Major Rivers of the World - Fact Card

The Ganges River

begins in an ice cave in the Himalayas called Gaumukh (the Cow's Mouth), found five miles from the boarder of Tibet. Known as the "Ganga" in Hindi and other Indian languages, it has always been the holy river if Hinduism.

The Tigris River

begins with the Euphrates, has shaped the culture and boundaries of Western Asia for centuries. The Tigris River flows south from mountains in Turkey, through Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.

Beginning in Tibet, the Indus River

flows through China, India, and Pakistan. It is one of the longest rivers in Asia and the longest river in Pakistan. It is one of the SEVEN sacred rivers of the Hindus and was the birthplace of the early Indus Valley civilization.

The Volga

is Europe's longest river and is considered the national river of Russia. Eleven of Russia's 20 largest cities, including the capital city Moscow, depend on the Volga's drainage basin. The Volga River is vitally important to Russia's inland shipping and transportation industries.

The Danube

is Europe's second longest river. It was the ancient frontier of the Roman Empire. It starts in modern-day Germany and flows through 10 countries, more than any other river in the world. It shares its basin with 19 countries, making it the world's most international river basin.

The Amazon

is South America's longest river. Covering over 4,000 miles, it winds through six countries and three time zones. With depths of up to 300 feet, it holds about one-fifth of the world's fresh running water and supports an abundance of flora and fauna.

The Yellow River

is known as the "mother river if China." It is the country's second longest river. The yellow color comes form loess sediment, which is a mixture of sand and silt. The Yellow River has the highest amount of silt of any large river. It runs through nine provinces to the Bohai Sea.

The Nile

is the longest river in Africa, winding 4,000 miles. The Nile and its tributaries flow through 11 northeast African countries. In Egypt, the Nile creates a fertile green valley across the desert, providing life to one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

The Yangtze

is the longest river in Asia and the third longest river in the world. It is the longest river to flow through only one country- China. The Yangtze River's source is at a higher altitude than any other river's source- in the mountain's of Tibet.

The Rhine

is the longest river in western Europe, flowing from the Alps in Switzerland through six countries before emptying into the North Sea. Because it creates a natural boundary for Germany, Switzerland, France, Liechtenstein, and Austria, it has always been a historically and culturally important river.

The Mississippi

is the second longest river in North America. It is contained within the United States, beginning at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flowing south to New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico. Its tributaries come from 31 states and two Canadian provinces.