered the source of the Lena is still open." The latest versions point to a mountain stream at an altitude of 1650 m. Following further along the channel, the waters of the Lena, depending on the conditions, change their character, showing all types of temperament: choleric - in at the beginning of its journey, phlegmatic in the middle, sanguine in the lower and melancholic in the delta.
According to the nature of the river flow, three sections are distinguished: from the source to the village of Kachug, from Kachug to Zhigansk the middle flow, and from Zhigansk to the mouth - the lower section.
Before the Manzurka River flows into it near the village of Kachug, Lena descends along the Baikal ridge and lies in the mountainous Cis-Baikal region, here its character can be compared to choleric. With its small size in this part (width 5-7 m), its flow speed does not fall below 9 km/h.
Next, Lena follows to Ust-Kut and lower to the confluence of the Chaya and Vitim rivers, here her character becomes closer to phlegmatic. This is especially noticeable after the Olekma flows into it and a significant expansion of the channel from the village. News to Yakutsk, where it reaches 5 km. The slopes of the river in the middle reaches are most often covered coniferous trees with occasional meadows appearing.
Then the river, in its undisturbed movement, expands even more, reaching 7-9 km in the riverbed even before the Aldan flows into it. And with Aldan and Vilyuy, which enters later, the width of the Lena reaches 10 km (up to 20 on island sections), and the depth exceeds 16-20 m. In the Zhigansk region, the Lena narrows and therefore its character becomes sanguine: the flow becomes lively and powerful, reaching its maximum strength.
11. Congo River .jpg)
Congo (Zaire, Lualaba) is a river in Central Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (partially flows along its borders with the Republic of Congo and Angola), the deepest and second longest river in Africa, the second most water-rich river in the world after the Amazon. In the upper reaches (above the city of Kisangani) it is called Lualaba. The only major river that crosses the equator twice. The basin area is 4,014,500 km². Length - 4374 km. The river slope is 0.36 m/km.
It originates from the settlement of Mumena.
The length of the Congo from the source of Lualaba is 4374 km (from the source of Chambeshi - over 4700 km). The basin area is 4,014,500 km². The source of the Lualaba originates in the southeast of the DRC, on a plateau near the border with Zambia. According to other sources, the source of the Congo is the Chambeshi River, which forms between lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika at an altitude of 1590 meters above sea level. It flows into Lake Bangweulu, flows out of it as Luapula, flows into Lake Mweru, flows out of it as the Luvua River and joins Lualaba. The upper reaches of the Congo (Lualaba), located within plateaus and plateaus, are characterized by alternating rapids and leveled pools with a calm current. The steepest drop (475 m at a distance of about 70 km) of Lualaba is in the Nzilo Gorge, with which it cuts through the southern spurs of the Mitumba Mountains. Starting from the city of Bukama, the river flows slowly, strongly meandering, along the flat bottom of the Upemba graben. Below the city of Kongolo, Lualaba breaks through the crystalline rocks of the Port d'Enfer (Hell's Gate) gorge, forming rapids and waterfalls; further downstream, several more groups of waterfalls and rapids follow one after another. Between the cities of Kindu and Ubundu the river flows calmly again in a wide valley. Just below the equator, it descends from the edges of the plateau into the Congo Basin, forming the Stanley Falls.
After Stanley Falls near the city of Kisangani, the river changes its name to Congo. In the middle course, contained within the Congo Basin, the river is calm with a slight fall (on average about 0.07 m/km). Its channel, predominantly with low and flat, often swampy banks, is a chain of lake-like extensions (up to 15 km in places), separated by relatively narrowed (up to 1.5-2 km) sections. In the central part of the Congo Basin, the floodplains of the river and its right tributaries Ubangi and Sanga merge together, forming one of the largest periodically flooded areas in the world. As you approach the western edge of the depression, the appearance of the river changes: it is compressed here between high (100 m or more) and steep bedrock banks, narrowing in places to less than 1 km; depths increase (often up to 20 - 30 m), the current accelerates. This narrowed section, the so-called Channel, passes into the lake-like expansion of Stanley Pool (about 30 km long, up to 25 km wide), which ends the middle course of the Congo.
In the lower reaches of the Congo, it breaks through to the ocean through the South Guinea Plateau in a deep (up to 500 m) gorge. The width of the channel here decreases to 400-500 meters, in some places to 220-250 meters. Over the course of 350 km between the cities of Kinshasa and Matadi, the river descends 270 m, forming about 70 rapids and waterfalls, collectively called Livingston Falls. The depths in this area are 230 m or more, making the Congo the deepest river in the world. At Matadi, the Congo enters the coastal lowland, the channel widens to 1-2 km, the depths in the fairway reach 25-30 m. Near the city of Boma, the Congo estuary begins, the width of which in the middle part reaches 19 km, then decreases to 3.5 km and increases again towards the mouth, where it is 9.8 km. The top and middle part of the estuary are occupied by an actively forming young delta. The continuation of the estuary is the Congo underwater canyon with a total length of at least 800 km.
