Top 10+ Deepest Rivers in the World - Under Controversy

It is not easy to compare the depths of rivers. Some rivers have very large seasonal variations in their depths, while others have depths that can change significantly from year to year. Some rivers are very deep in only a few spots and much shallower along the rest of their course.

The world's deepest rivers can be found on various continents. Unsurprisingly, some of the longest rivers also happen to be some of the deepest. You can see the lengths, locations, and depths of each of these rivers on KnowInsiders.com.

What is the Deepest River on Planet?

Despite these challenges, there is little disagreement that the Congo in Africa is the world's deepest river (measured by the water's depth from the river's surface to the river bed).

The Congo River in Africa is the deepest river in the world. The river plunges to a depth of about 720 feet at its deepest. With this depth, the Congo River is approximately 64 feet deeper than the Yangtze River in China, which is the second-deepest river in the world.

1. Congo – 219 metres (720 feet)

The Congo River - Deepest River in the World

The Congo River is the second longest river in Africa and is extremely long, covering a distance of about 2,715 miles. The Lualaba River, which is thought to be the Congo River's source, is however included in this measurement. Because it is a tributary of the Lualaba River, some measurements also include the Chambeshi River.

The Congo River is the ninth-longest river in the world when the Chambeshi River's length is taken into account. Its total length is 2,920 miles. The Congo River holds the title of second-largest river in the world in terms of discharge volume with an average discharge rate of 1.4 million cubic feet per second.

A significant source of water for many African nations, the Congo River also fosters a diverse ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. The Congo River Basin, which has a total area of 1.55 million square miles and accounts for 13% of all of Africa, is its most notable characteristic. Large wetland areas can be found in the basin, which also contains vast stretches of undeveloped rainforest. The region is known as the second lung of the world (the first lung being the Amazon River), which alludes to the fact that it serves as a significant carbon sink zone that combats global climate change. Additionally to housing 40 million people, it offers a haven for rare animal species.

2. Yangtze – 200 metres (656 feet)

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world and the longest river in both China and Asia. The Yangtze River's Three Gorges section is the most significant and well-known in terms of tourism, flood protection, electricity production, and water conservation.

This vast river traverses all of China from west to east before emptying into the East China Sea. This river is crucial to the nation's transportation, energy, agriculture, and other industries. It is one of Asia's most important rivers!

3. Danube – 178 metres (584 feet)

Danube River - Deepest River in the World

The Danube, the second-longest river in Europe, traverses a significant portion of the eastern and central parts of the continent. Though the Volga River is the longest river in Europe, there are more people living along the banks of this river.

This river is significantly deeper than the Zambezi River at its deepest point, 584 feet.

Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine either border or are traversed by the Danube.

4. Ottawa – 172 metres (565 feet): Controversy

Ottawa River

The Ottawa River is not only the deepest river in North America, but also in Canada. The depth of this body of water is 318 feet. The river originates at Ottawa Lake and empties into the St. Lawrence River and Lake of Two Mountains.

The Ottawa is rumored to descend to a depth of 123 meters (402 feet) near the town of Deep River. The Ottawa River is 172 meters (565 feet) deep at Moose Bay.

Upstream from the Carillion Hydroelectric Facility and across from a place called Greece's Point, this river's deepest section can be found. The river's total depth, however, is still up for debate; according to some sources, it is over 200 feet deeper than what is indicated here.

5. Brahmaputra River – 134 metres (440 feet)

Brahmaputra River

The Brahmaputra passes through Bangladesh, China, and India. At the town of Sadiya, it is 135 meters (440 feet) deep despite having an average depth of about 30 meters (100 feet).

It travels 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) from its source in the Himalayas to the point where it converges with the Ganges River, where the combined waters of the two rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal.

The Brahmaputra flows through Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi state of Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian states of Assam, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The river serves as an important inland waterway for the majority of its length. However, it is impassable between the Indian plains and the Tibetan mountain range. The river is both a creator and a destroyer in its lower course, depositing vast amounts of fertile alluvial soil while also bringing about frequent and disastrous floods.

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6. Zambezi – 116 metres (381 feet): : Controversy

Zambezi - Deepest River in the World

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa and the longest river on the continent that flows east. The Zambezi River reaches a maximum depth of 116 meters (381 feet) at Lake Kariba.

