Famous Bodies of Water

River cruising is one of the most exciting and innovative ways to travel the world. Whether you are a senior citizen enjoying your retirement, a family on a holiday vacation, or a student backpacker traversing the globe, river cruising is an experience you won’t forget.

The global map is teeming with well-known and largely unknown bodies of water, with oceans, lakes, rivers, straits, and canals just waiting to be explored and discovered. Traveling across the rivers of the world is an incomparable experience that will take you to all four corners of the earth and to every continent on the map.

There is more than one way to cross the waterways of the world. You can step aboard a large luxury cruise ship along the French Riviera or sail the Danube River in a boutique ship. You can also chart a yacht, rent a hotel barge, paddle in a canoe or kayak, or sail the seas in a paddle streamer, tug boat, or longboat.

Here is a look at some the most famous and most formidable rivers of the world:

Brahmaputra River: The Brahmaputra River measures 1,800 miles in length and is closely associated with the region of Bangladesh. It begins in Tibet, meanders through the Himalayas and Assam Valley, and ends in Bangladesh. The river is known to overflow and cause major floods in the spring, when the snow on the Himalayas begins to melt. Experts have identified tidal bares, the most powerful type of tidal wave, on the Brahmaputra River.

Congo River: This African river is 2,992 miles long and is also known as the Zaire. The Congo is the most powerful river in Africa, beginning quietly near Lake Tanganyika and gradually picking up speed until the waters become dangerous rapids.

Yangtze River: The Yangtze is Asia’s longest river and the third longest in the world. It measures almost 4,000 miles in length and is its strong tides are known for creating three different types of major floods. The river is mostly used for transport and electricity.

Nile River: The Nile River is undoubtedly the most famous river in the world, claiming the top spot as both the longest river in Africa as well as in the world. It has been famous since Biblical times and is most closely associated with Egypt, where the river has served as the country’s main water source and waterway for millenniums. If you’re visiting Egypt, be sure to ask your Egypt tour operator about Nile River cruises, which are a great way to visit all the major cities of the country. Most Nile cruises begin and end in Luxor, however you can embark and disembark from any number of ports.

Amazon River: The Amazon River in South America is the second-largest river in the world next to the Nile. It measures approximately 4,000 miles in length (6,400 kilometers) and is known for its powerful water flow. The river is unequaled in depth and at its mouth can release up to eight trillion gallons of water daily.