List of river systems by length

This is a list of the longest rivers on Earth. It includes river systems over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) in length.

There are many factors, such as the identification of the source,[1] the identification or the definition of the mouth, and the scale of measurement[2] of the river length between source and mouth, that determine the precise meaning of "river length". As a result, the length measurements of many rivers are only approximations (see also coastline paradox). In particular, there seems to exist disagreement as to whether the Nile[3] or the Amazon[4] is the world's longest river. The Nile has traditionally been considered longer, but in 2007 and 2008 some scientists claimed that the Amazon is longer[5][6][7] by measuring the river plus the adjacent Pará estuary and the longest connecting tidal canal.[8] A peer-reviewed article published 2009 in the International Journal of Digital Earth concludes that the Nile is longer.[9]

Even when detailed maps are available, the length measurement is not always clear. A river may have multiple channels, or anabranches. The length may depend on whether the center or the edge of the river is measured. It may not be clear how to measure the length through a lake or reservoir. Seasonal and annual changes may alter both rivers and lakes. Other factors that can change the length of a river include cycles of erosion and flooding, dams, levees, and channelization. In addition, the length of meanders can change significantly over time due to natural or artificial cutoffs, when a new channel cuts across a narrow strip of land, bypassing a large river bend. For example, due to 18 cutoffs created between 1766 and 1885, the length of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans, Louisiana, was reduced by 351 kilometres (218 miles).[10]

These points make it difficult, if not impossible, to get an accurate measurement of the length of a river. The varying accuracy and precision also makes it difficult to make length comparisons between different rivers without a degree of uncertainty. There is no strictly agreed upon standard for dealing with the nuances of measuring rivers and as such the true length of a river is not necessarily a single, discrete, correct number, nor is it static.

For most rivers, different sources provide conflicting information on the length of a river system. The information in different sources is between parentheses.

Legend of colors used in main table, by continent Continent color key Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America Rank River Length (km) Length (miles) Drainage area(km2)[citation needed] Average discharge(m3/s)[citation needed] Outflow Countries in the drainage basin [citation needed] 1. Nile-White Nile-Kagera-Nyabarongo-Mwogo-Rukarara[n 1] 6,650[3](7,088)[9] 4,130[3](4,404)[9] 3,254,555[12] 2,490[13] Mediterranean Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan 2. Amazon-Ucayali-Tambo-Ene-Mantaro[n 1] 6,400[4](6,575)[9] 3,976[4](4,086)[9] 7,000,000[4] 230,000[14] Atlantic Ocean Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana 3. Yangtze-Jinsha-Tongtian-Dangqu (Chang Jiang) 6,300(6,418) 3,917(3,988) 1,970,000[15][16] 31,900[17][18][19] East China Sea China 4. Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson-Beaverhead-Red Rock-Hell Roaring 6,275 3,902 3,248,000 21,300[20][10] Gulf of Mexico United States (98.5%), Canada (1.5%) 5. Yenisey-Angara-Selenga-Ider 5,539 3,445 2,580,000[21] 20,200[22] Kara Sea Russia (97%), Mongolia (2.9%) 6. Yellow River (Huang He) 5,464 3,395 752,546 2,571 Bohai Sea China 7. Ob-Irtysh 5,410 3,364 2,990,000[21] 13,100[22] Gulf of Ob Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia 8. Río de la Plata-Paraná-Rio Grande[23] 4,880 3,030 3,182,064[24] 27,225[24] Río de la Plata Brazil (46.7%), Argentina (27.7%), Paraguay (13.5%), Bolivia (8.3%), Uruguay (3.8%) 9. Congo-Lualaba-Luvua-Luapula-Chambeshi(Zaïre) 4,700 2,922 3,680,000 41,400[25] Atlantic Ocean Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda 10. Amur-Argun

(Heilong Jiang)

