Most of the time, rivers usually don’t have any significance to the world. However, that’s only an assumption for those who don’t know how rivers have contributed to the development of civilizations in the past, especially when it comes to the economy. With that said, hundreds of rivers exist all over the world. It’s important to know which of them are important and which of them are the busiest.
List of Busiest Rivers in the world
1. Yangtze River
The Yangtze River is considered to be the longest river in Asia. Of course, it’s not only considered as the longest but also the busiest river in the world. Keep in mind that for a river to be busy, it needs to be navigable. That means boats and ships need to be able to travel through it. That’s everything the Yangtze River is. This river is known for its history and how it became a significant resource for China. The Yangtze River is a location that’s populated by a lot of people. It’s estimated that one-third of the country’s population is in here! Also, this river was known for being a primary source for irrigation in China. Needless to say, the Yangtze River played a great role in the country’s economic development. For thousands of years, this river has served as an excellent transport route since it extends out to the East China Sea. Back in 2009, a total of 1.33 billion tons of goods were transported in the river’s main lines.
However, being the busiest river in the world, the Yangtze River is responsible for the transport of about 90% of the plastic that goes out to the ocean. That’s why there are protected sections of the rivers and are considered as nature reserves.
2. Nile River
Most of the time, people think of Egypt whenever the Nile River is mentioned. However, it’s important to know that it flows through different countries including Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With that said, this river is mostly known for its history in Ancient Egypt. As you know, Egypt is a desert country and the existence of the Nile River made it possible to grow different kinds of crops thanks to the soil. Other than that, the Nile River was a primary source for building materials back in the day. Ancient Egyptians made bricks from the mud they found near the river! This is also one of the reasons why the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about Egypt being a gift from the Nile River. Without the river, Egyptian civilization wouldn’t as it is today. They were able to grow trade certain crops such as wheat and papyrus which made the country very wealthy. Even today, the majority of the country’s population lives alongside the river to grow different kinds of crops.
3. Volga River
The Volga River is known as the longest river in Europe. The river’s geographical situation is what makes it significant when it comes to transportation, making the Volga one of the busiest rivers in the word. Thanks to this river, people from Asia can move to Europe through its main lines. Other than that, the Volga River is considered to be Russia’s national river. The people of this country also associate this river to one of their cultural symbols, Mother Volga. With that said, Volga has been widened in the past for industrialization during the time of Joseph Stalin. Huge dams were built and this river became the main transport and inland shipping for Russia. Also, it’s important to know that the dams in this river are equipped with large ship locks. This allows large vessels to travel from the Caspian Sea and into the river’s upstream end. Oil and grain are still the usual cargo that passes through the river. Although, only a limited number of foreign vessels are allowed to enter the river’s main lines. Still, that may be changing soon for the better due to talks between Russia and the European Union.
4. Danube River
This river is one of the busiest rivers in the world. The fact that it flows through different countries in central Europe makes it one of the most important shipping routes on the continent. It’s also the second-longest river in Europe which is about 1,770 miles long. Danube River is known for being travel routes for travel and luxury cruises. However, it’s important to note that this river is the primary source of drinking water for millions of people in Europe. Also, the river is used for hydroelectricity among other activities such as fishing and transport. As a result, the Danube River is a tourist attraction and hundreds of people travel through it every year. It’s also because there are attractions alongside the river such as museums and palaces. This is also the place where you can find the home of the famous diarist, Anne Frank. Another thing that makes Danube River a busy place is the fact that you can reach the Schönbrunn Palace from the boat port.
5. Seine River
Among the busiest rivers in the world, Seine is unique. It’s considered to be the second-longest river in France. On top of that, it’s considered a popular attraction in the country. However, it doesn’t flow through any country other than France. You’d think that its significance will be limited but it’s the opposite. Every day, trading and transportation happen in Seine River. You’ll see a lot of tourists going for boat rides and people using water taxis. Also, this river is the main transport hub for shipping building materials such as stone. Even though it’s a busy river, the water from the Seine can be used for drinking. It’s also a primary source for cooling the nearby power stations. Still, just like most busy rivers, Seine had a history of being polluted. However, recent efforts made things better and the return of some marine life proved that.
Conclusion
Although a lot of rivers are significant all over the world, the ones that are mentioned are likely among the most important ones. That holds when it comes to shipping and transport. Nevertheless, these rivers played a great role in the development of certain countries especially the Nile River. This gives an important lesson that rivers are nature’s boon that must be cared for. Without them, the world would be a different place today.
I hope that this article on busiest rivers in the world was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Geographical Rankings Page!