12. Mackenzie River .jpg)
The Mackenzie (English and French Mackenzie, slave Deh Cho - “big river”) is the largest river in Canada and the entire American north with a length of 1738 km. Named after Alexander Mackenzie, who discovered it.
It is a navigable river; the length of the navigable routes of the entire Mackenzie river system is 2200 km - from Waterways on the Athabasca River to the port of Taktoyaktuk on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The largest settlements are Aklavik, Inuvik, Fort Norman, Fort Providence and the oilfield center of Norman Wells.
It was discovered and first climbed by A. Mackenzie from June 29 to July 14, 1789. It was originally called the Disappointment River.
Tributaries
R. Drank
R. Liard
R. Big Bear
R. Arctic Red River
R. Karkaju
R. Ruth
R. Mountain
R. Hare Indian
The source of the Mackenzie River is considered to be the Great Slave Lake; the river basin also includes the large Canadian lakes Woollaston, Clare, Athabasca and Great Bear. The last lake is connected to the river through the Bolshaya Medvezhya tributary. The average water flow at the mouth of the river is ≈10,700 m³/s, which puts the river in second place among the rivers of North America after the Mississippi. The relatively small flow of the Mackenzie is due to the blocking effect of the Rocky Mountains to the west, which reduce the influence of the Pacific Ocean in the lower part of its catchment.
The Mackenzie, like more than half of Canada's rivers, belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin. Arctic rivers are fed mainly by snow and rain. In the central and northern regions of the country, rivers and lakes are covered with ice for 5 to 9 months. The Mackenzie freezes in September - October, opens in May, and in the lower reaches - in early June; snow and rain food; spring-summer flood.
The river valley is formed by strata of alluvial and fluvio-glacial sediments, is heavily swamped, and covered with spruce forest.
13. Niger River
The Niger (French Niger, English Niger [ˈnaɪdʒər], Yoruba Niger, Ọya) is the most important river in West Africa. The length is 4180 km, the basin area is 2,117,700 km², the third according to these parameters in Africa after the Nile and the Congo.
The source of the river is on the slopes of the Leon-Liberian Upland in southeastern Guinea. The height of the source is 745 m above sea level. The river flows through the territory of Mali, Niger, along the border with Benin, and then through the territory of Nigeria. Flows into the Gulf of Guinea Atlantic Ocean, forming a delta in the confluence area. Largest influx Niger - Benue River.
The exact origin of the name of the river is unknown and there has been a debate about this among researchers for a long time.
A popular belief is that the name of the river comes from the Tuareg nehier-ren - “river, flowing water”. According to one hypothesis, the name of the river comes in turn from the words “Egerev n’Egerev”, which in Tamashek (one of the Tuareg languages) means “great river” or “river of rivers”. This was the name given to the Niger and some other peoples who lived on its banks.
There is also a hypothesis according to which the derivative of the name of the river is the Latin word niger, that is, “black”. This hypothesis assumes that historically the words “Niger” and “negro” are of the same root, since the latter also comes from the word “black”.
The aborigines living close to the banks call the river differently in certain sections of the course: Joliba (in the Mandingo language - “big river”), Mayo, Eghirreu, Iso, Quorra (Quarra, Kowara), Baki-n-ruu, etc. etc., but the vast majority of these names translated mean “river”.
The source is located on the slopes of the Leon-Liberian Upland in southeastern Guinea. In its upper reaches the river is called Djoliba. The river flows northeast, crossing the border with Mali. In its upper and lower reaches, the Niger has rapids and flows mainly in a narrow valley. In its middle reaches, the Niger has the character of a flat river. From the Guinean city of Kourousa to the Malian capital of Bamako, and also below the city of Segou, the Niger flows through a wide valley and is navigable. Below the Malian city of Ke Masina, the Niger divides into several branches, forming an internal delta. In the inland delta region, the Niger Valley is heavily swamped. Previously, at this point, the Niger flowed into an endorheic lake. In the Timbuktu region, numerous branches are connected into one channel. The river then flows east along the southern border of the Sahara for 300 km. Near the town of Burem, the Niger turns southeast and flows in a wide valley all the way to its mouth, and is navigable. The river flows through the territory of Niger, where there are numerous dry riverbeds (wadis) that once flowed into Niger, along the Benin border, then flows through Nigeria and flows into the Gulf of Guinea, forming a vast delta with an area of 24 thousand km². The longest branch of the delta is Nun, but the deeper Forcados branch is used for navigation.
