The Nile is the longest river in the world. Which river is the longest in the world Where is the longest river

Measuring the length of great rivers is not an easy task. To do this, you need to know exactly where the source is and where the mouth is. It is very difficult to find the correct source among the many branches and tributaries, so the most distant of the tributaries is taken as the starting point of the rivers. In addition, rivers change depending on the seasons. These and many other difficulties do not allow us to name the exact length of the river.

Amazon

Most likely the longest river, from its mouth to its most distant year-round source, is the Amazon. According to the latest data, its length is almost 7 thousand kilometers, to be more precise - 6992 km. It originates at the foot of the Andes and tends to the Atlantic Ocean through Brazil.

However, the title of longest river depends on how it is measured. Until the mid-20th century, geographers could not reach the distant sources of the Amazon, but GPS technologies made it possible to conduct a study in 2007 and collect more accurate data.

Until 2007, the longest river in the world was the Nile, whose length is 6852 km. The measurements of the two rivers are so close that the results may seem quite contradictory, especially since the 2007 study was partly funded by Brazil.

Nile

The great and longest African river flows from the mountains of Burundi and flows through Sudan and Egypt, forming the famous delta and emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient Egyptians traveled 2,700 km up the Nile, deep into modern Sudan. According to the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy, the Nile originates in the “Mountains of the Moon” deep in the African continent. In the 19th century, English explorer John Henning Speke first sailed down the Nile to its source from Lake Victoria in modern-day Uganda. For many years after his journey, the great lake was considered the source of the Nile. In a straight line, the Nile covers about 3850 km, while the Amazon is only 1770 km.

Amur

Almost on the state border between Russia and China, the Amur flows, its length is 4500 km, while its area reaches 1.85 km2. The river flows into the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk, and its coast has become a haven for rare species of birds and animals.

Express information on the country

The Earth is in third place in terms of distance from the Sun and in fifth place among all the planets in the Solar System in size.

Age– 4.54 billion years

Average radius – 6,378.2 km

Average circumference – 40,030.2 km

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Number of oceans– 4: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic

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Most populous states: Monaco (18,678 people/km2), Singapore (7607 people/km2) and Vatican City (1914 people/km2)

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Number of nationalities– about 2,000

Climate zones: equatorial, tropical, temperate and arctic (main) + subequatorial, subtropical and subarctic (transitional)

Congo

Congo is located in central Africa and is considered the second largest (after the Nile) on the continent. Its total length is 4,700 km, and the area of the water basin is 4 million km 2. Congo is also known as Zaire. The river provides water to the people of Angola, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda and Burundi. Zaire flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Parana

This river is considered the second longest on the South American continent, second only to the Amazon. The length of the Parana is 4880 km, and the area of the basin is 2.58 km 2. Flowing through Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina, it flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The Paraná is rightfully considered the main waterway of South America. Shipping is well developed here.

One of the largest rivers in Siberia with a length of 5410 km and a basin area of 3 million km 2. The source of the Ob is located in the Altai Territory and flows into the waters of the Arctic Ocean. It is considered the longest in Russia. Power plants and reservoirs were built on its rapids.

Yellow River

The second name of this famous river is Yellow. It flows through most of China and is considered the country's second largest river. The total length of the Yellow River is about 5464 km, and the area of its basin is 750 thousand km 2. Thanks to the Shaanxi Plateau, the water in the Yellow River has a yellowish tint. Hence the second name of the river. Over the course of many centuries, the Yellow River, considered the cradle of local civilization, changed its course many times. Over time, many large cities arose on the banks of the Yellow River, which take water from here for drinking and household needs.

Yenisei

It is the Yenisei that holds the title of the longest river flowing through Siberia. It originates at the border with Mongolia, and it flows into the waters of the Red Sea. The total length of the Siberian record holder is as much as 5539 km, and the basin area is 2.8 million km 2. Numerous power plants were opened on the banks of the Yenisei, producing electricity for numerous industrial enterprises in the region. Industrial development has had a negative impact on the local environment.

Mississippi

The record holder of the continent of North America, with a total length of 6275 km and a basin area of 3.27 million km 2. The Mississippi begins in northern Minnesota near Lake Missouri, and its waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Translated from the language of the indigenous aborigines, the word “Mississippi” means “big river”. This waterway is of great importance for the industry and economic development of the country. Shipping is developed here.

Yangtze

The largest river in China. The total length is 6300 km, the basin area is 1.8 million km 2. The beginning of the Yangtze is located in the Himalayan glaciers region. Flowing through the country and dividing it in half, it flows into the waters of the South China Sea. The Yangtze is important for the country and is home to major cities.

Amazon

The formation of the Amazon was facilitated by the confluence of two large rivers. Its length is 6400 km, the basin area is 7 million km 2. The Amazon flows through Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana and Ecuador. In addition, many of the continent's major rivers flow into it. It, in turn, flows into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A huge number of animals live on the banks of the Amazon.

