List of the longest rivers on earth

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The list of the longest rivers in the world contains the rivers longer than 1000 kilometers in descending order.

The list contains hydrographic and water-related geographical features, so, for example, the countries through which the river flows are not listed. It contains both main rivers (flowing into the sea or endorheic ) and tributaries .

The length specification generally refers to the longest flow path within the respective river system. Flow paths that deviate from this, e.g. along the main river by name, are marked in the Rank column with the same number and an additional letter. Sea bays that continue a listed river, such as Obbusen , Yenisei Bay or Río de la Plata are not taken into account.

Explanation

  • Rank: Consecutive numbering of the streams flowing into the sea according to the longest flow path in the respective river system . (Usually, for example, the length of the Mississippi over the Missouri and its longest upper course is given.) The tributaries (with smaller numbers) are arranged hierarchically therein; after the number of the main river, separated by a point, the rank number (again according to length) follows under the respective tributaries. Large river systems even have tributaries of the fourth order that exceed 1000 km in length (example: 2.1.2.1 Río Madre de Dios). The sorting of this column creates a clear order according to river systems.
  • Length: The length of the respective river or flow path in kilometers (km)
  • Name: Name of the main river, followed or not by the names of the river sections or tributaries that make up the longest flow route
  • Mean discharge : mean discharge (water flow) in the long-term mean in cubic meters per second (m³ / s) (applies to the area of ​​the maximum size of the river, usually the mouth)

Note: The list is sortable. By clicking on a column header, the list is sorted according to this column, another click reverses the sorting. Any desired combination can be achieved by clicking two columns in a row.

