The Amazon is the longest river in the world. Where is the longest river in the world, the Amazon? Description and photo The longest river Nile Amazon

Previously, the question: “what longest river in the world? – there was no doubt. We knew from school that it was Neil. But is it really that simple? Recently, there have been serious debates and changes in this topic. And today we will finally figure out which river is longer - the Nile or the Amazon.

Is the Nile the longest river in the world?

The length of the Nile River according to official data is 6695 kilometers. It crosses the territory of Uganda, South. Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. The Nile originates from Lake Victoria and ends in the Mediterranean Sea. The river crosses half of the continent. Since ancient times, it was on the banks of this river that one of the very first civilizations of mankind was built. And at that time the answer to the question: “what is the longest river in the world?” – it was clear – Neil.

However, specialists from the Brazilian National Center for Space Research decided to recalculate the length of the river in 2005 using satellites, and it turned out that it was rapidly getting shorter and became 57 kilometers shorter. The Nile River system is currently thought to be 6,852 kilometers long, compared to 6,992 kilometers for the Amazon.

We should not forget the events of the 60s of the last century, when the Aswan Dam was created. This also somewhat reduced the size of the Nile reservoir. And in 2013, it was officially announced that the longest river in the world is the Amazon. Thus, the opinion that " Nile is the longest river in the world", erroneous.

The longest river in the world is the Amazon

The length of the Amazon River exceeds the threshold of 7 thousand km. It is located in South America and has many (about 500) tributaries. About 20 of them are approximately 1500 km in length. Together with its tributaries, the length of the Amazon reaches 25,000 km. Brazilian scientists recently discovered a new source for the Amazon. Previously, it was believed that this river begins its flow from the northern part of Peru, but it turned out that from the south, high in the mountains. After finding a new source of the Amazon, the river became 91 km longer than the Nile. Therefore, today we can confidently say that The longest river in the world is the Amazon.

As is already becoming clear, according to the latest data, the Nile is no longer. Despite the fact that we are accustomed to this fact, now the Amazon is rightfully not only the deepest, but also longest river in the world. And it will be many more years before people begin to accept this fact as a given. But now it is you who have become one of those who know the truth.

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

Selecting the longest rivers in the world is a non-trivial task. The beginning of a river is considered to be the tributary farthest from the mouth. However, its name does not always coincide with the name of the river, which introduces difficulties in measuring the length. The error in calculations may also be due to seasonal changes.

There are also difficulties with the mouth - some rivers simply do not have one (for example, Cubango). Or the mouth is a funnel-shaped estuary expanding towards the ocean.

In our list we will name the ten longest river systems in the world, taking into account the length of their tributaries.

10. Congo – length 4700 km

It is the deepest river in the world (measured depth is more than 220 meters) and the second after the Amazon in terms of drainage basin size (3,680,000 sq. km).

The river originates deep in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is fed by the Lualaba River, which itself is fed by the Luvoa and Luapula rivers. And those, in turn, are connected with Lake Mveru and Lake Bangwelo. The Chambeshi River also flows into Luapula.

The Congo River makes up most of the border between the DRC and its eastern neighbor, the Republic of the Congo.

The Congo River got its name from the Kingdom of Kongo, which was located on the left bank of the river's mouth. And the name Zaire, by which the river was known in the 16th and 17th centuries, comes from a Portuguese adaptation of the word nzere (“river”) from the Kikongo language.

9. Amur – 5052 km

This majestic Far Eastern river originates in Western Manchuria where two large rivers - the Shilka and the Argun - merge. The Kerulen and Onon rivers are also considered as a source of the Amur.

The Amur flows east along the Russian-Chinese border and slowly turns into a large arc, receiving several tributaries.

The Chinese call the Amur "Black Dragon River". According to legend, the Black Dragon defeated the evil White Dragon, who was the owner of the river and in every possible way disturbed the local residents. Cupid enters.

8. Lena-Vitim – 5100 km

The easternmost of the three great rivers of Siberia (including the Ob and Yenisei) that flow into the Arctic Ocean.

The Lena, together with its right tributary Vitim, is the eighth largest river on Earth. And the only one in the world whose channel is entirely located in permafrost areas.

The source of the Lena is a small swamp, which is located ten kilometers west of Lake Baikal.

Spring and summer floods cause the river level to rise by 10-15 meters. Because of this, its shores are sparsely populated. All surrounding buildings will be demolished during the spill.

7. Yenisei – 5238 km

Originating from the city of Kyzyl, the Yenisei River follows a northern course into the Kara Sea, where it forms the Yenisei Bay. It serves as a natural border between Western and Eastern Siberia.

