List of Major River Systems in the World
A river system is a number of rivers which consists of one main river, which drains into a lake or into the ocean, and all its tributaries. The source is where the water is coming from, for example, from spring water (waterfalls), mountains etc.
It is an important feature of most landscapes, acting as the principal mechanism for the transport of weathered debris away from upland areas and carrying it to lakes and seas, where much of the classic sediment is deposited.
Major River Systems in the World
1. Amazon River System
Country: Peru, Ecuador, Brazil
Source: Rio Mantaro
Tributaries: Marañón, Japurá/Caquetá, Rio Negro/Guainía, Putumayo, Ucayali, Purús, Madeira, Tapajós, Xingu
Destination: Atlantic Ocean
2. Amur River System
Country: Russia, China
Source: Lake Khanka
Tributaries: Shilka, Zeya, Bureya, Amgun, Ergune, Huma, Songhua, Ussuri
Destination: Sea of Okhotsk
Country: China, Mongolia, Russia
Source: Bhagirath Glacier
Tributaries: Dibang River, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River, Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River
Destination: Andaman Sea
4. Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River System
Country: China
Source: Jari Hill
Tributaries: Yalong, Min, Tuo, Jialing, Han, Wu, Yuan, Zi, Xiang, Gan, Huangpu River, Teesta River, Subansiri River
Destination: East China Sea
5. Danube River System
Country: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
Source: Black Forest Mountain
Destination: Black Sea
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6. Dnieper River System
Country: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
Source: Valdai hills (Russia)
Tributaries: Sozh, Desna, Trubizh, Supiy, Sula, Psel, Vorskla, Samara, Konka, Bilozerka, Drut, Berezina, Prypiat, Teteriv, Irpin, Stuhna, Ros, Tiasmyn, Bazavluk, Inhulets
Destination: Black Sea
7. Huang Ho River (Yellow River) System
Country: China
Source: Kunlun Mountain
Tributaries: Fen River, Tao River, Wei River
Destination: Gulf of Bohai
8. Indus River System
Country: China, India, Pakistan
Source: Mount Kailash
Tributaries: Zanskar River, Suru River, Soan River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, Beas River, Sutlej River, Panjnad River, Ghaggar-Hakra River, Luni River, Shyok River, Hunza River, Gilgit River, Swat River, Kunar River, Kabul River, Kurram River, Gomal River, Zhob River
Destination: Arabian Sea
9. Irrawaddy River System
Country: Myanmar
Source: Mali River
Tributaries: Chindwin, Mu, Myitnge
Destination: Andaman Sea
10. Lena River System
Country: Russia
Source: Lake Baikal
Tributaries: Kirenga, Vilyuy, Vitim, Olyokma, Aldan
Destination: Laptev Sea
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11. Mississippi River System
Country: Canada, United States of America (USA)
Source: Lake Itaska
Tributaries: Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Red rivers
Destination: Gulf of Mexico
12. Mackenzie River System
Country: Canada
Source: Great Slave Lake
Tributaries: Liard River, Keele River, Arctic Red River, Peel River, Great Bear River
Destination: Beaufort Sea
13. Mekong River System
Country: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
Source: Lasagonagma Spring
Tributaries: Nam Khan, Tha, Nam Ou, Mun, Tonle Sap, Kok, Ruak
Destination: South China Sea
14. Murray River System
Country: Australia
Source: Australian Alps
Tributaries: Mitta Mitta River, Kiewa River, Ovens River, Goulburn River, Campaspe River, Loddon River, Swampy Plains River, Murrumbidgee River, Darling River
Destination: Southern Ocean
15. Madeira River System
Country: Bolivia, Brazil
Source: Mamore River
Tributaries: Madre de Dios River, Mamoré River, Ji-Paraná River, Dos Marmelos River, Manicoré River, Mataurá River, Mariepauá River, Aripuanã River
Destination: Amazon River
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16. Nile River System
Country: Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea
Source: Blue Nile and White Nile
Destination: Mediterranean Sea
17. Niger River System
Country: Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, Nigeria
Source: Guinea High Lands
Tributaries: Sokoto River, Kaduna River, Benue River, Anambra River, Bani River
Destination: Gulf of Guinea
18. Irtysh River System
Country: Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Russia
Source: Altai Mountain
Tributaries: Tobol River, Demyanka River and the Ishim River
Destination: Ob River
19. Orinoco River System
Country: Colombia, Venezuela
Source: Parima Mountains
Destination: Atlantic Ocean
20. Parana River System
Country: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay
Source: Parima Mountain
Destination: Atlantic Ocean
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21. Purus River System
Country: Peru, Brazil
Source: Ucayali
Destination: Amazon River
22. Paraguay River System
Country: Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia
Source: Mato Grasso
Tributaries: Rio Negro, Miranda River, Cuiabá River, Apa River, Tebicuary River, Jauru River, Pilcomayo River, Bermejo River
Destination: Parana River
23. Sao Francisco River System
Country: Brazil
Source: Canastra Mountains
Destination: Atlantic Ocean
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24. Salween River System
Country: Thailand, China, Myanmar
Source: Tibet Plateau
Destination: Andaman Sea
25. Tarim River System
Country: China
Source: Tibet
Destination: Lop Nur
26. Tigris River System
Country: Iraq, Turkey, Syria
Source: Turkey
Destination: Shatt al-Arab
27. Ural River System
Country: Russia, Kazakhstan
Source: Ural Mountain
Destination: Caspian Sea
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28. Volga River System
Country: Russia
Source: Valdai Hills
Tributaries: Kama, Oka
Destination: Caspian Sea
29. Yenisei River System
Country: Mongolia, Russia
Source: Satnovoy Range
Tributaries: Angara, Lower Tunguska, Stony Tunguska River
Destination: Arctic Ocean
30. Yukon River System
Country: Canada, United States of America (USA)
Source: Atlin Lake
Tributaries: White River, Tanana River, Tagish River, Takhini River, Teslin River, Big Salmon River, Pelly River, Stewart River, Klondike River, Birch Creek, Koyukuk River
Destination: Bering Sea
31. Zaire River (Congo River) System
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon
Source: Lake Mweru
Tributaries: Inkisi, Kwa-Kassai, Fimi, Kwango, Sankuru, Sangha (right), Kadei, Ubangi/ (right), Mbomou, Uele, Tshuapa River (left), Lomami River (left)
Destination: Atlantic Ocean
32. Zambezi River System
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique
Source: Mwinlunga
Destination: Indian Ocean
Since prehistoric era, rivers played important role in life formation and human evolution. They provide a source of drinking water, for obtaining food, to fertilize lands and way to transport goods from place to place. Rivers also provide an important habitat for wildlife. They play an essential role in the ecology of rainforest and wetlands.
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