Top 10 Longest Rivers In The World

Last updated on April 12th, 2022

A river is a natural water body that flows downhill driven by the force of gravity. This flow, usually comprised of fresh water, eventually drains into another water body such as a lake, ocean, or lager river downstream. There are, however, some rivers that drain into dry ground without reaching any other water body.

What is a River Basin?

This is an area of land whose streams, groundwater, and surface runoff from precipitation contribute to a river’s flow. In essence, a river’s drainage basin serves as a funnel that collects water and feeds it into a common outlet, making the river larger as it flows downstream. This area could span anywhere from a few acres to several thousand square miles, depending on how long the river is.

Tributaries and Distributaries

We’ve just highlighted that there are rivers whose flow drains into larger rivers; these are known as tributaries. A tributary could itself be fed by smaller rivulets, but the distinguishing factor is that it doesn’t flow directly into a lake/ocean.

Speaking of which, there also are rivers that branch off into smaller streams as they flow downstream. These branches, a common feature of river deltas, are known as distributaries. A distributary’s distinguishing feature is that it doesn’t revert to its parent river once it branches out.

World’s 10 longest rivers

1. The Nile – the world’s longest river

The Nile River in Northeastern Africa is the longest in the world. It flows from south to north, starting from the highlands and ending in the Mediterranean Sea just off the coast of Egypt. This body of water has played a big part in the history, culture, and economy of the region since the rise of early civilizations. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting facts about the Nile River.

1. Etymology

The name “Nile” is thought to originate from the Greek word “neilos” or the Latin “Nilus” that translates into valley. In his work, the ancient Greek poet Hesiod called Nilus one of the river gods.

2. The Black River

Egyptians also refer to it as “Ar” which means “Black River”. That’s because the water turns dark during its annual flooding due to the presence of sediments.

The Nile on map

3. Regional Names

Each country along the river calls it by a different name. In Ethiopia, they call it Bahr el Jabal. In Sudan, it is referred to as Bahr al Ghazal. They also have local names for its tributaries.

4. White, Red, Blue, and Yellow

The major tributaries of the Nile are labeled with different colors. The White Nile begins at Uganda’s Lake Victoria. The Blue Nile springs from Ethiopia’s Lake Tana. The Red Nile originates further north. Lastly, the Yellow Nile is a former tributary that started in Chad. The Blue Nile and White Nile are two tributaries of the Nile that flow from the South into what is referred to as the Nile proper. 

5. Annual Floods

The Nile River is known to swell up in the summer because of heavy rains in Ethiopia. The flooding in Egypt begins in July and lasts until September. Low flood volumes would sometimes lead to famine or crop failure.

6. The Rise of the Egyptian Civilization

The river made the banks of the Nile fertile enough to sustain crops. Ancient Egyptians were able to trade wheat with its neighbors, ensuring their economic stability in a region plagued by famine.

7. Hapi, the God of Floods

According to Egyptian tradition, Hapi is a god who controls the flooding of the Nile. The depictions show an androgynous figure often bearing offerings. Priests conducted rituals to ensure the river’s steady flow.

8. Guardians of the Source

Other gods associated with the Nile include Khnum, Anuket, and Satet. They were thought to guard the source of the Nile. They also made sure that the water contained ample silt to promote soil fertility.

9. First Successful Irrigation

Large-scale farming would not be possible without irrigation. Ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians were the first to successfully control the flow of water for agriculture with the latter leaning heavily on the Nile River.

10. Ancient Egyptian Calendar

Ancient Egyptians developed a calendar that revolves around the waters of the Nile. They had 12 lunar months divided into three seasons. Akhet was flooding season, Peret was growing season, and Shemu was the dry season.

11. Timing the New Year

The annual Nile flood used to mark the New Year. However, the water didn’t always start to rise on the same date. They replaced it with a more reliable astronomical marker: the appearance of the bright star Sirius.

12. The Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile can grow as long as 20 feet and weigh as much as 1,650 pounds. Although they usually eat fish, they are known to attack anything in their path including humans. Some estimate an average of 200 fatalities every year.

13. The Origin of the Nile

Many ancients wondered how the Nile could flow continuously through a desert region and cause annual floods. Some wrongly blamed the sun, the wind, and the heat underground.

14. Reasonable Assumption

Eratosthenes (276-194 BCE) is the first person to accurately compute the Earth’s circumference. He also mapped the Nile valley and correctly observed that heavy rains at higher elevations were sufficient to cause the floods.

15. The Aswan High Dam

In 1970, the Aswan High Dam was completed to support Egypt’s industrialization by generating hydroelectricity, increasing water storage for irrigation, and improving flood control. It ended the natural summer floods.

16. Archaeological Site Reconstruction

The dam made relocation necessary for over 100,000 residents. Four archaeological sites also had to be reconstructed at higher elevation including the rock temple of Abu Simbel that was built by Pharaoh Ramses II.

17. Nile Explorations

In 1951, John Goddard and his two French companions became the first people to navigate the entire river from Burundi to the Mediterranean Sea. The 6,800-kilometer journey took nine months to complete.

18. Blue Nile on Kayaks

In 2005, the team of Les Jickling and Mark Tanner finished the first human-powered journey of the dangerous Blue Nile using kayaks.

19. Water Sharing Issues

Water is scarce in East Africa and countries have locked horns over this precious resource. For example, the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam got strong reactions in Egypt. The Nile Basin Initiative aims to find peaceful solutions to these conflicts.

20. Nile River Transportation

The Nile served as the main highway in Ancient Egypt. Boats transported people and goods across towns at a time when land travel was slow and dangerous. They even moved massive stone blocks for the pyramids by water.

The Nile – quick facts and statistics

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