Throughout the centuries, rivers have been an essential part of our lives. Rivers offer us drinking water as well as a means to transport products. The water also helps us to keep the land fertilized and plays an imperative part in the ecology of the earth.
Rivers offer a natural habitat to wildlife, such as the rainforest and other wetlands. Besides all of these aspects of the rivers around our planet, they are also beautiful to look at, attracting many tourists around the world to relish in and be captivated by their natural beauty.
Exotic rivers begin in a region that is humid and flow into another region that is more arid. A river flowing through a desert area may be considered exotic by its presence. We have curated a list of 15 of the most exotic rivers in the world.
Table of Contents
1. The Nile River
This exotic river found in the northeastern region of Africa is an outstanding 4,132 miles long. The Nile River is the longest river in the world and flows through a total of eleven countries.
Construction Is Done Along the Riverbanks
The majority of cities in Egypt have been constructed along the banks of the Nile River. Because of this, 95% of the population of Egypt currently resides beside the wondrous River Nile.
River Mud Used for Brickmaking
Ancient Egyptians used the mud gathered along the Nile river’s banks to make bricks. These bricks were then utilized for the construction of buildings, houses, and walls. To avert the flooding of modern cities, the Aswan Dam was built on the Nile.
Essential for Tourism
When visiting the Nile River, it is popular to travel via a luxury cruise. This river is strong enough to accommodate large luxury ships as well as smaller yachts. Many tourists plan trips along the shore that take people to some of the famous temples, pyramids, and tombs. In addition, these tours take people to visit the infamous Aswan Dam.
2. The Amazon River
This river is the second largest in the world at more than 4,100 miles long. The Amazon River flows through the admirable Amazon Rainforest. Streaming through the countries of Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Venezuela.
The Widest River
Although the Nile is the longest, the Amazon is the widest river in the world. In some areas, it is over thirty miles wide. This river makes up one-fifth of all the water that flows on Earth.
One of the Most Beautiful Rivers
There are more than 1,100 tributaries that make up this mighty river. All flow into the Amazon River. This is what makes this river one of the most beautiful in the world.
3. The Ganges River
The Ganges River goes on for 1,569 miles, crossing India and Bangladesh. It begins in the Himalayan mountains at the Gangotri glacier. Continuing on its way until it finds the entrance to the Bay of Bengal.
Extremely Sacred
The Ganges River is believed to be sacred to Hindus. This river is a place of worship for many Indian people. They worship the goddess Ganga along with certain cities where the river flows, making these places some of the most famous places to worship.
Home to Many Amphibian Species
There are as many as 140 species of fish and over 90 amphibian species that make the Ganges their home. In addition, there are other unique animals, such as Ganges river sharks and dolphins.
4. The Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is more than 2,340 miles in length, and it flows through ten of the U.S. States. It flows from Minnesota’s Lake Itasca and continues down into the Gulf of Mexico, joining the Missouri River.
The Longest River System in North America
This river is the longest North American river system and the fourth-longest in the world. This river has served many Native American tribes as a point significant for trading, fishing, and farming.
A Major Route for Trade
Many use the mighty Mississippi River not only as a primary trade route but also for traveling. The river is also capable of providing waterpower and hydroelectricity to several neighboring states.
5. The Danube River
This river starts at the Mountains of Black Forest and flows for 1,7770 miles into the Black Sea. The Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe.
Flows through Nine Countries
There are a total of nine different countries in Central and Eastern Europe that the Danube River flows through. When looking for places to visit in Europe, the Danube River is one of the most popular.
Popular for Tourism
This river is popular for taking luxury cruises and for traveling as well. For this reason, tourists enjoy traveling on this river when they visit Europe.
6. The Yangtze River
The Yangtze River is the third-longest worldwide. Flowing through nine of China’s provinces for a total of 3,917 miles, this river is the longest in Asia and goes through the Tanggula mountain range, heading towards the Shanghai East China Sea.
