What is the longest river in the world? In 2007, the world community was confused by the news that, thanks to new technologies for measuring the length of rivers, it was found that the longest river is not the Nile, as was long believed, but the Amazon.
Several factors play a role in the confrontation between the two great rivers:
- the length of the river may change over time;
- seasonal changes;
- The length of the Nile was affected by the construction of dams. Now the length of the Nile is 6852 km;
- Sometimes it is difficult to determine the correct source of the river among numerous tributaries. The length of the Amazon from the Maraño tributary will be 6992 km, and if from the Ucayali tributary, then over 7000 km.
For a long time The length of the rivers was calculated only approximately, but studies carried out by comparing photographs from space and computer processing of information proved: the longest river in the world is the Amazon.
Winner-Amazon
The longest river flows in. The Amazon is a record holder not only in length, but also in other indicators:
- the deepest in the world;
- the largest in the world in terms of basin area, which is more than 7,100 thousand km², which is comparable to the area of Australia. The total length of all tributaries of the Amazon is 25,000 km;
- more than 1 million representatives various types flora and fauna live on its banks;
- The Amazon is home to more than 2,000 species of fish, an increase of 30 times more types fish living in all water bodies of Europe combined;
- the basin area contains the world's largest tropical rainforests;
- more than 25% of all medicines are obtained in the Amazon;
- At the beginning of the 21st century, an underground river was discovered under the Amazon at a depth of 4000 m, named after the Indian scientist and Amazon explorer Hamza.
Surprisingly, not a single bridge has been built across the Amazon. A single crossing connects the banks of the Rio Negro tributary.
In 2011, the Amazon was recognized as one of the wonders of the world.
Great Nile
For a long time, the Nile, the great African waterway, a shrine of the ancient Egyptians, had the status of the longest river in the world. The source of the Nile is the confluence of Rukarara and Kagera in Rwanda. For a long time, Lake Victoria was considered the source of the Nile. The delta area is 24,000 km². The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
The entire life of the countries through which the longest river flows is determined by the Nile. It can be called the river of life, which crosses the sultry sands of the Sahara Desert and never dries up. The water level depends on the abundance of precipitation in the upper reaches. To protect the population from annual floods, 3 dams were built. This has its pros and cons: on the one hand, agriculture has lost its natural fertilizer - sludge; on the other hand, the area of irrigated land expanded, and crops began to be harvested 3 times a year. It is possible that the dams shortened the total length of the Nile.
The Nile is the cradle of human civilization. On its shores in the 4th millennium BC, one of the first agricultural states arose, with a developed culture and religion - Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians called the Nile Iteru - Great River, and Herodotus wrote that Egypt was the gift of the Nile. Egypt, in fact, is the creation of a great river - 22% of the length of the Nile is located on the territory of this state.
Along the banks of the Nile there are great cultural monuments - the pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings. Beginning near Cairo, the Nile Delta is stunning in its length - 260 km along Mediterranean Sea. All this makes Egypt a tourist oasis, the main jewel of which is the Nile.
The Great Ob - the pride of Russia
About 2.5 million rivers flow through the territory - large and small, great and nameless. 84% of fresh water is concentrated in Siberia. The longest river in Russia, the Ob, also flows there. Its length from the source of the Irtysh, the left tributary of the Ob, is 5410 km. In fact, the longest watercourse in Russia is the Ob-Irtysh water system.
The Great Ob is born at the confluence of the Katun and Biya in Altai, gains power at the mouth of the Irtysh and flows into the Arctic Ocean, forming the Gulf of Ob at the mouth - a bay more than 800 km long.
Interesting facts about the Ob:
- In summer and autumn, the river water has a striped structure. This comes from the fact that Katun and Biya different colour water. The Katun carries greenish waters, and the Biya carries grayish or white waters;
- The length of the Ob tributary, the Irtysh, is greater than the length of the Ob itself. Together they make up Russia's longest watercourse;
- at the mouth of the Irtysh, the river’s width reaches 3 – 7 km, and its depth – up to 20 m;
- near Novosibirsk the Ob is blocked by a dam that forms the Ob Sea;
- The Ob is famous for its valuable species of fish: sturgeon, vendace, whitefish, omul, peled, nelma and others are caught there. valuable species fish;
- The Ob is an important transport artery connecting the lands of 3 states: Russia, Kazakhstan, China.
