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20 Most Famous Rivers in the World

We have many famous rivers in the world. They are famous in different ways, some are known for being long, and others in terms of volume among other interesting factors. Some of these rivers are more famous in some countries than others depending on their impacts on the country.

In this article, we have compiled a list of 20 famous rivers, it is good to know they are not the only famous rivers in the world. We have talked about their importance to society, where they are located, and how long they are among other factors.

Here are the 20 Famous Rivers in the world,

1. Amazon River

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Amazon River is the largest river by discharge Volume of water globally. It is as well the second longest river after river Nile. Amazon has an average discharge of about 7,600,000-8,100,000 cu ft/s per annum.

It is located in the largest country in South America, Brazil, and has a length of 6,500 km. It is important to note Amazon basin is also the largest drainage basin in the world.

2. Mississippi River

Mississippi River is the second-longest river in North America with approximately 3730 Km in length. The river passes through 10 different United States of America such as Lowa, Missouri, Louisiana, and Wisconsin among others.

Mississippi is known as one of the world’s most important commercial water sources and provides power to all cities near it. It as well acts as a habitat for many animals such as fish.

Here is The Best River Cruises in Budapest.

3. Yellow River

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Yellow River, also known as Huang he, is the Chinese second-longest river with a length of 3,395 miles, and  is the sixth-longest river globally.

The river originates from the southern Qinghai province and passes through nine provinces, ending in the Bohai Sea where it empties.

4. Congo River

The Congo River was initially known as the Zaire River. In terms of volume, the Congo River is the second biggest in the world with an estimated release of 42.50 cubic meters per second.

In Africa, River Congo is the second longest after River Nile and the ninth longest river in the globe which makes it popularly known.

5. Ganges River

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The Ganges River is transboundary since it crosses a political border. The river flows through India and Bangladesh, a South Asia country. It is popularly known as the Ganga in Hindi and it is the holy river of Hinduism.

The river starts in the Himalayas and drains into the Bay of Bengal. It has an estimated length of 2,510 Km. It flows from the northwest part to the southeast side.

6. Lena River

Lena River is famously known as the 10^th longest in the world with an approximate length of 4,400 Km. It is a Russian river and is said to be the 3^rd longest river in Siberia.

The Lena River originates from Baikal Mountains and drains into the Laptev Sea and the Arctic Ocean. During the winter season, the river is always covered by ice which leads to large-scale flooding.

Look at the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Danube River.

7. Niger River

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Niger River is famously known as the 3^rd longest river in Africa after river Nile and Congo River. The river runs through different countries such as Mali, Niger, Guinea, Benin border, and Nigeria.

It is located in Guinea Highlands, Guinea, with a length of 4,200 Km. The interesting part is that the river has several names in different languages of the region such as Fula, Manding, and Hausa among other names.

8. Murray River

Murray River is located in the southeastern part of Australia. It is the longest river in Australia and measures 2508 Kilometres long. Murray River passes through New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria.

Murray River is an important water source in Australia because the area is dry. The local farmers in the area use the water for irrigation. More than 1.5 million homes benefit from the water of the river as well.

9. Nile River

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The Nile River is a famous north-flowing river and it passes through much of northern Africa on its journey to the drainage point, the Mediterranean Sea. The major sources of the river Nile are the White Nile, Atbarah, and Blue Nile River.

The Nile River passes through Egypt and Sudan. As we all know Egypt and the largest part of Sudan is dry, desert. Nile River is important to the areas and acts as the primary water source for all life in the areas.

10. Zambezi River

Zambezi River is one of the most famous rivers we have in the world. It is found in Africa and is best known as the fourth-longest river in Africa as well as the longest east-flowing river in Africa.

The river is 2,700 Km long and flows from north-western Zambia and drains into the Indian Ocean. It passes through six countries including Zambia, Angola, and Namibia among others.

Find the Top 10 Fun Facts about the Amazon River.

11. Paraná River

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We cannot talk about the world’s famous rivers without mentioning the Parana River. It is well known as the 13^th longest river in the world not forgetting it is the second largest river in South America.

It flows through several countries such as Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Panara is located in south-central South America and has a length of 3,030 miles long.

12. Columbia River

The Columbia River is estimated to be 1,240 miles long. It passes through Canada and the Northwestern United States and drains into Pacific Oceans.

Columbia River was given the name Electric River because many dams have been built along it. The Colombia River dams produce one-third of the hydroelectric power in the United States.

13. Mekong River

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The Mekong River borders several countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China. The river is famously known for supporting one of the largest fishing industries in the world and has species such as freshwater stingray, giant catfish, and Siamese giant carp among others.

Since the Mekong River support fishing, it acts as a source of food for many people from the countries bordering the river.

14. Danube River

The Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe with an estimated length of 2,850 km. It passes through several countries in Europe such as Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, and Croatia among others.

The river is famously known for acting as a mode of transport. The Danube provides a route for freight transport and goods for neighboring countries. It has enabled the cities and countries nearby to operate smoothly in terms of trade.

15. The Saint Lawrence River

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The Lawrence River is located in Eastern Canada and it flows to the Atlantic Ocean. It is famously known as one of the largest rivers in the world.

The Lawrence River acted as a mode of transport for European explorers who first visited North America. Currently, the river is used as a mode of transport for goods.

16. The Thames

The Theme River is the longest in England and measures 346 km long. It runs through southern England and passes through London and drains into the North Sea.

Back in the day, the Thames River acted as a transportation mode for traders and travelers from mainland Europe across the English Channel. Nowadays, it acts as a tourist attraction destination since many landmark buildings are located along the river’s edge such as the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge among others.

Read also the Top 15 Astonishing Facts about the River Nile.

17. The Orinoco River

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The Orinoco River is one of the most famous rivers we have in the world. It is situated in South America and is best known as the fourth-largest river in the world in terms of volume. When it comes to its length, it is estimated to be 2,250 kilometers long.

The river acted as the main means of transportation hence making movement easy from one place to another. It is interesting to know that, today the river still offers passage through Venezuela.

18. Euphrates River

Euphrates River is located in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. It is estimated to have a length of 1,740 miles. The river is famously known for being one of the two rivers supplying Mesopotamia with water.

Mesopotamia is known for leading agricultural projects, inventions, and social development. The Euphrates River help big time in the development of Mesopotamia.

Look at the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Li River.

19. Tigris River

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The Tigris River is one of the two rivers that supply Mesopotamia with water together with the Euphrates River. It is situated in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq and has a length of 1,200 miles.

The river helps Mesopotamia promote its agricultural project by supplying water. The two rivers supplying water to Mesopotamia, the Tigris River, and the Euphrates were as well important for mythological reasons and religious.

20. Delaware River

When we talk of the most famous rivers in the world, the Delaware River can’t be left behind. It is located in the United States with a length of 301 miles.

A river doesn’t need to have a big volume of water to be relevant. Delaware has proved the point, despite being a small water body, it was used as a site of George Washington’s crossing and victory over Hessians during the Revolutionary War.

Here are the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Loboc River.

20. Yangtze River

Yangtze River is located in China and has a length of 3,900 miles. It is one of the most famous rivers we have in the world. It is said to be the longest river in China as well as the 3^rd longest river in the world.

Yangtze River has played an important role in China at large and promoted its growth. China people love agriculture and the river Yangtze has been supplying water to a large portion of the country.

The world is surrounded by amazing rivers. The 20 famous rivers we have talked about have helped the world big time. Some acted as modes of transport, others supplied water for agriculture, etc.

Some rivers are relevant today and hold their fame while others became famous for a short time. However, they are all remembered for their fascinating history.