A Division Between North and South
This river divides the North and South regions of China. It has served as an imperative route of transport in China for over 2,000 years.
Providing a Way to Grow Rice
This river is one of the world’s most beautiful and carries great amounts of silt into the Jiangsu province. This region of China is responsible for most of the rice grown worldwide.
7. The Mekong River
This river is another one of Asia’s most charming. The Mekong River flows from the popular Tibetan Plateau towards the South China Sea. This river flows extensively through the following countries: Myanmar, China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Imperative Trade and Transportation Route
The Mekong River is important to not only China’s trade but also to transportation. It also has around 430 species of mammals and 800 varieties of fish species living around and in its waters.
An Excellent Power Source
The Mekong river is necessary for generating power within the region. In addition, it also aids in providing transportation, farming, and food for the people of this country.
8. The Volga River
This river is 2,294 miles long and is Russia’s longest river. It begins in the Valdai Hills and ends up in the Caspian Sea.
An Extremely Wide River
At some points, this river is so wide you cannot see to the other side.
Frozen Over for Three Long Months
The Volga River is a waterway in Russia that holds extreme importance. That is when it is not frozen over for three months during the winter. This river is also Russia’s important source of hydroelectric energy.
9. The Thames River
The Thames River is only 215 miles in length, but this river is the longest in England. Until 1858, the Thames was used for raw sewage disposal. Currently, it provides two-thirds of the population of London with clean drinking water.
Important for Trade and Transportation
This river has been imperative to the English for transportation and trade since the 1700s. Boats brought goods such as people, fish wood, and wool to London during the Middle Ages.
Home to More Than 200 Bridges
The Thames River is home to the famous London Bridge. In addition, this river has twenty underway tunnels and more than two hundred bridges.
10. The Zambezi River
The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest on the continent of Africa. It is also an eastward-flowing river, the longest in Africa.
A Famous River
This river is famous for traveling through the following six African countries:
Botswana
Namibia
Zimbabwe
Angola
Mozambique
Zambia
This river flows for more than 1599 miles. Traveling to Mozambique from North Zambia, it eventually empties into the Indian Ocean.
A Less-explored River
This river is well-preserved and the cleanest in Africa. This is due to the fact that this river is less explored than some of Africa’s other rivers.
Situated Near Many National Parks and Waterfalls
The Zambezi River is the site of several waterfalls and national parks. One of these waterfalls is the wondrous beauty of the world’s most popular Victoria Falls.
11. The Rhine River
The Rhine River flows from the Swiss Alps toward the magnificent country of the Netherlands. Eventually, the river finds the North Sea and dumps into it.
A Fascinating River
This river is 764 miles in length and is one of the most fascinating in Europe. Since the Roman Empire, it has been a significant transportation route that links Northern and Southern Europe.
Home to Many Aquatic Species
This river is home to a number of fish species, providing abundant fishing opportunities for those who live along its shores.
12. The Seine River
The Seine River is one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Paris. This river measures 483 miles and is the second-longest river in France.
Provides a Source of Drinking Water
The Seine River is a source of clean water that can be used for drinking. It also aids in providing a cooling system to the stations providing electric energy near the area of this river.
A Famous Landmark
From this river, one can see many of the popular highlights in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre can all be seen from the river Seine.
13. The Orinoco River
This river flows for more than 1,700 miles through the South American continent. Seventy-five percent of it flows through Venezuela and the remaining twenty-five percent flows in Colombia.
Natives are Dependent on this River
The native Piaroa community is dependent on the Orinoco River for sustenance. The men use it for fishing and the women grow crops and vegetables with the water.
Several Colorful Species
The Orinoco River is known for the many species of colorful fowl that live along the shores of this glorious river. There are also nearly a thousand species of aquatic life – including electric eels, Laulao catfish, and piranhas – that call this river home.
