Large rivers and lakes in Africa play a very important role for the continent, because at the expense of them it is irrigated and irrigated. A number of reservoirs have been created on large rivers, the total volume of which exceeds fifteen cubic kilometers. The largest of these include Nasser, Carib and Volta. Most large lakes are located on the East African Plateau and have a significant depth. For example, Tanganyika in this indicator on the whole planet is second only to Baikal. Its deepest point is located at a distance of 1470 meters from the surface of the water. The largest lake in the continent is Victoria.
The Africa's Largest Rivers rating is led by the Nile. Its total length is 6671 km. It begins in the form of the Kager River and, after passing through several lakes, flows out of them under the name White Nile. Further, near the town of Khartoum, the Blue Nile flows into it, which leaves Lake Tana, located on the Ethiopian Highlands. Joining together, these large rivers of Africa form a very wide course, which is called the Nile. In its upper reaches there are a large number of lakes, waterfalls and rapids. Many tributaries and branches appear on the plain, and therefore the valley becomes quite swampy. Behind the marshes, downstream, a peculiar green corridor from narrow stripes of trees forms along the banks. Against the background of yellow deserts, he looks quite contrasted.
A significant part of the river is surrounded by a waterless desert. Despite this, the Nile is always full-flowing, especially in the summer and autumn. Like other large rivers in Africa, it is very important for agriculture. The fact is that after the decline of water there remains a layer of silt, which fertilizes the earth. This allows you to get decent yields. It is not surprising that the Nile Valley, several millennia ago, became the real cradle of mankind. Thanks to him, it was on the territory of modern Egypt that agriculture first appeared and one of the first powerful states on the planet was formed.
The second in the list of "Large rivers of Africa" is the Congo with a length of 4320 km. It is considered the highest in the entire Eastern Hemisphere. Along the course of the river, many tributaries from the southern and northern regions of the continent adjoin it. In the period from March to November, Congo eats mainly due to the right tributaries, and from September to March - to the left. The explanation for this is quite simple: the fact is that the rainy season in different hemispheres of the mainland falls at different times. This nuance plays a positive role, because thanks to it, the river is full-flowing throughout the year.
When the Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean , a huge estuary forms, so the water from it falls far inland (up to 17 kilometers). Under its influence, the surface waters of the ocean remain fresh at a distance of about 75 kilometers from the mouth. The waters of the Congo are first brown in color and then yellowish. It stands out against the background of blue ocean waters, even three hundred kilometers from the coast.
Other major rivers in Africa are the Niger (4,160 km), the Zambezi (2,660 km), and the Orange River (1,860 km).