Major Rivers of the World

clearias.com/major-rivers-world/

ClearIAS Team August 20, 2023

Which are the major rivers of the world? What are the features and routes reversed by
these majestic river systems? Which is the longest river in the world? What is the
largest river in the world? Read further to learn the major river systems of the world
listed according to continents.

A river is a naturally flowing freshwater watercourse that runs towards an ocean, sea, lake,
or another river.

The world is home to numerous major rivers that play crucial roles in the ecosystems,
economies, and cultures of the regions they flow through.

These rivers have shaped landscapes, supported civilizations, and influenced the
development of societies throughout history. They continue to play significant roles in
regional environments and economies.

Table of Contents

1/20
Major Rivers of the World
Africa
River Nile
River Congo
Orange River
Limpopo River
Niger River
Zambezi River
Asia
Ganges river
Brahmaputra River
Indus River
Yellow River
Mekong River
Irrawaddy River
Salween River
Yangtze River
Yenisei River
River Irtysh
Ural River
Lena River
River Amur
Ob-Irtysh
River Euphrates
River Tigris
Europe
Danube River
River Oder
Dnieper River
River Volga
Elbe River
River Rhine
Rhone River
Thames River
Don River
North America
River Mississippi
Saint Lawrence River
Mackenzie River
Missouri River
Colorado River

2/20
 South America
Amazon River
Parana River
Orinoco River
Madeira River
Australia
Murray River
Darling River
Conclusion

Flowing bodies of freshwater that empty into seas, oceans, lakes, and reservoirs are referred
to as rivers.

Major rivers of the world are crucial for providing drinking water, irrigation, transportation, and
hydroelectric power generation, as well as for a variety of leisure activities like swimming and
boating. The whole continents of the world are traversed by numerous rivers and their
tributaries.

Water covers around 70% of the Earth’s surface and can be found in rivers, lakes, streams,
and seas. Here are some of the major rivers of the world, listed by continent.

Africa

3/20
River Nile

Considered to be the longest river in the world. The length of the Nile River is roughly 6650
kilometers. Lake Victoria is assumed to be the river’s origin. The river’s course passes
through Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan, and South Sudan. The Blue and White Niles are the river’s
two tributaries.

River Congo

4/20
The only river to cross the equator twice is the Congo River. It is originally known as the
Zaire River. It has a length of 4700 Km. It travels in a curving pattern across the continent of
Africa. With some sections reaching depths of over 700 feet, it is also the deepest river in the
entire globe.

Orange River

The Orange River is the longest in South Africa. It starts in the Drakensberg in neighboring
Lesotho, where it is also known as the Senqu River. It travels across South Africa before
entering the Atlantic Ocean. The Orange River is a component of the border between
Lesotho and South Africa as well as between Namibia and South Africa.

From the river’s source and the Atlantic Ocean, it travels 1,365 miles. The river was known
as Gariep by the first residents, and Groote Rivier by the Dutch. Nonetheless, Colonel
Robert Gordon gave it the name Orange River in 1779 in recognition of William V of Orange.
Via the Orange River Project, the Orange River supports mining, manufacturing, and
agriculture. The alluvial deposit on the river was where the first diamond in South Africa was
found.

Limpopo River

The Limpopo River originates in southern Africa’s central regions. It extends to a length of
about 1,087 miles before flowing eastward toward the Indian Ocean. It has a 415,000-
square-kilometre drainage basin. It is the Limpopo River that divides South Africa from
Botswana and Zimbabwe.

The river starts at the confluence of its two tributaries, the Crocodile and Marico Rivers; its
principal tributary in Botswana is the Notwane River. The Limpopo Basin is also home to
numerous mining operations. Nonetheless, flooding has resulted in losses and damages.

Niger River

Flows through West Africa, passing through countries like Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Guinea
discharging through a massive delta, known as the Oil Rivers, into the Gulf of Guinea.
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending over 2,500 miles (about
4,180 km). The Niger is the third longest river in Africa, exceeded only by the Nile and
the Congo Rivers (also known as the Zaïre River). Its main tributary is the Benue River.

