Wanderlust World Wanderlust World
|Characteristic| Amazon| Nile| Mississippi|
|---|---|---|---|
|Length (km)| 6,400| 6,650| 3,734|
|Basin Area (sq. km)| 6,915,000| 3,570,000| 3,220,000|
|Discharge (cu. m/sec.)| 219,000| 2,830| 16,800|
|Source| Andes Mountains, Peru | Great Lakes Region, Burundi | Lake Itasca, Minnesota |
|Mouth| Atlantic Ocean | Mediterranean Sea | Gulf of Mexico |
|Countries Traversed| Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana | Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea | United States|
Similarities:
- All three rivers are among the longest in the world. The Amazon is the second longest river in the world, while the Nile is the longest. The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world.
- All three rivers drain large basins. The Amazon Basin is the largest river basin in the world, while the Nile Basin is the third largest. The Mississippi River Basin is the fourth largest river basin in the world.
- All three rivers are important for transportation, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. The Amazon River is a major transportation route for goods and people in South America. The Nile River is a vital source of irrigation for agriculture in Egypt and Sudan. The Mississippi River is a major transportation route for goods and people in the United States, and it also provides hydroelectric power generation.
- All three rivers are home to a diversity of plant and animal life. The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest in the world, which contains an estimated 10% of the world's known species. The Nile River Basin is home to a variety of wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, and birds. The Mississippi River Basin is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including alligators, turtles, and fish.