Great rivers of the world - unique phenomena nature, connecting countries and peoples, giving life, beauty and prosperity.
👁 15.5k (24 per week) / 03/21/2017⏱️ 6 min.
From space, the Earth is visible primarily in blue and white colors. This is not surprising, since two-thirds of its surface is covered with a layer of water. In addition to four oceans and numerous seas, there are also a huge number of rivers, swamps and lakes.
Water exhibits its most dynamic behavior precisely in rivers, which are always flowing somewhere, which distinguishes them from other natural bodies of water. Rivers begin with the smallest, imperceptible streams, and as they gain strength they can turn into huge water streams. The longest rivers cross continents, carrying water from their sources thousands of kilometers away. For humans, rivers historically had great importance- Since ancient times, people built cities near rivers, took water from there for drinking and irrigating fields, and transported goods and heavy loads along them. Often the length of a river can be very difficult to measure: one has a difficult source, another has an ambiguous confluence.
The grandeur and extraordinary beauty of the mountains leaves few people indifferent. Sometimes snow-capped ridges inspire fear, sometimes they fascinate, inspire, beckon...
1. Amazon (6992 km)
The world's deepest river, the Amazon, has always been considered the longest river South America, and for some time now, the world. This one mighty river the widest estuary and the largest drainage basin by area. It provides 15% of the water discharge of all the world's rivers. Its source is the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers. To clarify the length of the river, we had to use satellite images. Different scientists calculate the length of the Amazon in different ways: taking into account the length from the source of the Marañon River, the length of the Amazon is 6992.06 km, taking into account the length of the Apachet River - approximately 7000 km, and if we take into account the Ucayaki River, then the length of the river becomes generally more than 7000 km. Thus, the Amazon was able to outstrip even the Nile in length.
2. Nile (6852 km)
Having lost the world championship to the Amazon, in Africa the Nile undoubtedly remained the leader in length. The Nile begins on the East African plateau and flows north, crossing Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a vast delta with fertile land.
3. Yangtze (6300 km)
China's great Yangtze River rises above the clouds in Tibet - at an altitude of 5,600 meters among glaciers - and then crosses the entire country until it meets the South China Sea. The basin of this mighty river covers an area of 1.8 million square meters. km. This is the third longest river in the world, and the first in all of Eurasia. China is divided by a river into northern and southern parts. For the country, the importance of the Yangtze cannot be exaggerated: a cascade of powerful hydroelectric power stations was built here, and the largest Chinese cities. In addition, together with the Yellow River, it is the most important river for China culturally and historically.
4. Yellow River (5464 km)
Yellow River, which means " Yellow River" - the second largest in China. It is not named so by chance - in its colored yellow in its waters it carries millions of tons of loess from the Shaanxi Plateau. It also begins high in the Tibetan mountains, then flows east until it flows into the Yellow Sea. The Yellow River is considered to be the cradle of the great Chinese civilization. The river constantly changes its course. The water from it is used not only for irrigation, but is also drunk by 140 million Chinese. There are also many large Chinese cities along the banks of the river.
5. Mekong (4500 km)
The “Nine Dragon River” or Mekong flows through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China. It is the largest waterway of the Indochina Peninsula. It starts on the Tibetan Plateau, but then turns to the southeast. Farmers water their rice fields with water from the Mekong, and its wide floods are very favorable for growing this crop. But the hydropower resources of the Mekong are extremely underutilized. The Mekong has one of the largest deltas in the world (in Vietnam). IN last years The river delta is threatened by flooding from rising sea levels and regular landslides.
6. Lena (4400 km)
The largest Russian river, the Lena, has a basin located entirely within the country. It originates on the Baikal ridge, at an altitude of 1470 meters, where there is a small swamp. Below Yakutsk, two deep tributaries flow into the Lena - Vilyui and Aldan, making it a powerful water stream. The width of the river in this section is 10 kilometers, but in some places it overflows for 30 kilometers. Even further downstream, mountain ranges begin, preventing the river from overflowing too much and accelerating its flow. Finally, near its mouth, the Lena slows down, breaks up into many branches that form a vast delta, and then flows into the Laptev Sea. 4400 km is the length of the river taking into account the delta, and sometimes another value appears: 4294 km is the length of the river excluding the Bykovskaya channel.