Zambezi River

The “Big River” sustains the lives of many iconic African species, including elephants,
buffalo, hippos, antelope, and crocodiles, as well as the people who live between its modest
source in the Zambian highlands and the Indian Ocean. It passes through parts of Angola,
Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

5/20
As it moves eastward, the Zambezi gains momentum and supplies plenty of electricity to
many of the communities in its basin. Zambia and Zimbabwe receive power from the Kariba
Dam, while Mozambique and South Africa are lit up by the Cahora Bassa Dam. These two
hydroelectric plants are among the biggest in Africa. Victoria Falls is undoubtedly Zambezi’s
most noteworthy feature.

Asia

Ganges river

6/20
Bangladesh and India are traversed by the Ganges River. The river is 2510 kilometers long
and a notable landmark, but it is better known for its profound religious importance.

The Ganges is regarded as the most revered body of water in the world in Hindu culture and
religion. In mythology, the river represents the goddess Ganga, who was the offspring of the
mountain deity Himalaya.

Brahmaputra River

China, India, and Bangladesh are all countries that the Brahmaputra River passes through
over a distance of 2,391 miles (3,848 km). It runs towards the east through the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China from its source in the mountains then into India. The stream
drains into the Bay of Bengal from that location. It travels across Bangladesh and Assam
during that time.

Indus River

Next on the list is the Indus River, which flows across China, India, and Pakistan for a
distance of 2,243 miles (3,610 km). It has twenty significant tributaries and is the largest and
most important river in Pakistan. It originates in the Tibetan plateau, close to Lake
Mansarovar and the Himalayas, flows through the Indian provinces of Jammu and Kashmir,
and then across all of Pakistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea, a branch of the Indian
Ocean.

Also Read: Indus Valley Civilization, Indus River and Tributaries

Yellow River

This huge river, which has a length of 5464 Km also known as the Huang He, is named after
the color of its water. The color is caused by massive amounts of loose debris. Its basin is
considered the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization. It has enormous symbolic and
practical significance for the country.

Mekong River

It stretches about 5,000 kilometers from its source on the Tibetan Plateau to the Mekong
Delta. The longest river in Southeast Asia and the seventh longest in all of Asia is this
transboundary river. The river, which is known by several names, flows through six Asian
nations: China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

65 million people are living in the Mekong Basin, 80 percent of whom reside in the lower
basin. With over 20,000 plants and 800 different species of fish, the river is likewise
incredibly diverse.

Irrawaddy River

7/20
Myanmar is traversed by the Irrawaddy River, which runs from north to south. At a length of
1,348 miles, it is both the longest river in the nation and the most significant body of water for
commerce. The Irrawaddy River rises at the meeting of the Rivers N’mal and Mali. It travels
southward before draining into the Andean Sea through the Irrawaddy Delta. A region of
about 255,000 square kilometers is drained by the river.

The Irrawaddy River is home to a variety of creatures, including 43 different species of fish.
The river provides water for rice irrigation and is a significant means of export and import
transit. Notwithstanding the concern expressed by environmentalists, work is still being done
along the river to build seven hydroelectric dams.

Salween River

A 1,491-mile-long river called the Salween originates in the Tibetan Plateau. It enters the
Andaman Sea in Southeast Asia after passing through three nations. It drains a 320,000-
square-kilometre watershed that is spread throughout China, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Almost 7 million people live along the Salween, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the
world, and are spread across 13 different ethnic groups. Moreover, the river is home to 25%
of all animal species in the world, as well as 140 fish species and 7000 plant species.
UNESCO rates the upper section of the river, which is in China, as the most biodiverse
temperate ecosystem on Earth.

Yangtze River

8/20
The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world and the longest river in the world to
run entirely within one nation. It has a length of 6300 Km. Moreover, it is Asia’s longest river.
One-third of China’s population is residing in the Yangtze River basin. The Chinese
government has long believed that the river’s source is the Tuotuo tributary in the Tanggula
Mountains.

Recently it is indicated that the headwaters of the Dam Qu tributary are located on Jari Hill,
which is where the Yangtze River’s source lies. The Yangtze River, which drains into the East
China Sea at Shanghai, is formed when these and other tributaries come together.