4,444 2,763 1,855,000 12,360[26] Sea of Okhotsk Russia, China, Mongolia 11. Lena 4,400 2,736 2,490,000[21] 18,300[22] Laptev Sea Russia 12. Mekong (Lancang Jiang) 4,350 2,705 810,000 16,010[18] South China Sea China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam 13. Mackenzie-Slave-Peace-Finlay 4,241 2,637 1,805,200[21] 9,800[22] Beaufort Sea Canada 14. Niger 4,200 2,611 2,117,700[27] 8,570[27] Gulf of Guinea Nigeria (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 15. Brahmaputra-Yarlung Tsangpo 3,969 2,466 712,035 27,000[28][29][30] Ganges India (58.0%), China (19.7%), Nepal (9.0%), Bangladesh (6.6%), Disputed India/China (4.2%), Bhutan (2.4%) 16. Murray-Darling-Culgoa-Balonne-Condamine 3,672[31] 2,282 1,061,000 767 Southern Ocean Australia 17. Tocantins-Araguaia 3,650 2,270 950,000 17,600[32] Atlantic Ocean (Marajó Bay), Amazon Delta Brazil 18. Volga 3,645 2,266 1,380,000 8,380[33] Caspian Sea Russia 19. Shatt al-Arab-Euphrates-Murat 3,596 2,236 938,173[34] 3,350[34] Persian Gulf Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran 20. Madeira-Mamoré-Grande-Caine-Rocha 3,380 2,100 1,485,200 31,200[32] Amazon Brazil, Bolivia, Peru 21. Purús 3,211 1,995 376,600[35] 11,207[35][32] Amazon Brazil, Peru 22. Yukon 3,185 1,980[10] 854,700[36][21] 7,000[36] Bering Sea United States (59.8%), Canada (40.2%) 23. Indus-Sênggê Zangbo 3,180 1,976 1,081,718[37] 5,533[37] Arabian Sea Pakistan (93%), India and China 24. São Francisco 3,180*(2,900) 1,976*(1,802) 610,000 3,300 Atlantic Ocean Brazil 25. Syr Darya-Naryn 3,078 1,913 219,000 703 Aral Sea Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan 26. Salween (Nu Jiang) 3,060 1,901 324,000 6,700[38][39][40] Andaman Sea China (52.4%), Myanmar (43.9%), Thailand (3.7%) 27. Saint Lawrence-Niagara-Detroit-Saint Clair-Saint Marys-Saint Louis-North (Great Lakes) 3,058 1,900[10] 1,030,000 12,500[41] Gulf of Saint Lawrence Canada (52.1%), United States (47.9%) 28. Rio Grande 3,057 1,900[10] 570,000 82 Gulf of Mexico United States (52.1%), Mexico (47.9%) 29. Lower Tunguska 2,989 1,857 473,000 3,600 Yenisei Russia 30. Colorado-Green (western U.S.) 2,945 1,830[42] 390,000 1,200 Gulf of California United States, Mexico 31. Danube-Breg (Donau, Dunăre, Duna, Dunav, Dunaj) 2,888* 1,795* 801,463[43] 6,452[43] Black Sea Romania (28.9%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.3%), Serbia (10.3%), Germany (7.5%), Slovakia (5.8%), Bulgaria (5.2%), Croatia (4.5%), Ukraine (3.8%), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia[44] 32. Irrawaddy River-N'Mai River-Dulong River-Kelaoluo-Gada Qu 2,809* 1,745.8* 404,200* 15,112[45] Andaman Sea China, Myanmar 33. Zambezi (Zambesi) 2,740* 1,703* 1,330,000 4,880 Mozambique Channel Zambia (41.6%), Angola (18.4%), Zimbabwe (15.6%), Mozambique (11.8%), Malawi (8.0%), Tanzania (2.0%), Namibia, Botswana 34. Vilyuy 2,720 1,700 454,000 1,480 Lena Russia 35. Padma-Ganges-Alaknanda (Ganga) 2,704[46] 1,690 1,024,000 16,000[28][47] Bay of Bengal India, Bangladesh, Nepal 36. Amu Darya-Panj 2,620 1,628 534,739 1,400 Aral Sea Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan 37. Japurá (Caquetá) 2,615* 1,625* 