South America is something unattainable and exotic for us. A lot has been written about these places literary works, a huge amount was removed...
7. Parana (4380 km)
This is the second river in South America after the Amazon. The Paraná flows from north to south of the mainland through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina until it flows near Buenos Aires into La Plata Bay in the Atlantic Ocean. Parana is navigable for sea ships all the way to the city of Rosario. The border of two states - Paraguay and Argentina - passes through the river (in its middle course), and downstream its bank has become the western border of the low-lying Mesopotamia region of Argentina.
8. Congo (4374 km)
One of the largest rivers in Africa is the Congo (or Zaire), which flows in the equatorial regions of the continent and is second in length only to the Nile. There are many countries in the Congo Basin: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Burundi, Angola, Rwanda. The area of the Zaire basin is over 4 million square meters. km. This river, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, is of great economic importance for the states of this region.
9. Irtysh (4248 km)
The Irtysh carries its waters through the lands of China, Kazakhstan and Russia. This largest tributary of the Ob is the longest tributary in the world. The Irtysh-Ob river system, at 5,410 kilometers, is the longest in Russia, the second in Asia and the sixth in the world. Water is taken from the Irtysh for the Irtysh-Karaganda canal, laid to ensure irrigation and water supply to the region. From the downstream of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station to the confluence with the Ob, that is, at a distance of 3,784 kilometers, regular navigation is carried out along the Irtysh.
10. Niger (4180 km)
The Niger River is very important to West Africa. It has a rather unusual trajectory, resembling the shape of a boomerang, which until recently confused geographers. The source of this river is located only 240 kilometers from the Atlantic coast, and, it would seem, should quickly merge into the nearby ocean in the form of a small river, however, Niger turned in the opposite direction, drawing for itself a much longer unusual path, all the same Atlantic Ocean.
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11. Mississippi (3770 km)
Mississippi is the longest river North America. It originates in northern Minnesota, in Lake Itasca, then flows south, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Its largest tributary is another large river, the Missouri, which follows closely behind it on our list of the world's longest rivers. The Mississippi Basin covers 31 US states and a couple of Canadian provinces, covering an area of 3.27 million square meters. km. Translated from the language of the Indians - the indigenous inhabitants of these places, Mississippi means "great (large) river." This river is of great importance for the country's economy - it carries a lot of shipping and carries a lot of passengers and cargo.
12. Missouri (3767 km)
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It was already mentioned above that the Missouri is the largest tributary of the Mississippi in terms of length, but in terms of length it is only 3 m behind. The source of the Missouri is in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Flowing southeast, the river flows into the Mississippi near the city of St. Louis. Shipping on the Missouri is facing difficult times. The amount of cargo transported by barges has been inexorably declining for several decades. This was facilitated first by the construction of dams on the river, and then by increased competition among other modes of transport, mainly from rail transport. Various projects are currently being developed to revive the former navigability and the necessity of Missouri for the national economy.
13. Ob (3650 km)
The next great Siberian river, the Ob, crosses the entire territory of this region until it flows into the ocean in the north. The Ob originates in Altai, at the place where two rivers - Katun and Biya - merge. The Ob's catchment area is approximately 3 million square meters. km. The Ob, like other great Siberian rivers, is of great importance for the Russian economy: a number of hydroelectric power stations have been built on it, and it is used as a transport artery.
Africa, geologically, is represented mainly by the Precambrian period, and the mountain ranges of the Black Continent are located only in two...
14. Volga (3530 km)
This largest and longest river in Europe begins on the Valdai Upland, after which it slowly flows along the Central Russian Upland, before the Ural foothills it turns south and heads towards the Caspian Sea. It is noteworthy that at the mouth of the Volga it drops 28 meters below the level of the world ocean.
