1. Rio Negro
   Amazon
2. Magdelena
   Bermejo

The Amazon River isn't only the longest river in South America. It is the second longest river in the world, clocking in at about 4000 miles. It has no rival in the amount of life it has, with approximately 2,500 diverse species of fish.

1. Escalante
   San Juan
2. Colorado
   Paria

The Colorado River, once called the Grand, covers an area reaching 1,450 miles. It makes its way through 11 national parks, seven states, and ends up in Mexico. This waterway is a crucial water supply for many industries and municipalities.

1. Danube
   Rhone
2. Elbe
   Main

The Danube River ranks second on the list of the longest rivers in Europe. It starts in the Black Forest Mountains of Germany and stretches into nine other European countries until it empties into the Black Sea.

1. Ubangi
   Orange
2. Nile
   Senegal

Most people think of Egypt when they think of the Nile River, but it actually runs through 11 African countries. Its two tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, start in Sudan and Ethiopia.

1. Congo
   Cuando
2. Limpopo
   Vaal

The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa, behind the Nile. One of its main sights, Livingstone Falls, equals the power of all the falls and rivers put together in the U.S.

1. Godavari
   Krishna
2. Kaveri
   Ganges

Many of the world's Hindus visit the Ganges River to perform spiritual cleansing. Ironically, that pure act has led to this body of water becoming one of the world's most polluted rivers.

1. Volta
   Gambia
2. Chambeshi
   Benue

The Gambia River is considered one of Africa's most navigable rivers. Life in the country of Gambia centers around this waterway because it flows practically down the middle of it.

1. Tennessee
   Wabash
2. Ohio
   Allegheny

Although the Ohio River is named after one state, it starts in another: Pennsylvania. This body of water starts in the city of Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela meet and run into Illinois.

1. Jubba
   Kwango
2. Mara
   Niger

Although the various West African tribes have different names for it, the Niger River was given its best-known name by the Greeks. Some of the 20 tribes who still live near the Niger get their water directly from it.

1. Mississippi
   Arkansas
2. Red River of the South
   Snake

When the Mississippi River connects with the Missouri River, the pairing makes it a river system measuring 3,902 miles, the longest in North America. The Mississippi is so long that it takes a single droplet of water 90 days to travel down it.

1. Rhine
   Douro
2. Loire
   Vistula

The Rhine River is Western Europe's longest river, running through nine countries. It is a river valley with a long history; anthropologists discovered 44,000-year-old Neanderthal fossils there.

1. Genil
   Minho
2. Tagus
   Cinca

Of the five rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, the Tagus is the longest at around 625 miles. It flows to the west, meandering right across Spain and Portugal before it merges with the Atlantic Ocean.

1. Platte
   Rio Grande
2. Gila
   Cumberland

The Rio Grande is the second longest river in the U.S. and boasts some of the most scenic views in the country. At the border of Mexico, travelers can see diverse colors on the buttes, mesas and mountain areas.

1. Min
   Yalong
2. Han
   Yangtze

The Chinese name for the Yangtze River translates to "Long River." The Golden Waterway is literally the longest river in Asia and, along with the Huai River, divides China into northern and southern halves.

1. Gardner
   Little Bighorn
2. Milk
   Yellowstone

The Yellowstone River is the only river in the continental United States without a dam, leading some to call it "untamed." The famous explorers Lewis and Clark traveled its waters.

1. Rurubu
   Zambezi
2. Bakoy
   Maputo

The Zambezi River is the longest of the easterly flowing rivers of Africa. Despite that, it is still underexplored in comparison to the rest of the rivers there. The tourists who do travel white water raft on the highest graded river for the sport.

1. Moselle
   Neckar
2. Volga
   Inn

The longest river in Europe, the Volga is also known for its large population of sturgeon fish and the caviar they produce. The harvesting of fish eggs can only happen at certain times of the year as the river freezes for three months during the winter season.

1. Don
   Vitava
2. Oka
   Mur

The Don River has been a large part of Russian history. Archeologists have found proof of prehistoric settlements, and the warlike Cossacks settled in the area as well. In the '50s, the Volga-Don Ship Canal gave an economic boom to the region.

1. Songhua
   Grand Canal
2. Salween
   Yellow

Part of the Yellow Basin, the Yellow River is important to the Chinese people. Many consider the loopy waterway as part of the origin of Chinese civilization and refer to it as "Mother River."

1. Yamuna
   Tapti
2. Indus
   Narmada

The Indus is part of the four Himalayan rivers and the longest river in India. It flows in Pakistan and China before it connects with the Arabian Sea. Another name for it is "Sindhu."