289,000[32] 18,122[35][32] Amazon Brazil, Colombia 38. Nelson-Saskatchewan-South Saskatchewan-Bow 2,570 1,597 1,111,890[21] 3,500[22] Hudson Bay Canada, United States 39. Paraguay (Rio Paraguay) 2,549 1,584 900,000 4,300 Paraná Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina 40. Kolyma 2,513 1,562 647,000[21] 4,100[22] East Siberian Sea Russia 41. Pilcomayo 2,500 1,553 270,000 200 Paraguay Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia 42. Upper Ob-Katun 2,490 1,547 1,040,000 Ob Russia 43. Ishim 2,450 1,522 177,000 56 Irtysh Kazakhstan, Russia 44. Orange 2,432 1,511 973,000 365 Atlantic Ocean South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho 45. Ural 2,428 1,509 237,000 475 Caspian Sea Russia, Kazakhstan 46. Juruá 2,410 1,499 190,573[35] 6,004[35][32] Amazon Peru, Brazil 47. Arkansas 2,348 1,459 505,000(435,122) 1,066 Mississippi United States 48. Songhua 2,309[48] 1,435 557,180 2,410 Amur China 49. Olenyok 2,292 1,424 219,000 1,210 Laptev Sea Russia 50. Dnieper 2,287 1,421 516,300 1,670 Black Sea Ukraine, Belarus, Russia 51. Aldan 2,273 1,412 729,000 5,501 Lena Russia 52. Ubangi-Uele[49] 2,270 1,410 651,915[50] 5,936[50] Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo 53. Negro 2,250[51] 1,398 720,114 34,573[52] Amazon Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia 53. Columbia-Snake 2,250 1,398[53] 671,000 7,500 Pacific Ocean Canada (30%), United States (70%) 55. Tapajós-Teles Pires 2,210 1,290 494,254 13,540[32] Amazon Brazil 56. Pearl-Xi-Xun-Qian-Hongshui-Nanpan 2,200 1,376 437,000 10,700[54] South China Sea China (98.5%), Vietnam (1.5%) 57. Red (USA) 2,188 1,360 78,592 875 Mississippi United States 58. Kasai 2,153 1,338 880,200 10,000 Congo Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo 59. Ohio-Allegheny 2,102 1,306 490,603 7,957 Mississippi United States 60. Orinoco 2,101 1,306 1,014,797[55] 39,000[55][56] Atlantic Ocean Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana 61. Tarim 2,100 1,305 1,020,000 Lop Nur China 61. Xingu 2,100 1,305 520,292 10,023 Amazon Brazil 63. Jubba-Shebelle 2,064[57] 1,282 749,000 Indian Ocean Ethiopia, Somalia 64. Brazos-Double Mountain Fork-North Fork-Blackwater Draw 2,060 1,280[10] 116,000 237.5 Gulf of Mexico United States 65. Northern Salado 2,010 1,249 203,000 Paraná Argentina 66. Içá (Putumayo) 2,005 1,246 120,545[35] 8,520[35][32] Amazon Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador 67. Vitim 1,978 1,229 225,000 1,937 Lena Russia 68. Chenab 1,974 675 160,000 977.3 Indus India, Pakistan 69. Tigris 1,950 1,212 375,000 1,014 Shatt al-Arab Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran 70. Don 1,870 1,162 425,600 935 Sea of Azov Russia, Ukraine 71. Stony Tunguska 1,865 1,159 240,000 1,750 Yenisey Russia 72. Pechora 1,809 1,124 312,041[21] 4,823[22][21] Barents Sea Russia 73. Kama 1,805 1,122 507,000 4,100[33] Volga Russia 74. Limpopo 1,800 1,118 413,000 313.4 Indian Ocean Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana 75. Chulym 1,799 1,118 134,000 Ob Russia 76. Guaviare 1,760 1,090 151,607 7,529[56] Orinoco Colombia 77 Marañón 1,737 1,079 364,873 16,708 Amazon Peru 78. Indigirka 1,726 