Water is one of the most important parts of our lives. The beginning of the life forms on Earth was possible only with the help of water. Roughly 70% of land is covered by water however, less than 3% of the world’s water is drinkable. Most of the drinkable water comes from small streams and channels into huge rivers that stretch for thousands of miles, quenching the thirst of millions around the globe.

Water typically gathers in a river from precipitation across a drainage basin from surface runoff and other sources including groundwater recharge and springs. Because they supply water for drinking, irrigation, transportation, and the maintenance of numerous ecosystems, rivers are essential to the health of the planet. Rivers are naturally occurring waterways that cut across the landscape. They frequently originate from mountains or springs and flow into lakes, oceans, or other rivers. They supply water for agricultural, drinking, and animal use. People use rivers for transportation, and they are home to a variety of flora and animals.
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Top 10 Largest Rivers in The World
Here in this article we are going to take a brief look at the list of the largest rivers that actually helped to shape out the greatest human civilizations. The largest river in the world is decided by the average volume of water discharged by it. So, let’s tour around the world and find out which rivers made into the list:
10. Yenisei
The Yenisei is the world’s tenth-largest river, with 19,800 cubic meter water discharge per second. It is also the 5th longest river in the world extending 5,539 kilometers (3,445 miles) north through Mongolia and Russia. It is the largest river to flow into the Arctic Ocean. The Selenga River is considered to be the source of this river system. The Selenga River is 992 kilometers long and flows into Lake Baikal. The Angara River originates in Lake Baikal near Listvyanka, travels through Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast, and eventually meets the Yenisei River near Strelkovka. The Yenisei eventually empties into the Arctic Ocean. Its drainage basin is 1,000,000 sq. mi, or 2,580,000 km2.
- Country of Origin: Russia
- Total length: 5,539 Km (3,445 miles)
- Total Water Discharge: 19,800 m3/s
- Countries Covered: China
During the winter, the Yenisey is home to the Taimyr tundra reindeer herd, the world’s largest herd of its kind. Over one million reindeer have been known to move to grazing pastures along the river in the winter. The Yenisey basin (excluding Lake Baikal and the Khantayka headwaters lakes) has 55 native fish species, including two endemics: Gobio sibiricus (a gobionine cyprinid) and Thymallus nigrescens. According to studies, the Yenisey is contaminated by radioactive discharges from a facility that produces bomb-grade plutonium.
9. Brahmaputra
Brahmaputra originates near the summit of Mount Kailash in the Lake Manasarovar region, flows throughout the borders of Bangladesh, India, and Tibet (China), stretching for more than 3,969 km (2466 miles), and drains into the Bay of Bengal. According to its discharge volume, the Brahmaputra River ranks 9th in the world’s largest rivers and 15th in terms of length. For millions of people living in Bangladesh, North-eastern India, and Tibet (China), the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries provide important ecological, cultural, and economic benefits.
- Country of Origin: China
- Total length: 3,696 Km (2,466 miles)
- Total Water Discharge: 19,825 m3/s
- Countries Covered: China, India, and Bangladesh
The Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River system is the third biggest river system in the world in terms of mean annual discharge, with the Brahmaputra River alone contributing over half of the system’s total mean annual flow of 30,770 cubic meters per second. The rivers’ combined annual suspended sediment load of 1.84 billion tons is considered to be the largest in the world. The Brahmaputra River basin, which covers four nationsโBhutan, India, Bangladesh, and China (Tibet Autonomous Region)โhas a total size of 580,000 square kilometers. Approximately 50.5% of this total area is in Tibet, 7.8% is in Bhutan, 33.6% is in India, and 8.1% is in Bangladesh.
The river waters are home to a variety of fish species, including featherbacks, mrigal carp, butterfish, and others. Numerous widely recognized animals, including the one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, leopards, deer, wild buffalo, and Bengal tigers, can be found in the forests surrounding the Brahmaputra River.
8. Parana River (Rio de la Plata)
Parana originates near the Brazilian city of Sete Lagoas at the junction of the Paranaiba and Grande rivers. It then passes through several different countries, including Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil, before draining into the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its considerable length and water volume, it is an essential waterway for local trade, transportation, and hydroelectric power production. With a staggering discharge of 27,225 cubic meter of water per second it is ranked 8th largest and with the length of 4,880 km (3,032 miles), it ranks as the eighth longest river in the world.
- Country of Origin: Brazil
- Total length: 4880 Km (3032 miles)
- Total Water Discharge: 27,225 m3/s
- Countries Covered: Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina
There is a plethora of plant and animal life in the Paranรก River, which supports a rich and diversified ecology. This includes different fish, bird, reptile, and mammal species. Many endangered species, like the giant river otter, the maned wolf, and the marsh deer, depend on the river and the wetlands that surround it as their vital habitats. The Paranรก River also creates a natural border between Argentina and Paraguay for an extensive stretch of its course.