Rivers with a length of at least 1000 km

Rank
length,
river system 		Length
( km ) 		Surname continent Source area muzzle Catchment
area
( km² ) 		Mean
discharge
( m³ / s )
.. 1 6650 Nile (with White Nile and Kagera Nile ) Africa Rwanda Mountains Mediterranean Sea 3,254,853 2,660
.. 2 6400 Amazon , over the Río Ucayali and its tributaries South America Andes , Peruvian Eastern Cordillera Atlantic Ocean 6,112,000 206,000
.. 3 6380 Yangtze River (with Tongtian He ) Asia Tibet East China Sea 1,722,155 31,900
.. 4 6051 Mississippi , via Missouri (with Jefferson and Red Rock River ) North America Rocky mountains Gulf of Mexico 2,981,076 18,400
.. 5 5540 Yenisei , via Angara (with Selenga and Ider ) Asia Sayan Mountains Arctic Ocean 2,554,482 19,600
.. 6 5410 Whether about Irtysh Asia Mongolian Altai Obbos 2,972,497 12,500
.. 7 5052 Amur with Argun and Cherlen (episodic) Asia Chentii Mountains Sea of ​​Okhotsk 2,400,000 11,400
.. 8 4845 Yellow River ( Huáng Hé ) Asia Bayan Har Mountains Yellow Sea 752,000 2,570
.. 9 4835 Congo , via Luvua , Luapula and Chambeshi Africa South of Lake Tanganyika Atlantic Ocean 3,730,474 41,800
. 10 4692 Lena about Witim with Witimkan Asia Ikat Mountains Laptev Lake 2,306,772 17,100
. 11 4500 Mekong Asia Tibet South China Sea 795,000 15,000
.. 6 a 4338 Whether (with Katun ) Asia Altai Mountains Obbos 2,972,497 12,500
. 10 a 4294 Lena (string of names) Asia Baikal Mountains Laptev Lake 2,306,772 17,100
. 12 4260 Mackenzie (with Slave , Peace and Finlay ) North America Rocky mountains Beaufortsee 1,743,058 10,700
.. 5 a 4259 Jenissei ( string of names, with small Jenissei and Shargyn gol ) Asia Sayan Mountains Arctic Ocean 2,554,482 19,600
.. 6.1 4248 Irtysh Asia Mongolian Altai If 1,673,470 2,960
. 13 4184 Niger Africa Loma Mountains Atlantic Ocean 2,261,763 6,000
.. 4.1 4130 Missouri (with Jefferson and Red Rock River ) North America Rocky mountains Mississippi 1,371,010 2,445
. 14th 3998 Paraná (with Rio Grande ) South America Serra da Mantiqueira Atlantic Ocean , Río de la Plata 2,582,672 17,300
.. 1.1 3850 White Nile (with Kagera Nile ) Africa Rwanda Mountains Source river of the Nile 1,850,000 900
.. 4 a 3778 Mississippi (name string) North America Lake Itasca Gulf of Mexico 2,981,076 18,400
. 15th 3672 Murray River , across Darling River , Culgoa River , Balonne River, and Condamine River Australia Great dividing range Indian Ocean 1,058,549 748
. 16 3596 Shatt al-Arab with Euphrates and Murat Asia North of Lake Van Persian Gulf 1,125,000 1,750
. 17th 3530 Volga Europe Waldai Heights Caspian Sea 1,360,000 8,064
. 18th 3450 Meghna with Padma and Brahmaputra Asia Himalayas Bay of Bengal 1,722,300 36,500
.. 5.1 3387 Angara (with Selenga and Ider ) Asia Sayan Mountains Yenisei 1,039,000 4,518
. 16.1 3380 Euphrates (with Murat ) Asia North of Lake Van Shatt al-Arab 765.831 837
.. 2 . .1 3380 Rio Madeira , via Río Mamoré and Río Grande South America To the Amazon 1,420,000 31,200
.. 2 . .2 3283 Rio Juruá South America To the Amazon 225,828 8,440
.. 2 . .3 3210 Rio Purus South America To the Amazon 371.042 10,970
. 19th 3199 Rio Sao Francisco South America Serra da Canastra Atlantic Ocean 617.812 2,940
. 20th 3185 Yukon River (with Teslin River and Nisutlin River ) North America Rocky mountains Bering Sea 854,700 6,430
. 21st 3180 Indus Asia Himalayas Arabian Sea 1,081,733 7.160
. 18.1 3100 Brahmaputra with underflow Jamuna Asia Himalayas Padma 651.334 21,200
. 22nd 3034 Rio Grande North America Rocky mountains Gulf of Mexico 608.023 160
. 23 3019 Syr Darja (with Naryn ) Asia Tian Shan Aral Sea 782,669 700
. 24 3010 Orinoco , via Guaviare South America Serra Parima Atlantic Ocean 953.598 35,000
.. 5.2 2989 Lower Tunguska Asia Central Siberian mountain country Yenisei 473,000 3,680
. 25th 2980 Salutes Asia Tibet Andaman Sea 324,000 6,700
. 26th 2930 Saint Lawrence River with North River North America Minnesota Atlantic Ocean 1,030,000 10,400
. 27 2857 Danube (with Breg ) Europe Black Forest Black Sea 817,000 6,700
. 15.1 2844 Darling River (with Culgoa , Balonne and Condamine Rivers ) Australia Great dividing range Murray River 635.480 102
.. 2 . .4 2816 Rio Japurá (with Río Caquetá ) South America To the Amazon 255,700 18,600
. 28 2743 Amu Darya (with Pyanj ) Asia Pamir / Hindu Kush Aral Sea 465,000 1,300
. 29 2671 Nelson River (with Saskatchewan River , South Saskatchewan River and Bow River ) North America Rocky mountains Hudson Bay 1,093,442 3,486
.. 2 . .5 2670 Río Ucayali (with Río Tambo , Río Ene and Río Apurímac ) South America To the Source river of the Amazon 337,519 13,500