The largest tributaries of the Yenisei are: the Angara River, the Selengai River, and the right tributary of the Selenga - Ider.

6. Ob-Irtysh – 5410 km

Two huge Siberian rivers, meeting each other, create the longest watercourse in Russia.

The Ob is shorter in length than the Irtysh. But at the same time, it is more full-flowing and in the Ob-Irtysh connection plays the role of the main river. It is formed by the confluence of two Altai rivers - Katun and Biya.

The beginning of the Irtysh River is located in the mountains on the Mongolian-Chinese border. There it is known as the Black Irtysh (or, in Chinese, Ertsisihe). And for the first 450 km of its route, the river flows through China. She faces a much longer journey—1,735 km—through the lands of Kazakhstan. And then it crosses the border with Russia in the Omsk region. And in the Khanty-Mansiysk region it meets the Ob River.

Thus, the Irtysh, although not the longest river in the world, bears the title of the longest tributary river.

5. Yellow River – 5464 km

Translated from Chinese, this river is called “Yellow” because of the color of the silt. It is the third longest river in Asia.

The Yellow River is known as the "cradle of Chinese civilization" due to the crucial role it played in the development of Chinese culture. As with the Yangtze, the presence of human settlements near the Yellow River dates back to the Paleolithic era, and the fertile basins facilitated the growth of agricultural communities.

Before modern dams were built, the Yellow River was extremely prone to flooding. Because of this, she was given nicknames such as "The Sorrow of China" and "The Scourge of the Sons of Han." The worst flood in modern human history occurred in China in the spring of 1887 and, according to various sources, claimed from 1.5 to 7 million lives.

4. Yangtze - from 5800 to 6300 km according to various sources

The Yangtze River holds the title of the longest river in Asia. It has played a major role in the history, culture and economy of China and continues to do so to this day. Its existence was a key factor in the emergence of human settlements, the growth of agriculture, and the development of civilization in East Asia.

Today, the prosperous Yangtze River Delta produces up to 20% of China's gross domestic product (GDP), and the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the world's largest hydroelectric power plant. Due to the impact of human infrastructure, some sections of the river are now protected nature reserves.

3. Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson – from 6275 to 6420 km

This river, as its name suggests, is entirely associated with the United States of America. While each river individually wouldn't make the top five, they are grouped together as the Missouri River meets the Mississippi near St. Louis and the Missouri connects with the Jefferson River in Montana.

2. Nile – 6852 km

Most people answer the question: “What is the name of the longest river on Earth?” will be called the Nile River. Although this "blue vein of Africa" ​​predominantly flows through Egypt, it also passes through nine other African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of them belong to .

The largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria is considered the main source of the Nile.

About 300 million people depend on this river for water supply and crop irrigation. There is even an Aswan hydroelectric complex that uses the energy of the Nile. Its construction was completed in 1970, and since then this system of structures has been used to provide electricity to the Egyptian population. It currently supplies about 20 percent of the country's electricity. The Aswan Dam also controls the summer flooding of the Nile, which threatens large-scale flooding.

1. Amazon is the longest river in the world 6992 km

It is the largest river in the world by drainage area (6,915,000 sq. km). For comparison: the Nile drainage basin is 3,349,000 square meters. km.

However, the debate about which is the longest river in the world - the Amazon or the Nile - does not stop. It's all about identifying the origins of the Amazon. Scientists and explorers have been trying to determine the source of the river since the 1600s. Over the years, five rivers in southwestern Peru have been given the honor of being called the source of the Amazon. Eventually, the upper reaches of the Apurimac River were considered its source.

According to the results of a study conducted in 2014, it turns out that the Amazon originates from the Cordillera mountain Rumi Cruz, located upstream of the Peruvian Mantaro River. This river then merges with the Apurimac River, and further downstream they are joined by other tributaries to form the Ucayali River. Finally, the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers forms the Amazon.

If we take into account the latest data, then from 75 to 92 kilometers are added to the length of the Amazon. So the question of which is the longest river on Earth can be confidently answered - the Amazon.

Table of the longest rivers in the world

The full list contains 171 rivers, more than 1000 km long.

Determining which of the world's longest rivers is not an easy task. While for most of us the answer would be the Nile River, there are many scientists who consider the Amazon to be the true owner of that title. The difficulty in identifying the undisputed winner is that it is quite difficult to establish the beginning or source of the river. Large rivers such as the Nile and the Amazon have numerous sources, as well as countless large and small tributaries. Therefore, it is necessary to find the farthest source of the river if its true length is to be calculated. Often these sources are located in remote and inaccessible locations, making them difficult to find. Listed below are the five longest rivers/river systems in the world according to generally accepted standards. However, with the discovery of new sources of these rivers, their order may change.

