What is the longest river in the world?

The Nile River is often cited as the longest river in the world, with a length of about 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles). It flows through several countries in northeastern Africa, including Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt, ultimately draining into the Mediterranean Sea. The river has been a vital source of water, transportation, and agriculture for civilizations along its banks for thousands of years.

While the Amazon River, which is frequently argued to rival or exceed the length of the Nile, is the largest river by discharge in the world and has been reported to have a longer length depending on various measurements and criteria, traditional measurements have held the Nile as the longest. The Yangtze River, primarily flowing through China, and the Mississippi River, majorly covering the United States, are both shorter than the Nile and Amazon rivers, allowing the Nile to retain its title in many academic contexts.