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Did you know the Nile River flows through 11 countries, or that the Yangtze is Asia’s busiest waterway and is home to endangered dolphins? The longest rivers in the world are not just long. They shape landscapes, nurture ecosystems, and have sustained human civilization for millennia. In this article, we have listed the top ten longest rivers in the world. Get to know them and the interesting secrets about these rivers. Moreover, get to know whether the Nile or the Amazon is the longest river in the world.
Table of Contents
- 1 Top 10 Longest Rivers in the World You Must Know About
- 1.1 Nile River (4,130 miles)
- 1.2 Amazon River (3,976 miles)
- 1.3 Yangtze River (3,917 miles)
- 1.4 Mississippi-Missouri River System (3,902 miles)
- 1.5 Yenisei River (3,445 miles)
- 1.6 Yellow River (Huang He) (3,395 miles)
- 1.7 Ob-Irtysh River System (3,364 miles)
- 1.8 Río de la Plata-Paraná River (3,030 miles)
- 1.9 Congo River (2,922 miles)
- 1.10 Amur River (2,763 miles)
- 2 Is the Nile or Amazon Longer?
- 3 FAQs – Longest Rivers in the World
Top 10 Longest Rivers in the World You Must Know About
These are the top ten longest rivers in the world. Read this list and learn surprising facts about these rivers.
Nile River (4,130 miles)
The Nile River is the longest river in the world. After all, it stretches across 11 African countries including Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. It is 6,650 km (4,130 miles) in length and is called the father of the African rivers. This river is responsible for sustaining 40% of Kenya’s population. It is credited with sustaining Egyptian civilization. It has two main tributaries- the Blue Nile (from Ethiopia’s Lake Tana) and the White Nile (starting at Lake Victoria). These tributaries merge into one before reaching the Mediterranean.
Amazon River (3,976 miles)
The Amazon River is the second-longest river in the world. The river goes through countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and more. If you just take into account the volume, Amazon has become the largest river in the world. The water volume is 209,000 m³/s. This is larger than the next 7 largest rivers combined! Going through the Amazon Rainforest, this river has unparalleled biodiversity. You can even find pink dolphins and anacondas here!
Yangtze River (3,917 miles)
Did you know that the longest river in Asia is the Yangtze River? This river fuels life in China. The Yangtze River’s Three Gorges Dam is one of the world’s largest power stations. Therefore, the Yangtze River is strategically important as well. Starting from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, this river supports the lives of several endangered species. Therefore, it is a UNESCO-protected biodiversity hotspot.
Mississippi-Missouri River System (3,902 miles)
The Mississippi-Missouri River comes under the list of the longest rivers in the world. This river goes through the USA and Canada. The system drains 31 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces. Moreover, it plays an important role in transportation, trade, and westward expansion in American history. The Missouri River is the longest of the 2 and is the main tributary of the Mississippi.
Yenisei River (3,445 miles)
The Yenisei River stretches across Russia and Mongolia. It is considered one of the longest rivers in the world. This river feeds the deepest river in the world – Lake Baikal. Moreover, it sustains the aimer reindeer herd. It cuts through the Siberian terrain and even crosses the world’s largest forest, the taiga.
Yellow River (Huang He) (3,395 miles)
The Yellow River, one of the longest rivers in the world, is located in China. This river is also known as the “cradle of Chinese civilization,”. The river played an important role in shaping the early dynasties of China. However, the lake is prone to frequent floods. Therefore, it received the nickname “China’s Sorrow,”. Nevertheless, its basic remains agriculturally important. Damns like e Xiaolangdi also mitigate disasters.
Ob-Irtysh River System (3,364 miles)
The Ob-Irtysh River System goes through countries like Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. The river. This river freezes for 6 months a year. Moreover, it sustains cities like Novosibirsk and the Indigenous Ket people. It is one of the coldest major river systems. The river’s estuary, the Gulf of Ob, is about 1,000 km long. The river is considered important for fishing, and irrigation.
Río de la Plata-Paraná River (3,030 miles)
The Río de la Plata-Paraná River flows through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. It is one of the longest rivers in the world. It is the second-longest river system in South America. It is known as the River of Silver and supports ports like Buenos Aires, and wildlife like La Plata dolphins. It is the world’s widest river (up to 220 km wide at its mouth). The Itaipú Dam, one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power plants, is located here.
Congo River (2,922 miles)
The Congo River is the deepest river in Africa. It is one of the longest rivers in the world. The Congo River flows through countries like Angola, DR Congo, and 7 other countries. It goes through the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest that is also known as the lungs of Africa. The Inga Dams on the Congo River can generate hydroelectric power than any other river. Besides this, the Congo River crosses the equator twice.
Amur River (2,763 miles)
The Amur River is the tenth-longest river in the world. This river flows through 3 countries- China, Russia, and Mongolia. The river creates a natural border between Russia and China. The river is one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world. It is home to the rare Amur sturgeon and Siberian tigers in nearby forests. At its northernmost reach, even the lotus flowers bloom!
Is the Nile or Amazon Longer?
River Nile and Amazon are one of the longest rivers in the world. But which one is the longest? The River Nile is the longest river in the world. It has a length of t 6,650 km (4,130 miles). However, recent studies reflect that the Amazon River can also be the longest. The truth is, in terms of length Nile is the longest. However, in terms of volume, Amazon is winning. The river Amazon carries more water than any other river in the world. This makes the Amazon the largest river in the world.
Also Read:
- Deepest Lakes in the World: 10 Astonishing Mysteries Hidden Beneath
- The Clearest Lake in the World: 10 Interesting Facts About Lake
FAQs – Longest Rivers in the World
The largest river in the world is the Amazon River. This river has more water volume than any other river in the world. That is, more than the next 7 largest rivers combined.
The river Ganga is the longest river in the world. The river stretches about 2,525 km. The river originates from the western side also known as the Gangotri glaciers.
No. The river Ganga is not the longest river in the world. The longest river in the world is the River Nile. However, the river Ganga is the longest river in India.
The Amazon River is the largest river in the world, and the second longest river, The river has one of the largest volumes of water in the world.
Traditionally, the Nile River is considered the longest. Amazon is the largest river in the world. This means it has more discharge volume than any other river in the world. However, the debate about which river is the longest is ongoing. This is because the exact length of Amazon is hard to measure. It is deep in remote areas like the Andes
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These were the facts about the last ruler of the longest rivers in the world. If you find it fascinating and wish to read more such interesting facts, then stay tuned to the General Knowledge page of Leverage Edu.
