The largest civilizations have been built on and around it, providing a precious source of water and life. Of course, we are talking about rivers. There are many impressively long rivers around the world, but what is the world’s longest river?
Determining the exact length of a river is a complex process. You need to know the source location and the estuary location, that is, where the river starts and ends, respectively.
This is more difficult than it sounds and can change over time. Considering tributaries and waterways can further complicate matters, along with the changing seasons through which the river passes.
For this reason, river length is not an exact science and this is why you see a list of different lengths on the web. That also means there’s a debate about the longest river on Earth (more on that below). The lengths listed below are approximations that take into account a range of variables.
With all this in mind, here are the top 10 longest rivers in the world.
10. Amur River – 4,444km (2,761 miles)
The tenth longest river in the world is the Amur River, with a total length of 4,444 km (2,761 miles). This is its total length including its most distant source, the Argun River.
The Amur River’s flow begins in Mongolia and heads east through China and Russia, forming the main border between the Russian Far East and northeast China. Its mouth is the Amur Estuary, which flows into the Tartary Strait.
The kaluga fish, which can grow up to 5.6 meters long, lives here and is just one of the 100 species of fish found in this basin.You can also find indian lotus flower The northernmost habitat along the river.
9. Congo River – 4,700km (2,920 miles)
The Congo River is the ninth longest river in the world and the second longest in Africa, with a total distance of 4,700 km (2,922 miles) from its furthest source to its mouth.
Traveling through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, and Rwanda. It begins in the east, arcs to the northwest, and then flows southwest, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at its mouth on the borders of Angola aand the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This river, which flows through the Congo rainforest, is the second strongest current in the world after the Amazon. It provides an important water source for more than 400 species of mammals, including gorillas, African elephants, and bonobos, as well as more than 1,700 species of birds and fish.
8. Rio de la Plata – 4,880km (3,032 miles)
The Rio de la Plata is the eighth longest river in the world, with a length of 4,880 km (3,032 miles). This is the combined length of the overlapping rivers Paraná, Rio Grande, and Uruguay.
The Plata River itself is only 290 km (180 miles) long, but its tributaries are even longer, running from north to south through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean between Argentina and Uruguay.
Another accolade of the Rio de la Plata is that it is the widest river in the world. In some areas its width is up to 220 km.
7. Ob River – 5,410km (3,362 miles)
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
