Water flows are extremely variable. In different years, and even seasons, their length and volume of water change. The debate about which river is the longest in the world has not subsided so far. However, the TOP-10 remains unchanged, only the places change.

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

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

Nile (6,700 km)

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

Missouri-Mississippi (6,275 km)

Many Americans are still convinced that the Mississippi is the longest river in the world. No wonder, because it is almost entirely located in the United States. In fact, its length is “only” 3,734 km. And if the Missouri had not turned from a full-fledged river into a tributary of the Mississippi, she would not have seen the top 10 as her ears.

Yangtze (5,800 km)

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

Huang He (5,464 km)

The name of this river, also located in China, is translated as "yellow". It owes this to clay sediments that are washed from its banks and give the water a yellowish-muddy tint. Moreover, the same name was given to the sea into which the Huang He flows.

Ob (5,410 km)

The longest river in Russia, located in Western Siberia. It has not many tributaries and is filled mainly due to snowmelt. The name, most likely, came from the translation of the word "snow", in the language of the Komi people.

Lena (5,100 km)

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

Amur (5,052 km)

The next of the top 10 longest rivers in the world is also located, for the most part, in Russia. It also flows through China and Mongolia. Interestingly, the unofficial name in Chinese sounds like "Heilongjiang" - the Black Dragon River.

Congo (4,700 km)

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

Mackenzie (4,240 km)

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

27.03.2013

There are many wonderful 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 controversy and controversy. Scientists have been discussing this issue for a long time, arguing about the exact length of the rivers, because for this it is necessary to know exactly where the river begins and where it ends, there are still disputes about whether it is necessary to take into account the tributaries of the rivers. And the most famous dispute between scientists is which river is longer than the Nile or the Amazon, they changed places several times. But today, scientists seem to agree, although not completely ... This is what10 longest rivers in the world.

10. Congo River - 4,700 km

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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 navigable artery and source of fishing. It is 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

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Ranked ninth 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 Black Dragon River, which, according to legend, lives in its waters. It has an unusually rich ichthyofauna. There are up to 139 subspecies of fish here. The richest salmon river in Eurasia.

8. Lena River - 5,100 km

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It flows into the Laptev Sea. The name of the river is not associated with a popular female name, but with the Evenk word "Elyu-Yene" - "big river". It differs from other rivers of Russia in its ice regime and powerful ice jams, which causes global floods. The banks of the Lena are poorly populated.

7. The Ob River with the Irtysh - 5,410 km

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It 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 area.

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 sediment. It flows into the Yellow Sea. The average flow of water 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 tremendous environmental and humanitarian catastrophe and led to the fall of the Xin Dynasty. In 1938, the Kuomintang troops organized biggest flood Huang He in order to stop the advance of the Japanese troops. It is the second largest river in China.

5. Yenisei River - 5,539 km

Ranked fifth 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. It 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 plants on the river and a mining and chemical plant in Krasnoyarsk have led to climate change and other serious environmental consequences in this area.

4. Mississippi - 6,275 km

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It originates in Lake Ithaca in Minnesota and flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It is divided into the Upper and Lower Mississippi. The most full-flowing 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 I and the high-water river of Eurasia. The cradle of Chinese civilization and the main waterway of this country. There are two endangered species of animals in the river - the Chinese allegator and the Chinese paddlefish. On July 16, 1966, the Great Mao swam 15 km in 65 minutes on the river, which made an indelible impression on the locals and signaled the start of the Cultural Revolution.

2. River Nile - 6852 km

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

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1. Amazon - 6,992 km

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The longest river in the world formed by the confluence of the Maranion and Ucayali rivers. It flows through the territories of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean. At a depth of 4,000 kilometers, a unidirectional underground river, the Hamza, flows under it. In 2011 recognized as one of the natural wonders of the world. Nourishes the ecosystem of the Amazonian selva. It is also considered the most dangerous river in the world. But still it is the greatest river.

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 was not the Nile, as was thought for a long time, but the Amazon.

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

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

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

Amazon Winner

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

• the most full-flowing in the world;
• the largest in the world in terms of basin area, which is more than 7100 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 various kinds flora and fauna lives on its shores;
• more than 2,000 species of fish live in the Amazon, which is 30 times the number of fish species found in all the waters of Europe combined;
• the basin area contains the world's largest tropical rainforests;
• more than 25% of all medicines are mined in the Amazon;
• at the beginning of the 21st century, an underground river was discovered under the Amazon at a depth of 4000 m, named after the Indian scientist, the explorer of the Amazon - Khamza.

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

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

The whole 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 - silt; on the other hand, the area of ​​irrigated lands has expanded, and the harvest began to be harvested 3 times a year. It is possible that the dams shortened the overall 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 Itera - the Great River, and Herodotus wrote that Egypt was the gift of the Nile. Egypt, in fact, 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. Starting near Cairo, the Nile Delta is stunning in its length - 260 km along the Mediterranean Sea. All this makes Egypt a tourist oasis, the main jewel of which is the Nile.

