Countries, Rivers and Famous Architectural Structures of the World
Primary 4 · English
Countries, Rivers and Famous Architectural Structures of the World
Lesson 3 of 5
45 min
Imagine a drop of rain falling in Nyungwe Forest. It runs into a stream, then into the Nyabarongo river. Months later, that same drop could reach the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, thousands of kilometres away!
Today you will read about the longest river on Earth and learn to compare the world's great rivers.
This text is adapted from the Simple English Wikipedia article Nile.
The Nile is a river in Africa. It is the longest river on Earth: it is about 6,700 kilometres long. But some other rivers carry more water.
The longest part of the Nile starts in Lake Victoria. This part is called the White Nile. It flows north from Uganda, through South Sudan and Sudan. At Khartoum, in Sudan, the Blue Nile joins it. The Blue Nile comes from Ethiopia. Then the Nile flows through Egypt into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Nile is very important to the dry countries in the north of Africa. Most of Egypt is desert, so people use the river's water to grow their crops, to drink and to wash. Most of Egypt's cities are next to the river. Boats travel up and down the Nile, because it is one of the easiest ways to get around.
Long ago, the Egyptians made a kind of paper, called papyrus, from a plant that grows near the Nile. Crocodiles, birds, fish and many other animals live in or near the river.
Some of the Nile's water starts in Rwanda! Streams in Nyungwe Forest flow into the Nyabarongo. The Nyabarongo joins the Akagera river, and the Akagera flows into Lake Victoria. From there, the water begins its long journey north.
Where does the White Nile start?
In Lake Victoria.
Where does the Blue Nile come from?
From Ethiopia.
Why is the Nile so important to Egypt?
Most of Egypt is desert, so people need the river's water for crops, drinking and washing.
| River | Continent | Length (about) | Special fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile | Africa | 6,700 km | the longest river in the world |
| Amazon | South America | 6,400 km | carries more water than any other river |
| Congo | Africa | 4,700 km | the deepest river in the world |
| Nyabarongo | Africa (Rwanda) | 350 km | one of Rwanda's biggest rivers |
A river starts at its source. It flows through countries. It joins another river, or it flows into a lake or the sea.
Speak: Use the table. Tell a friend three sentences comparing two rivers. Your friend checks them in the table.
Write the journey of a raindrop from Nyungwe Forest to the Mediterranean Sea, in five sentences. Use starts, flows, joins and flows into.
Tip
“-er than” for two, “the -est” for the whole world. The Nile is longer than the Congo. The Nile is the longest river of all.
Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.
Which is the longest river in the world?
Answer: the Nile
Complete: The Congo is ___ (deep) than the Nile.
Answer: deeper
Complete: The Amazon carries the ___ water of any river. (more / most)
Answer: most
Put in order, from the source: Akagera, Nyabarongo, Lake Victoria.
Answer: Nyabarongo, Akagera, Lake Victoria
Write one sentence with not as long as.
Answer: Example: The Nyabarongo is not as long as the Nile.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Follow a raindrop from Rwanda to the sea. Put the places in order.
Tap the cards in the right order.
