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Which is the longest river in South America?
The longest river in South America is Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac with a length of 6,992 kilometers (4,345 miles) spanning Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana and flowing out to Atlantic Ocean. At second and third, are Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande which stretches 4,880 kilometers (3,032 miles) and Tocantins–Araguaia which is 3,650 kilometers (2,268 miles) long.The lengths of the major rivers and river systems in South America range from 1,010 km to 6,992 km, with the average river being 2,133.8 km long.
Compare Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac with Içá (Putumayo)
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Rivers with the largest drainage basin. The river with the largest drainage basin in South America is Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac with a basin area of 7,050,000 square kilometers.
Rivers with the highest average discharge. The river with the highest average discharge in South America is Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac with a discharge rate of 209,000 m3/s.
Here are the longest rivers in South America.
Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac.
Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac is the largest river by drainage area in the world at 7,050,000 km2.
The river system, from Amazon River to Ucayali to Tambo to Ene and Apurímac river, is the longest river system in South America at 6,992km (4,344 miles), with its drainage area spreading across the width of the South American continent at an area of 7 million square kilometers (largest drainage basin in the world!). The Amazon river system is also the second longest in the world, with the Nile River system pipping slightly ahead at 7,088km.In terms of discharge volume, the Amazon river system is the largest in the world, discharging at 209,000 cubic meters per second onto the Atlantic Ocean.
Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande.
Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande is the 2nd longest river in South America at 4,880 kilometers (3,032 miles).
The Paraná river system is the second longest river system in South America at 4,880 kilometers (3032 miles), after the mighty Amazon river. Draining from an area of 2,582,672 square kilometers, the Paraná river flows south-westerly through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina at a rate of 22,000m3/s, before discharging onto Río de la Plata.
Tocantins–Araguaia is the 3rd longest river in South America at 3,650 kilometers (2,268 miles).
The Tocantins–Araguaia river system stretches a combined 3,650 kilometers (2,268 miles); it is the third longest river system in South America and the longest river that is wholly located in Brazil. The river basin has a vibrant aqua-fauna ecosystem, including large mammals like the Amazonian manatee, Araguaian river dolphin and reptiles such as the black caiman, spectacled caiman and yellow-spotted river turtle.
Draining from a basin that is 950,000 square kilometers wide, the river discharges at a rate of 13,598 cubic meters per second.
Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha.
São Francisco is a 3,180-km long (1,976 miles) river that drains from a 610,000-km2 wide basin in Brazil.
Its average discharge rate is 3,300 m3/3 and the river flows out into Atlantic Ocean.
Araguaia is a 2,627-km long (1,632 miles) river that drains from a 358,125-km2 wide basin in Brazil.
The average volume of water flow is 5,510 m3/3 and the river flows out into Tocantins River.
Japurá (Rio Yapurá) is a river that stretches 2,615 kilometers (or 1,625 miles) in length, draining from a 242,259 km2 basin in Brazil and Colombia.
Its average discharge rate is 6,000 m3/3 and the river flows out into Amazon River.
Compare Japurá (Rio Yapurá) with Orinoco from South America.
Compare Japurá (Rio Yapurá) with São Francisco from South America.
Draining from an area as wide as 900,000 km2 in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina, Paraguay (Rio Paraguay) has a length of 2,549 kilometers (1,584 miles).
The average volume of water flow is 4,300 m3/3 and the river flows out into Paraná River.
Compare Paraguay (Rio Paraguay) with Negro from South America.
Compare Paraguay (Rio Paraguay) with Tocantins–Araguaia from South America.
Draining from an area as wide as 270,000 km2 in Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia, Pilcomayo has a length of 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles).
More on the longest and largest river systems in the world:
World: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
By Country: Australia | Brazil | Canada | China | France | Russia | UK | USA
Europe: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
Asia: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
Africa: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
Oceania: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
North America: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
South America: Longest | Largest by Discharge Volume | Largest by Drainage Area
Outflows: Amazon River | Atlantic Ocean | Black Sea | Mississippi River | Pacific Ocean