Yenisei River

9/20
The Yenisei River originates in Mongolia and travels north before emptying into the Kara Sea
in the Arctic Ocean via the Yenisei Gulf. Along the way, it drains a sizable portion of Siberia.
The Yenisei begins in the Russian city of Kryzyl at the meeting of its headstreams, By-Khem
(rising in the Eastern Sayan Mountains) and Ka-Khem (rising in Mongolia).

It then runs for 3,487 kilometers until finally draining into the Kara Sea. One of the main
Yenisei headwater tributaries, the Angara River drains Lake Baikal. It enters the Yenisei near
Strelka in Russia after leaving Lake Baikal.

River Irtysh

The main tributary of the Ob River, the Irtysh River, has its origins in the glaciers of the Altai
mountains in the Chinese region of Xinjiang, which is close to Mongolia. It eventually meets
the Ob near Khanty-Mansiysk, western Siberia, Russia, and flows northwest into Kazakhstan
before emptying into the Arctic Ocean.

The river’s whole course spans around 4,248 km. Along with its banks, there are several
significant cities in China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The river is a crucial conduit for the
movement of people and goods throughout the nations through which it flows.

Ural River

The Ural River is a 2,428 km long river that flows through Russia and Kazakhstan along the
continental divide between Europe and Asia. It is also known as the Zhayyq River in the local
Kazakh language. The Caspian Sea, the most enormous inland sea in the world and located
between Europe and Asia, is where the river drains after its source in Russia’s Ural
Mountains near Mount Kruglaya.

The digitate delta, or tree-like structure, of the Ural River, which is visible as it enters the
Caspian Sea, is a notable characteristic of the river. The words “Europe” and “Asia” are
engraved into permanent monuments that are placed on either side of the Ural River bridge
in Orenburg, Russia.

Lena River

The Lena River spans the entirety of Russia’s boundaries and is 2,668 kilometers long. It can
be found in the north, where there is a wealth of wildlife and natural resources, including
gold. The river originates in the Baikal range, just to the east of the actual Baikal Lake, and
travels primarily through the Russian Republic of Sakha before finally joining the Yenisei
River and making a vast arc up to the Laptev Sea, which is a part of the Arctic Ocean, where
it empties.

River Amur

10/20
The Heilong Jiang, commonly known as the Amur River, is the tenth-longest river in the
world. It forms the border between northeastern China and Russia. It has a length of 4480
Km. The word Amur is thought to have originated from a term meaning “water”. The Chinese
word Heilong Jiang translates to “black dragon river.”

Ob-Irtysh

The Ob-Irtysh also referred to as the Ob River, is one of the three major Siberian rivers,
together with the Yenisei and the Lena. It starts in the Altas Mountains and empties into the
Arctic Ocean. It has a length of 5410 Km.

River Euphrates

11/20
The Euphrates River, which spans over 2,800 km, is regarded as Western Asia’s longest
river. The river rises in the Armenian Highlands in southeast Turkey. It flows through Syria
and Iraq to meet the Tigris River and eventually empties into the Persian Gulf.

River Tigris

It was one of the primary water sources that helped Mesopotamia and other ancient cultures
develop. The Tigris River, which flows 1,750 km from its source in the Armenian Highlands to
its mouth in the Persian Gulf, is Western Asia’s second-largest river after the Euphrates
River.

The Tigris River drains an area of around 375,000 square kilometers and passes through
Turkey, Syria, and Iraq (including Iran). Nearly the whole length, the Tigris River and
Euphrates River are parallel.

Europe

12/20
Danube River

It is one of the s most important shipping lanes in Europe. It plays a key factor in the
settlement patterns and political development of Central and South-Eastern Europe. It
originates at the meeting of the Brigach and Breg rivers, close to the German town of
Donaueschingen, in the Black Forest region of Germany.

It flows for 2,850 kilometers. Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia,
Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania are among the ten European countries that the river flows
through. Ultimately, the Danube River empties into the Black Sea through the Danube Delta.

