The most long river in the world When asked what is the longest river, not everyone can answer correctly. Moreover, the length of reservoirs is constantly changing due to human factor. In this regard, it is recommended that you read the text below so as not to ask yourself such questions again.

The longest river in the world is the Nile or the Amazon? The nature on our planet is incredibly diverse and amazing. Yes, you can endlessly admire the creations created by human genius, but no one can compare with the beauty and power that nature has created. Water arteries deserve special attention globe and the most important of them are the Nile River and the Amazon. So what longest river in the world Nile or Amazon? Even at school, all students will unconditionally answer this question in unison: “Of course, Neil!” But scientists are currently debating whether this is actually true.

Official data says that the length of the Nile is 6695 km. The river originates from Lake Victoria and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, crossing the territory of Egypt, Sudan and Uganda. In ancient times, it was this river that became the main source for life and the emergence of one of the first human civilizations.
The climate on planet Earth is changing rapidly. And this is due to the human factor. What seemed incredible yesterday is today a harsh reality. This is what prompted Brazilian scientists in 2005 to recalculate the length of the reservoirs, since it was not clear which the longest river in the world was the Nile or the Amazon. It turned out that the river became 57 km shorter. Now the length is 6852 km, which is 140 km shorter than the Amazon. We should also not forget about the construction of the Aswan Dam, which also led to the shallowing of the Nile reservoir.
Based on all of the above, we can say with confidence that the longest river in the world is the Amazon, which was officially approved in 2013.

What is the longest river in the world? Recent school graduates learned in geography lessons what the longest river in the world is. However, at present this knowledge can be safely questioned. The fact is that the construction of the Aswan Dam in the 60s, as well as the influence of some natural factors led to the fact that the once most powerful river became 140 km shorter. This means that Amazon now owns the palm. This river has several tributaries - the Ucayali and Marañon - and more recently, scientists discovered that the length of the South American river has exceeded 7 thousand km due to the fact that it was led from the source of the Ucayali.

A few more Amazon records

Today, the longest river in the world is not the only record that belongs to a South African river. The Amazon is the largest basin in size and the deepest river, for which special “thanks” to the heavy rainfall. The river discharges about 200 cubic meters of water into the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the Amazon is capable of providing every inhabitant of the globe with 1 liter fresh water per second. By the way, approximately 1/5 of all fresh water that enters the World Ocean comes from the Amazon.
In some places, the width of the longest river in the world reaches such dimensions that it can easily be called a sea, since there is no way to see the opposite bank without an optical device.
In addition, the longest river can boast of its rich biological diversity - rare representatives of flora and fauna are found along the banks of the Amazon.

The length of the Amazon River is 6992 km.
More recently, in 2013, the length of the Amazon River took the palm from the Nile and now it is the longest river in the whole world. It originates in Peru. Then, flowing through a narrow mountain valley, it forms several waterfalls and only 700 km after its beginning it becomes a wide navigable river. By the way, in some places the distance between the banks is 1600 m. The Amazon flows through the Andes, then directs its waters through the forested plain of South America and after that it turns into a full-fledged navigable river, continuing its movement through the lowlands of Peru and Brazil, and only after that it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The river received this name due to a legend that said that a tribe of female warriors, “Amassona,” lived along the banks and destroyed boats.

Tributaries

In total, the Amazon has more than 200 tributaries. The most important of them are Ucayali and Marañon. Recently, the length of the Amazon has increased due to the fact that it was led away from the source of the Ucayali, which means that the total length of the Amazon River has exceeded 7,000 km. About 17 rivers of the first magnitude flow into it, the length of which varies from 1500 km to 3500 km. Several particularly outstanding tributaries exceed the Rhine in their length and depth, but even the largest of them do not have any effect on the measured flow of the Amazon.
Entering the reservoir is dangerous not only because the Amazon River is incredibly long, but also according to legends. She, like those female warriors who lived along its banks, is impulsive and unpredictable, unlike the Nile with his calm and balanced character. The thing is that the Amazon flows through different zones in the equatorial direction and overflows to incredible levels due to constant rains. The shores of the Amazon are home to amazing representatives of tropical flora and fauna.

Shipping capabilities

The length of the Amazon River also forms a continuous route for heavy ships - this is the distance from the mouth to the Andean slopes. The South American river is also favorable to sailing ships, since high trade winds dominate most of it. The total length of the navigable part of the Amazon is 9,900 km. Many sailors, scientists and travelers strove for this rebellious element and tried to learn all its secrets and mysteries. Some of them discovered the mouth (Vincent Pinzon), others (Francis de Orellana) talked about the beautiful Amazons, and still others (the expedition of Herndon and Gibbon, the Prussian Prince Adalbert, etc.) were able to explore this natural attraction, which is still distinguished to this day disobedience and obstinacy.

The length of the Nile River is 6670 km.
One of the most majestic rivers on Earth is the Nile. The mere fact that the very first civilization in human history arose on its shores thousands of years ago speaks volumes. Even ancient people recognized the deep-sea Nile as a source of life, they worshiped it, made sacrifices, asked for help and advice from it, and also built the greatest structures along the banks, many of which have survived to this day. But no one knew where the beginning of the longest river in the world, which ends its course in the Mediterranean Sea, begins.

Where is it - the beginning of the Nile?

In fact, the answer to this question is not so simple. As it flows across the African continent, the length of the Nile River has many water arteries, so the ancient Egyptians and the earliest explorers could not accurately answer where the deep-sea reservoir originates.
John Henig, who was an officer in the British army, accidentally discovered Lake Victoria. It was at this time that the firm belief emerged that the White Nile began its flow from here. A little later, Henry, an English journalist, partially confirmed this hypothesis when he went in search of the missing Livingston. He decided to explore this region at the same time. As a result, it turned out that Lake Tanganyika has nothing to do with the Nile, unlike Lake Victoria, which is the source of the river.

