Rivers are some of the few freshwater sources in the entire world.Rivers have been a major part of the economy of several countries. They are the main water and nutrient transporters.Rivers serve as drainage pathways that are vital to keeping the water cycle going. They are home to a number of organisms. Rivers have also been a significant source of food and occupation for humans. Rivers can get their waters from a variety of sources like glaciers, ponds, lakes, and rain. Rivers are present in almost all parts of the world. Asia is a continent that has 48 countries and has some of the most famous rivers. Out of the 12 longest rivers in Asia, the first eight flow through the Chinese territory.If you liked reading this, you can also check out longest living dog breed and longest river in the world articles here on Kidadl.List Of The Longest Rivers In AsiaMany of Asia’s longest rivers have made it to the top 15 longest rivers in the world. Here is a list of the longest rivers in Asia.Yangtze River: ‘Yangtze’, derived from a Chinese word means, ‘Son of the Ocean’. The Yangtze River, Asia’s longest river and the world’s third longest river, is located in China. It is also known as the Chang Jiang River. It is also the longest river in Asia. The length of the Yangtze River is 3,965 mi (6,381 km). It rises from the glaciers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows through 10 provinces, including Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. One-third of the population in China lives on the Yangtze River basin. Its source is Ulan Moron (Wulanmulun) River on the Tanggula Mountains (Qinghai province). The main source of the Yangtze River or Chang Jiang is the glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau. The endpoint of the river is the mouth of the East China Sea countries.Yellow River: The Yellow River is the second-longest river in China. Bayan Har Mountains (Qinghai province) is the source of this river. In the past 4,000 years, the river has flooded 1,593 times. The length of the Yellow River is 3,398 mi (5,468.5 km). The drainage area of this river is 307,000 sq mi (795,126.3 sq km). In China, the river is commonly known as Huang Ho. The Yellow River basin is said to be the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization.Mekong River: The Mekong River is the longest river in Southeast Asia that flows through six countries, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It drains in the South China Sea. Its name is derived from a Thai word, which means ‘mother of waters’. The length of this river is 3,050 mi (4,908.5 km). The main tributaries of the Mekong River are Se Kong, Se San, and Sre Pok rivers. It is also known as the Lancang Jiang which means ’turbulent river’. The Mekong River forms a segment of the border between Laos and Myanmar, as well as Laos and Thailand, and shares its boundary with Cambodia.Lena River: The Lena River with its 2,668 mi (4,293.7 km) length became the 11th longest river in the world, and is one of the longest rivers in Asia. River Lena is located in Russia. Vitim, Kirenga, and Oylokma are some of its major tributaries. The river is well known for its wildlife and is one of the greatest gold sources. It rises from the Baikal range and meets the Yenisei River before flowing into the Laptev Sea (Arctic Ocean). The discharge speed of the water in this river is 595,758.4 cusec (16,870 cumecs).Irtysh River: The Irtysh River is the fifth-longest river in Asia. Its length is 2,640 mi (4,248.7 km). Altai mountains in the Xinjiang province are the source of this river system. The Irtysh River flows through Kazakhstan and drains in the Ob River in Siberia. In Kazakhstan, this river is known as the black Ertis River. The Irtysh River passes through four countries, namely Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.Brahmaputra River: The Brahmaputra River is located in Tibet. The Kailash mountains of the Himalayas are the source of this river. Lohit, Dibang, Subansiri, Jiabharali, Dhansiri, Manas, Torsa, Sankosh, and Teesta are the major tributaries of this river. The basin is 223,939.2 sq mi (580,000 sq km) and spreads over four countries, India, Bangladesh, Tibet, and Bhutan. The length of this river is 2,391 mi (3,848 km). The river’s outflow in India is 58% whereas in Bangladesh it is just 6.6%.Ob River: The Ob river is situated in Russia. It has two sources, the Karun River, and the Biya River. The Ob River’s length is 2,300 mi (3,701.5 km).Indus River: 93% of the river flow is in Pakistan. The Tibetan plateau, Gar River, and the Senge Zangbu are the sources of the Indus River. It flows through Pakistan and drains near the port city of Karachi in the Arabian Sea. The river also flows through cities like Karachi, Attock, Gilgit, Rawalpindi, Thatta, and Peshawar.Yenisei River: The Yenisei river is the longest river system to pass through the Arctic Ocean and enter the Kara Sea. Its length is 2,167 mi (3,487.4 km). The Yenisei River originates from Mungaragiyn-Gol, Dod-Taygasyn-Noor, Mongolia. It flows through two countries, Mongolia and Russia, and drains in the China Sea. The river is known for its hydroelectric power production and huge oil refinery. The mouth of this river is in the Yenisei Gulf.Nizhynyaya Tunguska River: The Nizhnyaya Tunguska River is 1,857 mi (2988.5 km) long and originates from the Central Siberian Plateau. Yeyka, Kochechum and Yambukan are its major tributaries. It flows through the Krasnoyarsk region and Irkutsk province. The Nizhnyaya Tunguska river is filled with gorges and rapids.Largest River In Asia By VolumeThe Yangtze is the largest river in Asia based on the discharge volume. The average discharge is 1,065,302.2 cusec (30,166 cumecs). The river carries huge amounts of water.As the water passes through the Yalong River (Yangtze’s major tributary), there is a dramatic rise in the volume. It reaches an average of 194,230.7 ft³/s (5,500 m³/s). As it flows down, it has several other tributaries due to which the volume keeps increasing steadily. The volume is around 529,720 ft³/s (15,000 m³/s) before the river passes through the three gorges. At the mouth, the volume of Yangtze is 1,098,286 ft³/s (31,100 m³/s) making it the largest river in Asia by volume.What is the longest river in Asia?The Yangtze River (China) is the third-longest river in the world. On the basis of average water flow rate, it is the sixth-largest river in the world and is the largest river in Asia by volume of discharge.The Yangtze River shares its boundaries with a few countries. The country’s total sewage discharge is found in the Yangtze River. Increased accumulation of phosphorous from the industrial discharge has been a great threat to the organisms in the river.Did you know 70% of the grains produced in the Yangtze River basin are rice? The rice produced in the basin can suffice 50% of China’s population.How long is the Yangtze?The Yangtze River (also called Chang Jiang) is the longest river in China. One of the most amazing facts about this river is that it runs entirely within China.The length of the river is 3,965 mi (6,381 km). It covers an area of 600 mi (965.6 km) from north to south. The basin flows through a vast region of South China. This river has contributed to the history, culture, and economics of China. It serves multiple purposes, like irrigation in farming, commerce and trade, and sanitation. It has also helped to mark the boundary and protected China during war times. There are several roots from which the river rises. However, the place recognized by the government of China is the Tuotuo tributary. The Tuotuo tributary river flows from the glacier base on the Tanggula mountains and drains in the East China Sea. Qutang, Wu, and Xiling are the three gorges present in the center of the Yangtze river.Did you know the average yearly rainfall in the Yangtze River basin (China) is around 43 in (1,092.2 mm), according to Encyclopaedia Britannica?Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the longest river in Asia, then why not take a look at longest nose or longest toe nails?
Rivers are some of the few freshwater sources in the entire world.