The longest river in the world is probably not the one we all think of when we are asked that question. Or, at least, it is not the only one. Because science does not finish agreeing about it, not even about the criteria to be followed to decide it.
Surely, if you have to say which is the longest river in the world, you would point to Amazon. And you wouldn't be completely wrong. However, a good part of the experts, who are based on other characteristics, would tell you that it is the Nilo. The most curious thing is that we would all be right. It depends on what criteria we base ourselves on.
Criteria for deciding which is the longest river in the world
A priori, it may seem easy to establish the dimensions of a river. It would be enough to take its point of birth and its mouth and measure the distance. However, it is not even easy to set those physical limits. exist tributaries that join to form a single channel. Therefore, it is difficult to indicate exactly where a river begins.
In addition, while some experts rely on the criterion of the length, others do it by looking at its flow. That is, in the cubic meters of water that it discharges into the sea. In principle, if it is to establish which is the longest river in the world, the first criterion seems more reliable. However, science admits both.
Therefore, the best we can do is offer you all data relative to the two rivers mentioned so that you can form your own opinion. And, incidentally, since we deal with travel in our website, we will show you some of the most beautiful places that they cross.
The Nile, longest river in the world by length
As we told you before, the birthplace of the Nile is not clear. It is known to do so in the western tanzania and many experts place its origin in the lake victoria. But as the waters of this colossal lake are supplied by rivers, there are scientists who locate the source of the Nile in Kagera River, its largest tributary.
Lake Victoria
This dilemma is relevant because, in the first case, the great African river would have a length of 6650 kilometers. However, in the second, that is, if the Kagera is taken as the birthplace, it would travel 6853 kilometers.
To finish complicating things, this river colossus has two branches. The first is the call White Nile, whose country of birth would be Rwanda and that it would traverse the Great Lakes region. For its part, the second would be the Blue Nile, which is born in the lake Tana, the largest of Ethiopia, and goes through Sudan to join the first near the capital of this country, Khartoum.
Finally, it empties to the southeast of the Mediterranean Sea forming the so-called Nile Delta after going through ten countries. But in addition, the African river has less flow than the Amazon. This delivers an average of 200 cubic meters to the Atlantic Ocean, while the Nile carries a quantity of water sixty times less. And the Amazon is also wider, since in its widest stretches it reaches eleven kilometers wide.
On the other hand, as we had promised you, we are going to advise you some of the most beautiful places that you can visit on the banks of the Nile River.
Lake Victoria
With its almost seventy thousand square kilometers, it is the second largest lake in the world after Superior, in Canada. Its shores include three nations: Tanzania, Uganda y Kenya and gets its name from the queen England victory.
With such an extension, it is logical that it has natural wonders. To give you an example, we will mention the Murchison Falls or Kabalega, which belong to Uganda and which have given rise to a national park. They are actually a set of three large waterfalls that reach a maximum of forty-three meters in height.
The Aswan Dam
Although it is not a natural monument, we are talking about this dam because of its capital importance for the Nile channel. Actually, it is made up of two dams, the high and the low. But the most spectacular is the first, built in the XNUMXs.
Aswan Dam
It is a colossal engineering work that was executed to prevent the river from overflowing. Its enormous size will give you an idea of the fact that it measures almost four kilometers in length y almost one hundred and ten tall. As for the thickness of its base, it is almost a kilometer.
So that they were not lost, many monuments that were in the area had to be moved before the work was carried out. Among them, the Temple of Debod, transferred to Madrid. But also those of Ramses II and Dendur, taken to Khartoum and New York respectively.
The ancient city of Meroe
Located in Sudan, was the capital of Kingdom of Kush, one of the two that made up the old nubian. Its existence dates back to the 350th century BC, but it was destroyed around XNUMX AD. However, remains of the wall are preserved, the Royal Palace, great temple of Amun and other minors. It is not as spectacular as the Egyptian areas that we are going to talk about next, but it has a huge archaeological value.