The main tributaries of the Niger: Milo, Bani (right); Sokoto, Kaduna and Benue (left).
The Niger is a relatively “clean” river; compared to the Nile, the turbidity of its water is about ten times less. This is due to the fact that the upper reaches of the Niger pass through rocky terrain and do not carry much silt. Like the Nile, the Niger floods every year. It begins in September, peaks in November, and ends by May.
An unusual feature of the river is the so-called internal Niger delta, formed in a place where the longitudinal channel slope is greatly reduced. The area is an area of multi-branch riverbeds, marshes and lakes the size of Belgium. It has a length of 425 km with an average width of 87 km. Seasonal floods make the inland delta extremely favorable for fishing and agriculture.
Niger loses approximately two-thirds of its flow in the inland delta section between Ségou and Timbuktu due to evaporation and seepage. Even the waters of the Bani River flowing into the delta near the city of Mopti are not enough to compensate for these losses. The average loss is estimated at 31 km³/year (the amount varies greatly from year to year).
After the inland delta, many tributaries flow into the Niger, but evaporation losses remain very high. The volume of water entering Nigeria in the Yola region was estimated at 25 km³/year before the 1980s and 13.5 km³/year during the eighties. The most important tributary of the Niger is the Benue, which joins it at Lokoja. The volume of tributaries in Nigeria is six times greater than the volume of the Niger itself when it enters the country. Towards the delta, Niger's flow increases to 177 km³/year (data before the 1980s, during the eighties - 147.3 km³/year.
This one of the largest rivers in Europe is also the ancestral home of the birth of civilization. The Danube is the sacred river of the Slavs. She is often mentioned in songs, fairy tales, legends and traditions of all Slavic peoples. In addition, the history of the Celts, Thracians, Illyrians and Greeks is connected with the history of the Danube. In ancient times, the Greeks called the Danube the same as the Thracians who lived along the banks of this river - Ister. And only later, already in Roman times, the river received its modern name, which was pronounced and written as Danubium. In the 7th century BC, the Greeks founded a colony south of the river delta and called it Istria.
The ancients first looked for the sources of the river near the Riphean Mountains. Then far to the north, and later in the land of the Celts in the Hercynian Forest. But already in 15 BC, during the reign of Tiberius, the true sources of the Danube were established: it begins on the massif now called the Black Forest with two sources at an altitude of 1 kilometer.
Since the reign of Augustus, the Danube became the border of the Roman state with the northern barbarians. 
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DANUBE
Danube (Romanian Dunărea, Hungarian Duna, German Donau, Serbian Dunav, Slovak Dunaj, Bulgarian Dunav, Croatian Dunav, Ukrainian Danube, Latin Danubius, Danuvius, other Greek Ίστρος) - the second largest longest river in Europe (after the Volga), an “international” river, the longest river in the European Union.
Length - 2960 km.
The river originates in Germany, in the Black Forest mountains. Further, the Danube flows or is the border of ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine; passing through the capitals of Central and Eastern Europe such as Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. In addition to these ten countries, the Danube drainage basin covers the territories of nine more European countries. The Danube flows into the Black Sea, forming a delta in Romania and Ukraine; the Romanian part of which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Russian name of the river goes back to Praslav. *Dunajь, which was borrowed through Gothic. *Dōnawi from Celtic. Dānuvius. Polish scientist Jan Rozwadovsky suggested that the Slavs originally used the word *Dunajь to refer to the Dnieper (as can be heard in Ukrainian and Belarusian folklore). K. Moshinsky supported this assumption, believing that when some of the Slavs migrated to the vicinity of the Danube, the name of which was originally borrowed as *Dunavъ/*Dunavь, the name was transferred from the previously known river. Moshinsky was objected to by T. Ler-Splavinsky, who pointed out that the word “Danube” and its derivatives refer to a dozen rivers and streams in the territory of the distribution of Slavic languages, in addition, given word functions as an appellative in Polish and Ukrainian dialects. In this regard, Ler-Splavinsky restores for the Proto-Slavic language common noun*dunaj « big water", derived from pra-i.e. *dhouna. Lehr-Splavinsky’s conclusions were ignored in the work of V. N. Toporov and O. N. Trubachev “Linguistic analysis of hydronyms of the Upper Dnieper region”, which derived the hydronym “Dunaec”, found on Slavic lands from the name of the Danube, for which this work was criticized by Z. Golomb .
A river in Germany with steep cliffs, fragrant vineyards, ancient castles perched on almost every peak. It is shrouded in numerous myths and legends, including the one about the beautiful siren Lorelei.
The main river in Germany is one of the most important shipping routes of Western European countries. Born in the Swiss Alps and occupying a basin with an area of 224.4 thousand km2, the deep river subsequently flows into the North Sea.