Many nations in East Africa are bordered by the Zambezi River, which supplies residents with water and hydroelectric power in the region. The river is essential to agriculture along its banks, but before it empties into the Indian Ocean, it does not pass through many significant cities.

7. Amazon – 100 metres (328 feet)

Amazon River

The Amazon River, which is in South America, is the largest river in the world in terms of volume of discharge. Although it can reach depths of up to 100 meters (328 feet), its average depth is estimated to be between 20 and 50 meters.

The Nile River and the Amazon River are perpetual rivals for the title of longest river in the world. This river might be the longest of them all, depending on the measurements one accepts. There is no doubt that this river is long and home to some of the world's richest biodiversity.

8. Orinoco River – 100 metres (328 feet)

Orinoco River

In terms of discharge volume, the Orinoco ranks as the fourth-largest river in the world. The Orinoco can rise to a height of about 100 meters (328 feet) in some places during the rainy season.

At 2,250 km (1,400 mi), the Orinoco is one of South America's longest rivers.Its drainage basin, which is also referred to as the Orinoquia, has a total area of 989,000 km2 (382,000 sq mi), with 76.3 percent of that area located in Venezuela and the remaining portion in Colombia.

According to water discharge volume, it is the fourth-largest river in the world. The main transportation route between the Llanos of Colombia and eastern and interior Venezuela is the Orinoco River and its tributaries. The Orinoco Basin has a very diverse range of environments and wildlife.

9. Mekong – 100 metres (328 feet)

Mekong River

In Southeast Asia, the Mekong River is the longest river. It flows through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam over a distance of 2,700 miles (4,350 kilometers). One of the world's richest areas for biodiversity is the Mekong basin. There is no other place with more biodiversity than the Amazon.

20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians, and an estimated 850 fish species make up the Greater Mekong Subregion's (GMS) biota.

10. Yellow River – 80 metres (262 feet)

Yellow River

With an estimated length of 5,464 kilometers (3,395 mi), the Yellow River, also known as Huang He or the Hwang Ho, is the sixth-longest river in the world and the second-longest in China (after the Yangtze). At the point where it descends from the Loess Plateau, this river carries 1.6 billion tons of silt annually, which makes it notable for its size. 1.4 billion tons are annually transported to the sea if it is flowing there in a large enough volume. In comparison to the Colorado River's 10 kilograms and the Nile's 1 kilogram, one estimate places 34 kilograms of silt per cubic meter.

It is estimated to discharge 2,110 cubic meters per second on average (32,000 for the Yangtze), with a maximum and minimum of 25,000 and 245 respectively. Since 1972, though, it frequently runs out of water before getting to the sea. A fivefold increase in agricultural irrigation since 1950 is to blame for the low volume. As of 1999, 140 million people were served by the water diverted from the river, which also irrigated 74,000 km2 (48,572 mi2) of land. A total of 8,000 square kilometers (3,090 mi2) make up the Yellow River delta. However, it has been noted to be eroding slightly each year since 1996 due to the reduction in silt entering the sea.

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11. St Lawrence River – 76 metres (250 feet)

St Lawrence River

From the Great Lakes in the United States to the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Lawrence River travels. The Gulf of St. Lawrence serves as the river's mouth as it flows northeast from Lake Ontario, forming the border between the United States and Canada. The river has served as both a battlefield and a vital commercial waterway throughout history.

12. Hudson River - 66 metres (216 feet)

Hudson River

Although it must be noted that the lower course of the river is a tidal estuary and the Hudson here is more like a Norwegian fjord than a river, the Hudson River is at its deepest at World's End near Garrison (66 meters or 216 feet).

It originates in New York State and flows until it reaches the Upper New York Bay, which is located between Manhattan and Jersey City. The 216-foot depth of the valley through which this river flows is astounding! One of the most crucial waterways for crossing in the United States is this river.

In Conclusion

The world's deepest rivers can be found on multiple continents. It's no surprise that the longest rivers also tend to be the deepest.

Since rivers can travel hundreds or thousands of miles, KnowInsiders.com assumes that there must be some that are significantly deeper. Rivers can also alter their depths over time.

This means that in the future, the order of the world's deepest rivers may be different. The latest data on river depths in different parts of the world will be monitored by us.

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