Length

From the beginning to the Mediterranean, the length of the Nile River is 5600 km. But if we count the length of the river from the beginning of its river system (the source of Rukarar), then its length in this case will be equal to 6758 km. The mighty river carries its waters to the north and constantly strives downward - it is for this reason that there are many rapids and waterfalls here. The total water drop is about 700 meters.
The stormy stream ends its course on Lake Albert, from which the calmer and more balanced Nile originates. This section belongs to Uganda, whose residents cross the river by ferry. In South Sudan, the length of the Nile River reaches 716 kilometers and is called Bahr al-Jabel. The terrain in this region is flat and marshy - this is what caused the Nile to branch into many branches. Further movement of water is directed towards the capital of Sudan. It is in this place that the White and Blue Nile join forces and merge into one large river, which is called the Nile. A little north of Khartoum (the capital of Sudan), they are joined by the last tributary - the Atbara River, whose length is 800 km.
After this, the Nile moves through the Sahara and the Arabian Desert, through the territory of Egypt and, leaving Cairo, the Nile begins to branch into many branches, forming a delta, the length of which from north to south is 160 km. Many cities were founded on this site, including the well-known Alexandria. Thus, the length of the Nile River is indeed the main factor in the origin of life along its banks.
The shores of the reservoir are fertile lands, many natural, architectural and historical attractions, as well as incredible representatives of flora and fauna.

The longest river in Europe As you know, the longest river in Europe flows through the territory of only one country - Russia. It's about about the powerful and majestic Volga, which originates on the Valdai Hills and flows into the Caspian Sea. The total length of the river is 3530 km, and the pool area ( 1361 thousand sq. km) in size exceeds a third of the entire European part of Russia.
The very beginning of the longest river in Europe is a small stream that formed from a small source of groundwater near the village of Volgoverkhovye. Gradually, receiving about 150,000 large and small tributaries, the river gains strength and flows into the Caspian Sea.
The main source of nutrition for the Volga is external meltwater. Rain and groundwater, which feed the river in winter, play a minor role. That is why the hydrological regime can be divided into three periods: long spring flood, summer and winter low water.
The mighty and longest river in Europe is the most important shipping canal in Russia. Conventionally, the water creation of nature can be divided into several sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Volga, respectively. Vegetable and animal world along the river banks is ambiguous. Thus, the Lower Volga is distinguished by the greatest diversity - it is for this reason that the Astrakhan nature reserve was formed in the river delta, representatives of the flora and fauna of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
Natural resources of the river and its unique geographical position has long attracted people, they began to build small settlements here, which over time turned into powerful cities such as Kazan, Volgograd, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod.

Ecological situation

Environmentalists are very puzzled by the current situation on the river. According to monitoring data, the load on water resources 8 times higher than permissible standards, and 65 of the 100 especially polluted cities are located near the Volga. The most serious environmental problems arise from the construction of a large number of dams, the activities of large industrial enterprises, a lot of polluted waste and busy navigation.
The main reason for the pollution of the longest river in Europe is the abundance Wastewater, which appear as a result of the work of industrial and municipal enterprises, as well as inefficiency treatment facilities. As a result of this, the flora and fauna of the Volga delta suffers greatly - data from some studies made it possible to identify mutations and congenital deformities of some representatives.
The development of special government programs aimed at improving the environmental situation in the region is the only right solution that can save the situation.

- ranks eleventh in the world ranking, but is the longest river in Russia. The total length is 4400 km. It originates on the Baikal ridge, from a small lake. It’s embarrassing to admit, but this small body of water, which gives rise to a great and powerful river, doesn’t even have a name. After Baikal, the Lena makes a sharp turn towards Yakutsk and rushes north, flowing into the Laptev Sea.
Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on what length to give to the great Russian river. The fact is that the South American Parana River does not have a specific source, which is why its total length fluctuates. That is why some sources indicate that Lena is in 10th place, and some award her 11th position.
All this confusion does not in any way affect the total length of the river from the mouth to the delta itself. Conventionally, the longest river in Russia is divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower reaches. After the confluence of the Vilyui, the river spreads into an incredible width, turning into that very powerful Siberian river.
The upper reaches (up to the Vitim River basin) of the Lena have a typically mountainous character. It is winding, fast and impetuous; in some places there are rapids. It calms down slightly only near Kirensk, where the Kirenga River flows into it. Here the mountains begin to gradually retreat, and they are replaced by majestic coniferous forests. Fir, cedar and spruce, mighty pines and light-coniferous larch are the pride of Siberia.
The longest river in Russia becomes even more powerful after the right tributary Olekma flows into it. The famous Lena Pillars are one of the most striking landmarks located along the river. It was in this place that it was formed national park with the same name. Here it turns into a deep river, with a depth reaching 20 meters. The field of Yakutsk two more tributaries flow into the Lena - the Aldan and Vilyuy rivers. Here the Russian beauty already has wide banks (on average about 10 meters), the width of which in some areas reaches 30 m.
The river is one of the cleanest in the whole world. This is probably due to the fact that coniferous forests grow over a large area along the coast. The bed of the longest river in Russia has not been touched by “human genius”; there are not so many settlements, which means that the nature of Lena has been preserved almost in its original form. Moreover, in some places not favored by humans, you can drink water directly from the river.

TOP 10 longest rivers in the world

Amazon River The Amazon is one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world and is one of the most unique on the planet. It originates in the Peruvian Andes, flows through Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and then carries its waters to the Atlantic Ocean. The largest river in the world has a length of about 6500 km and the largest basin in the world, over 7 million km2, which corresponds to the area of ​​the Australian continent. Two large rivers, the Ucayali and the Marañon, form this grandiose natural wonder.

