6,650km · the Nile
Short answer: the Nile in Africa is usually named the longest river in the world, at about 6,650 kilometres. According to most sources, the Amazon in South America is slightly shorter, but it carries by far the most water.
The longest rivers in the world
- Nile (Africa): about 6,650 km
- Amazon (South America): at least 6,400 km
- Yangtze (China): about 6,300 km
- Mississippi-Missouri (United States): about 5,970 km
Lengths from Britannica: Nile, Amazon, Yangtze and Mississippi.
Nile or Amazon?
Scientists have debated for decades which river is longer. The problem: where exactly does a river begin? Rivers often have several headwaters, and the Amazon’s mouth is so wide that it is hard to say where the river ends. Depending on the chosen source and method, the Amazon sometimes comes out longer.
The Nile
The Nile flows through countries including Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean. In Egypt it has been the country’s lifeline for thousands of years. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is a popular way to see the temples along its banks.
The Amazon
The Amazon flows from the Andes in Peru through Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean. No river in the world carries as much water. The rainforest around it is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth.
And in Europe?
The longest river in Europe is the Volga, at more than 3,500 kilometres. Read more in our article on the most beautiful and longest rivers in Europe.
Final edit: Jan Willem Beumer, editor-in-chief of Mindbogglingmedia
