Major Rivers of the World

A river is a natural body of running water that flows through a particular channel under the action of gravity from the highland and discharges water into other water bodies. Rivers are undoubtedly the most powerful natural agents that sculpt the earth's surface. They influence human life immensely. There are numerous rivers in this world, and it becomes difficult to remember each of their names. Therefore, this article includes a list of major rivers of the world.

 (Image Will be Updated Soon) 

List of Major Rivers of The World

The world has innumerable water sources, one of which is rivers that are vital in the sustenance of human life. The major rivers of the World are listed below based on their lengths in kilometres. 

• Nile river (6,650 km) 

• Amazon River (6,400 km)

• Yangtze River (6,300 km)

• Mississippi River (6,275 km)

• Yenisey River (5,539 km)

• Yellow River (5,464 km)

• Ob-Irtysh river (5,410 km)

• Río de la Plata (4,880 km)

• Congo River (4,700 km)

• Amur River (4,444km)

Facts About The Major Rivers Of The World

• Nile river: It runs for 6,650 km through northeast Africa. It rises in the Burundi highlands of Tanzania in the south of the equator and finally flows into the mediterranean sea, forming an arcuate delta on its mouth. The Blue Nile and White Nile are the two major tributaries of the Nile river. It has another branch called Atbara, and after all three tributaries meet together, the river then gets the name the Nile. The Nile is an essential economic river as it supports fishing and agriculture. 

• Amazon river: The Amazon river runs for 6,300 kilometres and is located in north-eastern South America. The river is governed by the lush, dense vegetation of the Amazon forest on both sides. The river starts its course from the Mantaro river in the heart of the Andes mountain. It stretches over Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador and other states and finally drains into the Atlantic.

• Yangtze river: It runs for 6,300 km across south-central China and is the longest river in Asia and China. It rises from the plateau of Tibet and travels a long way on the plateaus and plains to join the sea of china in the east forming a vast delta on its mouth. The river has eight principal tributaries and is the most prosperous and populated part of China. It plays a vital part in constructing the culture and economy of China. 

• Mississippi river: It is a river of North America that runs for 6,275 kilometres. Starting its journey from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the river flows into the Gulf of Mexico, forming a bird foot delta. The river has numerous tributaries, and along with them, it drains a considerable part of the United States. It is among the busiest commercial waterways in the world.

• Yenisei river: It runs for 5,539 km from south to north across central Siberia. Starting its journey from the Mungari-gold in Mongolia, it maintains a northerly course and then drains into the Yenisei gulf (Kara sea). The river has twenty-four large tributaries and also provides a great source of hydroelectric power. 

• Yellow river: Commonly known as the Hwang ho river, it runs for 5,464 km across nine provinces. It rises from the bayan har mountains in the southern part of Qinghai province on the Tibetan plateau and drains into the Bohai Sea, a bay of the yellow sea. 

• Ob-Irtysh river: The ob river, along with its chief tributary Irtysh forms the seventh major river globally. It is of Russian origin which has an approximate length of 5,410 km. The mouth of the ob-Irtysh river is the kara sea, the gulf of ob.

• Río de la Plata river: It is a river of South America that runs for 4,880 kilometres. It is an estuary formed by the merger of Uruguay and Parana river at Punta Gorda, and it drains into the Atlantic ocean.  The Rio de la Plata can be referred to as a river, or a gulf, or a marginal sea, or an estuary based on the geographer. It is also known to be the widest river in the world. 

• Congo River: This river is about 4,700 kilometres long, flowing in west-central Africa and crossing the equator twice. It rises from the highlands of north-eastern Zambia and empties itself into the Atlantic ocean. The congo river receives innumerable tributaries and also has great potential for hydroelectric power generation. 

• Amur river: It runs for 4,444 kilometres and is an east-flowing river. The river begins its journey from the confluence of the Shilka and Argun rivers while shilka, the continuation of Amur, initially begins from the Yablonovy mountain. Hence, rising from the Yablonovy mountain, amur flows towards the east and northeast to join the sea of Okhotsk. 

The mouth of the river remains frozen for about six months during winter. The river has approximately 200 tributaries.