15. Yenisei (3487 km)
This one of the mighty and long Siberian rivers begins near the Russian-Mongolian border. Then the Yenisei cuts through the entire Siberia, dividing it into Eastern and Western, after which it flows into the Kara Sea. Many hydroelectric power stations have been built on the Yenisei, supplying electricity to Siberian enterprises; it is an important Siberian transport artery. But the emergence of numerous reservoirs had a bad impact on the local ecology.
Hands to Feet. Subscribe to our groupThe longest river in the world is the Nile
Nile- the longest river in the world, its length is 6,690 km from the source of the Luvironza River in Burundi, in Central Africa, to its mouth at the confluence with the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile flows from south to north and its basin is about 2,850,000 square meters. km, which is approximately equal to one tenth of the area of Africa, including the territories of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Congo (Kinshasa). Its waters support virtually all agriculture in the most densely populated parts of Egypt, are the source of irrigation for almost all of Sudan's food crops, and are widely used throughout the basin for navigation and hydropower.
The deepest river in the world is the Amazon
River Amazon the second longest river in the world by extent. Its length is about 6,296 km, it is formed by the junction in the northern Peruvian Andes of two main sources - the Ucayali and the shorter Maranon. The Amazon River flows through northern Brazil and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Belem. The Amazon is the deepest river in the world (carries more water than any other river in the world). The basin with tributaries is huge and amounts to 6,475,000 square meters. km, which is approximately 35% of the territory of South America. The Amazon draws water from both hemispheres and flows not only through Brazil, but also through parts of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The average depth of the river over its greater length is 50 m. The slope of the river is very small: Manaus, 1,610 km upstream, is only 30 m higher than Belem near the river delta. Sea vessels with a landing of 4 m can reach Iquitos in Peru, which is 3,700 km from the Atlantic Ocean. Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia have international ports on the Amazon.
The following table shows the largest rivers in the world, including their name, source, where they flow and their length:
|
Name |
Source |
Mainland |
Where |
Length, |
|
|
Tributaries of Lake Victoria |
Mediterranean Sea |
||||
|
Amazon |
Glacial lake, Peru |
South America |
Atlantic Ocean |
||
|
Mississippi-Missouri |
Red Rock River, Montana, USA |
North America |
Gulf of Mexico |
||
|
Yangtze |
Tibetan plateau, China |
China Sea |
|||
|
Altai, Russia |
Ob Bay, Kara Sea Bay |
||||
|
Yellow River |
Eastern Kunlun Mountains, China |
Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea |
|||
|
Yenisei |
Tannu-Ola mountains, south of Tuva, Russia |
Arctic Ocean |
|||
|
Parana |
confluence of the Paranaiba and Rio Grande rivers, Brazil |
South America |
La Plata Bay of the Atlantic Ocean |
||
|
Irtysh |
Altai, Russia |
||||
|
Zaire (Congo) |
confluence of the Lualaba and Luapula rivers |
Atlantic Ocean |
|||
|
Amur |
confluence of the Shilka and Argun rivers |
Tatar Strait of the Sea of Okhotsk |
|||
|
Lena |
Lake Baikal, Russia |
Arctic Ocean |
|||
|
Mackenzie |
Head of the Finlay River, British Columbia, Canada |
North America |
Beaufort Sea |
||
|
Niger |
Fouta Djallon, Guinea |
Gulf of Guinea Atlantic Ocean |
|||
|
Mekong |
Tibetan plateau |
South China Sea |
|||
|
Mississippi |
Lake Itasca, Minnesota, USA |
North America |
Gulf of Mexico |
||
|
Missouri |
Confluence of the Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison Rivers, Montana, USA |
North America |
mississippi river |
||
|
Volga |
Valdai Hills, Russia |
Caspian Sea |
|||
|
Madeira |
Confluence of the Beni and Mamore rivers, border of Bolivia and Brazil |
South America |
Amazon river |
||
|
Purus |
Peruvian Andes |
South America |
Amazon river |
Thus, the Nile is the longest river in the world, with a length of approximately 6,690 kilometers, and is also the largest river in Africa. The second largest river in the world, the Amazon, is also the longest river in South America. The third largest river, the Mississippi River, together with the Missouri River, is the most... big river North America. The fourth largest river, the Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia. And, being only the eighteenth largest in the world, the Volga is the longest river in Europe.
