Which Is The Largest River In The World?

Rivers are the lifeblood of our planet. They are essential for all life, providing fresh drinking water, supporting vast ecosystems, and serving as crucial routes for transport and trade. These flowing bodies of water have shaped human civilisation for thousands of years. While no exact count exists, estimates suggest there are over three million rivers across the world, ranging from tiny streams to mighty torrents. Among these are giants like the Nile River, often cited as the world's longest, and the Congo River, which holds the record as the world's deepest. Do you know which river is the largest in the world by the sheer volume of water it carries? It is so massive that it discharges more water into the ocean than the next seven largest rivers combined. It also forms the world's largest drainage basin, covering almost 40% of its continent. In this article, we'll take a look at the answer and the fascinating facts behind the world's largest river.

List of Largest Rivers in the World by Water Discharge

Rivers are primarily ranked by discharge, which is the volume of water flowing past a specific point per unit of time, typically measured in cubic metres per second (m³/s). The largest river in the world by discharge volume is the Amazon River. It moves a greater volume of water than the next seven largest independent rivers combined. Here's a table of the world's largest rivers based on average annual discharge:

1. Amazon River 

The Amazon River is undeniably the king of rivers when it comes to water volume. Originating high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, it flows eastward across the vast South American continent, primarily through Brazil, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Its average discharge is an astonishing approx. 215,000 cubic meters per second, a flow so powerful it dilutes the seawater up to 100 miles offshore. The Amazon basin, often called the "River Sea", is home to the world's largest rainforest and unparalleled biodiversity.

2. Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna

This massive river system drains an enormous basin that includes the Himalayas, Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The system's discharge is measured at the river's mouth in the Bay of Bengal, where the three major rivers the Ganges (Ganga), the Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and the Meghna, converge to form the world's largest delta, the Ganges Delta.

3. Congo River

Flowing through Central Africa, the Congo River, formerly known as the Zaire River, is the world's deepest river, with depths measured up to 220 metres (720 feet). It is the second-longest river in Africa, but its discharge volume is massive, ranking third globally. Its vast, consistent flow is largely due to its basin spanning both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, ensuring that at least one half is always in a rainy season.

4. Orinoco River

The Orinoco River is one of South America's most important rivers, primarily flowing through Venezuela and Colombia. It is known for its spectacular seasonal flooding, which swells the river to several times its dry-season width, inundating the vast tropical grasslands known as the Llanos. The high precipitation across its catchment area gives it a discharge volume that places it fourth globally.

5. Yangtze River

The Yangtze River, or Chang Jiang (Long River), is the longest river to flow entirely within one country (China) and the longest in Asia. It is incredibly vital to the Chinese economy, serving as a major transportation artery and supplying water to vast agricultural regions. Originating in the Tibetan Plateau, it runs across central China to the East China Sea.

What Is The Largest River In The World?

The Amazon River is the largest river in the world. This is based on its volume of water, or discharge, which is the amount of water flowing through it per second. The Amazon's average discharge is over 200,000 m³/s, a volume greater than the next seven largest independent rivers combined. It also boasts the world's largest drainage basin.

Which River Is Bigger, the Nile Or the Amazon?

The Amazon is bigger than the Nile. While the Nile River has traditionally been cited as the longest river (around 6,650 km), the Amazon is the largest by volume and has the largest drainage area.

What Is The Largest River In The World But Not The Longest?

The Amazon River fits this description, as it is the undisputed largest by volume, but its status as the longest is constantly debated with the Nile River. In some traditional rankings and older measurements, the Nile is classified as the longest, which makes the Amazon the largest (by volume) but not the longest (by length) by that specific criterion.