7. Madeira River
Madeira is one of largest rivers in the world and south America. It is largest and most significant tributary of the Amazon River, and also the part of the Amazon Basin. It travels for the total length of 1450 km (900 miles). The typical inter annual discharge of this river, which is among the biggest in the world, is 18,000 cubic meters per second, or 640,000 cubic feet per second. The Madeira River’s headwaters are in the Andes of Bolivia, about 3,300 kilometers (2,050 miles) upstream from where it drains into the Amazon. The mean Madeira discharge rises to 31,200 m3/s as it continues to flow towards the Amazon.
- Country of Origin: Bolivia
- Total length: 1450 Km (900 miles)
- Total Water Discharge: 31,200 m3/s
- Countries Covered: Brazil and Bolivia
The Madeira Basin makes up roughly 19% of the Amazon Basin, with an area of about 1,300,000 sq. km (502,000 sq. mi). Except in the south, the majority of the Madeira Basin is situated in a lowland rainforest zone. Due to its rich biodiversity, the Madeira Basin is inhabited by numerous critically endangered mammal species, including the pink dolphin, giant otter, and spotted jaguar. Additionally, around 750 fish species travel as far as 4,500 km (1,700 mi) annually to spawn and graze in the upper Madeira’s muddy, nutrient-rich waters.
6. Yangtze River
With a staggering discharge of 35,000 cubic meter of water per second it is ranked 6th largest and with the length of 6,300 km (3,915 miles), it ranks as the 3rd longest river in the world. The river originates from multiple tributaries in the Tibetan Plateau’s eastern region. Over 400 million people, or one-third of China’s population, reside in the region that the Yangtze River basin covers. Its basin, which stretches about 600 miles from north to south and almost 2,000 miles from west to east, drains a significant amount of South China. Approximately half of China’s fish and two thirds of its rice come from the Yangtze basin.
- Country of Origin: China
- Total Water Discharge: 35,000 m3/s
- Total length: 6300 Km (3915 miles)
- Countries Covered: China
The largest hydroelectric power plant, the Three Gorges Dam, is located on the river as well. With more planned, the Yangtze basin has seen the construction of over 50,000 dams since 1950. With one of the planet’s most biologically rich temperate regions, Yunnan Protected Areas’ Three Parallel Rivers is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chinese alligator and the narrow-ridged finless porpoise are unique species found strictly in the river. Over 14,000 distinct species of vegetation, 280 mammals (including giant pandas), 166 reptiles, 145 amphibians, 350 fish species, and 762 bird species can all be found in the Yangtze and its river basin.
5. Rio Negro River
The Rio Negro is one of the major tributary of the Amazon River. It’s the world’s largest blackwater river, the largest left tributary of the Amazon River (making up around 14% of the water in the Amazon basin), and among the top ten largest rivers globally in terms of average flow. With a staggering discharge of 35,943 cubic meter of water per second it is ranked 5th largest in the world and covers the total length of 2250 km (1400 miles). Starting as the Guainรญa River in Colombia, the Rio Negro travels along the border between Colombia and Venezuela before entering Brazil and taking on the name Rio Negro.
- Country of Origin: Colombia
- Total Water Discharge: 35,943 m3/s
- Total length: 2250 Km (1400 miles)
- Countries Covered: Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil
Along the Rio Negro’s main stem are numerous isolated areas, with over 600 islands located in the lower and mid-section of the river. There are many different kinds of wildlife and plants in the Rio Negro. Approximately 10% of the 1,000 distinct fish species that call the river home are endemic to the region. This part of the planet is home to many well-known aquarium species, including tetras, angelfish, and oscars. Some very huge species, such as gigantic catfish and arapaima, can also be found in Rio Negro.
4. Orinoco River
The Orinoco River runs through Colombia and Venezuela, South America. It is ranked as the fourth largest river in the world with the discharge of 37,740 cubic meter of water per second. Stretching 2140 km (1,330 miles) in length, it’s one of the longest rivers in South America. The Orinoco River’s headwaters originate in Venezuela, close to the Brazilian border. At 3,435 feet above sea level, Mount Delgado Chalbaud is the location to a spring that provides the river’s source. The Orinoco Basin is around 340,000 to 366,000 square miles in size, with three-quarters of that region entirely within Venezuela. During the wet season, the Orinoco River can be up to 14 miles wide and 330 feet deep.
