River System Of The World

Rivers were crucial in the genesis of life and the evolution of humans. They provide a supply of drinking water, food, fertiliser, and a means of transporting commodities from one location to another. Rivers also serve as an essential animal habitat. They are vital to the ecology of the rainforest and wetlands.

Ganga River System

Continent: Asia
Country: India
Origin: Gangotri Glacier (Himalayan mountain)
Tributaries: Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda
Drain: The Bay of Bengal through Sundarban Delta
Note:
         1. It originates at the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river
         2. It is the longest river in India

Brahmaputra River System

Continent: Asia
Country: India, China, Bangladesh
Origin: Mansarovar lake, near the mount Kailash of the Himalayas
Tributaries: Dibang River, Lohit River, Dhansiri River, Kolong River, Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, Subansiri River
Drain: Andaman Sea
Tribes found: The mising, Ahom

Note:
         It is known as Tsangpo in China and Meghna is Bangladesh

Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River System

Continent: Asia
Country: China
Origin: Qinghai Tibet Plateau
Tributaries: Yalong, Min, Tuo, Jialing, Han, Wu, Yuan, Zi, Xiang, Gan, Huangpu River, Teesta River, Subansiri River
Drain: East China Sea
Note: 
          Asia’s longest river and the world’s third-largest river
          The world’s largest hydropower station (three Gorge Dam) is also located at this river

Huang Ho River (Yellow River) System

Continent: Asia
Country: China
Origin: Bayan Har Mountain (Qinghai)
Tributaries: Fen River, Tao River, Wei River
Drain: Bohai sea
Note: 
          1. Asia and second longest river and the world’s 6th longest river
          2. Known as the sorrow of China and the “Cradle of Chinese civilisation”

Indus River System

Continent: Asia
Country: China, India, Pakistan
Origin: Mansarovar lake, near the Mount Kailash of Himalaya (Tibetan plateau)
Tributaries: Zanskar River, Suru River, Soan River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, Beas River, Sutlej River, Panjnad River, Ghaggar-Hakra River, Luni River, Shyok River, Hunza River, Gilgit River, Swat River, Kunar River, Kabul River, Kurram River, Gomal River, Zhob River
Drain: the Arabian Sea in Pakistan
Note:
        1. Longest river in Pakistan
        2. This river is the birthplace of the Ancient Indian civilisation

Euphrates River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Iraq, Turkey, Syria
Origin: Lake Hazar, Taurus mountain, Eastern Turkey
Tributaries: Karasu, Murat, Tigris (Iraq)
Drain:  Shatt al-Arab in the Persian gulf
Note:
         1. Western river of two great Mesopotamian river
         2. Longest river in Iraq and Syria
         3. It emerges from the confluence of Karasu and Murat river

Tigris River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Iraq, Turkey, Syria
Origin: Lake Hazar, Taurus mountain, Eastern Turkey
Tributaries: Euphrates (turkey), Shatt-al-Arab
Drain:  Shatt al-Arab in the Persian gulf
Note:
         1. Most significant river in western Asia and the Middle East
         2. Eastern river of Two great Mesopotamian rivers

Mekong River System

Continent: Asia
Country: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
Origin: Lasagongma Spring
Tributaries: Nam Khan, Tha, Nam Ou, Mun, Tonle Sap, Kok, Ruak
Drain: South China Sea
Note: 
        Asia’s third longest river

Irrawaddy River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Myanmar
Origin: Mali River
Tributaries: Chindwin, Mu, Myitnge
Drain: Andaman Sea
Note: 
        1. It is the longest river in Myanmar
        2. Originate at the confluence of the Nmai and Mali rivers

Salween River System

Continent: Asia
Country: China, Myanmar, Thailand
Origin: Tanggula mountains of the Tibetan plateau
Drain: Andaman Sea
Note: 
         1. This river is known as Thanlwin in Burma and Nu in China

Dnieper River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
Origin: Valdai hills (Russia)
Tributaries: Sozh, Desna, Trubizh, Supiy, Sula, Psel, Vorskla, Samara, Konka, Bilozerka, Drut, Berezina, Prypiat, Teteriv, Irpin, Stuhna, Ros, Tiasmyn, Bazavluk, Inhulets
Drain: Black Sea