Nile

The length of the record holder is 6650 km, the basin area is 3 million km 2. The Nile is located in the northeast of the African continent, carrying its waters to the Mediterranean Sea. You can see it in Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, as well as Uganda and Eritrea. The longest river in the world plays a vital role in the life of the local population. It is home to major ports and power plants. It is considered the cradle of ancient civilization.

27.03.2013

There are many amazing things in the world long rivers, but which one is longest river in the world? And this is a complex issue that causes a lot of disagreement and controversy. Scientists have been debating this issue for a long time, arguing about the exact length of rivers, because for this it is necessary to know exactly where the river begins and where it ends, and there are still disputes about whether it is necessary to take into account the tributaries of rivers. And the most famous dispute between scientists is which river is longer, the Nile or the Amazon; they swapped places several times. But today scientists seem to agree, although not completely... This is10 longest rivers in the world.

10. Congo River - 4,700 km

The water system is the Atlantic Ocean. The deepest and second longest (after the Nile) river in Africa. The only river that crosses the equator twice. A major shipping artery and source of fishing. Famous for the seven-step Stanley Falls and the cascade of Livingston Falls. The novels of J. Conrad “Heart of Darkness” and M. Crichton “Congo” are dedicated to the river.

9. Amur River - 5,052 km

In ninth place in the top 10 longest rivers in the world, Amur, which flows through the territories of Russia, China and Mongolia. The water system is the Sea of Okhotsk. The Chinese call it the River of the Black Dragon, which, according to legend, lives in its waters. It is distinguished by an unusually rich ichthyofauna. Up to 139 subspecies of fish are found here. The richest salmon river in Eurasia.

8. Lena River - 5,100 km

It flows into the Laptev Sea. The name of the river is not associated with a popular female name, but with the Evenki word “Elu-Ene” - “big river”. It differs from other Russian rivers in its ice regime and powerful ice jams, which causes global floods. The banks of the Lena are sparsely populated.

7. Ob River with Irtysh - 5,410 km

Flows into the Kara Sea. The area of the water basin is 2,990 thousand sq. km. The third most water-bearing river in Russia after the Yenisei and Lena. In the southern part of the Ob, the Novosibirsk Reservoir was built - a reservoir of water reserves and a popular recreation spot.

6. Yellow River - 5,464 km

"Yellow River". The name is justified by the color of the water, which is caused by the abundance of river sediments. Flows into the Yellow Sea. The average water flow in the river is 2000 cubic meters per second. In 11 AD. The Yellow River made a breakthrough into a new direction, which caused a huge environmental and humanitarian disaster and led to the fall of the Xin Dynasty. In 1938, Kuomintang troops organized the largest flood of the Yellow River in order to stop the advance of the Japanese army. It is the second largest river in China.

5. Yenisei River - 5,539 km

In fifth position in the top 10 longest rivers in the world, Yenisei. The name comes from the Evenk “Ionessi” - “big water”. Siberians affectionately call her Yenisei-father. Flows into the Kara Sea. The confluence of the Big and Small Yenisei in Kyzyl is the geographical center of Asia. The ill-conceived construction of hydroelectric power stations on the river and a mining and chemical plant in Krasnoyarsk led to climate change and other serious environmental consequences in this area.

4. Mississippi - 6,275 km

It originates in Lake Ithaca in Minnesota and flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Divided into Upper and Lower Mississippi. The largest tributary is the Ohio River. The longest tributary is the Missouri River. It is famous for the grandiose bridges built across it. She was a source of inspiration for many writers and musicians, such as M. Twain, W. Faulkner, J. Cash.

3. Yangtze River - 6,300 km

Longest me and the high-water river of Eurasia. The cradle of Chinese civilization and the main waterway of this country. The river is home to two endangered species - the Chinese allegator and the Chinese paddlefish. On July 16, 1966, the Great Mao swam 15 km down the river in 65 minutes, which made an indelible impression on local residents and served as a signal for the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.

2. River Nile - 6852 km

A sacred river worshiped by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and many African peoples. In her honor, a temple was built in Nilopolis and the festival of Niloa was held. It originates on the East African plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Plays a huge role in the development of agriculture in the surrounding lands. Nile cruises are a very popular tourist route.

1. Amazon - 6,992 km

The longest river in the world formed by the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers. It flows through the territories of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Flows into the Atlantic Ocean. At a depth of 4 thousand kilometers, the unidirectional underground river Hamza flows underneath it. In 2011 it was recognized as one of the natural wonders of the world. Nourishes the ecosystem of the Amazon jungle. It is also considered the most dangerous river in the world. But still it is the greatest river.

