Which is the Longest River in the World? Check the List of Top-10

Rivers are essential waterways that flows across the land, providing water, food and transportation to many people. They shape the landscape, support ecosystems, and are vital for agriculture and industry. Rivers are also an important part of human history and culture, serving as lifelines for civilizations. In this article, we will know about the longest rivers in the world.

When attempting to determine the world’s longest river, there are a few crucial elements to consider:

1. The origin of the river (the point/source where the river starts)
2. The river mouth (the point at which the river ejects and the sea/ocean/estuary begins)

With an overview of 10 of the world’s longest and largest rivers, their country of origin, and length, the demography of the country also needs to be understood.

Top-10 Longest Rivers in the World by Length

The Nile River, located in Africa, stands as the longest river in the world with the total length of 6,650 kilometers, followed by Amazon, Yangtze and Mississippi.

The Top Ten Longest Rivers of the world according to their length in Kms:

River	Location	Length (in km)	Length (in miles)	Drainage Area	Mouth
Nile	Africa	6650	4130	32,54,55	Mediterranean Sea
Amazon	South America	6575	4086	70,50,000	Atlantic Ocean
Yangtze	China	6300	3917	18,00,000	South China Sea
Mississippi	USA	6275	3902	29,80,000	Gulf of Maxico
Yenisei River	Russia	5539	3445	25,80,000	Kara Sea
Yellow	China	5464	3398	7,45,000	Bohai Sea
Ob-Irtysh	Russia	5410	3364	29,90,000	Gulf of Ob
Parana	Uruguay	4880	3030	25,82,672	Rio da la Plata
Congo	Africa	4700	2922	26,80,000	Atlantic Ocean
Amur	Asia	4480	2800	18,55,000	Sea of Okhotsk

Longest Rivers in the World in Brief

Rivers are long flowing bodies of water that travel across land. They are important for drinking water, farming, transportation, and supporting wildlife. Rivers shape the landscape and have been crucial for human civilization throughout history.

Check the detailed description of Top 10 Longest River in the world.

World’s Longest River – Nile River

The Nile River is thought to be the world’s longest river. The Nile River stretches about 6650 kilometers. The river’s source is thought to be Lake Victoria. Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan, and South Sudan are all part of the river’s path. The river’s two tributaries are the Blue and White Niles. Although the Nile River is the longest river in the world for most of us, there is a group of scholars who believe the Amazon River is the genuine winner. Large rivers, such as the Nile and the Amazon, have a plethora of sources as well as several large and tiny tributaries. If the true length of a river must be calculated, it is necessary to locate its farthest source. Such sources are frequently found in remote and inaccessible regions, making their detection a difficult undertaking.

Second Longest River in the World – Amazon River

The Amazon River is without a doubt the world’s greatest river in terms of water flow volume. However, its claim to being the world’s second-longest river is hotly debated, as the distinction has long been held by Egypt’s Nile River. The conflict stems from the determination of the Amazon’s genesis. According to a study published in 2014, the Cordillera Rumi Cruz is where the Amazon began.

World’s Third Longest River – Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the world’s third-longest river and the world’s longest river that runs fully within a single country. It is also Asia’s longest river. One-third of the population of the world’s most populous country, China, lives in the Yangtze River basin. The Tuotuo tributary in the Tanggula Mountains is traditionally regarded as the river’s source by the Chinese government. However, according to fresh information, the Yangtze River’s source is on Jari Hill, where the Dam Qu tributary’s headwaters originate. These and other tributaries combine to form the Yangtze River, which empties into the East China Sea in Shanghai.

Fourth Longest River of the World – The Mississippi River

The Mississippi, Missouri, and Jefferson rivers make up the world’s fourth longest river system. The river system drains 31 states in the United States and two provinces in Canada. The Mississippi River originates in northern Minnesota, where Lake Itasca is thought to be its source, then flows into the Gulf of Mexico. When we consider the Jefferson River as the Mississippi River’s farthest source, we obtain the Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson river system.

World’s Longest Fifth River – The Yenisei River

This is the world’s fifth-longest river system, and the Arctic Ocean’s largest. The Selenge River is considered the river system’s headwaters. The Selenge River flows into Lake Baikal and is 992 kilometres long. The Angara River begins near Listvyanka in Lake Baikal and flows through Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast before joining the Yenisei River near Strelka. Finally, the Yenisei empties into the Arctic Ocean. The total distance travelled was 5,539 kilometers.

The Yellow River

This gigantic river, also known as the Huang He, is named after its colour, which is the result of massive volumes of loose debris in the water. Its basin is regarded as the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilisation, and it continues to possess significant symbolic and practical significance for the country.

The Ob-Irtysh River

Along with the Yenisei and the Lena, the Ob-Irtysh, often known as the Ob River, is one of the three main Siberian rivers. It runs into the Arctic Ocean and originates in the Altas Mountains.

The Parana River

The Parana River, located in South America, is one of the world’s longest rivers and the continent’s second-largest. Its name is a contraction of the Tupi phrase para rehe onáva, which means “like the sea.”

The Congo River

The Congo River, formerly known as the Zaire River, flows in a curved path across Africa’s continent and is the only river to cross the equator twice. It’s also the world’s deepest river, with some sections reaching depths of over 700 feet.

The Amur River

The Amur River, also known as the Heilong Jiang, is the world’s tenth longest river, running along the boundary between northeastern China and Russia. The Chinese Heilong Jiang translates to “black dragon river,” whereas the word Amur is supposed to come from a term for “water.”