History and geography

It is believed that several centuries ago, when the Spanish conquistadors conquered these lands, they were amazed by the courage of the Indian women. Therefore, since then, the Amazon River has been named after the legendary female warriors. In fact, these were men, traditionally for the Indians, who had long hair and cane skirts.
During drought, the Amazon River extends 11 km in width, and during the rainy season it increases two to three times and overflows for tens of kilometers. The river is navigable along almost its entire length. It is filled with its waters by numerous tributaries, some of which reach 1500 km.

Animal world

The Amazon stretches along the equator with jungles, swamps and tributaries of rivers. For biologists, these regions are the Earth's unexplored treasure trove. On an area of ​​just 10 km2 there are from 1 to 1.5 thousand species of flowers, 700 - 750 various types trees, more than 100 species of mammals and at least 400 species of birds.
Only a third of the vegetation has been thoroughly studied; a quarter of it is used in folk medicine. The largest tropical forest grows along the river. These lands are called the lungs of the planet. There are many unusual plants here: 800 species of palm trees, hundred-meter vines and massive water lilies.
In the waters of the Amazon River you can find pink dolphins, five-meter bull sharks, caiman, anacondas and piranhas. The most popular ones swim there aquarium fish– angelfish, guppies and swordtails. The coast is home to many strange animals: capybaras, tapirs, jaguars and many others.

Environmental threat

The mindless destruction of the Amazon forest continues today. In large areas, cutting down trees causes soil erosion. In addition, thousands of species of flora and fauna are disappearing. Due to the construction of many artificial structures, the river’s ecosystem and its flow are disrupted.
The Amazon River holds many secrets, attracting the attention of scientists around the world, who expect many sensational discoveries from research. The main thing is to save this recognized wonder of the world from extinction.

is the second longest river in the world. Its length is about 6700 km. It plays a huge role in the life of a large part of the African continent. The river originates on the East African plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Its basin is 350 thousand km2. The Nile River, as it was several thousand years ago, is the main source of fresh water for millions of people, a means of irrigating land and a major waterway. The sludge that remains on the fields after a spill, as before, is an excellent fertilizer.

History and Geography

The Nile is mentioned in ancient sources. He was then known as Neilos. Even at the dawn of civilization, people understood its value for survival and prosperity, so they idolized it. The ancient Egyptians revered the river as the generous and caring god Hapi.
There is still debate about the source of the Nile River. There are many assumptions about how Africa’s largest waterway replenishes its waters, but all of them remain guesses.
The river's tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, are named after the shades of the water surface. There are many countries located in these territories: Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Ethiopia and others. A fifth of these lands are controlled by the Egyptian authorities. They are home to a huge tourist center and simply a paradise for archeology lovers and monument connoisseurs ancient history and culture. Egyptian museums, the largest of which is in Cairo, the pyramids, the Temple of Karnak, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings are just a few of the most famous attractions located along the coast. The unique river does not dry up during hot seasons, but overflows, coloring the soil bright red.

Animals and plants

The Nile, as one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world, is the only source in a large area of ​​arid lands. It revives even the sands of the Sahara. The waters are home to many species of fish, of which the Nile perch can be distinguished, weighing up to 140 kg. Snakes, crocodiles, and turtles live on the banks of the Nile River. The most famous birds are the ibis, heron, stork, lapwing and kite.
Date palms, mimosas, cypresses, and papyrus grow in the Nile valley; there are banana plantations.

Meaning to people

Almost the entire population, more than 95% of Egypt and other countries live exclusively in the coastal strip. The waters of the Nile are of great importance for Agriculture. The Nile River is an advantageous means of transportation and an interesting tourist route.

Mississippi River Translated from the Indian language river Mississippi means Great River. Its greatness is sung by many writers and poets, such as Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, and Mayne Reed. It flows through the United States and divides it into two parts. This powerful stream flows through 10 American states and ends in a huge delta in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also the natural border of these administrative entities. The largest tributaries of the Mississippi: Missouri, Illinois, Red River. The length of the Mississippi is about 4000 km. It ranks fourth in the list of great rivers.

Geography and history

The Mississippi, which is also one of the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world, can be divided into two large parts, lower and upper. The border is Cairo, Illinois. Throughout its rich history, the river has changed its course several times, both on a small scale and on a large scale. This inexplicable phenomenon also occurred with numerous tributaries, some of them appeared, while others disappeared without a trace. The Mississippi River has even changed its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico more than once. Due to the strange and frequent changes that constantly occur with the river, Mark Twain called it the world's biggest liar.
Indians have settled on the banks of this mighty river since ancient times. Hernando de Soto, who arrived in America in the sixteenth century, is considered the discoverer of the Mississippi River for Europeans. It has been depicted on several famous nautical charts this century. The Spaniards called it "River of the Holy Spirit". In the seventeenth century, it became part of France, later divided between Great Britain and Spain, and as a result of the Battle of Orleans in 1812, it became completely owned by the United States.
The turbulent 19th century is considered a golden age for this river. Steamboats traveled along it in large numbers, and new cities grew on its banks. The decisive moment in civil war The North and South began to capture this important trade and transport artery. As industry develops, the river becomes even more navigable. Many bridges, dams, dams and other structures appear on it.

Ecological problems

The thoughtless use of the Mississippi River basin has led to environmental problem. Large-scale water pollution from household and industrial wastewater has caused the emergence of a “dead zone” in the water area Gulf of Mexico. This river experiences significant flooding from time to time. The harm of these phenomena is sometimes very enormous. One of them caused flooding of 7,000 km2 and caused damage amounting to more than $400 million.