The Great Ob is the pride of Russia

About 2.5 million rivers flow on 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 the territory of Altai, gains power at the mouth of the Irtysh and flows into the Arctic Ocean, forming at the mouth of the Ob Bay - a bay more than 800 km long.

Interesting Obie Facts:

• in summer and autumn, the water of the river has a striped structure. This comes from the fact that Katun and Biya have a different color of water. Katun carries waters of a greenish color, and Biya - grayish or white;
• the length of the tributary of the Ob, 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 width of the river reaches 3 - 7 km, and the 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 species of fish: sturgeon, vendace, whitefish, omul, peled, nelma and other valuable species of fish are caught in it;
• 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.

Choosing the longest rivers in the world is not a trivial task. The beginning of the river is considered to be the tributary, the most distant from the mouth. However, its name does not always coincide with how the river is named, which makes it difficult to measure the length. The error in the calculations can also be associated with seasonal changes.

There are also difficulties with the mouth - some rivers simply do not have it (for example, Kubango). 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 - more than 220 meters) and the second after the Amazon in terms of the size of the drainage basin (3,680,000 sq. km).

The river originates deep in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is fed by the Lualaba River, which itself is fed by the Luvua and Luapula Rivers. And those, in turn, are connected with Lake Mweru and Lake Bangvelo. 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 takes its name from the Kingdom of the Congo, 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 the 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 merge - Shilka and Argun. The Kerulen and Onon rivers are also considered as the 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 the "River of the Black Dragon". According to legend, the Black Dragon defeated the insidious White Dragon, which was the owner of the river and interfered with the locals in every possible way. Cupid enters.

8. Lena-Vitim - 5100 km

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

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 in permafrost regions.

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

Spring-summer floods lead to the fact that the level of the river rises 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

Starting 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, the right tributary of the Selenga - the Ider.

6. Ob-Irtysh - 5410 km

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

The Ob is shorter than the Irtysh. But at the same time, it is more full-flowing and plays the role of the main river in the Ob-Irtysh link. 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 under the name Black Irtysh (or, in Chinese, Ertsisikhe). And the first 450 km of its way the river flows through China. Much longer way - 1735 km it will be through the lands of Kazakhstan. And then she crosses the border with Russia in the Omsk region. And in the region of Khanty-Mansiysk 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. Huang He - 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 Celestial Civilization" because of the pivotal 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 fertile basins encouraged 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 "Sorrow of China" and "Scourge of the Sons of Han". The worst flood in modern history humanity 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. She played a big 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 the gross domestic product China (GDP), and the Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River, is the world's first hydroelectric power plant. Due to the impact of human infrastructure, some sections of the river are now protected reserves.

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

This river, as its name implies, is completely connected with the United States of America. Although each river individually would not make the top five, they are grouped together as the Missouri River meets the Mississippi near St. Louis, and the Missouri joins the Jefferson River in Montana.

2. Nile - 6852 km

Most people answering the question: "What is the name of the longest river on Earth?" name the river Nile. While this Blue Vein of Africa primarily flows through Egypt, it also passes through nine other African countries: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the 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 waterworks 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 the population of Egypt with electricity. It currently provides about 20 percent of the electricity in the country. The Aswan Dam also controls the summer Nile flooding, which threatens with large-scale flooding.

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

It is the largest river in the world in terms of catchment area (6915000 sq. km). For comparison: the drainage basin of the Nile - 3349000 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 determining the origin of the Amazon. Scholars and explorers have been trying to locate the source of the river since the 1600s. Over the years, five rivers in southwestern Peru have been honored as the source of the Amazon. In the end, the headwaters of the Apurimac River began to be considered its source.

According to a study conducted in 2014, it turns out that the Amazon originates from the Cordillera Rumi Cruz mountain, located upstream of the Peruvian Mantaro River. This river then converges with the Apurimac River, and downstream they are joined by other tributaries, forming the Ucayali River. And finally, as a result of the confluence of the Ucayali and the Marañon River, the Amazon is formed.

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 complete list contains 171 rivers, with a length of more than 1000 km.

