For many countries and cities, rivers have very great importance, in particular, they are used as the main source drinking water, as irrigation systems, transport routes, etc. It is important that the waters and river basins are home to a large number of different animals. And we decided to compile a list of the top 10 longest rivers in the world, which can be found below.
Amur – 4444 km
The Amur River originates in the mountains of western Manchuria, at the confluence of its two main tributaries, the Shilka River and the Argun River. It flows on the border between Russia and China. It flows into the Amur Estuary of the Sea of Okhotsk. The length of the river is 4444 km. Most close-up view fish that lives in the Amur - Kaluga, which can reach a length of 5.6 meters and weigh up to 1 ton.
Congo River – 4700 km
The Congo River is the most big river V central Africa, flowing throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and partly along the border with Angola. It is the deepest river in the world with measured depths of over 220 m. The Congo River is 4,700 km long, making it the ninth longest river in the world.
Parana – 4880 km
Parana - river in South America, flowing through the territories of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It flows into La Plata Bay in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second longest river on the mainland, after the Amazon. The length of Parana is 4880 km. Most of the river is navigable and is used as an important waterway, connecting inner cities Argentina and Paraguay.
Ob – 5410 km
Ob is a large river in Western Siberia, Russia. The seventh longest river in the world is 5410 km long. It forms the longest estuary in the world - the Gulf of Ob, which flows into the Kara Sea. The main tributary is the Irtysh. The river is used mainly for irrigation and as drinking water. The Ob River is home to more than 50 species of fish.
Yellow River – 5464 km
Yellow River translated from Chinese " Yellow River"is the third longest river in Asia, after the Yangtze and Yenisei rivers, and the sixth longest in the world, with a length of 5464 km. The Yellow River passes through nine Chinese provinces, and flows into the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea near the city of Dongying in Shandong Province. The river was called the "cradle of Chinese civilization" because its basin was home to the ancient Chinese civilization, and was considered the most prosperous region in the early Chinese history.
Yenisei – 5539 km
The Yenisei is a large river flowing through the Republic of Khakassia and the city of Krasnoyarsk through Siberia. Is natural boundary between Western and Eastern Siberia. The river flows into the Kara Sea of the Arctic Ocean. Maximum depth The Yenisei is 24 meters, and the average is 14 meters. Considered an important waterway Krasnoyarsk Territory. The length of the river is 5539 km.
Mississippi – 6275 km
The Mississippi is a river that flows exclusively through the territory of the United States of America, and ranks fourth on the list of the longest rivers in the world. Is the main and largest river system North America. Flows through states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The length of the Mississippi is 6275 km.
Yangtze – 6300 km
The Yangtze is the longest river in Eurasia, as well as the third longest and deepest in the world. The Yangtze is 6,300 km long, flows through almost the entire territory of China and plays a very big role in history, culture and economics of the state. The Yangtze River basin occupies approximately one fifth of the entire territory of China. People's Republic, which is home to a third of the country's population.
Amazon – 6400 km
Amazon is a river in South America. It is the largest river in the world in terms of basin size (occupies about 40% of the continent, with an area of about 7,050,000 square kilometers) and fullness. Flows into Atlantic Ocean. In the Amazon, as well as in the forests growing along it, lives a large number of dangerous animals. The length of the river is 6400 km, making it the second longest river in the world. Although there has been debate for many years over which river, the Nile or the Amazon, is the longest.
Nile – 6650 km
The Nile is the longest river in the world, flowing in Africa. It is considered an “international” river because it water resources are divided into eleven countries, namely Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritria, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt. In particular, the Nile is the main source of water for Egypt and Sudan. The river originates on the East African plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. It has two main tributaries - the White and Blue Nile. The length of the river is 6650 km.
Share on social media networks
The history of mankind has always been directly connected with bodies of water - it’s not only about the origin, but also about the development of civilizations in river basins and off the coasts of the seas. In the Middle Ages, powers with navies ruled the planet. To this day, the influence of water on human life is enormous. Therefore, studying rivers can be not just an interesting activity, but also a way to better understand the history of mankind and the interrelationship of different processes. First of all, you should pay attention to the largest, most famous and significant water flows Earth.
Nile
Although it is not the deepest river in the world, it is the longest, and therefore the most important. It is located on African continent. The Nile is the longest - its length, together with the Kagera tributary, is 6671 kilometers. The river crosses the territory of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Egypt, on the lands of the latter flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The basin consists of two streams - the White and Blue Nile, and occupies almost three thousand square kilometers. The main tributaries are the Sobat, Atbara and Bahr el Ghazal. On the banks of the Nile one of the first known to mankind civilizations, and at the same time, this river for a long time remained unexplored. Until the nineteenth century, travelers wandered across the continent trying to find the source, despite the fact that Europeans made the first attempt back in 1613. The basin also contains Lake Victoria, which replenishes the river with water thanks to frequent rains in this area. Distinctive feature The Nile is home to a large number of crocodiles - swimming in the reservoir is highly undesirable.