What is longer, the Nile or the Amazon??

River Nile

For most people, the answer to the question: “What is the longest river on Earth?” - This is the Nile River. Although many perceive the Nile as the lifeline of Egypt, it is, in fact, an international river flowing through 11 African countries. However, it is the main source of water in two countries: Egypt and Sudan. The Blue and White Nile are two tributaries of the river, the latter being longer than the former. The source of the White Nile has not yet been fully determined, but it is believed to be somewhere in Burundi or Rwanda. According to some reports, Lake Victoria is believed to be the source of the White Nile, which in turn is fed by the Kagera River, the two main tributaries of which are the Ruvironza and Nyabarongo rivers in Burundi and Rwanda respectively. The Kagera is formed at the confluence of these two rivers near the border of Tanzania and Rwanda. The Blue Nile has a more definite origin in Ethiopia's Lake Tana. The two tributaries meet near the Sudanese capital Khartoum. The final course of the Nile River passes through Egypt before it forms a delta and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. According to some data, the length of the Nile is 6,853 km.

Amazon river

Amazon river

The Amazon is undoubtedly the largest river in the world by volume of water. However, its position as the world's longest river is highly disputed, as this title has long been assigned to the Nile River. The dispute arises over the definition of the origins of the Amazon. Until now, the upper reaches of the Apurimac River were considered the source of the Amazon River. However, a recent study in 2014 claims that the origins of the Amazon can be traced to the Cordillera Rumi Cruz, where the Peruvian Mantaro River originates. This river then joins the Apurimac River (the upper reaches of which were previously considered the source of the Amazon), and then other tributaries join the river downstream to form the Ucayali River, which finally merges with the Marañon River to form the main stem of the Amazon River. Thus, if the latest data is taken into account, this adds between 75 and 92 km to the length of the river. However, many believe that the Amazon is about 6,400 km long and therefore shorter than the Nile.

Other long rivers of the world:

Yangtze River

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world and the longest river flowing within a single country. It is also the longest river in Asia. The Yangtze Basin is home to one third of the population of China, the most populous country on Earth. Two sources of the Yangtze River have been proposed. The Chinese government recognizes the Tuotuo tributary, located in the Tanggula Mountains, as the main source of the river. At an altitude of over 5,300 m above sea level, Tuotuo is the highest source of the Yangtze. However, according to new data, the source of the Yangtze River is located on Yari Hill, where its tributaries unite. The river covers a total distance of 6,300 km and flows into the East China Sea in Shanghai.

Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson

Mississippi River

The river system, consisting of the Mississippi, Missouri and Jefferson rivers, is considered the fourth largest river system in the world. It passes through 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. The Mississippi River begins in northern Minnesota, where its source is Lake Itasca, and flows 3,734 km into the Gulf of Mexico. However, if we consider the Jefferson River as the most distant tributary of the Mississippi River, we get the Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson River system, which is 5,969 km long. The Madison River joins the Jefferson River for 133 km to form the Missouri River, which finally merges with the Mississippi at the border between Illinois and Missouri, USA.

Yenisei-Angara-Selenga

Yenisei River

It is the fifth longest river system in the world and the largest discharge of water into the Arctic Ocean. The Selenge River is considered as the headwaters of this river system. It has a length of 992 km and flows into Lake Baikal. The Angara River originates from Baikal near Listvyanka and flows through the Irkutsk region of Russia, and then joins the Yenisei River near the village of Strelka. The Yenisei finally flows into the Arctic Ocean. The total length of this river system is about 5,539 km.

Table of the longest rivers on Earth

The greatest activity of the water element is observed in rivers, where water is always in motion. The most powerful water flow originates from a small stream and gradually, gaining strength, transforms into a large river that carries water over long distances.

Since ancient times, people have settled near rivers, since fresh water was necessary for domestic needs and the transportation of goods by water. The length of some rivers is quite difficult to measure for various reasons: it is difficult to determine the sources and mark the confluence of some reservoirs. So, which is the longest river in the world, the Amazon or the Nile?