#	River	Length (km)	Drainage basin (km²)	Countries
1.		6992	6915000	Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana
2.		6852	3349000	Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia
3.	Mississippi - Missouri - Jefferson	6275 (according to other sources 6420)	2980000	USA (98.5%), Canada (1.5%)
4.		5800 (according to other sources 6300)	1800000	PRC
5.		5464	745000	PRC
6.	Ob - Irtysh	5410	2990000	Russia, Kazakhstan, China
7.	Yenisei - Angara - Selenga - Ider	5238	2580000	Russia, Mongolia
8.	Lena - Vitim	5100	2490000	Russia
9.	Amur - Argun - Mutnaya duct - Kerulen	5052	1855000	Russia, China, Mongolia
10.	Congo - Lualaba - Luvua - Luapula - Chambeshi	4700	3680000	DRC, CAR, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda
11.	Mekong	4350	810000	Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, China
12.	Mackenzie - Slave - Peace - Finlay	4241	1790000	Canada
13.	Niger	4200	2090000	Nigeria (26.6%), Mali (25.6%), Niger (23.6%), Algeria (7.6%), Guinea (4.5%), Cameroon (4.2%), Burkina- Faso (3.9%), Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Chad
14.	La Plata - Parana - Rio Grande	3998	3100000	Brazil (46.7%), Argentina (27.7%), Paraguay (13.5%), Bolivia (8.3%), Uruguay (3.8%)
15.	Volga - Kama	3731	1380000	Russia (99.8%), Kazakhstan (0.2%)
16.	Shatt al Arab - Euphrates - Murat	3596	884000	Iraq (40.5%), Turkey (24.8%), Iran (19.7%), Syria (14.7%)
17.	Purus	3379	63166	Brazil, Peru
18.	Murray - Darling	3370	1061000	Australia
19.	Madeira - Mamore - Rio Grande - Rio Cane - Rocha	3239	850000	Brazil, Bolivia, Peru
20.	Yukon	3184	850000	USA (59.8%), Canada (40.2%)
21.	indus	3180	960000	Pakistan (93%), India, China, disputed territories (Kashmir), Afghanistan
22.	San Francisco	3180	610000	Brazil
23.	Syrdarya - Naryn	3078	219000	Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
24.	Salween	3060	324000	China (52.4%), Myanmar (43.9%), Thailand (3.7%)
25.	Saint Lawrence River - Niagara - Detroit - St. Clair - St. Marys - St. Louis	3058	1030000	Canada (52.1%), USA (47.9%)
26.	Rio Grande	3057	570000	US (52.1%), Mexico (47.9%)
27.	Lower Tunguska	2989	473000	Russia
28.	Brahmaputra	2948	1730000	India (58.0%), China (19.7%), Nepal (9.0%), Bangladesh (6.6%), India/PRC disputed territories (4.2%), Bhutan (2.4%) )
29.	Danube - Breg	2850	817000	Romania (28.9%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.3%), Serbia (10.3%), Germany (7.5%), Slovakia (5.8%), Bulgaria ( 5.2%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.8%), Croatia (4.5%), Ukraine (3.8%), Moldova (1.7%).
30.	Tocantins	2699	1400000	Brazil
31.	Zambezi	2693	1330000	Zambia (41.6%), Angola (18.4%), Zimbabwe (15.6%), Mozambique (11.8%), Malawi (8.0%), Tanzania (2.0%), Namibia, Botswana
32.	Vilyuy	2650	454000	Russia
33.	Araguaia	2627	358125	Brazil
34.	Amu Darya - Panj - Pamir	2620	534739	Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
35.	Japura	2615	242259	Brazil, Colombia
36.	Nelson - Saskatchewan	2570	1093000	Canada, USA
37.	Paraguay	2549	900000	Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina
38.	Kolyma	2513	644000	Russia
39.	Ganges	2510	907000	India, Bangladesh, Nepal
40.	Pilcomayo	2500	270000	Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia
41.	Ishim	2450	177000	Kazakhstan, Russia
42.	Zhurua	2410	200000	Peru, Brazil
43.	Ural	2428	237000	Russia, Kazakhstan
44.	Arkansas	2348	505000	USA
45.	Ubangi - Uele	2300	772800	DRC, CAR
46.	deer	2292	219000	Russia
47.	Dnieper	2287	516300	Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
48.	Aldan	2273	729000	Russia
49.	Rio Negro	2250	720114	Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia
50.	Colombia	2250	415211	USA, Canada
51.	Colorado	2333	390000	USA, Mexico
52.	Zhujiang - Xijiang	2200	437000	China (98.5%), Vietnam (1.5%)
53.	South Red River	2188	78592	USA
54.	Irrawaddy	2170	411000	Myanmar
55.	Kassai	2153	880200	Angola, DRC
56.	Ohio - Allegheny	2102	490603	USA
57.	Orinoco	2101	880000	Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana
58.	Tarim	2100	557000	PRC
59.	Xingu	2100	513000	Brazil
60.	orange	2092	973000	South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho
69.	Kama	2039	522000	Russia
61.	Salado (tributary of the Parana)	2010	160000	Argentina