So, we looked at the 20 largest rivers in the world, eight of which flow in Asia, eight in America, three in Africa, and only one of the 20 largest large rivers peace - in Europe.
Amur
Almost on state border between Russia and China, the Amur flows, the length of which is 4500 km, while the area reaches 1.85 km 2. The river flows into the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, and its coast has become a haven for rare species birds and animals.
Congo
Congo is located in central Africa and is considered the second largest (after the Nile) on the continent. Its total length is 4,700 km, and the area of the water basin is 4 million km 2. Congo is also known as Zaire. The river provides water to the people of Angola, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda and Burundi. Zaire flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Parana
This river is considered the second longest on the South American continent, second only to the Amazon. The length of the Parana is 4880 km, and the area of the basin is 2.58 km 2. Flowing through Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, it flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Paraná is rightfully considered the main waterway of South America. Shipping is well developed here.
Ob
One of the largest rivers in Siberia with a length of 5410 km and a basin area of 3 million km 2. The source of the Ob is located in the territory Altai Territory and flows into the waters of the Arctic Ocean. It is considered the longest in Russia. Power plants and reservoirs were built on its rapids.
Yellow River
The second name of this famous river is Yellow. It flows through most of China and is considered the country's second largest river. total length yellow river is about 5464 km, and the area of its basin is 750 thousand km 2. Thanks to the Shaanxi Plateau, the water in the Yellow River has a yellowish tint. Hence the second name of the river. Over the course of many centuries, the Yellow River, considered the cradle of local civilization, changed its course many times. Over time, many large cities arose on the banks of the Yellow River, which take water from here for drinking and household needs.
Yenisei
It is the Yenisei that holds the title of the longest river flowing through Siberia. It originates at the border with Mongolia, and it flows into the waters of the Red Sea. The total length of the Siberian record holder is as much as 5539 km, and the basin area is 2.8 million km 2. Numerous power plants were opened on the banks of the Yenisei, producing electricity for numerous industrial enterprises in the region. Industrial development has had a negative impact on the local environment.
Mississippi
The record holder of the continent of North America, with a total length of 6275 km and a basin area of 3.27 million km 2. The Mississippi begins in northern Minnesota near Lake Missouri, and its waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Translated from the language of the indigenous aborigines, the word “Mississippi” means “big river”. This waterway is of great importance for the industry and economic development of the country. Shipping is developed here.
Yangtze
The largest river in China. The total length is 6300 km, the basin area is 1.8 million km 2. The beginning of the Yangtze is located in the Himalayan glaciers region. Flowing through the country and dividing it in half, it flows into the waters of the South China Sea. Yangtze has important for a country, it contains large cities.
Amazon
The formation of the Amazon was facilitated by the confluence of two large rivers. Its length is 6400 km, the basin area is 7 million km 2. The Amazon flows through Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana and Ecuador. In addition, many of the continent's major rivers flow into it. It, in turn, flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A huge number of animals live on the banks of the Amazon.
Nile
The length of the record holder is 6650 km, the basin area is 3 million km 2. The Nile is located in the northeast of the African continent, carrying its waters to the Mediterranean Sea. You can see it in Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, as well as Uganda and Eritrea. The longest river in the world plays a vital role in the life of the local population. It is home to major ports and power plants. It is considered the cradle of ancient civilization.
The longest river in the world is not just a statistical mark. At all times, rivers have been feeding arteries for the inhabitants of the planet. Their shores provided shelter and food for hundreds of generations. And now few industries or Agriculture boasts independence from major waterways.
Livestock farming, development of the earth's interior, electricity production, agriculture and much more directly depend on the full flow, direction and speed of the river. The larger and more deep the feeding vein of the earth, the more successful and rich the region in which it is located.
On this moment there is only sample list long rivers, which is adjusted depending on new facts and additional research. The main rivers of the world are described here without taking into account their additional tributaries, and indicating the average annual length, which may change following changes in the course of the artery.