Rhine from a geographical point of view The Rhine is one of the most famous, longest and busiest rivers in Europe.
It originates, as already mentioned, in the Alps. The river covers most of Switzerland, all of Liechtenstein, and large territory in Germany and the Netherlands, areas in eastern France, western Austria.
There are many cities located along the picturesque banks of the mighty river.
The Rhine, a river in Germany whose name comes from the Celtic word renos ("raging stream"), appears as a noisy and seething torrent, raging in deep gorges. Its powerful flow slows down a bit as the river passes through Lake Constance. The stream then heads west to Basel.
There the river turns north and enters the Rhine Graben, a fault zone of the East African Plateau located between the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Black Forest to the east. The picturesque Rhine Valley (North German Lowland) stretches along the settlements of Bingen and Bonn. The largest cities located on the banks of the Rhine (a river in Germany) are Cologne and Dusseldorf.
Rotterdam, the leading port of continental Europe, is located near the mouth of the river. At the border with the Netherlands, the stream divides into two parallel delta branches, the Lek and the Val, crossing a wide and slightly marshy plain.
city of Cologne and Cologne Cathedral .jpeg)
River cruises
The picturesque Rhine (a river in Germany), along the banks of which numerous medieval castles and towers are comfortably located, is a real attraction in several countries at once. The Rhine shines with indescribable beauty in the evenings, especially on New Year's Eve. At this time, a huge number of tourists and travelers come here who want to enjoy with their own eyes the wonderful spectacle of a romantic show with stunning fireworks.
A variety of boarding houses where you can rent a cozy room, as well as many bars and restaurants offer their services for the temporary stay of tourists.
Shipping
The shipping company was launched along the Rhine at the beginning of the 19th century, namely in 1817. From Basel to Kehl, shipping and shipping are not used on a large scale; ships with a carrying capacity of no more than 400 centners can pass through this space. From Kehl to Plittersdorf, ships can reach 2-3 thousand quintals, and, starting their journey from these places, shipping acquires considerable commercial importance.
Vessels weighing up to 12 thousand quintals can pass to Mannheim. Tributaries of the Rhine River The Rhine is the largest river in Germany - about 1233 km long, of which 865 km is in Germany. It is considered one of the most important waterways in Europe. A large number of large, and also not big rivers.
The main tributary from Alsace, Illinois, joins it at Strasburg. The shorter rivers Dreisam and Kinzig, which flow into the Rhine, flow from the Black Forest. The Neckar, which flows through a gorge as far as Heidelberg, enters the Rhine at Mannheim.
The Middle Rhine is the most exciting and romantic part of the river. High banks cover vineyards up to the village of Koblenz, where another tributary, the Moselle, joins the Rhine.
On the right bank, where the beautiful Ehrenbreitstein fortress rises, the Lahn River flows into the mighty water artery. Below the city of Bonn, the Rhine Valley opens out into a wide plain, with the ancient city of Cologne conveniently located on the left bank of the river. The longest river in Europe The longest river (Rhine) on the map of Europe passes through or borders such countries as Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Its length is more than a thousand kilometers.
The Rhine flows through six countries and is culturally and historically one of the largest and deepest rivers on the continent. It is also the most important industrial and transport artery in the world. The main river in Germany also plays an important role in trade communications. Despite the fact that almost its entire length there are railway tracks located parallel to it. The Rhine is a river that flows through the most densely populated European countries with rich natural resources and industrial development.
Choose the most long rivers peace is a non-trivial task. The beginning of a river is considered to be the tributary farthest from the mouth. However, its name does not always coincide with the name of the river, which introduces difficulties in measuring the length. The error in calculations may also be due to seasonal changes.
There are also difficulties with the mouth - some rivers simply do not have one (for example, Cubango). Or the mouth is a funnel-shaped estuary expanding towards the ocean.
In our list we will name the ten longest river systems in the world, taking into account the length of their tributaries.
10. Congo – length 4700 km
It is the deepest river in the world (measured depth is more than 220 meters) and the second after the Amazon in terms of drainage basin size (3,680,000 sq. km).
The river originates deep in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is fed by the Lualaba River, which itself is fed by the Luvoa and Luapula rivers. And those, in turn, are connected with Lake Mveru and Lake Bangwelo. The Chambeshi River also flows into Luapula.
The Congo River makes up most of the border between the DRC and its eastern neighbor, the Republic of the Congo.
The Congo River got its name from the Kingdom of Kongo, which was located on the left bank of the river's mouth. And the name Zaire, by which the river was known in the 16th and 17th centuries, comes from a Portuguese adaptation of the word nzere (“river”) from the Kikongo language.
9. Amur – 5052 km
This majestic Far Eastern river originates in Western Manchuria where two large rivers- Shilka and Argun. The Kerulen and Onon rivers are also considered as a source of the Amur.