123.	Upper Mississippi	2000	490000	USA
62.	Vitim	1978	225000	Russia
63.	Tiger	1950	375000	Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran
64.	Sungari	1927	524000	PRC
65.	Tapajos	1900	487000	Brazil
66.	Don	1870	425600	Russia
67.	Podkamennaya Tunguska	1865	240000	Russia
68.	Pechora	1809	322000	Russia
70.	Limpopo	1800	413000	Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana
71.	Chulym	1799	134000	Russia
72.	Guapore	1749	266500	Brazil, Bolivia
97.	maranion	1737	358000	Peru
73.	Indigirka	1726	360400	Russia
74.	Snake	1670	279719	USA
75.	Senegal	1641	419659	Senegal, Mali, Mauritania
76.	Uruguay	1610	370000	Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil
77.	blue nile	1600	325000	Ethiopia, Sudan
78.	Churchill	1600	282000	Canada
79.	Khatanga - Kotuy	1600	364000	Russia
80.	Okavango	1600	800000	Namibia, Angola, Botswana
81.	Volta	1600	388000	Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin
81.	beni	1599	133010	Bolivia
82.	Platt	1594	241000	USA
83.	Tobol	1591	426000	Kazakhstan, Russia
84.	Jubba - Webi-Shebeli	1580	497504	Ethiopia, Somalia
85.	Putumayo	1575	148000	Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador
86.	Magdalena	1550	260000	Colombia
87.	Hanshui	1532	175000	PRC
88.	crowbars	1500	95830	DRC
89.	Oka	1500	245000	Russia
90.	Pecos	1490	115000	USA
91.	Upper Yenisei	1480	150000	Russia, Mongolia
92.	Godavari	1465	313000	India
93.	Colorado (Texas)	1438	103340	USA
94.	Rio Grande	1438	102600	Bolivia
95.	White	1420	142000	Russia
96.	Coopers Creek - Barku	1420	297550	Australia
98.	Taz	1401	150000	Russia
100.	Benue	1400	441000	Cameroon, Nigeria
101.	Or	1400	140000	China, Kazakhstan
103.	Sutlej	1372	395000	China, India, Pakistan
104.	Yamuna	1370	351000	India
105.	Vyatka	1370	129000	Russia
106.	fraser	1368	233100	Canada
107.	Kura	1364	188000	Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Iran
108.	Rio Grande	1360	170000	Brazil
109.	Dniester	1352	72100	Ukraine, Moldova
110.	Cauca	1350	80000	Colombia
111.	Liaohe	1345	228960	PRC
112.	Yalongjiang	1323	30000	PRC
113.	Iguazu	1320	62000	Brazil, Argentina
114.	Olekma	1320	210000	Russia
115.	Rhine	1233	198735	Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein
116.	Northern Dvina - Sukhona	1302	357052	Russia
117.	Krishna	1300	258950	India
118.	Iriri	1300	124300	Brazil
119.	Narmada	1289	98796	India
120.	Ottawa	1271	146300	Canada
121.	Zeya	1242	233000	Russia
122.	Jouruena	1240	190940	Brazil
124.	Athabasca	1231	95300	Canada
125.	Elba - Vltava	1231	148268	Germany, Czech Republic
126.	Canadian River	1223	124000	USA
127.	North Saskatchewan	1220	122800	Canada
128.	Vaal	1210	196438	South Africa
129.	Shire	1200	149500	Mozambique, Malawi
130.	Nenjiang	1190	244000	PRC
131.	Green River	1175	124578	USA
132.	Milk River	1173	61642	USA, Canada
133.	Demyanka	1160	34800	Russia
134.	Chindwin	1158	114000	Myanmar
135.	Sankuru	1150		DRC
27.	Omolon	1150	119000	Russia
136.	James	1143		USA
137.	Capuas	1143		Indonesia
138.	Gum	1130	88900	Russia Ukraine
139.	Helmand	1130		Afghanistan, Iran
140.	Madre de Dios	1130		Peru, Bolivia
141.	Tiete	1130		Brazil
142.	Vychegda	1130	121000	Russia
143.	Sepik	1126	77700
144.	Cimarron	1123		USA
145.	Anadyr	1120		Russia
146.	Jialingjiang	1119		PRC
147.	Liard	1115		Canada
148.	white river	1102		USA
149.	Huallaga	1100		Peru
150.	kwango	1100	263500	Angola, DRC
27.	conda	1097	72800	Russia
151.	Gambia	1094		Gambia Senegal Guinea
152.	Om	1091	52600	Russia
153.	Chinab	1086		India, Pakistan
154.	Vasyugan	1082	62000	Russia
155.	yellowstone	1080		USA
155.	Araks	1072	102000	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey
156.	Chu	1067	62500	Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
157.	Seversky Donets	1053	98900	Ukraine Russia
158.	Bermejo	1050		Argentina, Bolivia
159.	Fly	1050		Papua New Guinea, Indonesia
160.	Guaviare	1050		Colombia
161.	Kuskokwim	1050		USA
162.	Tennessee	1049		USA
163.	Tura	1030		Tyumen region, Sverdlovsk region, Russia
164.	Western Dvina	1020	87900	Latvia, Belarus, Russia
165.	Gila	1015		USA
166.	Vistula	1014		Poland, Ukraine, Belarus
167.	Loire	1012		France
168.	Essequibo	1010		Guyana
169.	Khoper	1010		Russia
170.	Tacho	1006		Spain, Portugal
171.	Rio Colorado (Argentina)	1000		Argentina