13/20
It is referred to as Donau in Germany and Austria; known as Dunaj in Slovakia and Ukraine,
Dunărea in Romania, Dunav in Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, and Duna in Hungary. Many
cultural artifacts, including Greek myths, Romanian melodies, and even contemporary
novels, memorialize its importance.

River Oder

The Oder River is the second-longest river in Poland, measuring roughly 840 km. Its source
is in the rocky highlands of the eastern Czech Republic. It runs through Poland’s western
region before forming a boundary with Germany. The Peene, Wina, and Dziwna branches all
drain into the Baltic Sea, while the river’s main branch empties into the Szczecin Lagoon.

Dnieper River

The Dnieper River is the fourth-longest in Europe with a length of around 2,200 km. It comes
from the Valdai Hills, which are close to the city of Smolensk in Russia. More than 32,000
tributaries of the Dnieper River are thought to exist. Berezina, Bilozerka, Drut, Desna,
Prypiat, Sozh, Myareya, Samara, Sula, and Vyazma are a few of its tributaries.

River Volga

The Volga River is the main river in western Russia. It extends 3,530 kilometers from its
source in the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea, the biggest inland body of water in the world. It
encompasses a significant portion of the Volga area. A little more than half of Russia’s
population resides in the Volga River Basin.

Four of the ten largest cities in Russia are located along the river’s full course. One of the
greatest rivers in the world due to its historical, cultural, and economic significance. In the
past, the Eurasian Civilization came together near the Volga River. It also has some of the
biggest reservoirs in the world and provides a significant portion of the direct and indirect
livelihood for millions of people.

Elbe River

The Elbe River is 1,112 kilometers long. It has its beginnings in the southern Krkonose
Mountains, which are close to the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. Following
Bohemia in the northwest of the Czech Republic, it runs past Germany’s eastern border and
into the North Sea close to the town of Cuxhaven. Saale, Mulde, Ohre, Vltava, Schwarze
Elster, Havel, and Alster are a few of the important Elbe River tributaries.

River Rhine

14/20
With a length of almost 1,230 kilometers from its source in Switzerland to its mouth on the
North Sea in the Netherlands, the Rhine River is the eleventh-longest in Europe. This
transboundary river travels through six nations—Switzerland, Germany, Austria,
Liechtenstein, Germany, and the Netherlands. It drains an area of around 185,000 square
kilometers.

The Rhine Basin also drains sections of France, Italy, and Belgium. One of Europe’s most
significant rivers in terms of history, culture, and economy is the Rhine. Over 20% of the
world’s chemical industry is manufactured near the river, which helps industrial transportation
and output. The Rhine and the Danube together formed the northern inland border of the
Roman Empire.

15/20
Rhone River

The Rhone River begins in the Rhone glacier of the Swiss mountains. It has a length of
around 813 kilometers. This swiftly moving river enters Lake Geneva at its eastern end
before running through the southeast of France on its way south. The Rhone River splits into
the Big Rhone and Little Rhone near the French city of Arles before emptying into the
Mediterranean Sea.

Thames River

The River Thames is a 346 km river that originates at Thames’s head in the Cotswold Hills in
the county of Gloucestershire. It flows across southern England. After the River Severn, it is
the second-longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest in England. The river runs
into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary after passing through several well-known cities,
including London, Reading, Hendley-on-Thomas, Windsor, and Oxford, where it is also
known as the Isis River.

Don River

The Don River is the fifth-longest in Europe with a length of roughly 1,870 kilometres. Then,
when it approaches the Volga River, it runs in a southeasterly direction until abruptly turning
west to enter the Gulf of Taganrog in the Sea of Azov. Chir, Seversky Donets, Chyornaya
Kalitva, Krasivaya Mecha, Khopyor, and Medveditsa are a few of the Don River’s tributaries.
The Don River and the Volga River are connected by the Lenin Volga-Don Shipping Canal.

North America

River Mississippi

The Mississippi, Missouri, and Jefferson rivers combine to form the world’s fourth-longest
river system. It has a length of 6275 Km. The river system drains 31 US states as well as
two Canadian provinces.

