Rivers are fascinating and life-giving natural features that have shaped our planet and civilizations for millennia. They provide us with many things that help facilitate nearly every aspect of life, including but not limited to water, food, energy, transportation, and recreation. They also host a diverse array of life forms and ecosystems.
In this video, we will take a look at the top 10 longest rivers in the world according to their length. We will start by ranking them from the shortest and ending with the longest one. So, grab a drink, your favorite snack, and maybe a swimsuit and let’s dive on in!
Viewcation Presents: The Longest Rivers in the World
Amur River – 4,480 km
The Amur River is noteworthy for being the tenth longest river in the world and the longest river that forms a border between two countries: Russia and China. It originates from two tributaries: the Argun River and the Kherlen River that join near Blagoveshchensk in Russia. From there, it flows eastward until it reaches its mouth at Sakhalin Bay near Nikolayevsk-on-Amur in Russia.
The Amur River is home to many rare and endangered species, such as Siberian tigers, Amur leopards, cranes, and sturgeons. It also supports a variety of habitats, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, and even a few river islands. The Amur River is important for its cultural and historical value as well. For instance, it has been a site of conflicts and cooperation between Russia and China for centuries.
Congo River – 4,700 km
The Congo River is the ninth-longest river in the world and the second-longest river in Africa after the Nile. It winds and flows through six countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania. It originates from the Lualaba River on Chambeshi Plateau near Lake Tanganyika in Zambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Banana Point in the DRC.
The Congo River is renowned for its biodiversity and hydrology. It hosts the largest rainforest in Africa that contains thousands of plant and animal species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, okapis, and bonobos.
It also has the deepest river channel in the world at 220 meters or 720 feet deep and the second largest river discharge in the world after the Amazon at 41,800 cubic meters per second or roughly 1.48 million cubic feet per second.
The Congo River is vital for the surrounding regions’ economic and social value as well. It helps provide valuable resources such as fish, timber, minerals, and drinking water for millions of people living along its basin. It also serves as a major transportation route for trade and travel across Central Africa.
Paraná – 4,880 kmh
The Paraná River is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some 4,880 kilometers or 3,030 mi. It is the second longest river in South America after the Amazon River and the eighth longest river on this blue spinning rock.
The Paraná River originates from the confluence of two smaller rivers, the Paranaíba and the Grande, on the plateau of southeast-central Brazil. It flows generally southward across a vast plain that covers much of Argentina and Paraguay. Along its course, it receives many tributaries, such as the Iguazu River which is famous for its spectacular waterfalls.
The Paraná River forms a significant portion of the border between Paraguay and Argentina before joining with another major river, the Uruguay River, to form the Río de la Plata estuary. This estuary is one of the largest and most essential waterways in South America, connecting several major cities and ports with the Atlantic Ocean.
Ob’ Irtysh – 5.410 km
The Ob-Irtysh River is a major river system in Asia, technically consisting of two rivers: the Ob and its main tributary, the Irtysh. It is the fourth-longest river system in Asia and the seventh-longest in the world, with a total length of 5,410 kilometers or 3,360 miles.
The Ob-Irtysh River originates from the Altai Mountains in northwestern China, where the Irtysh rises from the glaciers. The Irtysh flows through Kazakhstan and Russia before joining with the Ob near Khanty-Mansiysk. The Ob flows from south to north through western Siberia and empties into the Gulf of Ob, an inlet of the Arctic Ocean.
The Ob-Irtysh River basin covers an area of 2,990,000 square kilometers or 1,150,000 square miles and includes various types of landscapes such as steppe, taiga, swamps, and tundra. The river is a key source of water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. It also supports a rich biodiversity of fish and wildlife.
Yellow – 5,464 km
The Yellow River, which is also known as Huang He in Chinese, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world. It has a length of 5,464 km or 3,395 miles and flows from west to east through nine provinces before finally emptying out into the Bohai Sea.
The Yellow River originates from the Bayan Har Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau and crosses two large lakes, Ngoring and Gyaring. It then flows through a series of canyons and gorges before entering a vast plain that covers much of northern China. Along its route, it receives many tributaries such as Wei River and Fen River.
The Yellow River is frequently referred to as the cradle of Chinese civilization because it was the birthplace of ancient cultures such as the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. It also played a integral role in irrigation, transportation, and trade throughout history. That being said, it is also known for its frequent floods and changes of course that have caused several historically significant disasters and massive migrations.
Yenisey – 5,539 km
The Yenisey River is a river in central Russia and one of the longest rivers in Asia. It flows from south to north across Siberia and empties into the Kara Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean. It has a discharge of about 19,600 cubic meters per second or 690,000 cubic square feet, making it the sixth largest river on planet Earth by discharge and the fifth by shear length.