The longest 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 the human factor. In this regard, it is recommended to read the text below in order not to ask such questions again.

Is the longest river in the world the Nile or the Amazon? Nature on our planet is incredibly diverse and amazing. Yes, one can endlessly admire the creations created by human genius, but no one can compare with the beauty and power that nature has created. The water arteries of the globe deserve special attention, 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 chorus: “Of course, Neil!”. But now scientists are arguing whether this is actually the case.

Official data indicate that the length of the Nile is 6695 km. The river originates from Lake Victoria and flows into the Mediterranean Sea, crosses the territory of Egypt, Sudan and Uganda. In ancient times, it was this river that became the main source for life and the birth of one of the first human civilizations.
The climate on planet Earth is changing rapidly. And this is the "merit" of the human factor. What seemed unbelievable yesterday is a harsh reality today. This is what prompted Brazilian scientists in 2005 to recalculate the length of reservoirs, since it was not clear which is the longest river in the world, the Nile or the Amazon. It turned out that the river has become 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 the foregoing, it is safe to say 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 high school graduates learned in geography lessons what is the longest river in the world. 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. And this means that now the Amazon owns the palm. This river has several tributaries - Ucayali and Marañon - and more recently, scientists discovered that the length of the South American river crossed the line of 7 thousand km due to the fact that it was led from the source of Ucayali.

More Amazon Records

Today, the longest river in the world is not the only record held by a South African river. The Amazon is the largest basin in size and the most full-flowing river, for which a special “thank you” to heavy rainfall. The river throws about 200 cubic meters of water into the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the Amazon is able to provide each inhabitant of the globe with 1 liter of fresh water per second. By the way, about 1/5 of all fresh water directly that enters the oceans falls on 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 - along the banks of the Amazon there are rare representatives of flora and fauna.

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 after 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 wooded 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 into the Atlantic Ocean.
The name of the river was due to the legend, which said that along the banks lived a tribe of female warriors "Amassona" who 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 7000 km. About 17 rivers of the first magnitude flow into it, the length of which varies from 1500 km to 3500 km. Several particularly prominent tributaries surpass the Rhine in their length and fullness, but even the largest of them do not have any effect on the measured course of the Amazon.
The entrance to the reservoir is dangerous not only because the length of 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 its calm and balanced character. The thing is that the Amazon flows through different belts in the equatorial direction and overflows to incredible limits due to constant rains. The shores of the Amazon are amazing representatives of tropical flora and fauna.

Shipping Opportunities

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 the upper trade winds dominate in most of its part. The total length of the navigable part of the Amazon is 9,900 km. Many navigators, scientists and travelers aspired to this rebellious element, tried to find out all its secrets and mysteries. Some of them discovered the estuary (Vikenty Pinzon), others (Francis de Orellana) told about the beautiful Amazons, and still others (the expedition of Gerndon and Gibbon, the Prussian prince Adalbert, etc.) were able to explore this natural landmark, which is still different to this day rebelliousness 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 the history of mankind arose on its shores thousands of years ago speaks volumes. Even ancient people recognized the deep-water Nile source of life, they worshiped him, made sacrifices, asked him for help and advice, and also built the greatest structures along the coast, 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.

Where is it - the beginning of the Nile?

Actually, this question is not so easy to answer. In its course through the territory of the African continent, the length of the Nile River has many water arteries, so the ancient Egyptians and the very first researchers could not answer exactly where the deep-sea reservoir originates from.
John Hoenig, who was an officer in the British Army, accidentally discovered Lake Victoria. It was at this time that a firm conviction appeared that the White Nile begins its course 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 the 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 consider the length of the river from the beginning of its river system (source Rukarar), then its length in this case will be equal to 6758 km. The mighty river carries its waters to the north and constantly rushes down - it is for this reason that there are many rapids and waterfalls. The total water drop is about 700 meters.
The turbulent stream ends its course at Lake Albert, from which the more calm and balanced Nile originates. This site belongs to Uganda, whose inhabitants cross the river by ferry. In South Sudan, the Nile River is 716 kilometers long and is called the Bahr el Jabel. The terrain in this region is flat and swampy - this led to the branching of the Nile into many branches. Further movement of water is directed to 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 that, 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 place, among which the well-known Alexandria. Thus, the length of the Nile River is indeed a major factor in the origin of life along its banks.
The shores of the reservoir are fertile lands, many natural, architectural and historical sights, 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 the mighty and majestic Volga, which originates on the Valdai Upland and flows into the Caspian Sea. The total length of the river is 3530 km, and the basin 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, which was formed from a small source of groundwater near the village of Volgoverkhovye. Gradually, taking about 150,000 large and small tributaries, the river gains its strength and flows into the Caspian Sea.
The main source of nutrition for the Volga is external melt water. Rain and groundwater, which feeds the river in winter, play a minor role. That is why the hydrological regime can be divided into three periods: a long spring flood, summer and winter low water.
The mighty and longest river in Europe is the most important shipping channel in Russia. Conventionally, the water creation of nature can be divided into several sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Volga respectively. The flora and fauna along the river banks is ambiguous. So, the Lower Volga is the most diverse - it is for this reason that the Astrakhan reserve was formed in the river delta, the representatives of the flora and fauna of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
The natural wealth of the river and its unique geographical position have long attracted people, they began to build small settlements here, which eventually turned into powerful cities such as Kazan, Volgograd, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod.

