| When you think of a river, the last thing you think about | | | | the river for electricity and water transport, but they |
| is probably how strong its water really is. You are | | | | often, if not always have to live in the fear of their |
| more than likely to think about calm flowing water that | | | | towns being flooded. |
| brushes over stones at the bottom of the river. | | | | 3. Orinoco River |
| Whatever you think about, it's definitely not how | | | | The Orinoco River is one of the longest in South |
| powerful the river is. | | | | America. In fact, it is the 3rd longest in South America. |
| 5. Brahmaputra River | | | | The river is 1,330 miles long and flows through |
| The Brahmaputra River is located in Bahaduradbad, | | | | Colombia and Venezuela. It begins at the Delgago |
| Bangladesh. It starts in southwestern Tibet, goes | | | | Chalbaud Mountain. Once the river passes the |
| through the Himalayas, the Assam Valley, and then | | | | forested terrain and waterfalls, it slows. However, the |
| through Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra is about 1,800 | | | | waterfalls become rapids which have proven to be |
| miles long and is mostly used for transportation as well | | | | extremely difficult to navigate, even though during this |
| as irrigation. While most of this river is navigable, some | | | | time the river is downstream. Eventually the river |
| parts are prone to catastrophic flooding in the spring | | | | dumps into the Atlantic Ocean. The river also |
| once the snow of the Himalayans melt. This river is | | | | experiences coastal upwelling year-round, which often |
| also one of the few that is known to have something | | | | poses a threat for those who live close to the river. |
| called a tidal bare. This means that incoming tides form | | | | 2. Congo River |
| waves that travel up the river against the direction of | | | | You might know the Congo River as the Zaire. |
| the current. This is what researchers call a true tidal | | | | Whichever name you are familiar with, this river is the |
| wave. This makes the Brahmaputra that much | | | | largest in Western Central Africa. At 2,922 miles, the |
| stronger. | | | | Congo is the second longest river in Africa. This river is |
| 4. Yangtze River | | | | also Africa's most powerful river. Even though the |
| The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia as well | | | | Congo starts off as a peaceful river, especially near |
| as in China. It is the 3rd largest in the world. The river | | | | Lake Tanganyika, it eventually begins to widen and |
| stretches to about 3,964 miles and flows through East | | | | also picks up speed during this time. Eventually the |
| China Sea in Shanghai. The Yangtze is known for its | | | | water passes through the "Gates of Hell," which is a |
| flooding, and dams that have been built to prevent | | | | 75-mile long canyon that presents rapids that are |
| water from flowing outside of the river's banks have | | | | impassable. At the Upper Congo, the river ends, but |
| proven to be useless. Researchers have realized that | | | | has a 60 mile stretch of rapids that make it dangerous |
| the river actually has three different types of floods | | | | and powerful. |
| and that its tides are much too strong during some | | | | 1. |
| seasons to prevent water from overflowing. Many use | | | | |