Table of the longest rivers:
| Name | Length, km |
| Amazon | 6992 |
| Nile | 6852 |
| Yangtze | 6300 |
| Yellow River | 5464 |
| Mekong | 4500 |
| Lena | 4400 |
| Parana | 4380 |
| Congo | 4374 |
| Irtysh | 4248 |
| Niger | 4180 |
| Mississippi | 3770 |
| Missouri | 3767 |
| Ob | 3650 |
| Volga | 3530 |
| Yenisei | 3487 |
Description, length, where the largest rivers in the world flow
It is not surprising that there is a constant debate among hydrologists about in what order to arrange the longest rivers.
The longest river in the world is the Amazon, 6992 km long.
Some people count their length together with large tributaries, the rest are of the opinion that the tributaries are independent rivers. Some areas of rivers (for example, the Amazon and Ob) have not yet been fully studied, so it is impossible to say exactly their length.
Amazon
The longest river in the world did not find its recognition for a long time. And only recently, accurate photographs from space have proven that the Amazon has the palm not only in terms of deep water, but also in length. Its exact length ranges from 6992 to 7120 km (including the Ucayali tributary).
The source of the river is the connection of the Ucayali and Marañon streams, which form a basin with a total area of more than 7100 million km 2.
The daily water discharge reaches 20 km 3 , which indicates not only a high volume of water, but also a considerable flow speed. The river flows through almost all of South America, crossing three states, and connects with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, the delta of the river’s confluence is a record 100,000 km 2!
Nile
The Nile is the river with the longest water system. Its mouth originates at an altitude of more than 2000 km, and rushes rapidly through Tanzania, Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt. However, the water flow and river area vary significantly throughout the year due to dry summers and a long rainy season.
For the inhabitants of Africa, the Nile is truly a feeding artery. More than 95% of the population is concentrated along its banks. The bulk of the water is spent on generating electricity and irrigating the banks. Therefore, the gradual shallowing of the Nile threatens not only the collapse of the entire economy African countries, but also the death of the population from hunger.
Yangtze
The largest river in Eurasia and the 3rd largest in the world is the Yangtze, translated from Chinese as “long river”. The Yangtze originates high in the Tibetan mountains (approximately 5000 m above sea level), and carries its waters through a cascade of dangerous rapids and waterfalls. The flow speed in the mountainous areas is very high, so along the banks of the river there is a whole network of hydroelectric power stations that supply most of China.
The Yangtze divides the country into two halves - northern and southern. The area of its basin is so large that it occupies 1/5 of the territory of the entire state, and is a vital artery for most cities! Naturally, what about great river There are many legends: the Chinese deify “Mother Changjiang”, love and fear her changeable mood.
Yellow River
The fourth longest river in the world is also located in China, and flows almost parallel to its older sister Yangtze. Its name translates as “Yellow River”, and is due to the fact that the water contains a lot of sand and sedimentary rocks that rise from the bottom powerful current.
It is the Yellow River that is considered the birthplace of great Chinese history. The river is often mentioned in prehistoric epics.
Even then, large cities and strategic fortifications were located on its banks. Since then, little has changed: the most developed cities of Lanzhou, Yinchuan, and Wuhai are located near the Yellow River. Although for residents of megacities this neighborhood is not always safe: the river often changes its course, flooding nearby houses.
Mekong
Another waterway flowing in the countries of the east coast. The Mekong, more than all other rivers, is shrouded in an aura of mythical glory. It’s not for nothing that in Laos it is called “Mother Von Ganges”, and in Vietnam “River of Nine Dragons”.
Beginning in China, the river passes through the rice fields of Vietnam, demarcates Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, crosses Cambodia, and flows into the South China Sea. Despite the favorable position of the river, its resources are used mainly only for agricultural needs: growing rice crops and feeding animals.
Lena
River with gentle female name No wonder it is considered the pearl of Siberia. After all, this is not only the longest waterway in Russia, but also one of the most beautiful rivers. Her entire pool is in the area permafrost, due to which both banks are mostly covered coniferous trees and moss.
Starting in a small swamp on the territory of the Baikal ridge, the Lena flows through the entire Baikal region, representing a narrow and shallow river. But crossing the borders of Yakutia, the Lena turns into a very large and high-water river thanks to the two tributaries Vitim and Aldan flowing into it. In the middle of the river, its width can reach a record 30 km, and its depth - 10-12 m.