- Country of Origin: Venezuela
- Total Water Discharge: 37,740 m3/s
- Total length: 2140 Km (1330 miles)
- Countries Covered: Colombia, and Venezuela
The Orinoco River basin, with its expansive rainforest basin, is well known for its amazing biodiversity. The Orinoco River basin is well-known for its enormous rainforest basin and tremendous biodiversity. It is home to an incredible number of plant and animal species, including over 1,500 fish species, making it one of the world’s most diversified river systems. It supports a broad spectrum of biodiverse species, many of which are endemic and endangered. One example is the Orinoco crocodile, which is exclusively found in or around the river. The Orinoco River system also has giant otter and boto species.
3. Ganges River
The Ganges River flows through northern India. At Gomukh, the end of the Gangotri Glacier, in the Himalaya Mountains, the Ganges River begins its journey. When the glacier’s ice melts, the clean waters of the Bhagirathi River emerge. As the Bhagirathi River descends down the Himalayas, it joins the Alaknanda River to become the Ganges River. This river is around 2,525 km long and has a drainage basin of over 1,000,000 kmยฒ. The Ganges Delta, generated mostly by the enormous, sediment-laden flows of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, is the world’s largest delta, covering around 64,000 km2 (25,000 sq. mi).It stretches for 400 kilometers (250 miles) along the Bay of Bengal.
- Country of Origin: India
- Total Water Discharge: 41,190 m3/s
- Total length: 2252 Km (1569 miles)
- Countries Covered: India and Bangladesh
It is ranked as the third largest river in the world with the average water discharge of 41,190 cubic meter of water per second. The Ganges River is essential to a vast array of species as well as hundreds of millions of people. The Ganges river dolphin is one of the species most in danger along the river. Just 1,200โ1,800 of them remain in the river presently, compared to tens of thousands once. A wide range of plant and animal species can be found along the Ganges and its banks. The Ganges supports 378 species of fish, eleven amphibian species, twenty-seven types of reptiles, eleven mammal species, and 177 species of aquatic birds, according to the Zoological Survey of India.
2. Congo River
Congo River is the largest and one of the longest and most well-known river of Africa. Originating from the Lualaba River, this river is the second largest river in world with the average water discharge of 41,200 cubic meter of water per second. It is also the second largest river of Africa spanning 4700 km (2922 miles) and passing through several countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, and Rwanda before draining into the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the world’s deepest river, reaching depths of more than 700 feet in some spots.
- Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total Water Discharge: 41,200 m3/s
- Total length: 4700 Km (2922 miles)
- Countries Covered: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, and Rwanda
The river also sustains a vast amount of biodiversity as it flows through the Congo rainforest, which is also the world’s second-largest river basin, behind the Amazon. In addition to over 1,700 kinds of birds and fish, this river provides an essential water source for over 400 species of mammals, including gorillas, African bush elephants, bonobos, and many more. This river is also home to 700 different types of fish. Additionally, it releases sediment and water into the Congo Plume in the Atlantic, which happens to be one of the world’s biggest carbon sinks.
1. Amazon River
The Amazon River is the world’s largest river with the average water discharge of 2,24,000 cubic meter of water per second and the second-longest river, measuring over 6400 Km (3977 miles). The mighty Amazon flows through northern South America, passing through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. It is believed that one-sixth of all fresh water that drains into the world’s oceans flows through the Amazon’s 320-kilometer-wide delta, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon River discharges so much freshwater into the Atlantic Ocean that it affects sea levels in the Caribbean. The Amazon includes approximately 1,100 tributaries, 12 of which are more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) long.
- Country of Origin: Peru
- Total Water Discharge: 2,24,000 m3/s
- Total length: 6400 Km (3977 miles)
- Countries Covered: Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil
Since the Amazon River has no bridges, the 10 million residents who live along its banks have to cross the freshwater river by boat. The Amazon rainforest is home to more than one-third of all known species on the globe. In terms of biodiversity, it is the world’s richest tropical forest. The river is home to thousands of fish species as well as crabs, algae, and turtles. The Amazon is one of the primary habitats for the boto, also known as the Amazon river dolphin, along with the Orinoco. The largest species of river dolphin is this one. The Amazon basin’s shallow waters are home to anacondas.
Conclusion
Hope you liked the list of top 10 largest river systems in the world. You can also read our other articles related to the science and the list of top 10s.
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Video Reference
Other References
- https://www.feow.org/ecoregions/details/605
- https://www.worldatlas.com/rivers/brahmaputra-river.html
- https://lacgeo.com/madeira-river-basin-south-america
- https://tourthetropics.com/guides/rio-negro/
- https://facts.net/nature/universe/20-fascinating-facts-about-orinoco-river/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/rivers/orinoco-river.html
- https://gangaaction.org/actions/issues/ecology/