Of course, if you can’t visit all the world’s most beautiful rivers, then why not check out our list for the 10 most beautiful rivers of them all.
Rivers are a huge part of the world’s geography, and many are stunning. From the mighty Mississippi to the placid Ganges, we have many to choose from. In our opinion, there are only a few that can really be considered “the top beautiful”, though. Here’s a look at the top ten of those.
Name of the Most Beautiful Rivers in the World
1. Amazon River
The Amazon River is the second largest river in the world and the largest drainage system of the South Americas. It starts in the Andes Mountains and is fed by numerous tributaries, making it the largest river on the planet by volume of water.
It also has the largest drainage basin in the world, which covers an area of 7,000,000 square kilometers (2,702,715 sq mi). The length of the Amazon River is 6,992 kilometers. Its basin is shared with nine other large rivers, most in Guyana.
2. Nile River
The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It flows through Egypt and Sudan and empties into the Mediterranean Sea at the city of Aswan, where it is joined by the Blue Nile River. The Nile River rises in the Great Lakes region in central Africa, in the watershed of the Congo River, and flows through the African Great Lakes region and then through Sudan, where it collects water from many tributaries. The river supplies water to large areas of Sudan.
If you’re into the Nile River, you probably know that it is the longest river in Africa. And also, it is one of the longest rivers in the world, extending 6,650 km (4,130 mi) long and basin size is 3,400,000 square kilometers (1,300,000 sq mi).
But what most people don’t know is that the Nile has many other amazing traits. Though the Amazon is the largest by the volume of water it carries. But the River Nile is also one of the most environmentally friendly rivers in the world.
3. Yangtze River
It’s hard to imagine the Yangtze as anything but one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. But during its long journey from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, the Yangtze deviates from its natural course and winds. It is way through China’s rugged western mountains, snaking across plains. Passing through the capital of Nanjing, and eventually emptying into the East China Sea.
The Chinese government has attempted to control the river’s flows to keep it navigable through the century-old Three Gorges Dam, but the river continues to seep into the ground and flow underground. Why can’t the mighty Yangtze River just follow its natural course?
The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world, running about 6,300 kilometers (3,900 miles) from its source to the river’s mouth on the East China Sea. The Yangtze River basin size is 1,808,500 square kilometers (698,300 sq mi). It is the source of most of the water in the People’s Republic of China, and the logging industry and hydroelectric dams have affected the river’s ecology and wildlife.
4. Thames River
The Thames River is a river in England that flows from Oxfordshire to the Thames Estuary. It is 346 km (215 mi) long and 12,935 square kilometers (4,994 sq mi) in size of the basin.
The Thames, like many other rivers in the world, is a relatively unassuming waterway. We tend to take it for granted when we’re sitting on the banks, but it’s worth remembering that this stretch of water is over 346 kilometers long. The Thames is the longest river in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, and it’s also the oldest.
It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Ock, the Loddon, which merge at Oxford. The Thames flows through Oxford, and provides the setting for much of the city’s architecture, including the university. The southern part of the tidal Thames Estuary forms part of the London commuter belt and is identified as a World Heritage Site.
5. Mississippi River
Before you get all hyped up about that, you should know that the river is also known for its rapids, natural lakes, and canals. The river was actually named after the Mississippi Native American tribe. The same tribe that gave their name to the nearby state of Mississippi.
The Southern United States. The Mississippi River is a very important river in the US. It is the only American river that divides the country into two halves. It flows from its source Lake Itasca in the mountains of the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
It is the second-longest river in the North American continent with a total length of 2,320 miles (3,730 kilometers). The Mississippi is the only river making the trip from its source to the Gulf of Mexico that doesn’t flow into any other river.
6. Danube River
There are a lot of places in the world that is referred to as beautiful rivers. But what makes the Danube River unique is that it is one of the few rivers in the world that flows straight into the Black sea.
The Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe after the Volga River. Approximately 2,850 kilometers (1,770 miles) long and 801,463 square kilometers (309,447 sq miles) of basin.
The river begins in the Black Forest in southern Germany, where it is known as the “Breg River”. The Danube flows through parts of Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia before entering Romania’s capital city and finally ending up in the Black Sea.
7. Yellow River
The Yellow River is a river in Northern, Western China. It rises in Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai and flows through the provinces of Gansu, Ningxia, and Shanxi before emptying into the Bohai Sea. It is 2nd longest river in China, the largest freshwater river in Asia, and the sixth-largest in the world.
Huang He, the native name of the Yellow River is a beautiful river in Asia. It is also the longest and among the most-watered rivers in the world, 5,464 kilometers (3,395 miles) long. Its drainage basin is almost double the size of China, basin size is 752,546 square kilometers (290,560 square miles).
It is an extremely important water source to the Chinese people. It is the source of drinking water for many of China’s largest cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan. It drains much of China’s arable land, and is a major component of the country’s agricultural belt. It has been heavily dammed, so much that the Yellow River is now largely a reservoir, supplying water to the surrounding.
8. Zambezi River
The Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa, running through the six countries in Africa. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. This majestic river has been a source of inspiration for many great poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth. As it runs through the dramatic mountains, vast plains, and lush forests of Southern Africa, the Zambezi is a river that is truly a joy to behold.
The Zambezi is one of Africa’s great rivers which flows into the Indian Ocean. A tributary of the Shire River, it also drains Lake Nyasa and Lake Tanganyika. The river drains a vast area of central and eastern Africa, running a course of 2,574 kilometers (1,599 miles) from the Main stem source to Lake Tanganyika. The Basin size of this river is 1,390,000 square kilometers (540,000 square miles). The river’s main tributary is the Shire River.
9. Volga River
There is a river in Russia that flows through some of Europe’s most picturesque cities into the Caspian Sea. This river, the Volga, has a history as turbulent as its waters, but it has also been a source of historical and cultural importance. It has also been vital in defining the character of modern Russia.
It is the longest river in Russia and Europe which is 3,531 kilometers (2,194 miles) long and 1,360,000 square kilometers (530,000 sq miles) of the basin. The Volga River is a major tributary of the Baltic Sea. Its drainage basin covers most of European Russia, including the city of Volgograd.
The Volga River connects many large Russian cities, including two of the largest, Moscow and St. Petersburg, with the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea.
10. Congo River
The Congo River, also known as the Zaire River, is a river in Africa that flows north to south through the African country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo River basin is the second largest river basin on the African continent, after the Nile.
The Congo River, the 9th longest river in the world and the third-longest in terms of flow, is a natural wonder of the Congo Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It begins as two major tributaries, the Lualaba River, and the Kwango River. The Congo River travels for 4,700 kilometers (2,900 miles) before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Basin size of Congo River is 4,014,500 square kilometers (1,550,000 sq miles).
In the dead of winter, the world looks rather drab—until you see the rivers and waterfalls that make this planet so beautiful and unique. This is where we can begin to appreciate nature and see the beauty of these rivers and waterfalls. We have mentioned above a list of the Top 10 Beautiful Rivers in the World. Although, there are many beautiful rivers in the world, but which ones are the prettiest to you? Comment below.
