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List of rivers by length

(Redirected from List of longest rivers)

This is a list of rivers by length. It includes rivers with a length over 1,000 km.

Contents
1 Definition of length
2 Longest rivers
3 External links
4 See also

Definition of length

The length of a river is not always easy to calculate. It depends on the identification of the source, the identification of the mouth, and the precise measurement of the river length between source and mouth. As a result, the length measurements of many rivers are only approximations. In particular, there is disagreement whether the Amazon or the Nile is the world's longest river.

The source of a river may be hard to determine because a river typically has many tributaries. Among the many sources, the one that is farthest away from the mouth is considered as the source of the river, thus giving a maximal river length. In practice, the tributary with the farthest source is not always the one given the name of the river. For example, the farthest source of the Mississippi River system is the source of the Missouri River; but a different tributary is identified as the Mississippi. When the river is measured from mouth to farthest source, it is called the Mississippi-Missouri. Also, it is hard to state exactly where a river begins as very often rivers are formed by seasonal streams, swamps, or changing lakes. In this article, length means the length of the river system, including all tributaries.

The mouth of a river may be hard to determine in cases where the river has a large estuary that gradually widens and opens into the ocean; examples are the Amazon River and the Saint Lawrence River. Some rivers do not have a mouth, instead they evaporate, and the exact point where the river ends will vary seasonally.

The length of a river between source and mouth may be hard to determine because of a lack of precise maps. In these cases, the measured length of a river will depend on the scale of the map on which the measurement is based; in general, the larger the scale, the longer the resulting length measurement. Ideally, length measurements should be based on maps that are of a large enough scale to show the width of the river.

Even when precise maps are available, the length measurement need not to be clear. A river may have multiple arms. It may depend on whether the center or the edge of the river is taken as reference point. It may not be clear how to measure the length through a lake: this may also vary by season. These points make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a precise measurement of the length of a river or stream.

Longest rivers

One should take the forementioned discussion into account when using the data in the following table. For most rivers, different sources provide conflicting information on the length of a river system. The information in different sources is between parantheses.

