The Nile is the longest, and the Amazon is the largest river globally.
Rivers are vital in the hydrological cycle, gathering water from various sources like runoff, springs, and glaciers.
Below is a list of the top 10 longest rivers in the world.
1. Nile River- 6650 Km
The Nile River, 6650 km long, flows through multiple countries from Lake Victoria.
It boasts two key tributaries, the Blue and the White Nile.
While many recognize the Nile as the longest river globally, some scholars argue that the Amazon River deserves this distinction.
Both the Nile and the Amazon, being major rivers, have a multitude of sources and numerous tributaries.
Calculating a river’s true length often necessitates locating its farthest source, a challenging task due to the remote and inaccessible nature of many of these sources.
2. The Amazon River- 6575 Km
The Amazon River unquestionably leads in water discharge, yet its status as the second-longest river is hotly debated, as the Nile in Egypt traditionally claims that title.
The dispute centers on pinpointing the origin of Amazon with a 2014 study proposing the Cordillera Rumi Cruz as its source.
3. The Yangtze River- 6300 Km
The Yangtze River ranks as the third longest in the world, entirely within China, and the longest in Asia. Its basin houses a third of China’s population.
Traditionally, China designates the Tuotuo tributary in the Tanggula Mountains as the river’s source.
However, new data points to Jari Hill as the true source, where the headwaters of the Dam Qu tributary originate.
These tributaries, along with others, merge to create the powerful Yangtze River, which ultimately flows into the East China Sea at Shanghai.
4. The Mississippi River- 6275Km
River Mississippi, Missouri, and Jefferson rivers together form the fourth longest river system in the world, draining 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces.
The Mississippi River originates in northern Minnesota at Lake Itasca, ultimately flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.
Considering the Jefferson River as the farthest source results in the Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson River system.
5. The Yenisei River- 5539 Km
This river system, the world’s fifth longest and the largest flowing into the Arctic Ocean, begins with the Selenge River, which runs for 992 kilometers and empties into Lake Baikal.
From there, the Angara River originates near Listvyanka, flows through Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast, and eventually merges with the Yenisei River near Strelka.
The Yenisei River, with a total length of 5,539 miles, ultimately discharges into the Arctic Ocean.
6. The Yellow River- 5464 Km
Referred to as the Huang He or Yellow River, this immense waterway, with sediment-rich waters, carries profound historical significance as the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization.
It continues to possess significant practical and symbolic importance for the country.
7. The Ob-Irtysh River- 5410 Km
The Ob River, also called the Ob-Irtysh, stands as one of three great rivers in Siberia, joining the Yenisei and Lena.
It originates in the Altai Mountains and journeys to the Arctic Ocean.
8. The Parana River- 4880 Km
The Ob River, also called the Ob-Irtysh, stands as one of Siberia’s three great rivers, joining the Yenisei and Lena.
It originates in the Altai Mountains and journeys to the Arctic Ocean.
9. The Congo River- 4700 Km
The Congo River, formerly named the Zaire River, curves across the African continent and holds the unique distinction of crossing the equator twice.
Additionally, it ranks as the deepest river on Earth, plunging to depths exceeding 700 feet in certain locations.
10. The Amur River- 4480 Km
The Amur River, known as the Heilong Jiang in China, stretches along the border between northeastern China and Russia, ranking as the world’s tenth-longest river.
The name “Amur” is believed to have its roots in a word meaning “water,” while the Chinese name, Heilong Jiang, translates to “black dragon river.”
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