{"id":14540,"date":"2023-10-17T01:00:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T00:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=14540"},"modified":"2023-10-17T01:00:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T00:00:17","slug":"is-the-nile-river-the-largest-river-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-nile-river-the-largest-river-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Nile River The Largest River In The World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Nile River is one of the most iconic rivers in the world, renowned for its place in Egyptian mythology and history. It once served as the lifeblood of the Egyptian Empire, and its delta is considered by many to be the cradle of Western civilization. But is the Nile actually the largest river in the world?<\/p>\n

The answer depends largely on how you define “largest river,” since there are multiple ways of measuring this. According to the US National Geographer, the Nile is technically the longest river in the world, measuring 4,132 miles (6,650 kilometers). It forms in the heart of Africa, winding its way north through 11 countries, including Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia, before pouring into the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n

In terms of discharge, however, the Nile is not the largest river in the world. That title likely belongs to the Amazon River, which empties out an estimated 209,000 cubic meters of water per second. By comparison, the Nile releases just 2,800 cubic meters of water into the sea. This can be attributed to the Amazon’s source region being much rainier than the Nile’s, creating a differential in how much each is able to discharge.<\/p>\n

That said, the Nile is still one of the most powerful rivers in the world. It is responsible for over 80% of Egypt’s water supply, and is estimated to irrigate over 2 million acres of farmland and provide water to over 100 million people. Its economic and environmental importance is thus immense, making it an integral component of the region’s economy.<\/p>\n