By: B. Hart Rivers

River Facts A river is a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream. There are 165 major rivers in the world. The lengths of rivers range from 4,160 miles (The Nile River in Egypt) to 200 feet (The Roe River in Great Falls, Montana). These are the longest and shortest rivers, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Most Common Rivers The Nile River (Egypt) – 4,160 Miles The Amazon River (South America) – 4,000 Miles The Yangtze River (China) – 3,915 Miles The Mississippi River (Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico) – 2,320 Miles Yellow River (China) – 3,395 Miles The Missouri River (Rocky Mountains to Missouri) - 2,341 Miles

Most Unique Rivers The Jordan River, Southwest Asia – Where Jesus was baptized by John, and believed to be the sight of many other religious happenings. These include miracles, like the crossing from Egypt to Canaan, and biblical wars such as the battle between Jonathan and Bacchides. Caño Cristales, South America – This river, commonly known as “The River that Ran Away from Paradise” is known as the most beautiful river in the world because of its colorful floor, which makes the water itself appear to be rainbow colored during late October. Mississippi River, North America – The longest river in North America, it runs through ten different states. It has also been referenced many times in American Culture. Two major examples are in The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin and rhythm and blues music from the Mississippi Delta Green Lake, Austria – One of the most drastic depth changes, the river measures only 3-6 feet deep during the winter, but rises to over 35 feet during the summer from the snowmelt.