1,072 360,400 1,810 East Siberian Sea Russia 79. Platte 1,690 1,050 219,900 199.3 Missouri United States 80. Senegal 1,641 1,020 419,659 680 Atlantic Ocean Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania 81. Khatanga-Kotuy 1,636 1,017 364,000[21] 3,200[22] Laptev Sea Russia 82. Upper Jubba-Ganale Dorya 1,634[57] 1,015 214,441[57] 316[57] Jubba River Ethiopia (69%), Somalia (27%), Kenya (5%) 83. Uruguay 1,610 1,000 353,451[24] 7,058[24][58] Atlantic Ocean Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil 84. Churchill 1,609 1,000 281,300 1,200 Hudson Bay Canada 85. Blue Nile 1,600 994 326,400 1,548 Nile Ethiopia, Sudan 85. Okavango (Cubango) 1,600 994 530,000 475 Okavango Delta Namibia, Angola, Botswana 85. Volta 1,600 994 407,093 1,210 Gulf of Guinea Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin 88. Beni 1,599 994 283,350 8,900 Madeira Bolivia 89. Shilka-Onon 1,592 989 206,000 440 Amur Russia (86%), Mongolia (14%) 90. Tobol 1,591 989 426,000 805 Irtysh Kazakhstan, Russia 91. Alazeya 1,590 988 64,700 320 East Siberian Sea Russia 92. Kafue 1,576 979 155,000 320 Zambezi Zambia (99.6%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (0.4%) 93. Yalong 1,571 976 128,444 1,810 Yangtze China 94. Magdalena 1,550 963 263,858 8,058[59] Caribbean Sea Colombia 95. Han 1,532 952 174,300 1,632 Yangtze China 96. Kura/Mt'k'vari 1,515 941 188,400 575 Caspian Sea Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan 97. Oka 1,500 932 245,000 1,310[33] Volga Russia 97. Upper Murray 1,500[60] 932 260,000 Lower Murray Australia 99. Yana-Sartang 1,492 927 238,000 1,110 Laptev Sea Russia 100. Pecos 1,490 926 115,000 7.5 Rio Grande United States 101. Murrumbidgee River 1,485 [31] 923 84,917 120 Murray River Australia 102. Upper Yenisey-Little Yenisey (Kaa-Hem) 1,480 920 360,000 Yenisey Russia, Mongolia 103. Godavari 1,465 910 312,812 3,061 Bay of Bengal India 104. Sangha-Ngoko-Dja 1,459 907 233,740 Congo Cameroon (45%), Republic of Congo (31%), Central African Republic (25%) 105. Vaal 1,458 906 196,438 125 Orange South Africa 106. Sutlej 1,450 900 395,000 2,946.66 Chenab China, India, Pakistan 107. Ili (Yili) 1,439 870 140,000 480 Lake Balkhash China, Kazakhstan 108. Olyokma 1,436 892 210,000 2,110 Lena Russia 109. Upper Columbia[61] 1,430 889[53] 292,316[61] 3,364[62] Columbia United States, Canada 110. Upper Tocantins 1,427 887 310,000 Tocantins Brazil 111. Belaya 1,420 882 142,000 858 Kama Russia 111. Cooper-Barcoo 1,420 880 297,950[63] 36[63] Lake Eyre Australia 113. Dniester 1,411 (1,352) 877 (840) 72,100 310 Black Sea Ukraine, Moldova 114. Taz 1,401 871 150,000 1,450 Taz Estuary Russia 115. Benue 1,400 870 319,000 3,477 Niger Cameroon, Nigeria 115. Chari 1,400[64] 870 548,747 1,059 Lake Chad Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria 115. Parnaíba 1,400 870 344,112 Atlantic Ocean Brazil 115. Warburton-Georgina 1,400 870 408,005[63] 60[63] Lake Eyre Australia 119. Colorado (Texas) 1,387 862 103,000 73.9 Gulf of Mexico United States 120. Yamuna 1,376 855 366,223 2,950 Ganges India 121. Apaporis 1,370 851 57,430.6 4,092[65] Japurá Colombia (93%), Brazil (7%), 121. Nen (Nonni) 1,370 