Rivers of Earth, sorted by length
RiverSome lengths found in sources (km)Drainage area (km²)Average discharge (m³/s)OutflowCountries in the drainage basin
Amazon¹6,762 (6,296)6,915,000219,000Atlantic OceanBrazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela
Nile6,6902,870,0005,100Mediterranean SeaSudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yangtze²6,380 (5,797)1,800,00031,900East China SeaPR China
Mississippi-Missouri6,270 (6,420)2,980,00016,200Gulf of MexicoUSA (98.5%), Canada (1.5%)
Yenisey-Angara5,550 (4,506)2,580,00019,600Arctic OceanRussia, Mongolia
Ob'-Irtysh5,410 (3,650?)2,990,00012,800Gulf of ObRussia, Kazakhstan, PR China
Amur4,410 (4,325)1,855,00011,400Tatar StraitRussia, PR China, Mongolia
Congo River4,410 (4,371; 4,670)3,680,00041,800Atlantic OceanDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda
Huang He4,350 (4,667)745,0002,110Bo HaiPR China
Mekong4,425 (4,500)810,00016,000South China SeaLaos, Thailand, PR China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar
Lena4,260 (4,400)2,490,00017,100Arctic OceanRussia
Mackenzie River4,240 (5,427)1,790,00010,300Beaufort SeaCanada
Niger4,167 (4,030; 4,200; 4,184)2,090,0009,570Gulf of GuineaNigeria (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
Paraná (Rio de la Plata)3,998 (4,700)3,100,00025,700Atlantic OceanBrazil (46.7%), Argentina (27.7%), Paraguay (13.5%), Bolivia (8.3%), Uruguay (3.8%)
Murray-Darling3,750 (3,520; 2,589; 2,574)3,490,000767Southern OceanAustralia
Volga3,687 (3,717; 3,530)1,380,0008,080Caspian SeaRussia (99.8%), Kazakhstan (minor), Belarus (minor)
Shatt al-Arab-Euphrates3,596 (2,992)884,000856Persian GulfIraq (40.5%), Turkey (24.8%), Iran (19.7%), Syria (14.7%)
São Francisco2,900 (3,161; 3,198)610,0003,300Atlantic OceanBrazil
Yukon3,184850,0006,210Bering SeaUSA (59.8%), Canada (40.2%)
Indus3,180960,0007,160Arabian SeaPakistan (52.5%), India (33.5%), China (6.7%), Afghanistan (6.3%)
Saint Lawrence3,0581,030,00010,100Gulf of Saint LawrenceCanada (52.1%), USA (47.9%)
Rio Grande3,057 (3,034; 2,870; 2,896)570,00082Gulf of MexicoUSA (52.1%), Mexico (47.9%)
Ganges-Brahmaputra3,000 (2,896)1,730,00043,900Bay of BengalIndia (58.0%), China (19.7%), Nepal (9.0%), Bangladesh (6.6%), Disputed India/China (4.2%), Bhutan (2.4%)
Danube2,858 (2,842)817,0007,130Black SeaRomania (28.9%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.3%), Serbia and Montenegro (10.3%), Germany (7.5%), Slovakia (5.8%), Bulgaria (5.2%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.8%), Croatia (4.5%), Ukraine (3.8%), Czech Republic (2.6%), Slovenia (2.2%), Moldova (1.7%), Switzerland (0.32%), Italy (0.15%), Poland (0.09%), Albania (0.03%)
Zambezi2,650 (2,736)1,330,0004,880Mozambique ChannelZambia (41.6%), Angola (18.4%), Zimbabwe (15.6%), Mozambique (11.8%), Malawi (8.0%), Tanzania (2.0%)
Xi Jiang2,130437,00013,600South China SeaPR China
Syr Darya-Amu Darya3,078??Aral seaKazakhstan (34.5%), Uzbekistan (31.1%), Tajikistan (11.0%), Kyrgyzstan (9.1%), Afghanistan (8.5%), Turkmenistan (5.7%)
Salween River3,060??Andaman SeaPR China (52.4%), Myanmar (43.9%), Thailand (3.7%)
Nelson-Saskatchewan2,570 (644?)1,093,0002,575Atlantic OceanCanada
  1. 6,762 km - Amazon, South America
  2. 6,690 km - Nile, Africa
  3. 6,380 km - Yangtze (Chang Jiang), People's Republic of China
  4. 6,270 km - Mississippi-Missouri, USA
  5. 5,550 km - Yenisei-Angara, Mongolia / Russia, (5,870 km)
  6. 5,410 km - Ob-Irtysh, North Asia
