Unless you are a geography expert, the location of the top ten longest rivers in Europe may surprise you quite a bit.
Many great and powerful rivers perfectly demonstrate the power and beauty that nature can deliver.
In this article, we will rank the top ten longest rivers in Europe, including information such as their location, length, and, of course, a great photo, too.
Read on to discover the ten longest rivers in Europe.
10. The River Elbe (Mouth: the Wadden Sea near Cuxhaven) – a river that runs off a mountain
With a length of 1,245 km (773 miles), the River Elbe is one of the longest rivers in Europe.
It starts in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northern region of the Czech Republic and plunges an incredible 197 ft (60 m) from the Elbe Falls, where it later runs down into the ever-torrential Malé Labe.
9. The River Dniester (Mouth: the Black Sea near Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi) – a river that runs through two countries
The River Dniester has a length of 1,362 km (846 miles) and runs through Ukraine into Moldova before it finally dissolves into the black sea, which is remarkably located back again in Ukraine!
An interesting thing to note about the name of the river, Dniester, is that it translates to the ‘close river’ or ‘the river on the far side’.
8. The River Kura (Mouth: the Caspian Sea near Neftçala) – an area that has been inhabited for thousands of years
The River Kura has a length of 1,364 km (847 miles). It is said that people have inhabited the Caucasus region, where the River Kura is located, for thousands of years.
One of the very first established examples of agriculture is said to have started there in the Kura Valley over 4,500 years ago. In comparison, have a read of the longest beaches in the world.
7. The River Northern Dvina (Mouth: Dvina Bay in Severodvinsk) – a river whose name origin is a mystery
At 1,803 km (1,120 miles), the River Northern Dvina takes seventh place on our list of the longest rivers in Europe.
The river’s name is said to be taken from the Western Dvina River. However, its true origin remains unknown. In the Komi language, the river’s name translates to ‘powerful river’.
6. The River Pechora (Mouth: the Pechora Sea near Naryan-Mar) – the longest river without a dam
At 1,809 km (1,124 miles), the River Pechora is famous for being the longest river in Europe with no dams along it.
Before the popularity of trains, the river acted as an important transportation route for those wishing to travel to Siberia.
5. The River Don (Mouth: Sea of Azov near Azov) – the source of the Black Death?
The River Don has a length of 1,923 km (1194 miles) and is viewed as a natural water border between Asia and Europe.
Interestingly, some ancient Greek geographers even speculated that the plague known as the Black Death had its source from the River Don.
This was never definitively proven. However, the river did possess the correct geography flow that matched the outbreak to make this a plausible theory.
4. The River Dnieper (Mouth: Dnieper-Bug Estuary near Kherson) – the longest river of two countries
The River Dnieper is fourth on our list of longest rivers in Europe. However, it is first on the list of the longest rivers in Ukraine and Belarus.
It is noted for having many dams and hydroelectric stations, which makes the river economically important for Ukraine.
3. The River Ural (Mouth: the Caspian Sea in Atyrau) – a river that is rich in fish
This river starts in the mountains of the same name and has an impressive average width of 197 ft to 262 ft (60 m to 80 m). It has an overall length of 2,428 km (1,508 miles).
The River Ural is also famous for being rich in fish that travel upwards through the river.
2. The River Danube (Mouth: the Black Sea near Sulina) – a river that flows through ten countries
The River Danube is quite remarkable. It flows through a staggering ten different countries, which is more than any other river in the world, and even splits the Hungarian city of Budapest in two.
It has a length of 2,857 km (1,775 miles) and is regarded as being one of the most biodiverse rivers in Europe as it is home to hundreds of species of fish. Some of the best river cruises in Germany also flow through the magnificent Danube river.
1. The River Volga (Mouth: the Caspian Sea near Astrakhan) – the longest river in Europe
In first place on our list of the top ten longest rivers in Europe is the River Volga. It is the national river of Russia and has a length of 3,790 km (2,354 miles).
The River Volga is incredibly long and is a testament to the true majesty and wonder of nature for carving such a river over such a long distance.
That concludes our article on the top ten longest rivers in Europe. How many of them have you ticked off your bucket list?