851 270,000 Songhua China 121. Vyatka 1,370 851 129,000 890 Kama Russia 124. Fraser 1,368 850 220,000 3,475 Pacific Ocean Canada, United States[66] 125. Grande 1,360 845 143,000 Paraná Brazil 126. Kızıl River 1,355 734 115,000 400 Black Sea Turkey 127. Madre de Dios 1,347 837 125,000 4,915 Beni Peru, Bolivia 128. Liao-Xiliao-Laoha 1,345 836 232,000 500 Bohai Sea China 129. Lachlan River 1,339 [31] 832 84,700 49 Murrumbidgee River Australia 130. Narmada 1,333 [67] 828 98,796 1,447 Arabian Sea India 131. Hai 1,329 826 318,200 717 Bohai Sea China 132. Branco-Uraricoera 1,326 824 192,393 6,469 Rio Negro Brazil (96%), Guyana (7%), Venezuela (1%) 133. Iguaçu 1,320 820 67,537 1,746 Paraná Brazil, Argentina 134. Taseyeva-Chuna 1,319 820 128,000 740 Angara Russia 135. Javari 1,309 814 109,680[68] 5,225[68] Amazon Brazil (78%), Peru (22%) 136. Northern Dvina-Sukhona 1,302 809 350,496[21] 3,416[21] White Sea Russia 137. Inírida 1,300 808 53,816.9 3,385[65] Guaviare Colombia 137. Iriri 1,300 808 141,943 3,028 Xingu Brazil 137. Neva-Vuoksi 1,300 808 282,300 2,628 Gulf of Finland Russia, Finland, Belarus 140. Ruki 1,296 805 173,800 4,450 Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 141. Krishna 1,290 800 258,948 2,213 Bay of Bengal India 142. Lomami[69] 1,280 795 110,000 Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 143. Ottawa 1,271 790 146,300 1,950 Saint Lawrence Canada 144. Rio Grande de Santiago-Lerma 1,270 789 119,543 320 Pacific Ocean Mexico 145. Guaporé (Itenez) 1,260 780 341,000 2,430 Mamoré Brazil, Bolivia 146. Red (Canada)-Assiniboine-Souris 1,260 780 287,500 244 Lake Winnipeg Canada (56%), US (44%) 147. Elbe-Vltava 1,252 778 148,268 711 North Sea Germany, Czech Republic 148. Zeya 1,242 772 233,000 1,810 Amur Russia 149. Juruena 1,240 771 192,628 4,936.7 Tapajós Brazil 150. Upper Mississippi 1,236 768 450,000 4,800 Mississippi United States 151. Rhine 1,233 768 185,000 [70] 2,330 North Sea Germany (57.3%), Switzerland (15.1%), Netherlands (12.3%), France (12.2%), Luxembourg (1.4%), Austria (1.3%), Belgium (0.4%), Liechtenstein (0.1%), Italy (0.03%) 152. Athabasca 1,231 765 95,300 783 Mackenzie Canada 153. Markha 1,231 765 99,000 405 Vilyuy Russia 154. Canadian 1,223 760 123,220 182.2 Arkansas United States 155. North Saskatchewan 1,220 758 122,800 238 Saskatchewan Canada 156. Kansas-Republican 1,218 757 155,690 205 Missouri US 157. Vistula-Narew-Bug 1,213 754 194,424 1,080 Baltic Sea Poland, Belarus, Ukraine 158. Awash 1,200[71] 746 69,197[57] 152[57] Lake Abbe Ethiopia, Djibouti 158. Shire 1,200 746 160,000 486 Zambezi Mozambique, Malawi 158. Ogooué (or Ogowe) 1,200 746 223,856 5,890[25] Atlantic Ocean Gabon, Republic of the Congo 161. Fimi-Lukenie 1,194 742 133,432 Kasai Democratic Republic of the Congo 162. Mobile 1,192 741 115,000 1,900 Gulf of Mexico US 163. Lukuga 1,184 736 244,500 Lualaba Tanzania (62%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (26%), Zambia (6%), Burundi (5%), Rwanda (2%) 164. Min-Dadu 1,182 734 133,000 2,850 Yangtze China 165. Markha 1,181 734 99,000 405 Vilyuy Russia 166. Aripuanã 1,175 730 147,224 4,064 Madeira Brazil 167. Milk 1,173 729 62,000 17.5

