Which river is the longest in the world?

The Nile River is often recognized as the longest river in the world, with a length of about 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles). It travels through northeastern Africa, primarily flowing through countries such as Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Its length has been a point of contention; however, it has traditionally held the title due to historical measurements and geographical significance.

The Amazon River, while it has been argued by some sources to be longer (with estimates reaching around 7,000 kilometers including certain tributaries), typically ranks as the second longest based on conventional measurement standards and is more well-known for being the largest river by discharge volume. The Yangtze River, as China's longest river, and the Mississippi River, which is prominent in the United States, are significantly shorter than both the Nile and the Amazon. Therefore, the Nile is widely accepted in many geographical contexts as the longest river in the world.