The Amur flows east along the Russian-Chinese border and slowly turns into a large arc, receiving several tributaries.
The Chinese call the Amur "Black Dragon River". According to legend, the Black Dragon defeated the evil White Dragon, who was the owner of the river and in every possible way disturbed the local residents. Cupid enters.
8. Lena-Vitim – 5100 km
The easternmost of the three great rivers of Siberia (including the Ob and Yenisei) that flow into the Arctic Ocean.
The Lena, together with its right tributary Vitim, is the eighth largest river on Earth. And the only one in the world whose channel is entirely located in permafrost areas.
The source of the Lena is a small swamp, which is located ten kilometers west of Lake Baikal.
Spring and summer floods cause the river level to rise by 10-15 meters. Because of this, its shores are sparsely populated. All surrounding buildings will be demolished during the spill.
7. Yenisei – 5238 km
Originating from the city of Kyzyl, the Yenisei River follows a northern course into the Kara Sea, where it forms the Yenisei Bay. It serves as a natural border between Western and Eastern Siberia.
The largest tributaries of the Yenisei are: the Angara River, the Selengai River, and the right tributary of the Selenga - Ider.
6. Ob-Irtysh – 5410 km
Two huge Siberian rivers, meeting each other, create the longest watercourse in Russia.
The Ob is shorter in length than the Irtysh. But at the same time, it is more full-flowing and in the Ob-Irtysh connection plays the role of the main river. It is formed by the confluence of two Altai rivers - Katun and Biya.
The beginning of the Irtysh River is located in the mountains on the Mongolian-Chinese border. There it is known as the Black Irtysh (or, in Chinese, Ertsisihe). And for the first 450 km of its route, the river flows through China. Much more a long way— It will cover 1,735 km across the lands of Kazakhstan. And then it crosses the border with Russia in the Omsk region. And in the Khanty-Mansiysk region it meets the Ob River.
Thus, the Irtysh, although not the longest river in the world, bears the title of the longest tributary river.
5. Yellow River – 5464 km
Translated from Chinese, this river is called “Yellow” because of the color of the silt. It is the third longest river in Asia.
The Yellow River is known as the "cradle of Chinese civilization" due to the crucial role it played in the development of Chinese culture. As with the Yangtze, the presence of human settlements near the Yellow River dates back to the Paleolithic era, and the fertile basins facilitated the growth of agricultural communities.
Before modern dams were built, the Yellow River was extremely prone to flooding. Because of this, she was given nicknames such as "The Sorrow of China" and "The Scourge of the Sons of Han." The worst flood in modern history The outbreak of humanity occurred in China in the spring of 1887 and, according to various sources, claimed from 1.5 to 7 million lives.
4. Yangtze - from 5800 to 6300 km according to various sources
The Yangtze River holds the title of the longest river in Asia. It has played a major role in the history, culture and economy of China and continues to do so to this day. Its existence was a key factor in the emergence of human settlements, the growth of agriculture, and the development of civilization in East Asia.
Today, the prosperous Yangtze River Delta produces up to 20% of China's gross domestic product (GDP), and the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the world's largest hydroelectric power plant. Due to the impact of human infrastructure, some sections of the river are now protected nature reserves.
3. Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson – from 6275 to 6420 km
This river, as its name suggests, is entirely associated with the United States of America. While each river individually wouldn't make the top five, they are grouped together as the Missouri River meets the Mississippi near St. Louis and the Missouri connects with the Jefferson River in Montana.
2. Nile – 6852 km
Most people answer the question: “What is the name of the longest river on Earth?” will be called the Nile River. Although this "blue vein of Africa" predominantly flows through Egypt, it also passes through nine other African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of them belong to .
The largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria is considered the main source of the Nile.
About 300 million people depend on this river for water supply and crop irrigation. There is even an Aswan hydroelectric complex that uses the energy of the Nile. Its construction was completed in 1970, and since then this system of structures has been used to provide electricity to the Egyptian population. It currently supplies about 20 percent of the country's electricity. The Aswan Dam also controls the summer flooding of the Nile, which threatens large-scale flooding.
1. Amazon is the longest river in the world 6992 km
It is the largest river in the world by drainage area (6,915,000 sq. km). For comparison: the Nile drainage basin is 3,349,000 square meters. km.
However, the debate about which is the longest river in the world - the Amazon or the Nile - does not stop. It's all about identifying the origins of the Amazon. Scientists and explorers have been trying to determine the source of the river since the 1600s. Over the years, five rivers in southwestern Peru have been given the honor of being called the source of the Amazon. Eventually, the upper reaches of the Apurimac River were considered its source.