. 10.1 2650 Wiljui Asia Central Siberian mountain country Lena 454,000 1,480
. 18.2 2620 Ganges (string of names, with source river Bhagirathi and branch Bhagirathi ) Asia Himalayas Padma 1.016.104 13,000
. 30th 2574 Zambezi Africa Lundaschwelle Indian Ocean 1,332,574 4,200
. 14.1 2549 Río Paraguay South America Mato Grosso Plateau Río Paraná 1,168,540 4,300
. 31 2513 Kolyma (with Kulu and Kenjelitschi ) Asia Kolyma Mountains East Siberian Sea 679.908 3,900
. 15 a 2508 Murray River Australia Great dividing range Indian Ocean 1,058,549 748
. 32 2450 Rio Tocantins , via Rio Araguaia South America Serra dos Caiapós Atlantic Ocean 749.200 11,360
.. 6.1.1 2450 Ishim Asia Kazakh threshold Irtysh 177,000 83
. 33 2428 Ural Europe / Asia Ural Mountains Caspian Sea 244.280 297
.. 2 . .6 2400 Rio Negro , via Río Vaupés South America To the Amazon 720.114 28,400
.. 4.2 2364 Arkansas River North America Rocky mountains Mississippi River 435.122 1,271
. 12.1 2338 Slave River (with Peace River and Finlay River ) North America Rocky mountains Great Slave Lake , Mackenzie 1,743,058 10,700
. 34 2333 Colorado River North America Rocky mountains Pacific Ocean 629.100 620
. 35 2292 Olenjok Asia Central Siberian mountain country Arctic Ocean / Laptev Sea 219,000 1,210
.. 2 . .7 2291 Rio Tapajós (with Teles Pires ) South America Mato Grosso Plateau Amazon 486.792 13,540
. 10.2 2273 Aldan Asia Stanovoi Mountains Lena 729,000 5,060
.. 9.1 2272 Ubangi (with Uelle ) Africa Central African threshold Congo 754.830 5,936
. 36 2240 Columbia River (with Snake River ) North America Rocky mountains Pacific Ocean 668.217 7,500
. 37 2201 Dnepr Europe Waldai Heights Black Sea 531.817 1,670
. 32.1 2198 Rio Araguaia South America Serra dos Caiapós Rio Tocantins 384,800 5,500
. 38 2197 West River (Xi Jiang) Asia Llanwan Shan South China Sea 409.458 7,410
. 39 2190 Tarim , via Yarkant Asia Karakoram Lop Nor 560,000 920
.. 4.3 2188 Red River (with Tierra Blanca Creek and Frio Creek , episodic) North America Rocky mountains Mississippi 187.944 2,349
. 40 2170 Irrawaddy Asia Himalayas Andaman Sea 413,674 13,000
. 41 2160 Orange Africa Lesotho highlands Atlantic Ocean 973,000 370
.. 9.2 2153 Kasai Africa Bié highlands Congo 881.890 9,870
. 24 a 2140 Orinoco (string of names) South America Serra Parima Atlantic Ocean 953.598 35,000
.. 4.4 2102 Ohio River (with Allegheny River ) North America Appalachian Mountains Mississippi 490.574 7,973
. 42 2060 Brazos River North America New Mexico , Texas border Gulf of Mexico 121.281 230
.. 6.2 2023 Tschulym (with white ijus ) Asia Kuznetsk Alatau If 134,000 790
. 14.2 2011 Río Salado del Norte South America To the Río Paraná 247,000 15th
. 14.1.1 1999 Río Pilcomayo South America To the Río Paraguay 272,000 170
.. 2 . .8th 1980 Rio Xingu South America Mato Grosso Plateau Amazon 520.292 9,680
. 10.3 1978 Witim (with Witimkan ) Asia Ikat Mountains Lena 227,000 2,000
. 43 1977 Indigirka (with Chastach ) Asia Verkhoyansk Mountains East Siberian Sea 274.818 1,850
.. 2 . .1.1 1931 Río Mamoré South America Cordillera of Cochabamba Source river of the Rio Madeira 650,000 8,200
. 44 1910 Juba , about Shabelle Africa Abyssinia highlands Indian Ocean 803.212 193
.. 2 . .9 1905 Marañón South America To the Source river of the Amazon 382,877 14,900
. 45 1904 Don , about Bystraja Sosna Europe Central Russian plate Black Sea 458.703 935
. 16.2 1899 Tigris Asia East Taurus Mountains Shatt al-Arab 375,000 560
. 46 1872 Río Colorado , via Río Salado del Oeste South America To the Atlantic Ocean 419.081 140
.. 5.3 1865 Stony Tunguska Asia Central Siberian mountain country Yenisei 239,000 1,750
.. 7.1 1840 Songhua Asia Changbai Mountains Amur 459.745 2,500
. 44.1 1820 Shabelle Africa Mendebo Mountains Juba 336,627 68
. 47 1819 Volta (with Black Volta ) Africa Bobo Dioulasso Atlantic Ocean 407.097 1,290
.. 2.10 1813 Río Putumayo South America To the Amazon 139,300 8,300
. 48 1809 Pechora Europe Ural Barents Sea 327,000 4,100
. 49 1806 Northern Dvina (with Wytschegda ) Europe Timan back White sea 357.052 3,560
. 17.1 1805 Kama Europe Kama Heights Volga 522,000 3,500
. 50 1800 Okavango Africa Bié highlands dried up in the Okavango Basin 413,550 304
. 51 1790 Uruguay River South America South Brazilian mountain country Atlantic Ocean , Río de la Plata 297.199 5,026
.. 1.2 1783 Blue Nile Africa Abyssinia highlands Source river of the Nile 326,400 1,548
.. 5.1 a 1779 Angara (name string only) Asia Baikal lake Yenisei 1,039,000 4,518
. 52 1750 Limpopo Africa Witwatersrand Indian Ocean 421.168 265
. 53 1740 Shari (with ouham ) Africa North equatorial threshold Lake Chad 548,747 1,059
. 54 1716 Rio Parnaíba South America Brazilian mountain country Atlantic Ocean 322,823 846
. 36.1 1670 Snake River North America Rocky mountains Columbia River 279,700 1,390
. 44 a 1658 Juba (main strand) Africa Abyssinia highlands Indian Ocean 803.212 550
.. 3.1 1637 Yalong Asia Bayan Har Shan Yangtze River 128,444 1.914
. 55 1636 Chatanga (with Kotui ) Asia Putorana Mountains Chatangabusen , Laptev Lake 364,000 2,517
.. 6.3 1621 Ket Asia Krasnoyarsk Territory If 94,200 560
.. 7.2 1620 Argun Asia Great Hinggan Mountains Source river of the Amur 164,000 340
.. 2.11 1611 Rio Javari South America To the Amazon 105,700 4,513
. 56 1609 Churchill River North America Alberta Hudson Bay 281,300 510
.. 4.1.1 1593 Platte River (with North Platte River ) North America Rocky mountains Missouri River 233.100 199
.. 7.3 1592 Schilka (with Onon ) Asia Jablonowy Mountains Source river of the Amur 206,000 550
.. 6.1.2 1591 Tobol Asia Ural Irtysh 426,000 805
. 57 1590 Alaseja with ( Kadylchan ) Asia Alaseja plateau East Siberian Sea 69,700 320
. 15.2 1579 Murrumbidgee River Australia Snowy Mountains Murray 84,000 147
.. 2 . .1.2 1559 Río Beni South America To the Source river of the Rio Madeira 283,350 8,900
. 21.1 1551 Panjnad via Satluj Asia Tibet Indus 395,000 1,300
. 58 1538 Río Magdalena South America Central Cordillera Caribbean Sea 263,858 9,000
. 17.2 1537 Oka , about Suscha Europe Central Russian plate Volga 245,000 1,300
.. 3.2 1532 Han Jiang Asia Shaanxi Province Yangtze River 176,000 1,200
. 30.1 1500 Cuando Africa Bié highlands Zambezi 96,780 32
. 24.1 1497 Río Guaviare South America Eastern Cordillera Orinoco 140,000 5,200
.. 2 . .1.1.2.1 1493 Río Itonomas South America Chiquitania Río Iténez 123.853
. 59 1492 Jana with Sartang Asia Verkhoyansk Mountains Laptev Lake 238,000 1,000
. 22.1 1490 Pecos River North America Rocky mountains Rio Grande 114,700 8th
.. 2.12 1488 Rio Jutai South America Amazon lowlands Amazon 77,100 3,090
. 15.2.1 1484 Lachlan River Australia Snowy Mountains Murrumbidgee 84,700 40
.. 2.13 1480 Río Napo South America To the Amazon 115,000 4,600
.. 5.1.1 1476 Selenga with Ider Asia Changai Mountains Baikal lake 425,000 950
. 60 1465 Godavari Asia Highlands of the Deccan Bay of Bengal 313,390 3,038
. 10.2.1 1462 Amga Asia Aldan highlands Aldan 69,300 170
.. 4.2.1 1458 Canadian River North America Rocky mountains Arkansas 121,500 182
. 14.1.2 1450 Río Bermejo South America To the Río Paraguay 133,000 339
.. 9.3 1450 Lomami Africa North of the Lundaschwelle Congo 110,000 1,700
. 61 1439 Ili with tekes Asia Tian Shan Balkhash lake 153,800 450
. 62 1438 Colorado River (Texas) North America Rocky mountains Gulf of Mexico 112,299 74
.. 2 . .1.1.1 1438 Río Grande (with Río Caine and Río Rocha) South America Cordillera of Cochabamba Río Mamoré 102,600 800
. 10.4 1436 Oljokma Asia Jablonowy Mountains Lena 210,000 1,950
.. 2 . .6.1 1430 Rio Branco South America Serra Parima Rio Negro 189,925 5,300
. 17.1.1 1430 Belaja Europe Ural Kama 142,000 970
. 63 1430 Senegal with Bafing Africa Fouta Djallon mountain range Atlantic Ocean 419,659 1,500
.. 4.4.1 1425 Tennessee River with French Broad River North America Blue Ridge Mountains Ohio 105,900 1,800
. 64 1420 Cooper Creek (periodically) Australia Great dividing range Eyresee 244,000 74
. 13.1 1416 Need Africa Adamaua Highlands Niger 327,000 3,400
. 55.1 1409 Kotui Asia Putorana Mountains Source river of the Chatanga 176,000
. 65 1401 Tas Asia West Siberian Lowlands Tasbusen , Kara Sea 150,000 1,450
.. 9.4 1400 Luvua with Luapula and Chambeshi Africa South of Lake Tanganyika Congo 265,300 600
.. 2 . .1.2.1 1398 Río Madre de Dios South America To the Río Beni 125.287 6,372
. 29.1 1392 South Saskatchewan River North America Rocky mountains Headwaters of the Saskatchewan River 158,000 280
. 18.2.1 1376 Yamuna Asia Himalayas Ganges 351,000 1,380
.. 2 . .6.2 1375 Río Vaupés South America Andean foothills Río Negro 64,890 4,040
.. 2 . .7.1 1370 Teles Pires South America Mato Grosso Plateau Source river of the Rio Tapajós 171,472 3,980
. 66 1368 Fraser River North America Rocky mountains Pacific Ocean 248.035 3,550
. 67 1364 Kura Asia Kars area Caspian Sea 202.040 580
.. 2 . .1.1.2 1364 Rio Guaporé South America Mato Grosso Plateau Rio Madeira 266,460 1,530
. 68 1355 Kizilirmak Asia Eastern Anatolian Highlands Black Sea 78.180 184
. 68 1355 Pyassina with Dudypta Asia North Siberian lowlands Kara Sea 182,000 2,600
.. 6.1.2.1 1354 Tavda with Sosva Asia Ural Tobol 90,950 440
. 70 1352 Dniester Europe Forest Carpathians Black Sea 74,762 339
. 47.1 1352 Black volta Africa Upper Guinea threshold Source river of the Volta 147,000 260
. 58.1 1349 Río Cauca South America High levels of Sotara Río Magdalena 63,000 2,000
. 71 1345 Liao Asia Manchurian lowlands Yellow Sea 274.124 600
. 14.3 1320 Iguaçu South America Serra da Mantiqueira Río Paraná 62,000 1,200
.. 5.1.2 1319 Cupeva with Tschuna Asia Sayan Mountains Angara 128,000 740
. 17.1.2 1314 Vyatka Europe Ural Kama 129,000 890
. 72 1312 Narmada Asia Highlands of the Deccan Arabian Sea 98,800 1,218
.. 2 . .1.2.2 1310 Río Orthon (with Río Tahuamanu ) South America In front of Peru Río Beni 33,725 550
. 73 1310 Mobile River (with Alabama River , Coosa River and Etowah River ) North America Appalachian Mountains Gulf of Mexico 138.130 1,900
.. 2 . .8.1 1300 Rio Iriri South America Mato Grosso Plateau Rio Xingu 130,000 2,615
. 74 1300 Río Negro with Río Neuquén South America To the Atlantic Ocean 160.284 950
.. 9.6 1300 Sangha , about Mambéré Africa Adamaua Highlands Congo 213,400 2,471
. 75 1291 Krishna Asia Highlands of the Deccan Bay of Bengal 226.026 1,730
.. 4.2.1.1 1290 North Canadian River North America Rocky mountains Canadian River 45,600
. 30.2 1288 Shire with Ruhuhu Africa Livingstone Mountains Zambezi 149.159 498
.. 9.5 1287 Aruwimi Africa Blue mountains Congo 116,100 2,000
. 29.2 1287 North Saskatchewan River North America Rocky mountains Headwaters of the Saskatchewan River 122,800 245
. 76 1281 Río Grande de Santiago (with Lerma ) North America Highlands of mexico Pacific Ocean 72,427 345
.. 3.3 1279 Min Jiang , about Dadu He Asia Bayan Har Mountains Yangtze River 133,000 2,840
. 26.1 1271 Ottawa River North America Outflow of Lake Capimitchigama Saint Lawrence River 146,300 1,950
. 77 1254 Cherlen Asia Chentii Mountains Hulun only 116,000 15th
. 41.1 1251 Vaal Africa Drakensberg Orange 189,000 125
. 78 1245 Elbe , across Vltava Europe Giant Mountains , Bohemian Forest North Sea 148.268 870
. 21.1.2 1242 Chenab Asia Himalayas Panjnad 138,000 800
.. 7.4 1242 Seja Asia Stanovoi Mountains Amur 233,000 1,900
.. 2 . .7.2 1240 Rio Juruena South America Mato Grosso Plateau Source river of the Rio Tapajós 190.940 4,360
. 79 1239 Rhine Europe Swiss Alps North Sea 218,300 2,900
. 12.2 1231 Athabasca River North America Rocky mountains Headwaters of the Mackenzie River 95,300 650
.. 9.2.1 1230 Sankuru Africa Lundaschwelle Kasai 156,000 2,500
.. 9.2.2 1200 Kwango Africa Lundaschwelle Kasai 263,500 2,700
. 24.2 1200 Río Meta South America Eastern Cordillera Orinoco 104,000 2,500
. 29.3 1200 Red River of the North (with Sheyenne River ) North America Missouri Plateau Winnipeg Lake , Nelson River 287,500 240
. 10.1.1 1181 Marcha Asia Central Siberian mountain country Wiljui 99,000 410
. 34.1 1175 Green River North America Rocky mountains Colorado River 124,578 173
. 80 1175 Mamberamo (with Taritatu and Sobger ) Australia Pegunungan Maoke Pacific Ocean 78.992 4,580
.. 4.1.2 1174 Kansas River (with Smoky Hill River ) North America Rocky mountains Missouri 154,100 225
.. 4.1.3 1173 Milk River North America Rocky mountains Missouri 61,200 17th
.. 7.1.1 1170 Nen Jiang Asia Great Hinggan Mountains Songhua Jiang 244,000 700
. 81 1165 Kuskokwim River North America Alaska chain Bering Sea 124,000 1,900
.. 4.5 1161 White River North America Ozark Plateau Mississippi 71,911 741
. 82 1160 Comoé Africa Bobo Dioulasso Atlantic Ocean 82,408 106
.. 5.1.1.1 1160 Orkhon , over Tuul Asia Chentii Mountains Selenga 132,835 96
.. 6.1.3 1160 Demyanka Asia Vasyuganye Irtysh 34,800 167
.. 3.3.1 1155 Dadu He Asia Bayan Har Mountains Min Jiang 92,000 1,570
. 31.1 1150 Omolon Asia Kolyma Mountains Kolyma 118,600 700
. 83 1149 Red river Asia Yúnnán Province South China Sea 170,977 3,800
. 84 1146 Anadyr Asia Anjui Mountains Bering Sea 191,000 1,680
.. 4.1.4 1143 James River North America Wells County Missouri 54,240 18th
. 85 1143 Hoodas Asia Hoodas Mountains South China Sea 98,749 5,000
. 47.2 1140 White Volta (upper course periodically) Africa Upper Guinea threshold Source river of the Volta 106,000 272
.. 2 . .9.1 1138 Río Huallaga South America To the Marañón 95,000 3,796
. 40.1 1134 Chindwin Asia Patkai Mountains Irrawaddy 114,000 3,200
. 37.1 1130 Desna Europe Smolensk Heights Dnepr 97.293 350
. 86 1130 Helpful Asia Hindu Kush Hilmendsee 317,481 78
. 14.4 1130 Rio Tietê South America Serra da Mantiqueira Río Paraná 150,000 2,500
. 87 1130 Georgina River (periodically) Australia Barkly Tableland Lake Eyre 232,000 22nd
. 88 1126 Sepik Australia New Guinea , Victor Emanuel Range Bismarcksee 100.243 3,800
. 89 1124 Hari Rud Asia Koh-e-Baba Mountains dried up, Karakum desert 70,600 31
.. 4.2.2 1123 Cimarron River North America Rocky mountains Arkansas River 49,080 33
.. 1.3 1120 Atbara Africa Abyssinia highlands Nile 112,000 359
. 90 1120 Fly Australia Maoke Mountains Coral sea 133,687 4,500
. 91 1120 Gambia Africa Fouta Djallon mountain range Atlantic Ocean 69,931 2,000
.. 3.4 1119 Jialing Asia Shaanxi Province Yangtze River 159,700 2.130
. 12.3 1115 Liard River North America Rocky mountains Mackenzie 277.100 2,434
. 92 1112 Mae Nam Chao Phraya (with Mae Nam Nan ) Asia Nan Province , Thailand Gulf of Thailand 151,868 2,700
.. 2 . .1.3 1110 Rio Aripuanã South America Mato Grosso Plateau Rio Madeira 146.257 3,419
.. 4.4.2 1106 Cumberland River North America Appalachian Mountains Ohio River 46,830 862
. 93 1100 Wadi Draa (periodically) Africa Atlas Atlantic Ocean 29,500
.. 6.1.4 1097 Conda Asia West Siberian Lowlands Irtysh 72,800 390
. 24.3 1095 Río Apure with Río Uribante South America Eastern Cordillera Orinoco 147,000 2,000
. 78 a 1094 Elbe (string of names) Europe Giant Mountains North Sea 148.268 870
. 94 1094 Ogooué Africa Lower Guinea Sill Atlantic Ocean 223,856 4,706
. 10.1.2 1092 Tjung Asia Central Siberian mountain country Wiljui 49,800 180
.. 6.1.5 1091 Om Asia West Siberian Lowlands Irtysh 52,600 51
.. 2 . .1.1.2.2 1087 Río Blanco South America Chiquitania Río Iténez
. 95 1083 Rovuma Africa East of Lake Malawi Indian Ocean 165.760 475
. 96 1082 Jequitinhonha South America Minas Gerais Atlantic Ocean 70,315
.. 6.4 1082 Wassyugan Asia West Siberian Lowlands If 61,800 265
. 18.2.2 1080 Ghaghara Asia Himalayas Ganges 127,950 2,980
.. 4.1.5 1080 Yellowstone River North America Rocky mountains Missouri River 181,300 390
. 97 1078 Huai He Asia Tongbai Mountains East China Sea 263,600 1.110
. 98 1075 Kunene Africa Bié highlands Atlantic Ocean 106,560 174
. 67.1 1072 Macaws Asia Bingöl Mountains Kura 102,000 285
. 29.3.1 1070 Assiniboine River North America Saskatchewan Red River of the North 182,000 45
. 14.5 1070 Rio Paranaíba South America Serra da Mata da Corda Source river of the Río Paraná 344.112 1,050
. 99 1067 Bye Asia Kyrgyz mountains Depression Asikol 60,800 130
.. 6.5 1063 Great Jugan Asia Vasyuganye If 34,700 205
100 1062 Trinity River (with Trinity River West Fork ) North America Texas , northwest Dallas Gulf of Mexico , Galveston Bay 40,380 180
.. 9.2.3 1060 Mfimi (with Lukenie ) Africa East of Lodja Kasai 140,500
101 1060 Sanaga (with Djérem ) Africa Adamaua Highlands Atlantic Ocean 131,520 2,072
. 20.1 1060 Tanana River North America Alaska chain Yukon River 115,300 970
. 45.1 1053 Donets Europe Central Russian plate Don 98,900 190
. 10.2.2 1053 Maja Asia Jugdschur Aldan 171,000 1,210
. 24.4 1050 Río Arauca South America Eastern Cordillera Orinoco 34,000 800
. 13.2 1050 Bani with Baoulé Africa Bergland of Ivory Coast Niger 101,600 513
. 18.2.1.1 1050 Chambal Asia Vindhya Mountains Yamuna 135,000 600
102 1050 Río Paraíba South America Serra da Mantiqueira Atlantic Ocean 60,000 1,000
103 1047 Vistula Europe West Beskids Baltic Sea 180.247 1,090
104 1045 Or , via Warta Europe Krakow-Czestochowa Jura Baltic Sea 118,861 574
.. 3.5 1037 Wu Jiang (with Yachi He and Sancha He ) Asia Wumeng Shan Yangtze River 80,308 1.108
. 39.1 1035 Hotan Asia Karakoram Tarim 44,000 120
.. 3.6 1033 Yuan Jiang Asia Guizhou Yangtze River 89.163 2.158
.. 6.1.2.2 1030 Tura Asia Ural Tobol 80,400 230
.. 9.7 1025 Ruki (with Busira and Tshuapa ) Africa Congo Basin Congo
105 1024 Pur (with Pjakupur and Jangjagun ) Asia West Siberian Lowlands Tasbusen , Kara Sea 112,000 1,040
106 1020 Daugava Europe Waldai Heights Baltic Sea 83,499 660
106 1020 Loire Europe Massif Central Atlantic Ocean 115.271 840
108 1016 Neva (with Volkhov , Msta and Zna ) Europe Waldai Heights Baltic Sea 281,000 2,500
109 1014 Essequibo South America Acarai Mountains Atlantic Ocean 66,600 2,104
. 34.2 1014 Gila River North America Rocky mountains Colorado River 150,700 172
.. 5.1.2.1 1012 Biryussa Asia Sayan Mountains Cupeva 55,800 350
110 1007 Tagus Europe Sierra de Albarracín Atlantic Ocean 78,463 440
.. 2 . .1.2 1006 Rio Yata South America Moxos level Río Mamoré
111 1004 Flinders River Australia Great dividing range Gulf of Carpentaria 109,000 96
.. 9.2.2.1 1000 Kwilu Africa Bié highlands Kwango 93,250
.. 2 . .3.1 1000 Rio Acre South America To the Rio Purus 35,400 640

Longest river on earth

The Nile was not always considered the longest river on earth. For a long time, the Blue Nile , with which it is around 4000 kilometers long, was considered the source river of the Nile and not the somewhat smaller, but much longer White Nile . The longest flow path in the river system of the White Nile via Luvironza, Ruvuvu and Akagera was only discovered in 1893 by the Austrians Oskar Baumann and Oskar Lenz .

In the older literature, up to around the end of 1970, the Mississippi with its tributary Missouri can also be found as the longest river on earth. There it was wrongly given as 6730 km or 6800 kilometers. In the literature, even after the first measurements after 1893, the Nile was initially only given as 6324 kilometers and the Amazon , measured over the main source river Marañón , as 6518 km. The longest flow path in the Amazon system was not found until 1971 in the headwaters of the much longer Ucayali , and the length specifications for the Amazon that had been valid up to that point had to be corrected accordingly. So it happened that within a few years, depending on the accuracy of the measurements and definition of the source river, the Nile was once the longest river, then the Mississippi with Missouri and also the Amazon.

Even today, the position of the Nile is not undisputed, depending on the definition of the course of the Amazon river . If you include the course of the river south of the river island Marajó , which lies in the mouth of the Amazon, across the bay of the Pará to the Atlantic, the Amazon comes to over 6,700 km in length. From a hydrological point of view, the Pará belongs to the Tocantins river basin .

Length information in German literature
  • 1885: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon : Mississippi = 7050 km, Nile = 7000 km, Amazon = 6000 km
  • 1890: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon: Mississippi = 6530 km, Nile = 6170 km, Amazon = 5710 km
  • 1908: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (6th edition, 1902–1908): Mississippi = 6970 km, Nile = 6397 km (5589 km from Lake Victoria), Amazon = 5340 km
  • 1953: Federal Institute for Regional Studies: Amazon = 6518 km, Nile = 6324, Mississippi = 6051 km
  • 1976: Witte, school education center, geography: Mississippi = 6730 km, Nile = 6671 km, Amazon = 6518 km
  • 1984: The new lexicon in 10 volumes: Nile = 6671 km, Amazon = 6400 km, Mississippi = 6021 km
Further information in the literature
  • Mississippi with Missouri: 7052 km, 6999 km, 6800 km, 6750 km, 6730 km, 6615 km, 6420 km, 6210 km, 6051 km, 6021 km, 6020 km, 6019 km, 5970 km
  • Nile: 6695 km, 6690 km, 6672 km, 6671 km, 6670 km, 6650 km, 6324 km
  • Amazonas: 6788 km, 6570 km, 6518 km, 6516 km, 6500 km, 6450 km, 6448 km, 6437 km, 6400 km

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The information on the catchment areas comes mainly from wri.org ( Memento from September 6, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ The total length of the Nile is often given as "approximately 6650 km" (Magdi M. El-Kammash, Harold Edwin Hurst , Charles Gordon Smith: Nile River. As of July 21, 2017, accessed August 2017), but depends among other things depending on the chosen measuring path (e.g. from the source areas or from the outflow of Lake Victoria), the information varies between 5499 km and 7088 km ( Shaochuang Liu, P Lu, D Liu, P Jin, W Wang: Pinpointing the sources and measuring the lengths of the principal rivers of the world . In: Int J Digital Earth. 2, March 1, 2009, pp 80-87.. doi : 10.1080 / 17538940902746082 . ). For details, see the article on the Nile .
  3. ↑ The total length of the Amazon is sometimes given as "at least 6400 km" (Alarich R. Schultz, Raymond E. Crist, James J. Parsons: Amazon River. As of May 25, 2017, accessed in July 2017), but depends among other things depending on the selected measuring path (e.g. in the area of ​​the mouth along the main stream or on the longest possible route including sea bays), the information varies between 6275 km and 7025 km ( Shaochuang Liu, P Lu, D Liu, P Jin, W Wang: Pinpointing the sources and measuring the lengths of the principal rivers of the world . In: Int J Digital Earth. 2, March 1, 2009, pp 80-87.. doi : 10.1080 / 17538940902746082 . ). For details, see the article on the Amazon .
  4. ↑ Since the 1930s, measurements have no longer been made over the source river Marañón , which is richer in water , but from the source area of ​​the much longer Ucayali. The exact source was not yet determined at the time, but was assumed from the beginning of the 1970s in the area of ​​the Nevado Mismi glacier in southern Peru. In 2007, a Peruvian-Brazilian expedition confirmed the location of the farthest source in the Apacheta Gorge on Nevado Quehuisha (Kiwicha Mountain), a neighboring mountain of the Mismi, as proposed by Jacek Palkiewicz in 1996 (Günter Paul: The Amazon is longer than the Nile. In: FAZ , July 4, 2007, accessed July 2017). Depending on whether you measure the shortest stretch to the sea or the longest drainage route plus the Rio Pará bay, values ​​between 6400 km and 7000 km result. According to cartographic measurements from 1969, the total length of the Amazon on the shortest river route was put at 6448 km. A measurement in the 1980s showed a value of 6,788 km (Dieter Engelmann: Amazonien. In: Planet Wissen , as of June 13, 2017, accessed in August 2017). In 2007, a team from the Brazilian Space Research Institute (INPE) coordinated by Paulo Roberto Martini determined the longest possible flow path with a total length of 6992 km on the basis of satellite images. This figure was also cited in the Encyclopædia Britannica , but as controversial (Alarich R. Schultz, Raymond E. Crist, James J. Parsons: Amazon River. As of May 25, 2017, accessed July 2017), partly because the study was not was published and because the Brazilian measure in the delta not as usual the shorter route through the Canal do Norte follows ( how Long is the Amazon River? Retrieved on December 31, 2018 (English). ). The measuring path follows the longest path of the flowing water and, on a large detour south around the island of Marajó, also tidal channels and the sea bays of Rio Pará and Baía de Marajó to the transition into the open Atlantic. The same research team also re-measured the Nile and estimated it to be 140 km shorter than the Amazon ( Estudo do INPE indica que o rio Amazonas é 140 km mais extenso do que o Nilo. INPE press release of July 1, 2008, retrieval in July 2017).
  5. ↑ The Cherlen is only connected to the river in rainy years; excluding Cherlen 4444 km and 1,929,981 km².
  6. ↑ Yellow River ( Huáng Hé ) - The length is disputed, some information up to 5464 km.
  7. ↑ Mekong - the length is disputed, figures between 4,350 km and 4,909 km.
  8. ↑ Murray - Darling - The total length is made up of the lengths of the rivers: Condamine River + Balonne River + Culgoa River = 1372 km, Darling River = 1472 km (confluence of the Culgoa in the Darling to the confluence of the Darling in the Murray River ), Murray River = 828 km (confluence of the Darling to the mouth of the Murray into the sea).
  9. ↑ a b c MQ according to Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) e Secretaria Nacional de Recursos Hídricos ( data overview )
  10. ↑ Saluen - length disputed, information between 2,400 and 3,200 km.
  11. ↑ Note: without artificial supply: 2370 m³ / s
  12. ^ Hydropower Production in Future Climate Scenarios; the Case for the Zambezi River
  13. ↑ Ural - length information partly different, also information with 2534 km or 2573 km.
  14. ↑ West River - flows into the South China Sea with a multi-armed river network with the Pearl River .
  15. ↑ Tarim - There are various information about the catchment area between 400,000 and over 1,000,000.
  16. ↑ without Frio Creek 2075 km
  17. ↑ Brazos River - The total length is made up of the lengths of the rivers: Running Water Creek + White River + Brazos River Salt Fork = 708 km and the length of the actual Brazos River from the confluence of the Brazos River Double Mountain Fork and the Brazos River Salt Fork to the confluence with the Gulf of Mexico = 1352 km.
  18. ↑ Río Pilcomayo - The length is controversial, some information is up to 2500 km.
  19. ↑ Juan Carlo Espinoza Villar et al .: Evolución regional de los caudales en el conjunto de la cuenca del Amazonas para el periodo 1974-2004 y su relación con factores climáticos. Revista Peruana Geo-Atmosférica RPGA (1), 66-89, 2009 ( PDF ( Memento from September 21, 2011 in the Internet Archive ))
  20. ↑ Okavango - length varies seasonally between 1,600 and 1,800 km.
  21. ^ An overview of key strategic issues in the Okavango basin
  22. ↑ Despite the greater mean water flow, the Blue Nile is considered a tributary and the White Nile is the actual Nile.
  23. ↑ Article Chatanga in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE) , 3rd edition 1969–1978 (Russian)http: //vorlage_gse.test/1%3D118610~2a%3DChatanga~2b%3DChatanga
  24. ↑ Article Kotui in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE) , 3rd edition 1969–1978 (Russian)http: //vorlage_gse.test/1%3D065399~2a%3DKotui~2b%3DKotui
  25. ↑ Sum of sections of the route from the English language Wikipedia
  26. ↑ Cherlen - Episodic outflow to the Argun, right source river of the Amur.
  27. ↑ National Water Management Plan 2009 Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management Austria, Vienna 2010 (pdf)
  28. ↑ Chindwin - The length is controversial, some information is only 840 km.
  29. ↑ Jialing - The length is controversial, also information with 965 km.
  30. ↑ Kunene - The length is controversial, figures between 975 km and 1,207 km.
  31. ↑ Rio Paranaíba - The length is controversial, some information is only 800 km.
  32. ↑ Tschüi - Dries up in the Asikol depression.
  33. ↑ Chambal - The length is controversial, some information is only 780 km.
  34. ↑ Essequibo - The length is controversial, information also with 700 km or 965 km.
  35. ↑ Kwilu - The length is disputed, also information with 960 km.
  36. ↑ Note: Values ​​fluctuate between 640 and 1190 km, with all meanders a maximum of 1000 km is plausible

literature

Web links

This version was added to the selection of informative lists and portals on August 30, 2006 .