Yangtze River Translated from Chinese, the river means “long river”, because it is not for nothing that it is included in the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world. In ancient times, its name was “blue river,” but its muddy waters did not justify this name. In the ranking of the largest rivers by length, it occupies an honorable third place. The Yangtze stretches across the territory of the People's Republic of China for 6,300 km, its basin is about 2 million km2. It occupies the territory where a third of the country's inhabitants live. The gorge through which it flows through the territory national park, in the west of the country, is a UNESCO heritage site. The river plays an important role in China's economy. The largest hydroelectric power station in the world is located here. The rich delta region produces up to 20% of China's total GDP.

History and geography

Originated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River ancient civilization South China. Finds on the banks near the Three Gorges historical region indicate intense human activity 25 thousand years ago. During the Spring and Autumn periods, in the west of the river there was the kingdom of Shu. These were rich lands where agriculture flourished, thanks to the mild climate in the coastal areas. The confrontation between North and South China made it a natural border between them. Happened here a large number of important battles of antiquity.
Due to the large mass of impurities, due to its geographical location, the river waters are yellow. The water can rise 20 meters. On the river, in order to avoid large-scale floods, a large number of dams and dams were erected. The water in the river is successfully used to irrigate fields in large area, especially in the lower reaches. Its basin is the most significant waterway in the country.
The shipping route is quite long. The total length of all river routes is about 20,000 km. This is the busiest river in the world. Freight transport volumes are approaching one billion tons per year. The Grand Canal connects the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. A project for transferring water to the north from the south has been implemented. Unlike the “turning back the rivers” in the Soviet Union, this is a carefully thought out and cost-effective innovative project.

Animal world

The Yangtze River is a unique ecosystem and a natural habitat for a large number of endangered species, such as the Chinese river dolphin, Chinese alligator, Korean alligator, Chinese paddlefish. Apart from the United States, alligators live only on the banks of the Yangtze. In China, some territories on the coast of this river are protected by the state as protected areas.

Yellow River is one of the largest waterways in Asia. Its name, translated from Chinese, means Yellow River. It is associated with the yellow tint that abundant sediment gives to its waters. For this reason, the sea into which it flows is also called yellow. The river basin is considered the place of origin and formation of the Chinese ethnic group.
The Yellow River begins in the east of the Tibetan Plateau and runs through a vast area to the Bohai Gulf, where it flows into the Yellow Sea. The length of this river is about 5,000 km, its delta has a total area of ​​more than 750 thousand km2. Due to its geographic features, the Yellow River threatens the surrounding areas with frequent and large-scale floods. To protect against this thunderstorm, it was built large system dams and dams. Their total length is more than 5000 kilometers. But, as a result of dam breaks, even greater floods occur, as well as the riverbed moves and a large number of people die. Another name for this river is “The Mountain of China.”

History and geography

The Yellow River was famous for disasters back in ancient times. It has always been prone to spills, which led to floods. They have happened approximately 1,500 times in the last 3,000 years. Its course has changed at least 12 times over the last millennium. In the eleventh century, the transition to a new direction caused a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe and caused the fall of the Xin Dynasty. These tragedies were of natural origin.
In 1938, a dam was broken, which was supposed to stop the Japanese army. It only stopped its movement, but it took the lives of about a million Chinese people themselves and 54 km2 of inhabited territory were flooded. Floods and dam failures claim millions of lives across the Chinese Plain. Scientists believe that the cause of these cataclysms is anthropogenic factors, and that the construction of dams and other protective structures only provokes them.
More than 140 million people are provided with water from the Yellow River basin and water comes from the same place, irrigating a large number of fields located along it. In its lower reaches there is the “Sources of Three Rivers” nature reserve. Hydroelectric power stations are located on it. The Grand Canal connects the two Great Rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze. On certain sections of the Yellow River it is navigable. Many cities grew along it.

Ecology of the Yellow River

China has released data that due to unreasonable use, 1/3 of the river is not even suitable for use for agricultural and industrial purposes. This tragedy has occurred reset industrial waste into the river. The expansion of cities leads to water pollution from runoff. Activities to restore the ecosystem of the Yellow River are controlled at the highest level.

Ob River with Irtysh River Ob with Irtysh- some of the greatest rivers in Russia. The Ob belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin, flowing through the territory western Siberia. The Ob is formed at the place where the Katun and Biy merge together in the Altai Territory. Then it moves in a northwestern direction, collecting water from numerous tributaries.
The Ob path is distinguished by its picturesque and natural beauty. It is the tributaries that make it the deepest river in the country. Although even at the beginning of its journey it carries 1500 cubic meters per second. And this reaches half the water content of the Irtysh, which acts as its main tributary, at its mouth. Further, the Ob follows picturesque plains, forest-steppe zones, reservoirs, and endless forests. There are many truly great cities on the Ob River, including Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, Nefteyugansk.
The most significant moment of its flow, which is especially noted by travelers, can be called its merger with the Irtysh. This is no less interesting river, characterized by impressive dimensions. In total, the delta of the Ob River with the Irtysh reaches 4 thousand square kilometers. The length of the Ob River is 3650 km, and from the source of the Irtysh it exceeds 5400 km. That is why, looking at the map, it may seem that the Irtysh is the main river, and the Ob is just its tributary.
The Irtysh itself begins on the border of Mongolia and China. The Chinese call it Erzisihe. It is in this place that the long and thorny path of the Irtysh begins. Moving towards the confluence with the Ob River, the Irtysh loses quite a bit of water. It gives a significant part to Lake Ulyungur, as well as some other canals. The river flows through the territory of China, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The first shipping routes along the Irtysh begin on the border with China. Today, powerful hydroelectric power stations are located on the waters, which are becoming one of the main sources of energy. Along its course, the Irtysh has amazingly picturesque places, burnt steppes, and forest areas.
Interestingly, the confluence of the Ob River with the Irtysh led to the flooding of the valley. Also in this place there is an amazing floating chapel. It appeared here only a few years ago, but has already become incredibly popular - one of the main attractions of this place. It is located on the border of two mighty rivers. On both sides of it there are waters that extend to high banks covered with taiga. There are many legends about the Ob and Irtysh rivers. One of them calls them brother and sister.