According to the results of a study conducted in 2014, it turns out that the Amazon originates from the Cordillera mountain Rumi Cruz, located upstream of the Peruvian Mantaro River. This river then merges with the Apurimac River, and further downstream they are joined by other tributaries to form the Ucayali River. Finally, the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers forms the Amazon.
If we take into account the latest data, then from 75 to 92 kilometers are added to the length of the Amazon. So the question of which is the longest river on Earth can be confidently answered - the Amazon.
Table of the longest rivers in the world
The full list contains 171 rivers, more than 1000 km long.
| # | River | Length (km) | Drainage basin (km²) | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6992 | 6915000 | Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana | |
| 2. | 6852 | 3349000 | Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia | |
| 3. | Mississippi - Missouri - Jefferson | 6275 (according to other sources 6420) | 2980000 | USA (98.5%), Canada (1.5%) |
| 4. | 5800 (according to other sources 6300) | 1800000 | China | |
| 5. | 5464 | 745000 | China | |
| 6. | Ob - Irtysh | 5410 | 2990000 | Russia, Kazakhstan, China |
| 7. | Yenisei - Angara - Selenga - Ider | 5238 | 2580000 | Russia, Mongolia |
| 8. | Lena - Vitim | 5100 | 2490000 | Russia |
| 9. | Amur - Argun - Muddy channel - Kerulen | 5052 | 1855000 | Russia, China, Mongolia |
| 10. | Congo - Lualaba - Luvoa - Luapula - Chambeshi | 4700 | 3680000 | DRC, CAR, Angola, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda |
| 11. | Mekong | 4350 | 810000 | Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, China |
| 12. | Mackenzie - Slave - Peace - Finlay | 4241 | 1790000 | Canada |
| 13. | Niger | 4200 | 2090000 | Nigeria (26.6%), Mali (25.6%), Niger (23.6%), Algeria (7.6%), Guinea (4.5%), Cameroon (4.2%), Burkina Faso (3.9%), Ivory Coast, Benin, Chad |
| 14. | La Plata - Parana - Rio Grande | 3998 | 3100000 | Brazil (46.7%), Argentina (27.7%), Paraguay (13.5%), Bolivia (8.3%), Uruguay (3.8%) |
| 15. | Volga - Kama | 3731 | 1380000 | Russia (99.8%), Kazakhstan (0.2%) |
| 16. | Shatt al-Arab - Euphrates - Murat | 3596 | 884000 | Iraq (40.5%), Turkey (24.8%), Iran (19.7%), Syria (14.7%) |
| 17. | Purus | 3379 | 63166 | Brazil, Peru |
| 18. | Murray - Darling | 3370 | 1061000 | Australia |
| 19. | Madeira - Mamore - Rio Grande - Rio Cane - Rocha | 3239 | 850000 | Brazil, Bolivia, Peru |
| 20. | Yukon | 3184 | 850000 | USA (59.8%), Canada (40.2%) |
| 21. | Indus | 3180 | 960000 | Pakistan (93%), India, China, disputed territories (Kashmir), Afghanistan |
| 22. | San Francisco | 3180 | 610000 | Brazil |
| 23. | Syrdarya - Naryn | 3078 | 219000 | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan |
| 24. | Salween | 3060 | 324000 | China (52.4%), Myanmar (43.9%), Thailand (3.7%) |
| 25. | St. Lawrence River - Niagara - Detroit - St. Clair - St. Marys - St. Louis | 3058 | 1030000 | Canada (52.1%), USA (47.9%) |
| 26. | Rio Grande | 3057 | 570000 | USA (52.1%), Mexico (47.9%) |
| 27. | Lower Tunguska | 2989 | 473000 | Russia |
| 28. | Brahmaputra | 2948 | 1730000 | India (58.0%), China (19.7%), Nepal (9.0%), Bangladesh (6.6%), India/China disputed territories (4.2%), Bhutan (2.4%) ) |
| 29. | Danube - Breg | 2850 | 817000 | Romania (28.9%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.3%), Serbia (10.3%), Germany (7.5%), Slovakia (5.8%), Bulgaria ( 5.2%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.8%), Croatia (4.5%), Ukraine (3.8%), Moldova (1.7%). |
| 30. | Tocantins | 2699 | 1400000 | Brazil |