  7. 4,410 km - Amur, East Asia
  8. 4,380 km - Congo, Africa, (or 4,670 km, the source of the river is disputed.)
  9. 4,350 km - Huang He (Yellow), People's Republic of China, (or 5,463 km)
  10. 4,425 km - Mekong, South-East Asia
  11. 4,260 km - Lena, Russia (North Asia)
  12. 4,240 km - Mackenzie, Canada
  13. 4,184 km - Niger, Africa, 4,167 km (4,030 km) (4,200 km)
  14. 3,998 km - Paraná, South America, (4,500 km) (3,300 km) (3,700 km)
  15. 3,717 km - Murray-Darling, Australia, (3,750 km) (2,574 km)
  16. 3,685 km - Volga, Russia (Europe) (3,530 km without the delta)
  17. 3,596 km - Shatt al-Arab-Euphrates, Southwest Asia
  18. 3,379 km - Purus, Peru / Brazil, (2,948 km) (3,210 km) (tributary of Amazon)
  19. 3,239 km - Madeira, Bolivia / Brazil (tributary of Amazon)
  20. 3,199 km - São Francisco, Brazil, (2,900 km) (3,161 km)
  21. 3,184 km - Yukon, Canada / USA
  22. 3,180 km - Indus, South Asia
  23. 3,078 km - Syr Darya, Central Asia, (2 212 km)
  24. 3,060 km - Salween, South-East Asia, (2 600 km)
  25. 3,058 km - Saint Lawrence, USA / Canada
  26. 3,057 km - Rio Grande, USA / Mexico, (2 870 km) (2 896 km)
  27. 2,989 km - Lower Tunguska, Russia (North Asia) (tributary of Yenisei)
  28. 2,896 km - Brahmaputra, South Asia
  29. 2,858 km - Danube, Europe
  30. 2,820 km - Yapura, Colombia / Brazil
  31. 2,750 km - Tocantins, Brazil, (2,416 km) (2,640 km) (tributary of Amazon
  32. 2,650 km - Zambezi, Southern Africa
  33. 2,650 km - Vilyuy, Russia (North Asia), (tributary of Lena)
  34. 2,620 km - Amu Darya, Central Asia
  35. 2,575 km - Araguaía, Brazil
  36. 2,570 km - Nelson-Saskatchewan, Canada
  37. 2,549 km - Paraguay, South America (tributary of Paraná)
  38. 2,534 km - Ural, Russia / Kazakhstan, (2,428 km)
  39. 2,513 km - Kolyma, Russia (North Asia), (2,219 km)
  40. 2,510 km - Ganges, India / Bangladesh
  41. 2,500 km - Orinoco, Venezuela / Colombia, (2 140 km) (3 000 km)
  42. 2,500 km - Pilcomayo, South America
  43. 2,490 km - Upper Ob, Russia (North Asia)
  44. 2,490 km - Shabele, Ethiopia / Somalia
  45. 2,450 km - Ishim, Kazakhstan / Russia
  46. 2,410 km - Juruá, Peru / Brazil
  47. 2,348 km - Arkansas, USA
  48. 2,333 km - Colorado, USA / Mexico, (2,250 km)
  49. 2,300 km - Ubangi, Central Africa
  50. 2,292 km - Olenyok, Russia (North Asia)
  51. 2,285 km - Dnieper, Europe
  52. 2,273 km - Aldan, Russia (North Asia)
  53. 2,250 km - Columbia, Canada / USA, (1,953 km)
  54. 2,250 km - Negro, South America
  55. 2,188 km - Red, USA
  56. 2,153 km - Kasai, Angola / Democratic Republic of the Congo
  57. 2,150 km - Irrawaddy, Myanmar, (1,880 km)
  58. 2,129 km - Xi Jiang, People's Republic of China
  59. 2,100 km - Tarim, People's Republic of China
  60. 2,100 km - Xingu, Brazil
  61. 2,010 km - Northern Salado , Argentina
  62. 1,978 km - Vitim, Russia (North Asia)
  63. 1,950 km - Tigris, Turkey / Iraq
  64. 1,927 km - Songhua, People's Republic of China
  65. 1,900 km - Tapajós, Brazil
  66. 1,870 km - Don, Russia (Europe)
  67. 1,865 km - Stony Tunguska, Russia (North Asia)
  68. 1,860 km - Orange, Southern Africa
  69. 1,809 km - Pechora, Russia (Europe)
  70. 1,805 km - Kama, Russia (Europe)
  71. 1,800 km - Limpopo, Southern Africa
  72. 1,749 km - Guaporé , Brazil / Bolivia
  73. 1,726 km - Indigirka, Russia (North Asia)
  74. 1,670 km - Snake, USA
  75. 1,641 km - Senegal, West Africa
  76. 1,610 km - Uruguay, South America
  77. 1,600 km - Blue Nile, Ethiopia / Sudan