Yenisei- a river that is considered one of the largest on the planet. It begins with two sources - Ka-Khem and Biy-Khem. The length of the Yenisei River is usually calculated from the last source. The river itself begins as a narrow stream, flowing near the Topographers Hill and moving along the slope of the Eastern Sayan. In total, the length of the Yenisei is about 5075 kilometers.
Of particular importance is the area of ​​the basin, which is 2,580 thousand square kilometers. This makes the Yenisei the second largest in Russia and the seventh largest in the world. The geographical network of the river is striking in its dimensions. In total, it is represented by 198,620 rivers, which stretch for 884,754 kilometers.
The Yenisei River moves from south to north, roughly dividing the country in half. A distinctive feature is the diversity of the pool, which is represented by three independent parts. The upper expanses of the river are represented by rocky formations. In the middle and lower channels, the river separates the Western and Central Siberian Plateaus.
The Yenisei is called the most abundant river in the country. Every year it carries at least six hundred cubic meters of water into the Red Sea, which is much more than all the rivers of the European part of the country together. It is on the Yenisei River that the most powerful hydroelectric power stations in Eurasia are located. These are the Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power stations. Also today, the upper stream of the Yenisei River has turned into a reservoir thanks to the construction of a dam along the river through the Western Sayan.
The nutrition of the Yenisei is represented by a mixed type, but a significant part is often snow, which is represented by about 50%. Additionally, rain nutrition is distinguished as a percentage of 36-38% of the total amount and underground - less than 16%. A significant part of the river is characterized by summer floods, spring floods, and a decrease in flow in winter.
The amount of runoff is quite large and reaches 624 cubic kilometers, which puts the river in first place in the country in terms of this indicator. The freezing of the river occurs in October and begins from the lower reaches. The opening occurs at the end of April, starting from the upper reaches.
There are many cities on the Yenisei, including Kyzyl, Divnogorsk, Lesosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk. In addition, the river area provides important shipping routes. Flights move regularly, starting from the Appointed, pumping at the mouth. It reaches 3013 kilometers in length.

Lena River Lena- a majestic river flowing through the northern part of the country, flowing into the Laptev Sea. Some call this body of water a kind of pioneer. He became the first who began to make his way to the sea through the endless Siberia after the melting of the glaciers.
Interestingly, many associate the name of the river with female name. However, in reality there is nothing in common between these concepts. The “name” of the river refers to the word “Elyu-Ene”, which belongs to the Evenki language of the Tungus-Manchu group. Translated into Russian it means “Big River”. This is exactly what the explorer Pyanda called the river, who studied it in the period from 1619 to 1623.
The source of the river is a mountain stream, which is located at an altitude of 1650 meters. Following the flow, the Lena River changes its character, just like a person, showing different temperaments. At the beginning of the path, she copies a stormy choleric person, on average she resembles a calm phlegmatic person, at the bottom she represents an extraordinary sanguine person, and in her delta - a melancholic person. The main sections of the river differ in the nature of the flow:

1. Upper - from the source to the village of Kachug.
2. Middle - from the village of Kachug to Zhigansk.
3. Nizhny - from Zhigansk to its mouth.

The Lena carries its waters, gradually filling with tributaries. Among the most basic are the following: Manzurka, Chai, Vitim, Aldan, Vilyui. The river delta begins at a distance of 150 kilometers from the Laptev Sea. Here the Lena River is divided into many parts. Its delta is considered the largest in the world, as it covers an area of ​​45 thousand square kilometers. The stream separates the islands and forms lakes and channels.
Ecological territories are also located here in the river delta. Among them are the Ust-Lenskie - Sokol and Deltovy reserves; it is also worth noting the Lena-Ustye reserve, which is considered the largest in the country. In total, 32 species of fish, 402 species of plants, 33 species of mammals and 109 species of birds can be found here.
The Lena River is one of the ten largest countries in the world. It is also considered one of the cleanest in the world due to the absence of hydroelectric power stations and dams. That is why in many places of the river you can drink water from it without boiling and without any negative consequences for your health. There is often slush on the river. It represents the freezing of the river from the ice and the rise of pieces of ice on the surface, which can form jams due to the filling of the riverbed.

Amur River River Amur flows through the territory of Russia, Mongolia and China, occupying the vastness of the eastern part of Eurasia. The Amur begins at an altitude of 303 meters on the slopes of Western Manchuria. It was formed due to the confluence of the Argun and Shilka rivers. It is believed that the river flows into the Tatar Strait of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. However, a number of scientists dispute this opinion, arguing that it flows into the Sea of ​​Japan. In total, the length of the river reaches 2824 meters, and the basin area exceeds 1,855,000 square kilometers.
It is interesting that throughout its history the river has had many different names. The Chinese called it “Heilong Jiang” or the black dragon, the Mongols called it the black river or “Khan Moron”, and the Manchus called it “Amar”. However, it was the name Amur River, which was given by the Russians, that stuck better than others.
Throughout the year, fluctuations in the river level can be observed. This is explained by monsoon rains. The minimum and maximum water have a significant difference, reaching 10-15 centimeters. Today, scientists are studying the issues of river flooding due to seasonal rains. Spills are often observed in the summer and spring seasons. In the first case, the cause is frequent precipitation, and in the second, the melting of snow and ice. Annual flow also affects the water regime of the Amur River. He can be:

1. Small.
2. Reduced.
3. Moderate.
4. Tall.

The river's nutrition is determined by rain. In case of heavy snowfalls, additional snow may also be observed. However, this does not happen every year.
The Amur River is home to a huge number of aquatic inhabitants. There are 136 species of fish, of which 40 are commercial. The rest are protected by law or are not of interest for catch. Of particular interest are endemic fish, among which are Chinese perch, yellowjacket, killer whale, snakehead, and kaluga.
The Amur flows through numerous settlements. The largest among them are Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Heihe Amursk. At the same time, the river takes water from various tributaries. The largest is the Zeya, which acts as a left tributary of the Amur, but at the same time exceeds it in width and depth. The right tributary is Burei, which carries its waters through the territory of China. Other tributaries include the Sungari, Amgun, and Ussuri. The latter river represents the natural border between China and Russia.