List of the longest rivers. Top 15

1. Amazon− the longest river in the world. The Amazon is rightfully recognized as the longest and deepest river in the world, its length is 6992 km. and it is located in South America. This huge river has the largest drainage basin. It originates from the sources of two rivers: the Ucayali and Marañon. Some scientists find it difficult to give exact data on the length of the Amazon, even with the help of satellite calculations. The fact is that the sources have different locations and the length can be calculated from each of them. If we take into account the Ucayali River, the length of the Amazon becomes more than 7000 km. In length, the Amazon is ahead of the Nile.
2. Nile. The second longest river in terms of length is the Nile, located on the continent of Africa. Its length is 6852 km. This river starts from the East African Plateau and moves north, crossing several large states from Rwanda to Egypt, then flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Yangtze. The Yangtze is the third longest river in the world. The powerful water flow that horizontally divides China into two parts is of great importance for the culture and history of the entire Chinese people. The length of the river is 6300 km. The Yangtze begins with glaciers in the mountains of Tibet, located at an altitude of 5600 km, and moves across the country to the South China Sea. The country's largest cities and powerful hydroelectric power stations are located on its banks. The Yangtze basin has an area of ​​1,800,000 square km, making it the first on the Eurasian continent.
   
   
4. Yellow River. Or in other words, the “Yellow River”, has a length of 5464 km and is the second largest river in China. It got its name from its yellow color specific to water. The reason for this is the loess (mountain limestone) that enters it from the Shaanxi Plateau. The river originates in the Tibetan highlands, and then moves eastward, flowing into the Yellow Sea. The historical significance of the Yellow River is difficult to exaggerate, because it accompanies the birth of Chinese civilization. The river water is used for domestic needs and drinking.
5. Mekong- located on the territory of the Indochina Peninsula and flowing through several large countries from Vietnam to China. It has a length of 4500 km and originates in the Tibetan highlands, after turning in a southwestern direction. The water from the river is used by local residents to irrigate their rice fields. The largest delta, located in Vietnam, is often at risk of flooding and landslides.
6. Lena. The longest river in Russia with a length of 4400 km, including its delta. Its pool completely belongs to the expanses of our homeland. The sources of the river are located on the territory of the Baikal ridge. South of Yakutsk it merges with two powerful tributaries (Vilyui, Aldan), which expand the Lena up to 10 km. Even further south, mountain ranges prevent the river from flooding and speed up the flow. Near the mouth, the river diverges into numerous branches, which form a single large delta. The powerful current ends its path, flowing into the Laptev Sea.
7. Parana. The second major river in South America. It moves from the north of the continent to the south, crossing 3 large states, then flowing into the Gulf of La Plata. The river is navigable and is an economically significant natural object, as it opens into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
8. Congo (or Zaire). One of the most powerful and longest rivers of the African continent with a length of 4374 km. The river has significant economic significance for the countries it crosses or passes in close proximity to, from the Central African Republic to Rwanda. The area of ​​the river basin is very vast - 4,000,000 square meters. km.
9. The Irtysh is the largest tributary (4248 km) feeding the Ob River. It moves across the lands of three states at once: Chinese, Kazakh and Russian. The river provides a water supply system for several regions. Together with the Ob River, its length is 5410 km, making it the longest in Russia.
10. Niger- a river flowing through West Africa with an unusual flow path resembling a boomerang. It has a length of 4180 km. The source of the Niger is located 240 km from the Atlantic coast, after which it turns in the other direction. Having drawn an unusual route for itself, the Niger flows into the Atlantic.
11. Mississippi– the largest river in North America (3770 km). Its powerful tributary is the Missouri. The Mississippi Basin includes 31 American states and several Canadian provinces, covering an area of ​​3,270,000 square meters. meters. The aborigines of these places (Indians) gave it a name that means “great” or “big”. Active navigation is constantly carried out on its waters.
12. Missouri- in length it lags behind the Mississippi by only 3 km. The source of the river is hidden in the mountains of Montana. It flows in a southeast direction and empties into the Mississippi near the city of St. Louis. Recently, navigation on the river has not been as important as before due to growing competition from other transport.
13. Ob- the greatest river crossing the entire territory of the Siberian region. Its sources are located in Altai at the confluence of the Katun and Biya. It is of tangible importance for the Russian Federation: regular shipping is carried out along it and several hydroelectric power stations have been built. The length is (3650 km).
14. Volga. The longest river in Europe (3530 km), starting on the Valdai Hills and moving towards the Caspian Sea. Interesting fact– at its mouth the river is 28 meters below ocean level.
15. Yenisei. Another powerful and large river of Siberia, originating on the Russian border with Mongolia. The Yenisei has a length of 3487 km. It is this river that divides the Siberian lands into two parts: Eastern and Western, then flowing into the Kara Sea. A cascade of hydroelectric power stations was built on it, which supply large Siberian industrial enterprises with electricity. The Yenisei also plays an important role in the country’s economy, as shipping takes place on its waters. However, the construction of reservoirs had a negative impact on the ecology of the reservoir.

The longest river in Belarus is the Dnieper, its total length is 2145 kilometers, and on the territory of Belarus the length of the river is 690 kilometers.