| 31. | Zambezi | 2693 | 1330000 | Zambia (41.6%), Angola (18.4%), Zimbabwe (15.6%), Mozambique (11.8%), Malawi (8.0%), Tanzania (2.0%), Namibia, Botswana |
| 32. | Vilyui | 2650 | 454000 | Russia |
| 33. | Araguaia | 2627 | 358125 | Brazil |
| 34. | Amu Darya - Pyanj - Pamir | 2620 | 534739 | Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan |
| 35. | Zhapura | 2615 | 242259 | Brazil, Colombia |
| 36. | Nelson - Saskatchewan | 2570 | 1093000 | Canada, USA |
| 37. | Paraguay | 2549 | 900000 | Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina |
| 38. | Kolyma | 2513 | 644000 | Russia |
| 39. | Ganges | 2510 | 907000 | India, Bangladesh, Nepal |
| 40. | Pilcomayo | 2500 | 270000 | Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia |
| 41. | Ishim | 2450 | 177000 | Kazakhstan, Russia |
| 42. | Jurua | 2410 | 200000 | Peru, Brazil |
| 43. | Ural | 2428 | 237000 | Russia, Kazakhstan |
| 44. | Arkansas | 2348 | 505000 | USA |
| 45. | Ubangui - Uele | 2300 | 772800 | DRC, Central African Republic |
| 46. | Olenyok | 2292 | 219000 | Russia |
| 47. | Dnieper | 2287 | 516300 | Russia, Belarus, Ukraine |
| 48. | Aldan | 2273 | 729000 | Russia |
| 49. | Rio Negro | 2250 | 720114 | Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia |
| 50. | Colombia | 2250 | 415211 | USA, Canada |
| 51. | Colorado | 2333 | 390000 | USA, Mexico |
| 52. | Zhujiang - Xijiang | 2200 | 437000 | China (98.5%), Vietnam (1.5%) |
| 53. | South Red River | 2188 | 78592 | USA |
| 54. | Irrawaddy | 2170 | 411000 | Myanmar |
| 55. | Kassai | 2153 | 880200 | Angola, DRC |
| 56. | Ohio - Allegheny | 2102 | 490603 | USA |
| 57. | Orinoco | 2101 | 880000 | Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana |
| 58. | Tarim | 2100 | 557000 | China |
| 59. | Xingu | 2100 | 513000 | Brazil |
| 60. | Orange | 2092 | 973000 | South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho |
| 69. | Kama | 2039 | 522000 | Russia |
| 61. | Salado (Parana tributary) | 2010 | 160000 | Argentina |
| 123. | Upper Mississippi | 2000 | 490000 | USA |
| 62. | Vitim | 1978 | 225000 | Russia |
| 63. | Tiger | 1950 | 375000 | Türkiye, Iraq, Syria, Iran |
| 64. | Songhua | 1927 | 524000 | China |
| 65. | Tapajos | 1900 | 487000 | Brazil |
| 66. | Don | 1870 | 425600 | Russia |
| 67. | Podkamennaya Tunguska | 1865 | 240000 | Russia |
| 68. | Pechora | 1809 | 322000 | Russia |
| 70. | Limpopo | 1800 | 413000 | Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana |
| 71. | Chulym | 1799 | 134000 | Russia |
| 72. | Guapore | 1749 | 266500 | Brazil, Bolivia |
| 97. | Marañon | 1737 | 358000 | Peru |
| 73. | Indigirka | 1726 | 360400 | Russia |
| 74. | Snake | 1670 | 279719 | USA |
| 75. | Senegal | 1641 | 419659 | Senegal, Mali, Mauritania |
| 76. | Uruguay | 1610 | 370000 | Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil |
| 77. | Blue Nile | 1600 | 325000 | Ethiopia, Sudan |
| 78. | Churchill | 1600 | 282000 | Canada |
| 79. | Khatanga - Kotui | 1600 | 364000 | Russia |
| 80. | Okavango | 1600 | 800000 | Namibia, Angola, Botswana |
| 81. | Volta | 1600 | 388000 | Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin |
| 81. | Benny | 1599 | 133010 | Bolivia |
| 82. | Platt | 1594 | 241000 | USA |
| 83. | Tobol | 1591 | 426000 | Kazakhstan, Russia |
| 84. | Jubba - Webi-Shebeli | 1580 | 497504 | Ethiopia, Somalia |
| 85. | Putumayo | 1575 | 148000 | Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador |
| 86. | Magdalena | 1550 | 260000 | Colombia |
| 87. | Hanshui | 1532 | 175000 | China |
| 88. | Crowbars | 1500 | 95830 | DRC |
| 89. | Oka | 1500 | 245000 | Russia |
| 90. | Pecos | 1490 | 115000 | USA |
| 91. | Upper Yenisei | 1480 | 150000 | Russia, Mongolia |
| 92. | Godavari | 1465 | 313000 | India |