Closer to the confluence, the river divides into several hundred branches, which makes it look like the crown of a huge tree. Due to this effect, the total area of the river delta exceeds 45,000 km2.
Parana
The longest river in the world, like the Paraná, is located in South America. Only the Amazon flows from west to east, and the Paraná divides the continent from north to south. The river partially creates the border between Argentina and Paraguay.
The upper course is of lava origin, and therefore has a large number of rapids.
This makes Paraná an attractive destination for extreme rafting enthusiasts. Also, the river has several waterfalls, and the height of the largest of them reaches 72 m.
The nature of the river is very diverse: in addition to rapids, the Paraná also crosses vast swampy areas. Here its flow slows down, and the banks, not compressed by rocky rock, expand up to 5 km. Like the Lena, this unpredictable river has a long delta, stretching almost 130 km in length to the Atlantic Ocean.
Congo
The name of the river and the state where this deep artery partially flows comes from the people who lived on its banks. In some regions of the mainland it is called Zaire or Lualaba. Several “most” titles are attached to the Congo River. This is the swampiest of the large rivers. There are few places where you can get to its shore without using a special reed boat.
Also, the Congo is the largest river in terms of flooded area. During the rainy season, the river basin can slightly more than double in size! And despite the abundance of large rivers, the Congo remains the only one that crosses the equator twice.
The life-giving waters of the African river flow through several countries, and for all of them it has economic and political significance comparable in importance to a large federal highway.
Irtysh
This unusual river originates in one of the autonomous regions of China and intersects with the Ob River, which already flows in Russia. Being a tributary of another river, the Irtysh exceeds its length by 600 km. This is the longest tributary in the world.
Coming together, the Irtysh-Ob water system becomes the longest river in Russia and the sixth in the whole world.
The waters of the Irtysh are actively used for economic purposes in all three countries. In China, these are mainly the needs of the oil and gas industry. In Kazakhstan - servicing numerous hydroelectric power stations located in mountainous areas.
In Russia, the overwhelming flow of water from the Irtysh falls on an artificial canal to Karaganda, created to replenish water in hard-to-reach regions. From the last station of the hydroelectric power station and the point to the connection with the Ob (approximately 3,700 km), commercial shipping operates on the river.
Niger
This famous river is the third longest in Africa, but is not inferior to its older brothers in fullness and depth. Home distinctive feature Niger became his original boomerang shape.
Initially, scientists believed that there were two different rivers that flow parallel to each other. But the peculiarity is that in the middle the river turns sharply to the south and returns to the Atlantic Ocean, near which it originates.
Another feature of Niger is the large oil deposits in the delta, which annually bring billions in revenue to the country. But despite this, the residents of the surrounding area live very poorly, and the territory is well guarded by the military.
Mississippi
Mississippi is usually ranked third after the Nile. But this is if we consider its distance along with the main tributary of the Missouri and the upper reaches of the Jefferson. The entire basin of the Mississippi, rich in tributaries, covers 31 states and is 2,981 million km 2.
Measuring the exact length of a river is not an easy task. During a flood, it changes it depending on changes in the riverbed. Because of this, residents of surrounding settlements often have to escape floods by moving to more remote areas.
By the way, the river became especially famous at the moment when Mark Twain mentioned it in his famous book about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. The author called the river the biggest liar in the world.
Missouri
This long river carries its waters across almost the entire North America, and crosses several American states and Canada. For a long time, tribes of indigenous people, Indians, lived on its banks. And it is to this river that the first settlers are obliged, moving along its banks to new territories.
The climate of the river changes dramatically in accordance with the changing of the year. In winter, in some areas, temperatures can drop to -50℃, and in summer they can rise to +45℃. This, and the long rainy season, change the appearance and coastline of Missouri almost beyond recognition.
Ob
The most beautiful river in Russia, which, moreover, is the most important navigation artery of several regions. Its main tributary, the Irtysh, is among the top 15 longest rivers in the world. For China and Kazakhstan, through which this same unique river, its water is one of the important sources of nutrition.
It is impossible to judge definitely the extent of the Ob because of its numerous tributaries and little knowledge. Until now, some areas of Siberia remain unexplored or difficult to access. Many riverside settlements can only be reached by water.
