Name__________________________________ Date__________________________________ Rivers of the World Comprehension Exercise The River Nile This is the longest river in the world at 6650 km in length. When most people think of the River Nile they think of Egypt, however only 20% of the river actually flows through Egypt. The river also flows through countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia, beginning in Burundi in central Africa. The river Nile helps to make the nearby land fertile. The ancient Egyptians started living and farming along this river in order to produce food for themselves and their animals. The river became an important source of water and means of transport too. The River Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhine The Rhine flows mainly through Germany, but starts as a small stream in the Swiss Alps. It is 1233km in length and flows into the North Sea. Its waterways have been used to transport food and other goods since Roman times and there are many castles located on the banks, such as Maus (mouse) Castle. Years ago, the Rhine was seen to be one of the most polluted rivers in Europe. Since then, a great deal of effort has been put in place to clean it up. The Volga The river runs through Russia and is the longest river in Europe at 3692 km in length. In places, the Volga is so wide that you can’t see the other side! The Volga flows into the Caspian Sea. Huge sturgeon fish can be found living in the water, however the river is quite polluted due to factories dumping waste there. It is used for transporting goods all over Russia but freezes up during very cold weather spells. One of the biggest battles of World War 2 was fought on the banks of the river, the Battle of Stalingrad. The Danube This is the second largest river in Europe, after the Volga. It is 2680 km in length, beginning in the Black Forest Mountains in Germany and flowing into the Black Sea. This river flows through, or along the border of several different countries including Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania to name a few. It also flows through the capital cities of Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. The river has inspired artists and composers through time. One of the most famous pieces written about this special landmark is called The Blue Danube, by Johann Strauss. Today, tourists can enjoy cruising on the River Danube. The Amazon River Flowing from the Andes Mountains in Peru, the Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, measuring in at 6347 km. The river runs through Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Bolivia in South America. During the wet season, the Amazon River grows and can reach over 190 kilometres in width, however there are no bridges that cross the river. The largest city along the Amazon is Manaus, Brazil and this is home to around 1.7 million people. 3000 species of fish live in the river with new species being discovered all the time. The Amazon River is also home to the piranha, a meat eating fish! The Yangtze River This is the longest river in Asia, measuring in at 6300km. It begins in western China and flows into the East China Sea. The river is one of the busiest in the world, filled with cruise ships or others transporting goods and coal. More than 50 bridges cross this large river and it is home to many different species of animals, including the Chinese Alligator, however these species are endangered due to river pollution and high traffic levels. The Yangtze River has been known to flood which has cost many people their lives. Rivers of the World Comprehension Questions 1. Which of these rivers is the longest? 2. Name one of the major capital cities through which the Danube flows. In which country can this city be found? 3. Who did the River Danube inspire? What did this person create? 4. Which famous historical event took place on the banks of the Volga River? 5. Where is the source of the Amazon River? 6. Which sea does the River Nile flow into? 7. Where does the River Nile begin? 8. What is one of the dangers of living very close to the Yangtze River? 9. Which of these rivers might you most like to visit? Give reasons for your answer. 10. What might happen if the Yangtze River becomes increasingly polluted? Rivers of the World Comprehension Answers 1. Which of these rivers is the longest? The River Nile is the longest river in the world at 6650 km in length. 2. Name one of the major capital cities through which the Danube flows. In which country can this city be found? Answer could include: Belgrade (Serbia), Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria) or Bratislava (Slovakia). 3. Who did the River Danube inspire? What did this person create? The river inspired a musical composer called Johann Strauss who composed a piece known as The Blue Danube. 4. Which famous historical event took place on the banks of the Volga River? One of the biggest battles of World War 2 was fought on the banks of the river, the Battle of Stalingrad. 5. Where is the source of the Amazon River? The source of the Amazon River is the Andes Mountains in Peru. 6. Which sea does the River Nile flow into? The River Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea. 7. Where does the River Nile begin? The source of the river is Burundi in central Africa. 8. What is one of the dangers of living very close to the Yangtze River? One of the dangers is that it can flood. 9. Which of these rivers might you most like to visit? Give reasons for your answer. See individual responses. 10. What might happen if the Yangtze River becomes increasingly polluted? If the river becomes increasingly polluted, the endangered species which live there may become extinct.