The Congo River, also called Zaire, is located in Central Africa. Its channel is located on the territory of the state of the same name. The Portuguese Diogo Can introduced this river to Europeans. This happened in 1482 during one of Diogo’s voyages.
This body of water is called the deepest and most amazing on the planet. The length on average reaches 4344-4700 kilometers, and the total area of ​​the basin reaches 3,680,000 square kilometers. The Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean through a deep channel. This river is the second longest in Africa and the second in terms of water content, second only to the Amazon.
The greatest depths are in the lower reaches of the reservoir. At this point the river flows through a hill, crossing a gorge only 300 meters wide. Waterfalls are also formed here, which are named after Livingston. They fall from a height of 270 meters. Here there are the greatest depths, exceeding 230 meters.
Floods on the Congo River occur twice a year. In December and May, the river reaches its highest level at the mouth. It reaches its minimum in August and March. The waters of the Congo can be seen far out in the Atlantic Ocean during this process.
The reservoir is famous for its huge amount of fish. Here you can catch Nile perch, mormyrops, Congo River catfish and other freshwater inhabitants. The most interesting representative of the waters can confidently be called tiger fish. This is a fairly large predator with large teeth, which is put on a par with the piranha in terms of its danger. Its dimensions can reach up to 70 kg. Local residents are ready to tell many legends associated with tiger fish, including stories about its attacks on people. Although in reality this predator prefers small fish.
The Congo is an important navigable river in Africa. It is considered its main waterway. In total, shipping routes reach 20 thousand km in length. In addition, the river acts as the main source of hydropower due to the transfer of significant masses of water. Today there are three large-scale hydroelectric power stations located on it.
The Congo River is deservedly called one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the whole world. Along its course there are evergreens rainforests, amazing valleys, majestic mountain ranges. The funnel-shaped mouth just before the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean also attracts attention. It is believed that the Congo is the richest river in the world in minerals. There are deposits of cobalt, radium, copper ore, uranium, silver, nickel, and some other metals.

What is the longest river in the world? In 2007, the world community was confused by the news that, thanks to new technologies for measuring the length of rivers, it was found that the longest river is not the Nile, as was believed for a long time, and Amazon.

Several factors play a role in the confrontation between the two great rivers:

• the length of the river may change over time;
• seasonal changes;
• The length of the Nile was affected by the construction of dams. Now the length of the Nile is 6852 km;
• Sometimes it is difficult to determine the correct source of the river among numerous tributaries. The length of the Amazon from the Maraño tributary will be 6992 km, and if from the Ucayali tributary, then over 7000 km.

For a long time, the length of rivers was calculated only approximately, but studies carried out by comparing photographs from space and computer processing of information proved: the longest river in the world is the Amazon.

Winner-Amazon

The longest river flows in. The Amazon is a record holder not only in length, but also in other indicators:

• the deepest in the world;
• the largest in the world in terms of basin area, which is more than 7,100 thousand km², which is comparable to the area of ​​Australia. The total length of all tributaries of the Amazon is 25,000 km;
• more than 1 million representatives of various species of flora and fauna live on its shores;
• the Amazon is home to more than 2,000 species of fish, which is 30 times more fish species that live in all the waters of Europe combined;
• the basin area contains the world's largest tropical rainforests;
• more than 25% of all medicines mined in the Amazon;
• V beginning of XXI century, under the Amazon at a depth of 4000 m, an underground river was discovered, named after the Indian scientist, explorer of the Amazon - Hamza.

Surprisingly, not a single bridge has been built across the Amazon. A single crossing connects the banks of the Rio Negro tributary.

In 2011, the Amazon was recognized as one of the wonders of the world.

Great Nile

For a long time, the Nile, the great African waterway, a shrine of the ancient Egyptians, had the status of the longest river in the world. The source of the Nile is the confluence of Rukarara and Kagera in Rwanda. For a long time, Lake Victoria was considered the source of the Nile. The delta area is 24,000 km². The Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

The entire life of the countries through which the longest river flows is determined by the Nile. It can be called the river of life, which crosses the sultry sands of the Sahara Desert and never dries up. The water level depends on the abundance of precipitation in the upper reaches. To protect the population from annual floods, 3 dams were built. This has its pros and cons: on the one hand, agriculture has lost its natural fertilizer - sludge; on the other hand, the area of ​​irrigated land expanded, and crops began to be harvested 3 times a year. It is possible that the dams shortened the total length of the Nile.

The Nile is the cradle of human civilization. On its shores in the 4th millennium BC, one of the first agricultural states arose, with a developed culture and religion - Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians called the Nile Iteru - Great River, and Herodotus wrote that Egypt was the gift of the Nile. Egypt, in fact, is the creation of a great river - 22% of the length of the Nile is located on the territory of this state.

Along the banks of the Nile there are great cultural monuments - the pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, Abu Simbel, the Valley of the Kings. Beginning near Cairo, the Nile Delta is stunning in its length - 260 km along Mediterranean Sea. All this makes Egypt a tourist oasis, the main jewel of which is the Nile.