Volga
The longest river in the world is the Amazon, but the most beautiful is undoubtedly the Volga. The source of this picturesque river is located in the Valdai upper reaches, and gradually descends to the Caspian Sea. The name comes from the ancient Mari word “light”. Indeed, throughout the entire length of the river, the waters of the river remain clean due to the absence of light bottom sediments and rapid flow.
For Russia, this river is of the utmost strategic and economic importance. Half of the industry is located either on its shores or directly depends on its waters. Great amount commercial fish provides food not only to local residents, but also ensures domestic fish production. And the numerous beaches and forests surrounding the banks of the Volga are attracting more and more tourists.
Yenisei
The Yenisei is rightfully considered the deepest river in Russia. It originates at the connection of two small rivers, and if we count the total length of the water artery along with them, then the Yenisei rises to 6th place in the ranking of the longest.
It is noteworthy that the longest river still runs along this river. sea route– more than 5000 km.
It starts from the Selenga River, which later flows into the Yenisei, and reaches the Kara Sea. It is this river that supplies the largest hydroelectric power stations in Russia and throughout Eurasia, including Sayano-Shushenskaya and Krasnoyarsk. Largest cities on the banks of the Yenisei: Abakan, Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk and Sayanogorsk.
The longest rivers in Eurasia
The Eurasian continent boasts that 8 of the 15 longest rivers in the world are located on its territory. The rivers are different complex system and flow into all 4 oceans washing the continent.
The European part, however, is much inferior in the number of rivers. The largest of them - the Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong, Lena, Ob, Irtysh and Yenisei - flow on the Asian side. On the European side, only the Volga remains, and some large rivers that are not included in the list of the longest. Such as the Danube, Dnieper and Don.
Longest Rivers in North America
There are a huge number of rivers of various origins in North America. They are famous for their deep water, which during the rainy season causes serious concern among local residents due to the risk of flooding.
The longest river in America is the Mississippi. Despite its impressive length, it is entirely located in the United States with two long tributaries, the Missouri and Ohio.
Rivers flowing in the northern part and flowing into the Arctic Ocean remain covered with ice almost the entire year, unlike the southern ones, whose temperature does not drop below +10 degrees even in winter.
The longest rivers in South America
The longest river in the world is located on this continent. And not only this: the lack of seas on the mainland is fully compensated by a truly huge river basin. The Amazon alone, taking into account all its tributaries, has a combined basin that accounts for a quarter of all river water on the planet. In some places its width reaches 50 km!
The water structures of South America attract not only tourists, but also ichthyologists. Some fish species live only in these rivers and cannot be transferred to other conditions. In general, the flora and fauna of the mainland are so interesting that they can rightfully be called the most interesting and unusual in the world.
The longest rivers in Africa
African rivers are known mainly for their numerous rapids and riffles, which form an original flow pattern. Also, it is on this continent that there are so many large waterfalls. They greatly complicate navigation, but attract millions of tourists.
Appearance largest African rivers may change beyond recognition due to uneven precipitation throughout the year. What seemed like a small stream in winter can turn out to be a seething torrent in summer, spreading 20 km wide. This also applies to the three most big rivers: Nile, Congo and Niger.
Contrary to popular belief, rivers exist even in the arid regions of the Sahara Desert. They appear sporadically during the rainy season and last no more than a couple of months.
Longest rivers in Australia
This continent can only boast of a critical shortage of water. On the entire continent, you can count no more than 80 rivers and rivulets, the longest of which, the Murray, stretches for 2375 km and flows into Lake Alexandrina.
Most rivers and reservoirs of the continent are seasonal. From early spring to mid-summer they feed on precipitation, and then partially or completely dry out until next year. Only rivers flowing in the southeast constantly exist: they are fed from the Snowy Mountains, and do not dry up thanks to the Great Dividing Range.
The world's longest rivers are visible even from space. They cover the planet like veins and feed almost all regions of the earth. Human existence without rivers would be impossible, although their flows are often unpredictable or even destructive. But this only reminds humanity that we need to treat nature with care and diligence.
Article format: Lozinsky Oleg
Video about the longest river in the world
The longest river in the world is the Amazon: