Rivers are some of the most important waterways on our planet, as they facilitate life and livelihood for the millions of people who live along them, not to mention the creatures that live within them. They are a vital part of the hydrological system, funneling precipitation through land to eventually make its way out to sea, massive lakes, and sometimes other rivers. Rivers can be short channels between two water bodies, but they can also comprise massive amounts of land in one continuous flow. These five rivers below are the world’s longest, and hopefully stand no chance of drying up any time soon!
1. Nile River
The 4,258 mile-long Nile River covers a massive portion of North and East Africa, serving no less than 11 countries with natural resources, and is the primary water source for Egypt and Sudan. Evidence exists that shows the Nile River has been in action since the Stone Age, with countless civilizations uprising from its banks ever since.
2. Amazon River
The Amazon River meanders 3,980 miles through the dense foliage of South America. This incredible river accounts for approximately 20 percent of the entire planet’s total river flow, and its territory comprises nearly 40 percent of South America.
3. Yangtze River
The Yangtze River, stretches an impressive 3,915 miles in the vast land of China. Silt washes ashore the Jiangsu Province from the Yangtze waters, enabling one of the largest plains of commerce for rice production. Several endemic and endangered species inhabit the Yangtze region, including the Baiji dolphin that is now thought to be extinct.
4. Mississippi-Missouri River
The Mississippi-Missouri River spans the heartland of the North American continent for 3,709 miles, and plays a major role in transportation, industry, and recreation for the US as a whole. Due to the vast size of the confluence of these two rivers, flooding has always been a primary concern among those who choose to dwell along its banks, as was most recently on display for the entire world during the Great Flood of 1993, in which floods overtook nine states and caused $21 billion in property damage.
5. Yenisey River
The Yenisey River runs 3,434 miles of sparkling cold waters through wintry Russian soil, and is the largest river system to flow into the Arctic. Much of Russia’s primary industry relies on the power of the Yenisey through hydroelectric dams that convert the river’s massive energy into resources that power everyday life in Russia. The frigid waters of the Yenisey are home to 55 native species of fish, and once facilitated the lives of ancient nomadic tribes long before Russians discovered in in 1605.
Featured Image from Dong Zhang/Unsplash