The Great Ob - the pride of Russia

About 2.5 million rivers flow through the territory - large and small, great and nameless. 84% of fresh water is concentrated in Siberia. The longest river in Russia, the Ob, also flows there. Its length from the source of the Irtysh, the left tributary of the Ob, is 5410 km. In fact, the longest watercourse in Russia is the Ob-Irtysh water system.

The Great Ob is born at the confluence of the Katun and Biya in Altai, gains power at the mouth of the Irtysh and flows into the Arctic Ocean, forming the Gulf of Ob at the mouth - a bay more than 800 km long.

Interesting facts about the Ob:

• In summer and autumn, the river water has a striped structure. This comes from the fact that Katun and Biya have different water colors. The Katun carries greenish waters, and the Biya carries grayish or white waters;
• The length of the Ob tributary, the Irtysh, is greater than the length of the Ob itself. Together they make up Russia's longest watercourse;
• at the mouth of the Irtysh, the river’s width reaches 3 – 7 km, and its depth – up to 20 m;
• near Novosibirsk the Ob is blocked by a dam that forms the Ob Sea;
• The Ob is famous for its valuable fish species: sturgeon, vendace, whitefish, omul, peled, nelma and other valuable fish species are caught there;
• The Ob is an important transport artery connecting the lands of 3 states: Russia, Kazakhstan, China.

The great rivers of the world are unique natural phenomena that connect countries and peoples, giving life, beauty and prosperity.

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 associated not 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

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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.

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.

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the longest river in China. It is also the third longest river in the world.
It begins at the foot of Mount Gelandandong, the highest peak of the Danggula Mountains, which are located on the Tibetan Plateau. From there it crosses the country east until it enters the East China Sea at the distant coastal estuaries.

Stretching 6,277 km, the Yangtze River flows through 10 Chinese provinces and four major cities in the country, including Shanghai. Additionally, the Yangtze Path includes China's world famous Three Great Gorges, which are said to contain the most beautiful parts of the river.

The Yangtze has a huge range biological diversity, originating from the various landscapes it traverses. It moves from extremely high mountains through dense forests into agricultural wetlands. It is home to several species of animals, such as giant pandas, Yangtze River dolphins and snow leopards.

2. Yellow River

Incredibly, China also has the second longest Asian river: the Yellow River (Huang He). The length of the ribbon is almost 5472 km, it is the sixth longest river in the world. It is known as the "mother river" among Chinese citizens.
The Yellow River begins in Qinghai Province in western China, where it is fed by runoff from the Bayan Har Mountains. It passes through eight other Chinese provinces before emptying into the Bohai Sea near Dongying, a city in northeastern Shandong province that is vital to historical development China.

The Yellow River has long been crucial to Chinese civilization. It helps irrigate the fields. Besides supporting ordinary people, she inspires artists and thinkers, and has also been a spiritual symbol of the country.

Sites dating back to the Neolithic period (7000 - 3700 BC) have been discovered along its banks. Even today, the Yellow River and its tributaries pass through some of China's largest and oldest cities, including Xi'an, Zhengzhou and Jinan. In addition, the population of the Yellow River basin is surpassed by only a couple of countries in the world.

The Yellow River carries more rainfall per cubic meter of water than any other river in the world. This is because it passes through large dry areas (such as the Loess Plateau) where the river collects silt. Unfortunately, the high concentration of sediment, as well as the masses of people who live near the river, have made it an uninteresting environment for wildlife.

The Mekong River flows through Southeast Asia for about 4,345 km. It is the longest river in this region of Asia and ranks 12th among the longest rivers in the world.

The Mekong, like the Yellow River and Yangtze River, begins in China, but then moves south through several other countries. It forms the border between Myanmar and Laos, then between Laos and Thailand. It is also moving through Cambodia into Vietnam before entering the South China Sea.

Although the Mekong is not as long as other rivers in Asia, it is a major river and plays an important role as a food source. In addition to irrigating fields and being used for rice cultivation, the Mekong feeds Cambodia's Tonle Sap, a highly commercial lake that grows in size from about 2,590 sq. km to 10360 during the flood season in August and September.

There are several canals throughout Vietnam that allow small ships to travel upstream to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Additionally, ships may continue north during the high water season until transport is disrupted by Khon Falls, where the Mekong River flows from Laos to Cambodia.

4. Three great Siberian rivers

There are three very large, very long rivers—the Yenisei, Lena, and Ob—that flow north in Siberia, eventually emptying into the Arctic Ocean.

The longest of the great Siberian rivers is the Lena River, at just over 4,345 km, stretching from Lake Baikal to the Arctic Laptev Sea. It has a massive drainage basin and the largest river delta feeding the Arctic. There are also some amazing spots along her route. nature reserves, including the Lena Delta Nature Reserve, Lena Pillars and Ust-Lena Nature Reserve.

At over 3,621 km in length, the Ob River is not the longest single river in this triumvirate. But from an economic point of view, it may be the most important. Most of Russia's oil and natural gas reserves are located along its shores. It is also used for agriculture and fishing.

Currently, the river system, which includes the Ob and Irtysh (more than 4,184 km), is home to three large hydroelectric power plants, which together constitute the second longest river system in the country.

The Yenisei River is the largest (but shortest) of the three, stretching over 3,380 km. However, it is part of the Yenisei-Angara-Selenga river system, which is the longest river in Russia. Its source is located in the Mongolian highlands. Here is Lake Baikal, the world's largest freshwater lake by volume of water. It contains more than 20% of the world's fresh water—more than all five U.S. Great Lakes combined.