Missouri

United States, Canada 168. Mun - Chi 1,162 722 119,180 725 Mekong River Thailand 168. White 1,162 722[72] 71,910 834.8 Mississippi United States 170. Chindwin 1,158 720 114,685 4,740 Ayeyarwady Myanmar 171. Sankuru 1,150 715 150,000 Kasai Democratic Republic of the Congo 171. Wu 1,150 715 80,300 1,108 Yangtze China 173. Red (Asia) 1,149 714 143,700 4,300[73] Gulf of Tonkin China, Vietnam 174. James (Dakotas) 1,143 710 54,240 18.3 Missouri United States 175. Kapuas 1,143 710 98,749 6,012[74] South China Sea Indonesia 176. Paraíba do Sul 1,137 696 56,000 Atlantic Ocean Brazil 177. Yobe-Hadejia 1,135 705 183,009 Lake Chad Nigeria (68%), Niger (32%) 178. Desna 1,130 702 88,900 360 Dnieper Russia, Belarus, Ukraine 178. Helmand 1,130 702 150,000 Hamun-i-Helmand Afghanistan, Iran 178. Tietê 1,130 702 72,168 937 Paraná Brazil 178. Vychegda 1,130 702 121,000 1160 Northern Dvina Russia 182. Sepik 1,126 700 77,700[75] 5,000[75] Pacific Ocean Papua New Guinea, Indonesia 182. Sobat-Pibor 1,126 700 225,000 412 White Nile South Sudan (60%), Ethiopia (29%), Kenya (10%), Uganda (2%) 184. Orkhon 1,124 698 132,835 66 Selenga Mongolia 185. Cimarron 1,123 698 49,100 32.9 Arkansas United States 186. Anadyr 1,120 696 191,000 2,020 Gulf of Anadyr Russia 187. Jialing River 1,119 695 160,000 Yangtze China 188. Liard 1,115 693 277,100 2,434 Mackenzie Canada 189. Omolon 1,114 692 113,000 Kolyma Russia 190. Mamberamo River 1,112 691 78,992 5,923 Pacific Ocean Indonesia 191. Cumberland 1,105 687 46,830 862 Mississippi United States 192. Omo 1,104[57] 686 86,657 915.5 Lake Turkana Ethiopia 193. Bani 1,100 684 146,570 Niger Mali (80%), Ivory Coast (15%), Burkina Faso (5%), Guinea (0.1%) 193. Huallaga 1,100 684 90,000 3,800 Marañón Peru 193. Kwango 1,100 684 263,500 2,700 Kasai Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo 193. Draa 1,100 684 95,000 Atlantic Ocean Morocco 197. Gambia 1,094 680 78,000 Atlantic Ocean The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea 198. Tyung 1,092 679 49,800 Vilyuy Russia 199. Barito River 1,090 680 81,675 5,497 Java Sea Indonesia 200. Maya 1,087 675 171,000 1,180 Aldan Russia 201. Yellowstone 1,080 671 114,260 390 Missouri United States 201. Ghaghara 1,080 671 127,950 2,990 Ganges India, Nepal, China 203. Huai River 1,078 670 270,000 1,110 Yangtze China 204. Aras 1,072 665 102,000 285 Kura Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran 205. Chu 1,067 663 62,500 none Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan 205. Sanaga-Djérem 1,067 663 140,000 2,072 Bight of Biafra Cameroon, Nigeria, Central African Republic 207. Seversky Donets 1,053 (1,078) 654 (670) 98,900 159 Don Russia, Ukraine 208. Bermejo 1,050 652 125,000 Paraguay Argentina, Bolivia 208. Cunene 1,050 652 108,943 Atlantic Ocean Angola (85%), Namibia (15%) 208. Fly 1,050 652 75,800 6,500 Gulf of Papua Papua New Guinea, Indonesia 208. Kuskokwim 1,050 652 120,000 1,900 Bering Sea United States 212. Tennessee 1,049 652 105,870 1,998 Ohio United States 213. Oder-Warta 1,045 649 118,861 550 Baltic Sea Poland, Germany, Czech Republic 214. Apure 1,038 645 167,000 2,300 Orinoco Venezuela (99.8%), Colombia (0.2%) 215. Logone 1,033 642 78,000 492 Chari Chad (53%), Cameroon (34%), Central African Republic (14%) 216. Aruwimi[69] 1,030 640 116,100 2,200 Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo 217. Chambal 1,024 636 143,219 456 Yamuna India 207. Pur 1,024 636 112,000 Taz Estuary Russia 219. Daugava 1,020 634 87,900 678 Gulf of Riga Latvia, Belarus, Russia 220. Gila 1,015 631 151,000 7 Colorado (western U.S.) United States 221. Essequibo 1,014 630 156,828[76] 5,136[76] Atlantic Ocean Guyana, Venezuela 222. Loire 1,012 629 115,271 840 Atlantic Ocean France 223. Khopyor 1,010 628 61,100 150 Don Russia 224. Tagus (Tajo/Tejo) 1,006 625 80,100 444 Atlantic Ocean Spain, Portugal 225. Flinders River 1,004 [31] 624 109,000 122[63] Gulf of Carpentaria Australia 226. Koksoak 1,000 621 136,262[21] 2,800 Ungava Bay Canada 226. Usumacinta 1,000 621 134,400 Gulf of Mexico Mexico, Guatemala