The Mississippi River runs into the Gulf of Mexico from northern Minnesota. Lake Itasca is
regarded to be its source. We get the Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson River system when we
regard the Jefferson River as the Mississippi River’s farthest source.

Also Read: Major Landforms – Mountains, Plateaus, and Plains: Learn faster – ClearIAS

Saint Lawrence River

Its discharge originates in Lake Ontario and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the
Southeast coast of Canada’s main continent. The St. Lawrence Seaway, which stretches for
approximately 4,000 kilometers (or 2,500 miles), includes the river, which is 1,197 kilometers

16/20
(744 miles) long. The river was once a basin filled with glaciers that grew larger as the ice
flowed away.

Mackenzie River

The Mackenzie River system is found in North America. It is also the biggest and longest
river basin in Canada. From its headwaters in the Finlay River to its drainage into the
Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean, the Mackenzie River system travels 4,241 kilometers.
Together, the Mackenzie and its tributaries drain a region that makes up nearly 20% of all of
Canada’s land.

Many of the Mackenzie River’s tributaries extend into neighboring Canadian provinces
including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Yukon, even though the Mackenzie
River itself fully runs within the Northwest Territories of Canada. The Peace, Athabasca, and
Liard Rivers are a few of the Mackenzie River’s most significant tributaries. The Lake
Athabasca, Great Slave, and Great Bear Lakes are only a few of the lakes that are
significant components of the Mackenzie River system.

Missouri River

A major tributary of the Mississippi River in the United States.

Colorado River

Flows through the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, known for the Grand
Canyon.

South America

17/20
Amazon River

In terms of total water flow volume, the Amazon River is without a doubt the largest in the
world. It has a length of 6575 Km. Its claims to be the second-longest river in the world,
however, is widely contested because Egypt’s Nile River has long held the title. The debate
on the origins of the Amazon is the source of the dispute. The Cordillera Rumi Cruz is where
the Amazon started, claims a 2014 study.

Parana River

18/20
One of the world’s longest rivers with a length of 4880 Km. The Parana River is found in
South America. The Tupi word para the onáva, which means “like the sea,” is the source of
its name.

Orinoco River

In South America, the Orinoco River passes through Colombia and Venezuela. In terms of
the volume of discharge, it is ranked as the fourth-largest river in the world. Its 1,330-mile
length makes it one of South America’s longest rivers.

Madeira River

One of the principal rivers of South America, the 2,100-mile-long Madeira River flows
between Bolivia and Brazil. It is one of the largest and most important tributaries of the
Amazon River. The Portuguese referred to it as “Madeira,” which translates to “Wood River,”
but its previous name was the Cuyari River.

The Madeira is created by the confluence of the Mamore and Madre de Dios rivers. This
river overflows during the rainy season, rising to a height of 50 feet and submerging the
forests on its sides. From arider to more humid, its climate varies as it moves from region to
region. After entering the lower plains, the Madeira River empties into the Abuna River.

Australia

Murray River

Australia’s longest river, the Murray, flows through the southeast of the nation. It travels
through New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia and is 2508 kilometers long. Almost
1.5 million homes in Australia receive their water from this river, which is also used to irrigate
nearby fields.

Darling River

A major tributary of the Murray-Darling system.

Conclusion
The culture of most places of the world is heavily influenced by the larger rivers that they
depend on for food and transportation. The majority of the riverside towns and villages have
a robust boat industry and travel hundreds of kilometers for fishing and cargo transportation.

Some communities regard certain portions of these rivers as sacred, and only specific
methods may be used to access these areas. Fish, reptiles, and huge mammals are just a
few of the diverse plants and animals that may be found in the world’s rivers.

19/20
The melting of glaciers will likely be accelerated by climate change and the resulting
temperature rises, which will initially increase water levels but ultimately result in decreased
river discharge.

The water quality in many major rivers of the world has already deteriorated to dangerous
levels as a result of heavy home, industrial, and agricultural waste pollution. Rapid economic
growth and urbanization have contributed to some of this, thus pollution is expected to
persist unabatedly.

Article Written By: Atheena Fathima Riyas

20/20