1. Mobile
   Illinois
2. Columbia
   San Joaquin

The Columbia River is mostly within the United States but reaches the British Columbia province of Canada. It has 19 hydro-powered electric dams that supply half the region with its electrical supply.

1. Saint Lawrence
   Fraser
2. Ottawa
   Churchill

The Saint Lawrence River is rich in marine life. It's home to beluga whales, bald eagles and ospreys. About 1,700 species of diverse plant life live in this waterway, including a rare species of orchid.

1. Paraguay
   Maroni
2. Ucayali
   Purus

The Paraguay River has been particularly important to the country that shares its name. Since the South American country is landlocked, the river is vital to importing and exporting goods.

1. Xi
   Pearl
2. Liao
   Yarlung Tsangpo

The Pearl River is one of the longest rivers in China and considered one of the seven most important rivers in the nation. The Pearl River Delta is becoming known as the jewel in the crown of the Chinese economy.

1. Pechora
   Thames
2. Havel
   Weser

The River Thames has been considered a landmark of London for centuries. More than 200 bridges stretch across this river, including one built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. The famous French artist, Claude Monet, painted it more than once.

1. Sobat
   Black Volta
2. Lomami
   Orange

Calling a river "orange" seems odd since that's not the color one would usually associate with water. The Orange River is so named because the Dutch explorers named it after a Dutch royal, William of Orange.

1. Seine
   Garonne
2. Oder
   Sava

The Seine River starts near Dijon and merges with the English Channel a bit past Paris. Many French tourists see sights like the Champs-Elysees and Eiffel Tower on boat cruises or water taxis on the Seine.

1. Tigris
   Jordan
2. Congo
   Greater Zab

Judging by the name, Tigris, one might think that the river was named after a tiger. This waterway's name came from an Old Persian word that means "fast one." The city of Baghdad sits on the bank of the Tigris.

1. Delaware
   Hudson
2. Allegheny
   Canadian

The man who the Hudson River is named after had an unfortunate experience when he explored what is now New York. His numerous and failed attempts to find a trade route to China caused his crew to mutiny. When they put him in a rowboat, he was never heard from again.

1. Sutlej
   Ravi
2. Koshi
   Brahmaputra

The Brahmaputra River in India is named for the son of the god Brahma. It is believed this son was shaped like water, and the sage Shantanu put him in the center of four mountains.

1. Orontes
   Euphrates
2. Murat
   Sajur

The Euphrates is longer than the Tigris, the other river of Mesopotamia. The Book of Genesis names it as one of the rivers that came from the Garden of Eden. It is mentioned in other religious texts, too.

1. Neva
   Amur
2. Lena
   Ob

The longest river in Russia, the Lena is among the longest rivers in the world. The name, Lena, actually comes from a word that means "Large River." It empties into the Arctic and is found solely in Russia.

1. Rio de la Plata
   Xingu
2. Parana
   Iguazu

The Parana River is only second in size to the mother of all rivers: the Amazon. As it flows into the sea and becomes a delta, it encompasses 8,400 square miles of rainforest, a true jungle.

1. Susquehanna
   North Canadian
2. Juniata
   Kentucky

Geologists estimate that the Susquehanna River is the oldest of the major rivers of the world, dating back to around 500 million years ago. It is the longest river that flows entirely within the United States.

1. Brenta
   Adige
2. Tanaro
   Po

The longest river in Italy, the Po starts in the mountains and empties into the Adriatic Sea. Although it only stretches about 400 miles, this body of water moves quickly and has around a 5,500-foot descent.

1. Nazas
   Fuerte
2. Balsas
   Hondo

The Fuerte River is a major river of Mexico. It's enclosed by Miguel Hidalgo Dam to make the state of Sinaloa's biggest reservoir. Along its banks, numerous mango plantations export tropical fruit to the United States.

1. Yarra
   Barwon
2. Murray
   Warrego

The Murray River is the longest river in Australia, and it is also one of the longest navigable rivers in the world, with only the Amazon and Nile in front of it. The river is an important water source for over a million households and even has its own flag.

1. Potomac
   Chesapeake
2. Monongahela
   Pecos

The Potomac River has been a part of US history since the beginning. The first president, George Washington, built a home on its shores. Centuries later, Bill Clinton named it an American Heritage River.

1. Tiber
   Arno
2. Piave
   Oglio

The Tiber River is important in the history of the Roman Empire because it was a freshwater source. It was also used as a trade route, giving Rome access to the Mediterranean Sea, and contributed to the agricultural system thriving year-round.

1. Segura
   Tagus
2. Minho
   Ebro

The Ebro River is an important water source and provider of hydroelectricity for Spain. It's also popular with tourists because of its wildlife and its reputation for being one of the best European fishing destinations.