RIVER SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD

Here are statistics on river systems of the world.

Individual rivers are listed only as tributaries.

(Rivers are often used as boundaries.)

Although an ample source of breaking news, the World Wide Web has its limitations when it comes to natural history, except pertaining to tourism. So we started this page. We're still looking for links, so make suggestions to the Webmaster. We prefer linking to nonprofit sites with pictures, maps, and further links.

Here's what we've found so far:

From the mouth of the Hudson

Roanoke River Green Page

International Rivers Network

Rivers and Lakes Project

Rivers in tropical rainforests

Rafting Siberian rivers

Some reasons rivers are important to civilization:

Water

River water is diverted for agricultural irrigation, industry, hygiene, and related uses. Where possible, diverted water may be returned to the river clean and near the point of diversion; specifically, some municipal water supplies treat their sewage and return fairly clean water to the river. Most rivers are not so lucky: either the water comes back contaminated with pollutants, or not at all.

Because flow is not constant, many rivers produce floods and droughts. Flood control projects attempt to reduce variation in flow, but frequently have negative consequences. Dam failures can create more disastrous flooding than would otherwise be possible.

Carrying mineral and organic matter

Most rivers carry dissolved minerals and organic compounds. Even a slow river can carry small grains of clay. As the strength of flow increases, sand, gravel, and even boulders can be dislodged and moved downstream.

Centuries of erosion can leave dramatic results, including deep canyons and waterfalls.

Minerals drop out of the river when the flow slows. Alluvial deposits can form deltas where the river flows into a lake or ocean. Farms and cities have been developed on large deltas. New Orleans sits on the delta formed where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Other heavily-populated deltas include those of the Nile in Egypt and the Mekong in Vietnam.

Food

Some communities depend on the fish that live in or travel along rivers.

Transportation

Navigable waters carry much of the world's heavy trade by ship and barge. The Yangtze, Mississippi, Volga, St. Lawrence, Hudson, Delaware, Rhine, and Thames Rivers are among the most heavily-trafficked, connecting major ports.

Rivers can also be barriers to land transportation. They can be crossed by ferries, bridges, and tunnels. Because of the difficulty of crossing rivers, they have sometimes become territorial boundaries.

Hydroelectric Power

A dam can raise the level of a river to provide pressure for electrical generation.

Recreation

In addition to fishing, swimming and boating are popular activities along rivers.

Aesthetics

Some rivers are known for their beauty. Niagara Falls on the Niagara River (part of the Saint Lawrence system) is a popular backdrop for vacations and honeymoons.

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Last revised: 20 May 2009

visitors since 11 November 1997