Ecological situation

Environmentalists are very puzzled by the current situation that has developed on the river. According to monitoring data, the load on water resources is 8 times higher than the permissible norms, and 65 out of 100 especially polluted cities are located near the Volga. The most serious environmental problems arise as a result of the construction of a large number of dams, the activity of large industrial enterprises, a large amount of polluted sewage and heavy 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 the inefficiency of treatment facilities. As a result, the flora and fauna of the Volga Delta suffer greatly - the data of some studies made it possible to identify mutations and congenital deformities of some representatives.
The development of special state programs aimed at improving the environmental situation in the region is the only right decision 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 small lake. It is a shame to admit, but this small reservoir, which gives rise to a great and powerful river, does not even have a name. After Baikal, Lena makes sharp turn towards Yakutsk and rushes to the north, flowing into the Laptev Sea.
Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on what place along the 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 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: the upper, middle and lower reaches. After the confluence of the Vilyui, the river spills into an incredible expanse, turning into that very powerful Siberian river.
The upper course (up to the depression of the Vitim River) Lena has a typically mountainous character. It is winding, fast and impetuous, in some of its places there are rapids. It calms down a little only near Kirensk, where the Kirenga River flows into it. Here, the mountains begin to recede a little, and they are replaced by majestic coniferous forests. Fir, cedar and spruce, mighty pine and light coniferous larch are the pride of Siberia.
The longest river in Russia becomes even more powerful after the right tributary of the Olekma flows into it. The famous Lena Pillars are one of the most striking sights located along the river. It is in this place that the national park of the same name was formed. Here it turns into a full-flowing river with a depth of up to 20 meters. Field of Yakutsk, two more tributaries flow into the Lena - the Aldan and Vilyui rivers. Here, the Russian beauty already has wide banks (about 10 meters on average), the width of which in some areas reaches 30 m.
The river is one of the cleanest in the world. This is probably due to the fact that coniferous forests grow on a larger 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 the Lena has been preserved almost in its original form. Moreover, in some places not chosen by man, you can drink water directly from the river.

TOP 10 longest rivers in the world

The 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 the territory of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and then carries its waters into 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, Ucayali and Marañon, form this grand natural wonder.

History and geography

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

Animal world

Amazonia stretches along the equator with jungles, swamps and tributaries of rivers. For biologists, these regions are the unexplored pantry of the Earth. On an area of ​​only 10 km2 there are from 1 to 1.5 thousand species of flowers, 700 to 750 different species of trees, more than 100 species of mammals and at least 400 species of birds.
Only a third of the vegetation has been thoroughly studied, its fourth part is used in traditional 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 palms, hundred-meter creepers and massive water lilies.
In the waters of the Amazon River, you can meet a pink dolphin, a five-meter bull shark, caiman, anaconda and piranhas. The most popular aquarium fish swim there - angelfish, guppies and swordtails. Many strange animals live on the coast: capybaras, tapirs, jaguars and many others.

environmental threat

Today, the mindless destruction of the Amazonian forests continues. In large areas, due to cutting down trees, soil erosion appears. In addition, thousands of species of flora and fauna are disappearing. In connection with the construction of many artificial structures, the ecosystem of the river and its course are being disturbed.
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 significant part of the African continent. The river originates in the East African Plateau and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Its basin is 350 thousand km2. The Nile River, like several thousand years ago, is the main source of fresh water for millions of people, a means for irrigating land and a major waterway. The silt that remains on the fields after the spill, as before, is an excellent fertilizer.

History and Geography

The Nile is mentioned in ancient sources. He was then known as Neylos. 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.
Until now, there are disputes about the source of the Nile River. There are many assumptions about how Africa's largest waterway replenishes its waters, but all of them have remained speculation.
The tributaries of the river, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, are named so in accordance with the shades of the water surface. Many countries are located in these territories: Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Ethiopia and others. One fifth of these lands are controlled by the Egyptian authorities. They are a huge tourist center and just a paradise for lovers of archeology and connoisseurs of monuments. ancient history and culture. Egyptian museums, the largest of which is located 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 on the coast. The unique river does not dry up during the hot seasons, but overflows, turning 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 ​​dry land. It revives even the sands of the Sahara. There are many types of fish in the waters, of which the Nile perch can be distinguished, weighing up to 140 kg. Snakes, crocodiles, turtles live on the banks of the Nile River. Of the birds, the most famous are the ibis, heron, stork, lapwing and kite.
Date palms, mimosas, cypresses, papyrus grow in the Nile valley; there are banana plantations.

Significance for people

Almost the entire population, more than 95% of Egypt and other states 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 language of the Indians, the river Mississippi means Great River. Her greatness is sung by many writers and poets, such as Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, Mine Reed. It flows through the United States and divides them into two parts. This powerful stream flows through 10 US states and ends with a huge delta in the Gulf of Mexico. It is also the natural boundary of these administrative entities. The largest tributaries of the Mississippi: Missouri, Illinois, Red River. The Mississippi is about 4000 km long. In the list of great rivers, it is in fourth place.

