List of Longest Rivers in the world

The Longest Rivers in the world usually originate from sources such as Glaciers, Springs, Underground geysers, etc. They generally end up flowing into the oceans, seas, lakes, or other rivers. They are the most important part of the water cycle, offering the majority percentage of usable water for humans and wildlife. The adjoining areas where a river flows through are known as the river basin.

The river Nile is the longest in the world, but the Amazon river system, being the second largest, has the largest river basin in the world because it has a huge number of tributaries and distributaries. The length of a river is calculated based on the distance covered from its origin to its destination.

Top 10 Longest Rivers in the World

1) The Nile River:

The river Nile has a total length of ~6650 Kms and is considered to be the longest river in the world. Originating from Lake Victoria, it flows through eleven countries namely: Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Republic of Sudan, (in no particular order). The Nile consists of two major tributaries commonly known as The White Nile and the Blue Nile. The majority of the water load is supplied by the White Nile originating in Lake Victoria, while the Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Uganda and meets the Blue Nile at the Sudanese capital Khartoum. The river system drains northwards into the Mediterranean Sea.

2) The Amazon River:

Amazon river ~6575 Kms holds a highly disputable second position as the second longest river in the books. It does hold the record as the largest river system for its discharge volume per year, which is more than the combined amount of seven of the world’s largest rivers. The Amazon river’s source was redefined in 2014 and identified as the Mantaro River in Peru. The Amazon river itself contributes around 20% of global river discharges into oceans and drains into the Atlantic ocean.

3) The Yangtze River:

The Yangtze river has a length of ~6300 Kms is the world’s third longest, and Asia’s longest river. Originating from the Jari Hills in the Tibetan Plateau, the river flows eastward finally draining into the East China Sea. Yangtze is a river of historical significance and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Yangtze river flows entirely through China through diverse geography and ecosystems and is home to various threatened and endangered species like the Yangtze river porpoise. The Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world is built on this river system.

4) The Mississippi River:

Having a length of ~5970 Kms, the Mississippi-Missouri river system is considered the fourth longest river in the world and the second largest drainage system in North America. The river starts its journey from Lake Itasca and flows south entirely through the US and finally ending its journey in the Gulf of Mexico. The drainage system covers 32 U.S. States and 2 Canadian Provinces. The Mississippi embayment is one of the most fertile lands present in the US due to the rich river silt deposits.

5) The Yenisei River:

At a length of ~5540 Kms, the Yenisei River system is the fifth longest river system in the world. The river originates in Mungaragiyn-gol in Mongolia and flows northwards into the Kara Sea in the Arctic ocean. The Yenisei drains through most of Central Siberia with the Siberian Plains to the west and Siberian Plateau to the east.

6) The Yellow River (Huang He)

Flowing through China, “Huang He” or the yellow river measures a total length of 5464 Kms and is established as the sixth longest river in the world. The origin of this river can be traced back to Bayan Har Mountains situated in Qinghai province in western China. Being the second longest river in China, it flows through 9 provinces and empties into the Bohai Sea. The Yellow river is well known for being flood prone but still an extremely crucial waterbody for the economic development of northern China.

7) The Ob-Irtysh River

The Ob-Irtysh river is the seventh-longest river in the world and one of the major rivers in Russia. The northward flowing river measures at ~5410 Kms and empties into the Arctic ocean. With its origin in the Altai mountains, the Ob river flows through Russia, and the river Irtysh which joins the Ob river has its origin in China. The Ob-Irtysh river system contributes to the economical growth of Russia by providing a fertile basin, hydroelectric power, and also aquatic food sources to the region.

8) The Parana River

The Parana River, measuring at ~4880 Kms is the eighth longest river in the world and the second longest river in South America. Its sources can be identified as the Paranaiba river and the Rio Grande. The Parana river empties into the Atlantic Ocean after flowing through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Sao Paolo, Rosario, Asuncion, and Buenos Aires are some of the key cities present and flourishing in the watershed of this river.

9) The Congo River:

The river Congo in Africa grabs the ninth position of the world’s biggest river with a length of ~4700 Kms before draining into the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the second largest river in Africa and also the deepest river in the world with the deepest point measured at ~720ft. It is also the 2nd river with the highest water discharge volume after Amazon. This winding and naturally enriched river find its way through the countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Angola, Tanzania, and Zambia.

10) The Amur River:

The Amur or Heilong Jiang stretches for ~2824 Kms and is the world’s tenth longest river. It lies on the border of Russia and Nothern China and originates at Burkan Khaldun in Northeastern Mongolia. The river flows eastward to drain at the Strait of Tartary. A diverse array of ecological regions are covered by the river spanning from grasslands, and forests to deserts and tundra.

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