| 93. | Colorado (Texas) | 1438 | 103340 | USA |
| 94. | Rio Grande | 1438 | 102600 | Bolivia |
| 95. | White | 1420 | 142000 | Russia |
| 96. | Coopers Creek - Barcoo | 1420 | 297550 | Australia |
| 98. | Pelvis | 1401 | 150000 | Russia |
| 100. | Benue | 1400 | 441000 | Cameroon, Nigeria |
| 101. | Or | 1400 | 140000 | PRC, Kazakhstan |
| 103. | Sutlej | 1372 | 395000 | China, India, Pakistan |
| 104. | Yamuna | 1370 | 351000 | India |
| 105. | Vyatka | 1370 | 129000 | Russia |
| 106. | Fraser | 1368 | 233100 | Canada |
| 107. | Kura | 1364 | 188000 | Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Türkiye, Iran |
| 108. | Rio Grande | 1360 | 170000 | Brazil |
| 109. | Dniester | 1352 | 72100 | Ukraine, Moldova |
| 110. | Cauca | 1350 | 80000 | Colombia |
| 111. | Liaohe | 1345 | 228960 | China |
| 112. | Yalongjiang | 1323 | 30000 | China |
| 113. | Iguazu | 1320 | 62000 | Brazil, Argentina |
| 114. | Olekma | 1320 | 210000 | Russia |
| 115. | Rhine | 1233 | 198735 | Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein |
| 116. | Northern Dvina - Sukhona | 1302 | 357052 | Russia |
| 117. | Krishna | 1300 | 258950 | India |
| 118. | Iriri | 1300 | 124300 | Brazil |
| 119. | Narmada | 1289 | 98796 | India |
| 120. | Ottawa | 1271 | 146300 | Canada |
| 121. | Zeya | 1242 | 233000 | Russia |
| 122. | Juruena | 1240 | 190940 | Brazil |
| 124. | Athabasca | 1231 | 95300 | Canada |
| 125. | Elbe - Vltava | 1231 | 148268 | Germany, Czech Republic |
| 126. | Canadian River | 1223 | 124000 | USA |
| 127. | Northern Saskatchewan | 1220 | 122800 | Canada |
| 128. | Vaal | 1210 | 196438 | South Africa |
| 129. | Wider | 1200 | 149500 | Mozambique, Malawi |
| 130. | Nenjiang | 1190 | 244000 | China |
| 131. | Green River | 1175 | 124578 | USA |
| 132. | Milk River | 1173 | 61642 | USA, Canada |
| 133. | Demyanka | 1160 | 34800 | Russia |
| 134. | Chindwin | 1158 | 114000 | Myanmar |
| 135. | Sankuru | 1150 | DRC | |
| 27. | Omolon | 1150 | 119000 | Russia |
| 136. | James | 1143 | USA | |
| 137. | Kapuas | 1143 | Indonesia | |
| 138. | Gum | 1130 | 88900 | Russia Ukraine |
| 139. | Helmand | 1130 | Afghanistan, Iran | |
| 140. | Madre de Dios | 1130 | Peru, Bolivia | |
| 141. | Tiete | 1130 | Brazil | |
| 142. | Vychegda | 1130 | 121000 | Russia |
| 143. | Sepik | 1126 | 77700 | |
| 144. | Cimarron | 1123 | USA | |
| 145. | Anadyr | 1120 | Russia | |
| 146. | Jialingjiang | 1119 | China | |
| 147. | Liard | 1115 | Canada | |
| 148. | White River | 1102 | USA | |
| 149. | Huallaga | 1100 | Peru | |
| 150. | Kwango | 1100 | 263500 | Angola, DRC |
| 27. | Conda | 1097 | 72800 | Russia |
| 151. | Gambia | 1094 | Gambia Senegal Guinea | |
| 152. | Om | 1091 | 52600 | Russia |
| 153. | Chinab | 1086 | India, Pakistan | |
| 154. | Vasyugan | 1082 | 62000 | Russia |
| 155. | Yellowstone | 1080 | USA | |
| 155. | Araks | 1072 | 102000 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Türkiye |
| 156. | Chu | 1067 | 62500 | Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan |
| 157. | Seversky Donets | 1053 | 98900 | Ukraine Russia |
| 158. | Bermejo | 1050 | Argentina, Bolivia | |
| 159. | Fly | 1050 | Papua New Guinea, Indonesia | |
| 160. | Guaviare | 1050 | Colombia | |
| 161. | Kuskokwim | 1050 | USA | |
| 162. | Tennessee | 1049 | USA | |
| 163. | Tura | 1030 | Tyumen region, Sverdlovsk region, Russia | |
| 164. | Western Dvina | 1020 | 87900 | Latvia, Belarus, Russia |
| 165. | Gila | 1015 | USA | |
| 166. | Vistula | 1014 | Poland, Ukraine, Belarus | |
| 167. | Loire | 1012 | France | |
| 168. | Essequibo | 1010 | Guyana | |
| 169. | Khoper | 1010 | Russia | |
| 170. | Tacho | 1006 | Spain, Portugal | |
| 171. | Rio Colorado (Argentina) | 1000 | Argentina |