Geography and history

The Mississippi, which is also included in the TOP 10 longest rivers in the world, can be divided into two large parts, lower and upper. The border is the city of 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 happened with numerous tributaries, some of them appeared, while others disappeared without a trace. The Mississippi River has even changed its place of confluence with the Gulf of Mexico more than once. Because of the incomprehensible 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. The discoverer of the Mississippi River for Europeans is Hernando de Soto, who arrived in America in the sixteenth century. In this century, it was marked on several famous nautical charts. The Spaniards called it the "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 wholly owned by the United States.
The turbulent 19th century is considered the golden age for this river. Steamships sailed along it in large numbers, and new cities sprang up on its shores. The decisive moment in the civil war between the North and the South was the capture of 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.

Environmental problems

The thoughtless use of the Mississippi River basin has led to an environmental problem. Large-scale water pollution by household and industrial waste caused the emergence of a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. Significant floods occur on this river from time to time. The harm of these phenomena is sometimes very great. One of them flooded 7,000 km2 and caused more than $400 million in damage.

Yangtze River Translated from Chinese, the river means "long river", because it is not in vain 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 longest rivers, it takes an honorable third place. The Yangtze stretches across the territory of China for 6300 km, its basin is about 2 million km2. It occupies an area where a third of the country's inhabitants live. The gorge through which it flows through the territory of the national park, in the west of the country, is included in the UNESCO heritage. The river plays an important role in China's economy. Here is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world. The rich delta region produces up to 20% of China's total GDP.

History and geography

In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the ancient civilization of South China was born. Finds on the shores near the historical area of ​​the "Three Gorges" testify to the active human activity 25 thousand years ago. During the periods of Spring and Autumn, in the west of the river was the kingdom of Shu. These were rich lands where agriculture flourished due to the mild climate in the coastal areas. The confrontation between North and South China made it a natural border between them. A large number of important battles of antiquity took place here.
Due to the large mass of impurities, due to its geographical location, the waters of the river have a yellow color. The water can rise up to 20 meters. On the river, in order to avoid large-scale floods, a large number of dams and dams have been erected. The water in the river is successfully used to irrigate fields over a large area, especially in the lower reaches. Its basin is the most significant waterway of the country.
The navigable segment has a considerable length. The total length of all river routes is about 20,000 km. It 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 was implemented to transfer water to the north from the south. Unlike the “turning back the rivers” in the Soviet Union, this is an innovative project, carefully thought out and cost-effective.

Animal world

The Yangtze River is a unique ecosystem and natural habitat for a large number of endangered species, such as Chinese river dolphin, Chinese alligator, Korean alligator, Chinese paddlefish. In addition to 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.

Huanghe is one of the largest waterway Asia. Its name, translated from Chinese, means Yellow River. It is associated with a yellow tint, which is given to its waters by abundant sediments. 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 passes through a vast territory to the Bohai Bay, where it flows into the Yellow Sea. The length of this river is about 5000 km, its delta has a total area of ​​more than 750 thousand km2. Due to its geographical features, the Yellow River threatens the surrounding areas with frequent and large-scale floods. To protect against this thunderstorm, a large system of dams and levees has been built. Their total length is more than 5000 kilometers. But, as a result of dam breaks, even greater floods occur, and the channel also moves and a large number of people die. Another name for this river is "Mountain of China".

History and geography

The Yellow River has been famous for disasters since ancient times. It has always been prone to spills that lead to floods. They have happened about 1500 times in the last 3000 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 massive humanitarian catastrophe and caused the fall of the Xin Dynasty. These tragedies were of natural origin.
In 1938, a dam break was organized, which was supposed to stop the Japanese army. It only stopped its movement, but on the other hand it claimed about a million lives of the Chinese themselves and 54 km2 of the inhabited territory were flooded. Floods and dam breaks claim the lives of millions of inhabitants of the China 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 at the expense of the Yellow River basin and from there it comes, watering a large number of fields located along this river. In its lower reaches there is a reserve "Sources of three rivers". It has hydroelectric power plants. The Grand Canal connects the two Great Rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze. The Huang He is navigable on separate stretches. Along it grew many cities.

Ecology of the Yellow River

China has published data that due to unreasonable use, 1/3 of the river is not suitable even for agricultural and industrial purposes. This tragedy occurred when industrial waste was dumped into the river. The increase in cities leads to water pollution by runoff. Activities for the restoration of the Yellow River ecosystem are controlled at the highest level.

Ob River with Irtysh River Ob with Irtysh- one of the greatest rivers of Russia. The Ob belongs to the basin of the Arctic Ocean, flowing through the territory of western Siberia. The Ob is formed at the place where the Katun and Biy merge together in the Altai Territory. Further, it moves in a northwestern direction, collecting the waters of 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 1,500 cubic meters per second. And this reaches half the water content of the Irtysh, which is 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 course, which is noted especially by travelers, can be called its confluence 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 Ertsisikhe. 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 a lot of water. It gives a significant part to Ulungur Lake, as well as to some other channels. The river flows through China, Kazakhstan and Russia.
On the border with China, the first navigable routes along the Irtysh begin. Today, powerful hydroelectric power stations are also located on the waters, which are becoming one of the main sources of energy. Along its course, the Irtysh has surprisingly picturesque places, burnt steppes, and forest zones.
Interestingly, the confluence of the Ob River with the Irtysh led to the flooding of the valley. Also in this place is an amazing chapel - floating. She appeared here only a few years ago, but has already managed to 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 are waters that stretch to high shores covered with taiga. There are many legends about the Ob River with the Irtysh. One of them calls them brother and sister.

