What is the longest river in the world?

The Nile River is often recognized as the longest river in the world, extending about 4,135 miles (6,650 kilometers) through northeastern Africa before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Its significance is not just in its length, but also in its historical importance, as it has been a crucial water source for civilizations for thousands of years.

While the Amazon River is indeed a contender for this title, recent studies indicate that, depending on the methods used to measure, it can be argued to be longer. However, the traditional and widely accepted measurement, primarily based on geographical consensus and historical documentation, affirms the Nile's status as the longest river.

In contrast, the Yangtze River and the Mississippi River fall significantly shorter in length when compared to both the Nile and the Amazon. The Yangtze, the longest river in Asia, is about 3,917 miles (6,300 kilometers) long, while the Mississippi is approximately 2,340 miles (3,766 kilometers) long. Therefore, when considering the title of the longest river, the Nile is the correct answer based on longstanding geographical measurements and historical significance.