The Valley of the Kings
Also on the banks of the Nile are some of the most important monuments in the world: those of Ancient Egypt. Among these, those located in the Valley of the Kings stand out, which in turn form with the Archaic thebes a declared set Heritage.
The valley is made up of the tombs of various pharaohs of the New Kingdom and very close to them are the magnificent Luxor and Karnak temples, as well as the so-called Valley of the Queens, with the tombs of these excavated in the rocks. Without a doubt, it is one of the most imposing monumental ensembles on the banks of the Nile, where you can see many other wonders, but now we are going to focus on the Amazon.
Luxor Temple
The Amazon, the largest river in the world by water flow
For its part, the Amazon is slightly shorter than the Nile. But its length is also subject to controversy. The hydrographic cartographers themselves disagree.
According to the United States National Park Service, the Amazon has a length of 6400 kilometers. However, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics published a study several years ago in which it stated that this great river originates in the south of Peru and not in the north, as was estimated until then. With that, the Amazon gained in length to the Nile. But the controversy is still alive and most scientists still consider the African river longer.
In any case, if instead of length the flow or width is taken as a measure, the Amazon defeats the Nile again. As for the former, as we were saying, the great river of South America flows into the Atlantic an average of 200 cubic meters per second. And, regarding the width, the Amazon measures in its main sections 11 kilometers. In other words, the other is barely visible from one shore.
On the other hand, as we have done with the Nile, we are going to show you some of the most beautiful places that you can see in the basin of the great river of South America.
The Amazon
The enormous amount of water transported by the river is largely responsible for the fact that its banks are home to the largest jungle in the world called precisely Amazon. It is a true lung for the Earth and has a incalculable ecological value both for this reason and because it has an enormous wealth of flora and fauna.
Amazon River
Although it is part of the Seven Natural Wonders of the WorldUnfortunately, the Amazon ecosystem has been in danger for years due to the activity of large logging multinationals and for other reasons.
Iquitos, the Peruvian Amazon
It is the largest city in the entire Peruvian Amazon and is ready to receive travelers. Unfortunately, it was one of the main venues of the call Rubber fever that devastated much of the region.
In it you can visit the beautiful cathedral, a neo-Gothic marvel built at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. And also the Casa del Fierro, Cohen and Moreyas well as the old Hotel Palace, a marvel of style art decó. The Plaza de Armas, where you can see the Obelisk to the Heroes.
Manaus, capital of Amazonas
We allow ourselves this play on words although this city, logically, is not the capital of the Amazon rainforest as a whole, but of the Brazilian state of Amazon. In fact, it is located in the middle of the jungle and its name is a tribute that the Portuguese founders made to the Manaus Indians, who originated from it.
Its nerve center is the San Sebastian Square, where is the beautiful and imposing Amazonas Theater. We also advise you to visit the historic center, with its many stately homes built during the Rubber Rush; the Adolpho Lisbon market, with more than a hundred years of history, and the Cultural Center of the Peoples of the Amazon, a spectacular museum about the tribes that inhabited the great jungle since ancient times.
Amazonas Theater, in Manaus
Belém, entrance to the Amazon
This Brazilian city is considered one of the main gateways to the Amazon, since it is at the mouth of the river itself. It is also the capital of the Brazilian region of Para and it has an old town full of stately palaces and museums.
They also highlight the Catedral Metropolitana, a classicist jewel, and the Castle of the Lord Santo Cristo de Presépio de Belém. Furthermore, the Ver-o-Peso market will allow you to immerse yourself in the daily life of the city and the Margal de las Garzas Park It shows you hundreds of species of aquatic birds. Finally, do not forget to visit the Rodrígues Alves Botanical Garden, inspired by the Bois de Boulogne of Paris in its layout, but with native species of flora.
In conclusion and returning to the controversy about the longest river in the world, we will tell you that, by length is the Nilo. But, by volume, the Amazon would snatch the title. In any case, both have on their banks many wonders to offer you.