Ob River system

Continent: Asia
Country: Central Russia
Origin: Altay mountain
Tributaries: Biya, Katun
Drain: Kara Sea (Arctic ocean) through the Gulf of Ob
Note:
        1. It forms at the confluence of Biya and Katun river
        2. Western of 3 great Siberian rivers

Lena River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Russia
Origin: Lake Baikal
Tributaries: Kirenga, Vilyuy, Vitim, Olyokma, Aldan
Drain: Laptev Sea of Arctic ocean
Note: 
         Easternmost of 3 great Siberian rivers

Amur River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Russia, China
Origin: Lake Khanka
Tributaries: Shilka river, Zeya river, Bureya river, Amgun river, Ergune river, Huma river, Songhua river, Ussuri river
Drain: Tartar strait
Note: 
          1. This river is known as Amur in Russia and Heilong Jiang in China
             It has two major primary sources:
                   a. Onon and Shilka river (Mongolia and Russia)
                   b. Kherlen and Argon river (Mongolia and China)
          2. It forms at the confluence of the Shilka and Argon rivers

Irtysh River System

Continent: Russia
Country: Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Russia
Origin: Altai Mountain, Xinjiang, China
Tributaries: Tobol River, Demyanka River and the Ishim River
Drain: Ob River

Ural River System

Continent: Asia
Country: Russia, Kazakhstan
Origin: Ural Mountain of Russia
Drain:  Caspian Sea
Note: 
         1. Important river of Eurasia
         2. It forms a border on some parts of Asia and Europe

Yenisei River System

Country: Mongolia, Central Russia
Origin: Mungaragiyn gol ridge mountains, Mongolia
Tributaries: Angara, Lower Tunguska, Stony Tunguska River
Drain: Kara sea through Yenisei Gulf
Note: 
         Forms at the confluence of Big Yenisei/bii khem and the little Yenisei/ka-khem river

Volga River System

Continent: Europe
Country: Russia
Origin: Valdai Hills, northeast of Moscow (Russia)
Tributaries: Kama river, Oka river
Drain: Caspian Sea
Note:
         The longest river in Europe and Russia

Danube River System

Continent: Europe
Country: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
Origin: Black Forest Mountain of western Germany
Tributaries: Breg river, Brigach river, Zusam, Schmutter river, Hopfenbach river
Drain: Black Sea
Note:
          1. Second-longest river in Europe
           2. Forms by the confluence of Berg and Brigach rivers

Rhine River System

Continent: Europe
Country: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and Netherlands
Origin: Rift valley of Alps mountain
Drain: North Sea
Note:
          1. Forms in Switzerland at the confluence of Rein anteriur/vorderrhein and Rein posteriur/hinterrhein rivers
          2. Busiest waterway river in Europe 
          3. World’s busiest port of Rotterdam (Netherlands) is located on this river.

Nile River System

Continent: Africa
Country: Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea
Origin: the Blue Nile and White Nile
Tributaries: White Nile and the Blue Nile
Drain: Mediterranean Sea
Note: 
         1. longest river in Africa
         2. the Nile is the world’s longest river by length

Amazon River System

Continent: South America
Country: Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil
Origin: Andes mountain ranges in Peru
Tributaries: Purus, Maranon, Japura/Caqueta, Rio Negro/Guainía, Putumayo, Ucayali, Purús, Madeira, Tapajos, Xingu
Drain: Atlantic Ocean
Note: 
         1. Longest river in South America and the second-longest river in the world.
         2. Amazon river basin has the largest drainage basin in the world.
         3. Manaus and Equitas are the port on this river.

Tribes found: Yanomamo, Kayapo, Guicas

Missouri River System

Continent: North America
Country: North America, United States of America (USA)
Origin: Rocky Mountain
Tributaries: Jefferson, Madison, Gallatin
Drain: 
Note: 
         1. It is the longest tributary of the Mississippi River.
         2. Mississippi-Missouri river system forms the 4th longest river system in the world covering 6274 km.
         3. New Orleans port is located on this river.

Mississippi River System

Continent: North America
Country: Canada, United States of America (USA)
Origin: Lake Itasca of Minnesota, US
Tributaries: Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri (Join from the west at St.louis, Ohio (Join from the east at Cairo) and Red rivers
Drain: Flows towards the south and drains in the Gulf of Mexico
Note: 
         1. It is the second-longest river in the US and Northern America. 
         2. It is one of the great commercial waterways of the world and Northern America.

Next Read – River System Of The World (Part-2)