14. The Missouri River
The Missouri river travels more than 2,341 miles from the western region of Montana to Missouri. This river is one of the fifteen longest rivers in the world.
Flows through several U.S. States
The Missouri River flows through the following U.S. States – North and South Dakota, Montana, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska.
A Major Source of Transportation
This river is a primary source of trade, agriculture, and transportation for millions. Approximately one-third of the wheat, oats, and barley in America are grown on the Missouri riverbanks and is also transported by it.
15. The Hudson River
The Hudson River Valley is an ideal place for tourists to get away and escape the crowded chaos of the city. There are magnificent mountains and plenty of natural beauty in this region of North America.
A Most Wonderful River
The Hudson River offers tourists and locals many events and attractions. This river flows for more than 315 miles, traveling from Northern New York to the southern regions of the state, offering a beautiful boundary between New Jersey and New York State.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of an exotic river?
In ancient times, civilizations would gather beside water sources. Water is a crucial element needed for survival. This was especially true with desert-dwelling humans. By nature, water is scarce in the desert.
Our first example of an exotic river is the Nile River. It begins in the highlands of East Africa, which has a humid climate. Continuing its flow through the Sudanese deserts and Egypt, finally, it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile River is a perfect example of how an exotic river operates. Along its journey, it helps the people living nearby by supplying food, water, and transportation.
What is the most interesting river in the world?
The Mississippi River is not only one of the biggest in the world, but it is also one of the most scenic. From Lake Itasca in the US to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River flows approximately 2,320 miles.
What is an exotic river?
A river is exotic when it begins in a region of humidity and flows into a region that is dry. A river may be thought of as exotic purely because it is in another region. An exotic waterbed will stand out from other factors of the landscape.
Which country has no river in it?
Vatican City is a city of religion existing inside another country. There is no terrain natural to this city; hence, no natural rivers are flowing in it.
Is an exotic river permanent?
An exotic river is the source of mountainous or humid regions. They may flow through areas of extreme dryness (deserts). The exotic river may be rivers that are either periodic or perennial.
What makes an episodic river?
The river known as an episodic river is one that never receives groundwater. These rivers only flow during an episode that receives heavy rainfall.
What are the three kinds of rivers?
The three different types of rivers include ephemeral rivers. These rivers are created when the snow melts rapidly, followed by extremely heavy rainfall. The result is an ephemeral river. Some other types of rivers include:
Episodic rivers
Exotic rivers
Intermittent rivers
Mature rivers
Old rivers
Period rivers
Permanent rivers
Are the Tigris and Euphrates rivers considered exotic rivers?
Yes. Both of these rivers are considered exotic rivers. This means that they start in a region that is humid and cross over arid sections of the planet. Near these rivers is a large area in the shape of an arch that is extremely fertile and rich. This area, known as the Fertile Crescent, stretches out from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.
What are some other types of rivers?
Besides the rivers mentioned in the above lists, there are other types of exotic rivers. Ephemeral, Episodic, Mature, and Intermittent rivers are some of these other types.
What is an Ephemeral River?
This type of river is formed by rapidly melting snow or rainfall. Ephemeral rivers are usually formed by flash floods and can be found in desert regions. These rivers usually dry up quickly and occur on an irregular basis.
What is an Episodic River?
An episodic river is rare, and forms via run-off channels in desert regions. These river types flow most heavily following a downpour of rain. Episodic rivers are important water sources in the desert. Some think of an episodic river as a seasonal river because it only shows up after heavy rainfall.
What is a Mature River?
A mature river is not as deep or fast-flowing as the more youthful rivers. Youthful rivers have many tributaries feeding into them. Making them flow faster than a mature river.
What are Intermittent Rivers?
Intermittent rivers are semi-permanent and flow seasonally. These types of rivers flow heaviest following heavy rainfall or an otherwise shift in water tables. The bed of an intermittent river may be dry during the summer because of less rainfall or a drop in the water table.