  78. 1,600 km - Churchill, Canada
  79. 1,600 km - Khatanga, Russia (North Asia)
  80. 1,600 km - Volta, West Africa
  81. 1,600 km - Okavango, Southern Africa
  82. 1,599 km - Beni , Bolivia
  83. 1,594 km - Platte, USA
  84. 1,591 km - Tobol, Kazakhstan / Russia
  85. 1,579 km - Ohio, USA
  86. 1,575 km - Içá, South America
  87. 1,550 km - Magdalena, Colombia
  88. 1,532 km - Han, People's Republic of China
  89. 1,500 km - Lomami, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  90. 1,500 km - Oka, Russia (Europe)
  91. 1,490 km - Pecos, USA
  92. 1,480 km - Upper Yenisei, Mongolia / Russia
  93. 1,465 km - Godavari, India
  94. 1,438 km - Colorado, USA
  95. 1,420 km - Belaya, Russia (Europe)
  96. 1,415 km - Marañón, Peru
  97. 1,411 km - Dniestr, Ukraine / Moldova, (1,352 km)
  98. 1,400 km - Benue, Cameroon / Nigeria
  99. 1,400 km - Ili, People's Republic of China / Kazakhstan
  100. 1,376 km - Yamuna, India
  101. 1,370 km - Sutlej, India / Pakistan
  102. 1,370 km - Vyatka, Russia (Europe)
  103. 1,368 km - Fraser, Canada
  104. 1,360 km - Grande, Brazil
  105. 1,352 km - Brazos, USA
  106. 1,345 km - Liao, People's Republic of China
  107. 1,323 km - Yalong , People's Republic of China
  108. 1,320 km - Iguaçu, Brazil / Argentina
  109. 1,320 km - Olekma, Russia (North Asia)
  110. 1,320 km - Rhine, Europe
  111. 1,310 km - Northern Dvina, Russia (Europe)
  112. 1,300 km - Krishna, India
  113. 1,300 km - Iriri , Brazil
  114. 1,289 km - Narmada, India
  115. 1,271 km - Ottawa, Canada
  116. 1,242 km - Zeya, Russia (East Asia)
  117. 1,240 km - Juruena , Brazil
  118. 1,236 km - Upper Mississippi, USA
  119. 1,231 km - Athabasca, Canada
  120. 1,223 km - Canadian, USA
  121. 1,220 km - North Saskatchewan, Canada
  122. 1,210 km - Vaal, South Africa
  123. 1,200 km - Shire, Southern Africa
  124. 1,200 km - Tapajós, Brazil
  125. 1,190 km - Nen , People's Republic of China
  126. 1,175 km - Green, USA
  127. 1,173 km - Milk, USA / Canada
  128. 1,159 km - Elbe, Czech Republic / Germany, (1 165 km)
  129. 1,158 km - Chindwin , Myanmar
  130. 1,143 km - James, USA
  131. 1,130 km - Helmand, Afghanistan / Iran
  132. 1,130 km - Madre de Dios, Peru / Bolivia
  133. 1,130 km - Tietê, Brazil
  134. 1,130 km - Vychegda, Russia (Europe)
  135. 1,123 km - Cimarron, USA
  136. 1,120 km - Anadyr, Russia (North Asia)
  137. 1,115 km - Liard, Canada
  138. 1,100 km - Huallaga, Peru
  139. 1,102 km - White, USA
  140. 1,094 km - Gambia, West Africa
  141. 1,086 km - Chenab, India / Pakistan
  142. 1,080 km - Yellowstone, USA
  143. 1,078 km - Donets, Ukraine / Russia, (1 053 km)
  144. 1,075 km - Koksoak, Canada
  145. 1,050 km - Bermejo , South America
  146. 1,050 km - Guaviare , Colombia
  147. 1,050 km - Kuskokwim, USA
  148. 1,050 km - Fly, Papua New Guinea / Indonesia
  149. 1,049 km - Tennessee, USA
  150. 1,020 km - Daugava, Europe
  151. 1,015 km - Gila, USA
  152. 1,014 km - Vistula, Poland
  153. 1,012 km - Loire, France
  154. 1,010 km - Essequibo, Guyana
  155. 1,010 km - Khoper , Russia (Europe)
  156. 1,006 km - Tagus, Spain / Portugal

Note that this list is still incomplete, especially with respect to rivers from Africa, North Asia, and South America.

External links

See also

Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Contents Page
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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