Yenisei- the river, which is considered one of the largest on the planet. It begins with two sources - Ka-Khem and Biy-Khem. From the last source, the length of the Yenisei River is usually calculated. The river itself begins as a narrow brook, 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 basin area, which is 2580 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, conditionally 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, as well as in the 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 takes out 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 of Eurasia are located. These are the Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushenskaya HPPs. Also today, the upper stream of the Yenisei River has turned into a reservoir due to the construction of a dam along the river through the Western Sayan.
The nutrition of the Yenisei is represented by a mixed type, however, a significant amount is often snow, which is represented by about 50%. Additionally, rain nutrition is isolated in 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 reduced runoff in winter.
The amount of flow is quite voluminous and reaches 624 cubic kilometers, which brings the river to the first place in the country in terms of this indicator. The freezing of the river occurs from 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 territory of the river is an important shipping route. Flights move regularly, starting from the Signified, pumping up 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 reservoir a kind of pioneer. He became the first who began to make his way to the sea through boundless Siberia after the melting of glaciers.
Interestingly, many associate the name of the river with a female name. However, in reality, there is nothing in common between these concepts. The "name" of the river means the word "Elyu-Ene", which refers to the Evenki language of the Tungus-Manchurian group. Translated into Russian, it means " big river". That is how the explorer Pyanda called the river, who was engaged in its research 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, it shows different temperaments. At the beginning of the journey, she copies a violent 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. Lower - from Zhigansk to its mouth.

Lena carries its own waters, gradually filling up from tributaries. Among the most basic are the following - Manzurka, Chai, Vitim, Aldan, Vilyuy. 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 divides the islands among themselves, forms lakes and channels.
Ecological territories are also located here in the river delta. Among them are the reserves Ust Lensky - Sokol and Delta, it is also worth noting the Lena-Ustye reserve, which is considered the largest in the country. In total, 32 fish species, 402 plant species, 33 mammal species and 109 bird species 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 lack of hydroelectric power plants and dams. That is why it is possible in many places of the river to drink water from it without boiling and without any negative consequences for your health. There is often sludge on the river. It represents the freezing of the river from the ice and the rise on the surfaces of pieces of ice, which can form congestion due to the filling of the channel.

Amur River River Amur flows through the territory of Russia, Mongolia and China, occupying the expanses of the eastern part of Eurasia. The Amur begins at an altitude of 303 meters on the slopes of Western Manchuria. It was formed as a result of 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 during its history the river 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 of the Amur River, which was given by the Russians, that stuck better than others.
Fluctuations in the level of the river can be observed throughout the year. This is explained by the monsoon rains. The minimum and maximum of water has a significant difference, reaching 10-15 centimeters. Today, scientists are dealing with 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 runoff also affects the water regime of the Amur River. He can be:

1. Small.
2. Downgraded.
3. Moderate.
4. High.

The feeding of the river is determined by the rains. Under the condition of heavy snowfalls, recharge can also be observed with snow. However, this does not happen every year.
A huge number of aquatic inhabitants live in the Amur River. There are 136 species of fish, among which 40 are commercial. The rest are protected by law or are not of interest for the catch. Of particular interest are endemic fish, among which are Chinese perch, yellow-cheeked, killer whale, snakehead, 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 Zeya becomes the largest, which acts as the left tributary of the Amur, but at the same time exceeds it in width and depth. The right tributary is the Bureya, which carries its waters through the territory of China. Among the other tributaries, the Sungari, Amgun, Ussuri are distinguished. The last river represents a 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. Europeans were introduced to this river by the Portuguese Diogo Kan. It happened in 1482 during one of Diogo's voyages.
This reservoir 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 in 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, overcoming 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.
The high water on the Congo River is observed twice a year. In December and May at the mouth the river reaches the high level. It reaches its minimum mark in August and March. The waters of the Congo can be seen far into the Atlantic Ocean during this process.
The reservoir is famous for its huge number of fish. Here it is possible to catch Nile perch, mormyrops, catfish of the Congo River and other freshwater inhabitants. The most interesting representative of the waters can definitely be called tiger fish. This is a fairly large predator with large teeth, which is put on a par with piranha in terms of its danger. Its dimensions can reach up to 70 kg. locals 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 is the main source of hydropower in the form of transport significant masses water. To date, it has three large-scale hydroelectric stations.
The Congo River is deservedly called one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the whole world. Along its course, there are evergreen tropical forests, amazing valleys, majestic mountain ranges. The funnel-shaped mouth just before the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean attracts attention. It is believed that the Congo is the richest river in the world for minerals. There are deposits of cobalt, radium, copper ore, uranium, silver, nickel, and some other metals.