The Yenisey River has two main sources: the Great Yenisey and the Little Yenisey, which join at Kyzyl near the border with Mongolia. The river then flows through a series of canyons and valleys before reaching its major tributary, the Angara River. The Angara brings water from Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. Other important tributaries include Tunguska, Podkamennaya Tunguska, and Lower Tunguska.
The Yenisey River divides Western Siberia from Central Siberia and drains a large area of diverse consisting of landscapes such as forests, steppes, and tundra. The majestic Yenisey supports a wealth of wildlife, such as sturgeon, salmon, seals, and birds. It also provides humans with water for purposes such as irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and navigation.
Mississippi-Missouri – 6,275 km
The Mississippi-Missouri River is a river system that consists of two major rivers in North America: the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. The Mississippi River bears the distinct honor of being the second longest river in North America, flowing 2,350 miles or 3,782 kilometers from its source at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri River is also the longest river in North America and a tributary of the Mississippi River, flowing 2,341 miles or 3,767 kilometers from its source at the confluence of Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers in Montana to its mouth near St. Louis.
The Mississippi-Missouri River system drains a large area of land that covers parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces. It has many other tributaries, such as the Ohio River, Arkansas River and Red River. It also forms several vital waterways such as the Upper, Middle, and Lower Mississippi waterways.
The Mississippi-Missouri River system has famously played a pivotal role in the history, culture and economy of North America. It was used by the indigenous peoples of the United States for transportation, trade, and fishing. Further, It was explored by European explorers such as Hernando de Soto, Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, and served as a vital route for westward expansion and commerce during the 19th century. It also supports a rich biodiversity of plants and animals such as bald eagles, alligators, and catfish.
Yangtze – 6,300 km
The Yangtze River is a major river in Asia that flows through China. It is the Eurasia’s longest river, the third-longest river in the world, and the longest river on the planet to flow entirely within one country. It has a length of about 6,300 kilometers or 3.917 miles and a basin area of about 1.8 million square kilometers.
The Yangtze River originates from the Tibetan Plateau and flows eastward across China until it reaches the East China Sea near Shanghai. Along its dramatic course, it passes through many diverse landscapes and ecosystems, such as mountains, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deltas. It also connects with many tributaries and lakes, forming a complex network of waterways.
The Yangtze River is home to many endangered and threatened wildlife species, such as the Chinese alligator, the narrow-ridged finless porpoise, and the Yangtze sturgeon. It also supports millions of people who live along its banks and depend on its resources for agriculture, fishing, transportation, and hydroelectric power. Despite it’s crucial role pertaining to the surrounding region, the river also faces many environmental challenges due to pollution, overexploitation, dam construction, and climate change.
Amazon – 6,400 km
The Amazon River is a major, if not the most important, river in South America that flows through Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and several other countries. It holds bragging rights for being the largest river on Earth by discharge volume of water and the second longest river in the world after the Nile. It has a length of roughly 6,400 kilometers or about 3,917 miles and a basin area of about 7 million square kilometers.
The Amazon River’s sources come from the Andes Mountains, and it flows eastward across South America until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Belem. Along its twisting and winding journey, it forms many branches and tributaries, such as the Marañon, Ucayali, Napo, and Negro rivers.
The Amazon River is home to many unique, beautiful, and endangered species of wildlife, such as the pink river dolphin, the giant otter, the anaconda, and the piranha. It also supports millions of people who live along its banks and intensely depend on its resources for agriculture, fishing, tourism, and cultural activities. Once again, however, even though the Amazon is so important for the communities and wildlife that it helps support, the river faces countless environmental challenges due to deforestation, mining, oil exploration, and the dire effects of climate change.
Nile – 6,650 km
The Nile River is a legendary river in Africa that has fascinated people for thousands of years. It is the longest river in the world, stretching for about 6,650 kilometers or 4,258 miles from its source to its mouth. It is also called the father of African rivers, as it nourishes and supports innumerable civilizations and cultures along its banks.
The Nile River starts from two main tributaries: the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile originates from Lake Victoria, which lies across Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. The Blue Nile originates from Lake Tana, which lies in Ethiopia. The two tributaries meet at Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and form the main Nile River.
The Nile River flows northward through Sudan and Egypt until it reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Cairo. Along its course, it passes by many natural wonders and historical landmarks, such as rapids, swamps such as the Sudd, deltas such as the Rosetta, the great pyramids of Giza, and temples like Karnak. It also hosts many diverse and amazing species of wildlife, such as crocodiles, hippos, flamingos, and papyrus plants.
Well, that about does it, but now we’d love to hear from you.
Did you know that the Nile is the longest river in the world but the Amazon is the largest river in the world in terms of discharge, and were you aware that the Mississippi-Missouri river passes through 31 US states and two Canadian provinces? Let us know in the comments!