Amazon
When listing the great rivers of the world, it is impossible to forget about this one. The Amazon River is the largest in South America, flowing through the territories of Peru and Brazil, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Its name is associated with the legend of a warlike tribe of women who once lived on these shores. The traveler Carvajal described their life so vividly that there was no doubt about the authenticity of the stories. Europeans began to study largest rivers world in the era of the Great geographical discoveries. In 1539, Pissarro arrived on the shores of the Amazon, trying to find gold. Their hopes were not justified, but the Spaniards managed to study the basin of an unfamiliar river with a strong current. The Amazon is the deepest river in the world. Its basin is almost seven thousand square kilometers. The river has about five hundred tributaries, forming a dense network, the most important being Purus, Jurua, Madeira. The banks of the river are covered with impenetrable forests, and in the waters live world-famous
Mississippi
For North Americans this is greatest river in the world. The Mississippi has many large tributaries - the Missouri, Illinois, Red River, Arkansas, Ohio. Many water arteries flow into the river. In Indian, the name of this hydronym means “father of waters.” The source is in Lake Itasca, located in Like many other major rivers of the world, the Mississippi flows into the ocean - through the banks along almost the entire length they are protected by ramparts, in some places they are strengthened by dams. The mouth looks like a huge delta with six branches. The length of the river is almost four thousand kilometers. The Mississippi is fed by spring floods and floods caused by heavy rain. Previously, dense forest grew along the coast, but now there are many coastal cities there.
Yangtze
When listing the largest rivers in the world, it is worth mentioning the one that flows through Asia. The Yangtze is the longest on the continent and the fourth on the planet. The length of the river is 5800 kilometers. The Yangtze flows through China and empties into the South China Sea, which belongs to the basin Pacific Ocean. The first Europeans who found themselves on the banks called the river Blue, but in fact the water in it is yellowish, with big amount sand. The source is located in Tibet. Almost half of its length the river is navigable. During floods, the water level rises by tens of meters, at which time the opportunities for sailing along the Yangtze increase. In winter it becomes shallow and shipping stops. To prevent flooding, several reservoirs and dams were built along the riverbed. The Yangtze basin is extremely favorable for Agriculture. The banks are fertile soils, so local residents They are engaged in rice cultivation here. Like other great rivers of the world, when flowing into the sea, the Yangtze forms a vast delta of several tens of thousands of kilometers.
Ob
When listing the greatest rivers in the world, it is necessary to mention the Russian one. The Ob flows through western Siberia and flows into the Gulf of Ob, which belongs to the Northern Arctic Ocean. The source is located at the place, and the mouth creates a delta measuring several thousand square kilometers. Like other great rivers of the world, the Ob is very long - its length is almost four thousand kilometers. Tributaries include the Vasyugan, Irtysh, Bolshoi Yugan and Northern Sosva, as well as the Chumysh, Chulym, Ket, Tom and Vakh. The largest city in this region, Novosibirsk, is located on the banks. In addition, the basin is known for several oil fields. The waters of the Irtysh are used to generate electricity; in addition, several large reservoirs have been created near it.
Yellow River
The great rivers of the world that flow through China are not limited to the Yangtze. There is also the Yellow River, which flows into and is part of the Pacific Ocean basin. The river waters have a yellowish tint caused by a large amount of silt. The length is almost five thousand kilometers, making the river the sixth largest in the world. However, the Yellow River basin is relatively small. The river originates and then flows along the Hetao Plain, along the Loess Plateau and the Great Chinese Plain, and then flows into Bohai Bay, where it forms a delta. Along the banks there are several major cities. However, life here is not very peaceful - the Yellow River regularly erodes the dams, which leads to serious floods.
Mekong
It just so happens that the most famous rivers of the world are most often located in Eurasia. The Mekong, the most important waterway of Indochina, flows there. This is the fourth longest river in Asia and the eighth longest on the planet. The basin passes through the lands of China, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. The length is about four and a half thousand kilometers. The Mekong begins on the Tibetan Plateau, from where it goes to the Sichuan Alps, then to the east of the peninsula, ends up on the Kampuchean Plain and splits into several branches in the delta. The tributaries are the Tonle Sap, Mun, Bassac and Bang Hiang. Up to Phnom Penh, the water area is called the Upper Mekong, and further - the Lower Mekong. The pool is ideal for navigation throughout the year. Uninterrupted traffic is possible for seven hundred kilometers. The river is fed by monsoon rains that fall from June to October.
Amur
This list is worth completing the list, which includes the most famous rivers in the world. The Amur serves as the border between China and Russia. From its source its length is almost four and a half thousand kilometers. It flows into the Tatar Strait, located between the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. The river area covers 1856 square kilometers. The most large tributaries are Tunguska, Zeya, Bureya, Amgun and Goryun, as well as Ussuri and Sungari. The Amur is used as a transport route and also for fishing. In the waters you can catch twenty-five valuable species of fish: pink salmon, carp, chum salmon, sturgeon and others. The name of the river means "black water" in Mongolian. On Far East The Amur is considered the main water artery. Half of its basin falls on the territory of the People's Republic of China. From July to September the river is replenished with floods, sometimes they can become catastrophic. Some areas freeze in winter from the beginning of November and are covered with ice until the very beginning of May.