Yenisei River

The Euphrates River is more than 2,736 km long and is the longest river in the Middle East. She also has a huge historical meaning, being one of two rivers (along with the Tigris) that created Mesopotamia, "the land between two rivers".

The Euphrates flows through eastern Turkey before it passes into Syria and then Iraq. Her pool area also includes parts Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran. After the river joins forces with the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab, they all flow together into the Persian Gulf.

The Euphrates is mentioned many times in the Judeo-Christian Bible and in the hadiths of Muhammad. It was one of the four rivers that flowed through the Garden of Eden. Before this, several deities lived here, including Ishtar (goddess of fertility) and Anu (god of the sky). The Mesopotamians worshiped these gods and goddesses in structures called ziggurats.

The Euphrates and Tigris created particularly fertile and productive wetlands. Unfortunately, as predicted by the Prophet Muhammad, conflict and human intervention have caused significant damage to both rivers and they are quickly drying up.

The Ganges, although not the longest river flowing through India, is the longest when you consider the distance it occupies within the country. In terms of absolute length, the Indus is the longest, followed by the Brahmaputra and then the Ganges at 2525 km. The Ganges is actually the third largest river in the world by volume of flow. The Ganges is sacred to Hindus and is revered as the goddess Ganga. No less impressive is that there are more than a dozen capitals located on its banks.

Unfortunately, all this respect has not stopped the Ganges from becoming erratically polluted and posing a threat to both the people (who bathe in it for ritual) and the animals trying to live in it.

The source of the Ganga is located in the Himalayan mountains, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet. From there it flows east through northern India and into Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

The area around the Ganges has been inhabited for about 4,000 years and is currently home to more than 400 million people. They rely on the river for drinking water, food, irrigation and production. It is the most densely populated river basin in the world.

Although it has much less pressure than the second longest river in the United States, the Missouri River is over 3,782 km long and is the longest river in the United States and the longest river in North America. More than a million square kilometers flow into it. However, it is considered only a tributary of the Mississippi River.

The Missouri, or "Mighty Mo," begins in the Montana Rockies and flows east until it enters the Mississippi north of St. Louis. Consequently, it plays a vital role in the expansion of the American West.

Currently, there is a 160,934 km national park along the border between Nebraska and South Dakota, which remains one of the few intact stretches of the river. The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers combine to make the fourth longest river system on earth.

Only about 80 km shorter than the Missouri River, the Mississippi River is over 3,702 km long.

Although it may only be the second longest river in North America, the discharge rate of the mighty Mississippi is the greatest on the continent. Plus, it was the central navigable river in the United States for centuries. In fact, it has one of the most active commercial river crossings in the world, including large exports of agricultural products and petroleum products.

The Mississippi is generally divided into four sections. The headwaters of the Mississippi are a modest stream that descends toward St. Paul, Minnesota. From there the upper river extends to St. Louis, where it joins the Missouri River.

The Middle Mississippi moves south for 200 miles (322 km) until the Ohio River joins it at Cairo, Illinois. There the river doubles in size. Finally, the wider, slower-moving lower Mississippi becomes muddy from all the turbulence of the converging tributaries and eases its path into the Gulf of Mexico.

Famed humorist Mark Twain turned the Lower Mississippi into one of the most famous rivers in literature. The river was home to fur traders, kayaks and warships. If ever there was a place for adventure, this is it!

The Yukon River, which is the third longest in North America, flows west from British Columbia through Alaska and into the Bering Sea. It extends almost 3,219 km in length and its watershed covers almost 776,997 sq. km.

The Yukon River is steeped in history. It is believed that this was the main route for the first inhabitants of North America from Siberia.

It was also the main route used by those involved in the Klondike Gold Rush. In fact, the river was full of boats until the Klondike Highway was built in the 1950s.

In addition to its importance to people, the Yukon River is a key spawning area for Chinook salmon. The river has the longest wooden staircase in the world, about 366 m.

10. The longest river in Mexico is the Rio Grande

Although the Rio Grande originates in the United States, all the way to the Colorado Rockies, it is the longest river in Mexico. South of the border it is known as El Rio Bravo del Norte.

In total, the river stretches for almost 3058 km. Within this gap it creates the border between Mexico and Texas.

What's surprising about the Rio Grande today is that only about one-fifth of the flow actually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The rest of the water is collected for municipal and irrigation use.

Despite its two grandiose nicknames, the river is only 18.28m deep and is barely navigable even for small boats.

Although the water flow and watershed have been greatly reduced, the river itself is still absolutely beautiful. In the USA it is protected as wild and picturesque river and includes the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument near Taos, New Mexico.

11. River Nile

Until recently, the Nile River was unanimously recognized as the longest river in the world. And with the Nile River being 6,650 km long, this is not surprising. The Nile (whose source is Lake Victoria, the largest lake on the continent) crosses ten different African countries on its way north of the Mediterranean Sea.


The “Nile” actually consists of the White Nile and the Blue Nile, which begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and connects with the White Nile in Sudan. This is their common territory and is often called the longest river in the world.

Besides being the longest river on earth, the Nile was an integral part of ancient Egyptian life and remains just as important today. The Nile flooded the lands of Egypt and left behind fertile black soil.

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 on 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 the 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 remained unexplored for a long time. 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. A distinctive feature of the Nile is the 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 is the largest in South America, flows through the territories of Peru and Brazil, flowing 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 the world's largest rivers during the Age of Discovery. 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, it is the 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

Listing largest rivers 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 a lot of 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 have fertile soil, so the locals grow rice 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 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. There are several large cities along the banks. 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 in 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 Tartary Strait, located between the Japanese and Seas of Okhotsk. The river area covers 1856 square kilometers. The largest tributaries are the Tunguska, Zeya, Bureya, Amgun and Goryun, as well as the 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. In the 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.