| Major Rivers of the World |
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Name of the River |
Characteristics |
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Major Rivers of North America
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Mississippi – Missouri River system
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- Mississippi – Missouri River system is the longest River System in North America.
- Known for Bird’s Foot Delta.
- Mississippi River rises in the Lake Itasca, USA
- The Missouri River rises in the Rocky Mountains, USA.
- The Missouri River is the longest river in North America.
- Missouri River is the tributary of the Mississippi River. It joins Mississippi near St.Louis.
- Drains into the Gulf of Mexico.
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Rio Grande River
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- It rises in the San Juan Mountains in the United States (Colorado).
- It forms the border between the USA and Mexico.
- Drains into the Gulf of Mexico.
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Colorado River
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- It rises in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado, USA.
- Hoover dam is located on the Colorado river.
- It form the Grand Canyon.
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St Lawrence River
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- It rises in Lake Ontario.
- Connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
- It forms the border between Canada and the USA.
- It drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Major Rivers of South America
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Amazon River
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- It is the largest river in the world by volume.
- It is the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
- It has the largest drainage basin. It flows through Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia.
- It flows through the Amazon Rainforest.
- It rises in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
- Major tributaries include Rio Negro, Madeira, and Xingu.
- Drains into the Atlantic Ocean on the northeastern coast of Brazil.
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Ornicco River
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- It rises in the Guiana Highlands near the Brazil-Venezuela border.
- It flows in a giant arc.
- It flows through Venezuela and Colombia.
- Drains into the Atlantic ocean.
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Prana River
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- Rises in Southern Brazil, formed by the confluence of the Paranaiba and Grande rivers in Brazil.
- It flows through Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina.
- Itaipu Dam is located on the Prana River.
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Major Rivers of Europe
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Volga River
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- It is the longest river in Europe (3530 Km)
- It rises in the Valdai Hills in western Russia.
- It drains into the Caspian Sea.
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Danube
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- It is the second longest river in Europe.
- Originates in the Black Forest Mountains in Southwestern Germany.
- It is the only major European river to flow from the west to the east.
- It flows through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
- Major Cities Along the Danube: Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade etc
- It drains into Black Sea.
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Rhine River
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- It rises in the Swiss Alps.
- It flows through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands
- It drains into the North Sea.
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Rhone River
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- It rises in the Swiss Alps.
- It drains into the Mediterranean Sea.
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Ural River
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- It rises in the Ural Mountains, Southern Russia.
- It flows mainly through Russia and Kazakhstan.
- It makes a natural boundary between Europe and Asia.
- Drains into the Caspian Sea.
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Dnieper River
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- It rises in the Valdai Hills, Western Russia.
- It flows mainly through Russia, Ukraine, Belarus.
- Drains into Black Sea.
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Major Rivers of Africa
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Nile River
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- The Nile River is the longest river in the world, measuring roughly 6,650 kilometres in length.
- It flows from south to north through northeastern Africa and drains into the Mediterranean Sea near Alexandria.
- It is formed by the confluence of two major river systems, namely the White Nile and the Blue Nile.
- The Nile Basin spans 11 countries: Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt.
- It has historically been called the “lifeline of Egypt”.
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Congo River
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- It originates as the Chambeshi River in the highlands of northeastern Zambia, near Lake Tanganyika.
- It flows primarily through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and forms the border with the Republic of the Congo.
- With a length of 2,900 miles (4,700 km), it is the second longest river in Africa.
- It is also the world’s deepest recorded river.
- It is the only major river to cross the equator twice.
- It drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Niger River
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- Niger river is the third longest river in Africa after the Nile and Congo river.
- It originates in the Guinea highlands.
- It flows in crescent shape through Mali, Niger, and Benin before creating a major delta in Nigeria.
- It is also called the “Oil River” as it was the major centre of palm oil during the colonial period.
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Zambezi River
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- The Zambezi River is Africa’s fourth-longest river and the longest east-flowing river.
- It originates in the Mwinilunga District of Northwestern Zambia.
- It flows through six countries – Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
- It is famous for Victoria Falls, Kariba Dam, and Cahora Bassa Dam.
- It drains into Indian Ocean
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Major Rivers of Asia
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Ganga River
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- Ganga river is the longest river in India (2525 Km).
- It is the largest river system in India in terms of basin area and population supported.
- It is formed by the confluence of Bhagirathi River and Alaknanda River at Devprayag.
- It enters the plains at Haridwar.
- Major Left Bank Tributaries: Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaggar, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda
- Major Right Bank Tributaries: Yamuna, Son, Damodar.
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Brahmaputra River
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- It originates in Chemayungdung glacier of Kailash range near Mansarovar lake.
- It enters India in Arunachal as Dihang through Namcha Barwa
- It is known for floods, shifting channels and bank erosion
- Major Left bank tributaries: Burhi, Dihing, Dhansari, Dibang, Lohit, etc
- Major Right bank tributaries: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, Sankosh, Teesta
- It is known as Tsangpo in Tibet and Jamuna in Bangladesh.
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Indus River
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- Origin: Indus originates from glaciers of the Kailash range near Mansarovar Rakas Lake region.
- Tributaries: Zaskar, Shyok, Gilgit, Drass, Hunza, Kabul are its important tributaries in the higher ranges of Himalayas.
- Rivers of Punjab – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj are left bank tributaries.
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Mekong River
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- It originates in the Lasagongma Spring on the Tibetan Plateau, China.
- It flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
- It borders Myanmar and Laos and Laos and Thailand.
- It forms the fertile Mekong Delta in Vietnam, one of the world’s major rice-producing regions.
- Drains into South China Sea.
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Yellow River
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- It is the second longest river in China.
- It rises in the Tibetan Plateau.
- It is called the Yellow river because it carries huge amounts of yellow loess, fine silt coming from Loess Plateau.
- Infamous as China’s Sorrow” due to massive destruction caused by floods.
- It is known as the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization.” as early Chinese settlements and agriculture developed along its banks
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Yangtze River
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- Yangtze river is the longest river in Asia.
- Length: 6300 km
- The Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, is located on the river.
- Drains into East China Sea
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Ob River
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- Originates at the confluence of the Biya and Katun rivers in the Altai Mountains.
- It flows mainly through Russia.
- It drains into the Arctic Ocean.
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Lena River
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- It originates in the Baikal Mountains near Lake Baikal.
- It is the longest river in Russia.
- It flows entirely in Russia.
- known for the Lena Pillars, which are towering limestone rock formations.
- Drains into the Arctic Ocean.
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Major Rivers of Australia
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Murray River
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- Rises in the Australian Alps in the Great Dividing Range.
- It is the longest river in Australia (2508km)
- Drains into the Southern Ocean near Lake Alexandrina.
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Darling River
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- Rises in the Great Dividing Range.
- It is the third longest river in Australia
- Part of the Murray-Darling River system, the largest river system in Australia.
- It joins the Murray river at Wentworth.
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