Water flows are extremely variable quantities. In different years, and even seasons, their length and volume of water changes. The debate about which river is the longest in the world continues to this day. However, the TOP 10 remains unchanged, only the places change.

South America is an amazing continent, home to the longest river in the world, the Amazon. It flows through several countries - Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. The area of its basin is approximately 7.05 million km², almost the territory of Australia.

The name of the longest river in the world comes from the legendary tribes of Amazons who inhabited its banks, with whom the discoverers of the mainland, the conquistadors, had to fight. Another curious fact: in the past, the Amazon repeatedly changed the direction of its flow until it “settled” on the final version - from west to east, crossing the entire continent.

Nile (6,700 km)

For a long time it was believed that the Nile was the longest river in the world, until a new tributary of the Amazon was discovered. The sources of the Nile are in Rwanda; in total, it passes through 10 African countries. For Egypt, whose territory accounts for a significant part of the river, it is of invaluable importance. It is along its banks that more than 95% of the state’s population lives.

Missouri-Mississippi (6,275 km)

Many Americans still believe that the Mississippi is the longest river in the world. Of course, because it is almost entirely located in the United States. In fact, its length is “only” 3,734 km. And if the Missouri had not turned from a full-fledged river into a tributary of the Mississippi, it would not have seen the top 10, like its ears.

Yangtze (5,800 km)

Translated from Chinese, the name means “long river”. It is the longest in Eurasia and is located in China. The waters of the Yangtze are home to many rare and endangered species, including alligators, sturgeon and river dolphins.

Yellow River (5,464 km)

The name of this river, also located in China, translates as “yellow”. It owes this to clay sediments that wash out from its banks and give the water a yellowish-turbid tint. Moreover, the sea into which the Yellow River flows was also named.

Ob (5,410 km)

The longest river in Russia, located in Western Siberia. It does not have many tributaries and is filled mainly by melting snow. The name most likely came from the translation of the word “snow” in the language of the Komi people.

Lena (5,100 km)

The largest of the rivers located entirely on the territory of the Russian Federation, in Eastern Siberia. For most of the year, the Lena is under a thick layer of ice, so shipping is rather poorly developed, and the banks are practically uninhabited.

Amur (5,052 km)

The next one of the top 10 longest rivers in the world is also located, for the most part, in Russia. It also flows through the territory of China and Mongolia. Interestingly, the unofficial name in Chinese sounds like “Heilongjiang” - black dragon river.

Congo (4,700 km)

In terms of flow, this river is second only to the Amazon. In some places its depth exceeds 250 meters. Most of the reservoir is located on the territory of the Republic of Congo. The river crosses the equator twice and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Mackenzie (4,240 km)

Canada, it turns out, is not only a country of lakes. The last of the 10 longest rivers in the world is located on its territory. Interestingly, it was originally called “ Disappointment" - a disappointment, but it was later renamed in honor of the discoverer, Alexander Mackenzie.

There are many factors by which the length of a river is calculated, so it is quite difficult to do this. So, there was a lot of debate about the longest river in the world - the Nile or the Amazon. The Nile is believed to be longer than the Amazon, but recently some researchers have questioned this fact. Recent Brazilian and Peruvian studies have suggested that the Amazon is longer. The length of the Amazon River ranged from 6259 to 6800 km, but now the length of this river is 6992 km, after its new source was discovered. After all, it is very difficult to say for sure where a river begins, especially those rivers that are formed by ephemeral streams, swamps or changing lakes, therefore this article presents rivers along the length of a continuous river channel

10. Amur River - Argun

The Amur, the tenth longest river in the world, forms its border between the Russian Far East and Northeast China. The length of the river is 2824 kilometers from the confluence of the Shilka and Argun rivers to its confluence with the Amur Estuary.

9. Congo

The Congo is approximately 4,700 km long. The river is located in Africa and is the deepest river in the world.

8. La Plata

The river is located in South America, on the territory of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Approximate length is 4,880 kilometers

7. Ob

The Ob River is located in Western Siberia and is the seventh longest river in the world. The river is 5,410 kilometers (3,360 miles) long, with a basin of 2,990,000 square kilometers.

6. Yellow River

The Yellow River is the second longest river in China after the Yangtze and the sixth longest river in the world. Estimated length 5,464 kilometers.

5. Yenisei

The Yenisei is the fifth longest river in the world with a length of 5,539 km. The Yenisei is the largest river system flowing into the Arctic Ocean.

4. Mississippi

The Mississippi River is the main river of the largest river system in North America. Current in the United States (although its basin reaches Canada). The Mississippi is the fourth longest river in the world.

3. Yangtze

The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third longest river in the world. Its length is approximately 6,418 kilometers.

2. Amazon

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world. The river is located in northern South America, starting from the Andes in Peru and ending in the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil. The length of the Amazon River ranges from 6259 to 6800 km. You can read more in our article

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