• When the length of a river is followed by an asterisk, it is an average of multiple information sources. If the difference in lengths between given information sources is significant, all lengths are listed. But if the lengths from secondary information sources are similar, they are averaged and that figure has an asterisk.
• Scientists debate whether the Amazon or the Nile is the longest river in the world. Traditionally, the Nile is considered longer, but recent information suggests that the Amazon may be longer. Differences in the recorded length of the Amazon mainly depend on whether the course south of the Ilha de Marajó at the Amazon's mouth is to be treated as part of the Amazon, or as part of the separate Tocantins River. New evidence, (dated 16 June 2007) obtained from a high-altitude scientific venture in the Andes, claims that "the Amazon is longer than the Nile by 100 km, with its longest headwater being the Carhuasanta stream originating in the south of Peru on the Nevado Mismi mountain's northern slopes and flowing into the Río Apurímac".[77] However, the origin of the river at Nevado Mismi had already been known more than one decade earlier (see Jacek Palkiewicz), and satellite based measuring from this origin to the Amazon mouth has resulted in not more than 6,400 km.
• Generally, the most commonly used/anglicised name of the river is used. The name in a native language or alternate spelling may be shown.

The Amazon basin formerly drained westwards into the Pacific Ocean, until the Andes rose and reversed the drainage.[78]

The Congo basin is completely surrounded by high land, except for its long narrow exit valley past Kinshasa, including waterfalls around Manyanga. That gives the impression that most of the Congo basin was formerly on a much higher land level and that the Congo River was rejuvenated by much of its lower course being removed, likeliest when Africa split from South America when Gondwanaland broke up due to continental drift, and before that, the Congo would likely have flowed into the Amazon,[78] producing a river around 6000 miles or 10,000 km long.

This river would have been about 10,000 km (6,200 mi) long, in the last ice age. Its longest headwater was the Selenga river of Mongolia: it drained through ice-dammed lakes and the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea.

During the last glacial maximum, much of what is now the southern part of the North Sea was land, known to archaeologists as Doggerland. At this time, the Thames, the Meuse, the Scheldt, and the Rhine probably joined before flowing into the sea, in a system known by palaeogeographers as the Loubourg or Lobourg River System.[79] There is some debate as to whether this river would have flowed southwest into what is now the English Channel, or flowed north, emerging into the North Sea close to modern Yorkshire. If the latter hypothesis is true, the Rhine would have attained a length of close to 1,650 kilometres (1,030 mi). The former hypothesis would have produced a shorter river, some 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) in length. Current scientific research favours the former opinion, with the Thames and Rhine meeting in a large lake, the outflow of which was close to the present-day Straits of Dover.[80]

• Lists of rivers
• List of drainage basins by area
• List of rivers by discharge
• List of river films and television series
• List of rivers of Antarctica

Notes References

• Principal Rivers of the World[unreliable source?]