Rolling On The River

Europe

Latvia

The Daugava starts its journey in the Valdai Hills of Russia. It flows through Latvia and divides the capital city of Riga into two banks. Its journey ends as it empties into the Gulf of Riga and into the Baltic Sea.

England

The Thames begins its journey in the county of Gloucestershire and makes its journey past royal palaces, picturesque villages, two university towns, and through the capital city, London. Its journey ends as it empties into the North Sea.

France

The Seine is an important commercial waterway beginning its journey at Source-Seine in the Langres Plateau of France. It flows through the capital city, Paris and ends its journey as it empties into the English Channel.

The Loire is the longest river in France. The river begins its journey in the southeastern quarter of the French Massif Central in the Cevennes range. It flows past castles and fortresses and some very fine wine country in the Loire Valley which is known as the "Garden Of France." The vineyards and chateaus found along the Loire are major tourist attractions. The Loire ends its journey when it reaches the Bay of Biscay at Saint Nazaire and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Switzerland

The Rhine flows from the Swiss Alps into Rotterdam in the Netherlands and ends its journey as it empties into the North Sea. It is the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe. The river is a significant transportation route linking northern and southern Europe. During its journey the Rhine flows through six countries and entering Germany it forms the border between France and Germany. A most picturesque part of the Rhine is in Cologne, Germany.

Germany

The Danube begins its journey in the Black Forest of Germany. It flows through ten countries among them Germany, Austria, and Romania until its journey ends when it empties into the Black Sea. The Danube is one of the world's iconic rivers and is celebrated in the beautiful waltz composed by Johann Strauss "The Blue Danube." A most picturesque spot is where the river begins in a reflection pool on the grounds of the Prince of Furstenberg's Palace in Donaueschingen, Germany.

Spain/Portugal

The Douro is a beautiful river for cruising. It flows past vineyards, bridges and hilltop villages along its journey. It is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula rising near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province in central Spain. It flows through the northwest part of central Spain and into northern Portugal ending its journey at Porto, the second-largest city of Portugal where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Russia

The Volga River is the longest river in Europe and the principal waterway of Russia. Its journey begins in the Vladai Hills of Russia. Many poets, writers and songwriters have honored the Volga. It is known as "Mother Volga" and ends its journey as it empties into the Caspian Sea.

Asia

China

The Yangtze begins its journey from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its journey ends as it empties into the China Sea. It is the longest river in Asia. The river is China's east-west highway and flows past impressive imperial palaces, canals, and lovely temples. Along the journey, the most incredible sight is Three Gorges and the huge Three Gorges Dam.

India

The Ganges begins its journey from a Himalayan ice cave. It provides water for farming, industry, energy, transportation, drinking, bathing, and religious ceremonies. The Ganges flows through the heart of Northern India and ends its journey as it empties into the Bay Of Bengal. The river is sacred to Hindus who consider it a goddess and the banks of the Ganges are home to pilgrimage sites, funeral ghats, yoga ashrams, and holy cities like Varanasi and Allahabad.

The Mekong is the world's 11th longest river as it begins its journey from Lasagongma Spring and flows through the rice paddies, fish farms, and orchards of China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its journey ends as it empties into the East Sea.

Burma

The Irrawaddy is sometimes referred to by the Burmese as the Ayeyarwady. It flows from north to south through Myanmar. The river begins its journey from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali Rivers and flows through the Irrawaddy Delta ending its journey as it empties into the Andaman Sea. Having spent a few years on the river famed poet Rudyard Kipling returned to England and penned a poem about it titled "Mandalay."

Africa

Egypt

The Nile is located in the northeastern part of Africa. It is the world's longest river flowing through eleven countries. Most of the major Egyptian cities were built along the Nile. The Aswan Dam built on the river helps prevent the flooding of the modern cities along its banks. It has two major tributaries the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The northern section of the Nile flows north through the Sudanese Desert into Egypt, where the city of Cairo is located on its large delta and ends its journey as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Alexandria.

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa and the longest-east flowing river. It flows through six African countries ending its journey as it empties into the Indian Ocean. It is the cleanest and well-preserved river. Along its journey are several national parks and waterfalls situated on its banks including the world-famous Victoria Falls.

The Chobe is located in south-central Africa and flows through Angola and Namibia's Caprivi Strip. The river flows into the Linyanti Swamp on the northern border of Botswana where below the swamp the river is known as the Linyanti River. Its journey ends as it empties into the Zambezi River.

North America

The USA

New York State

The Hudson flows from North to South of New York State and forms the boundary between New York and New Jersey. The river begins its journey in the Andirondack Mountains of Upper New York flowing south through the Hudson Valley to upper New York Bay between New York City and Jersey City. Its journey ends as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at New York Harbor. During its journey, in upstate New York, there are mountains and lovely scenery along its way with many attractions along its banks.

Minnesota

The Mississippi begins its journey from Lake Itasca in the US state of Minnesota. It is a river people love to cruise down on paddleboats. Its journey ends as it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It has the second-largest watershed in the world. Its journey takes it through or borders the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana and two Canadian provinces. The Mississippi is the second-longest river in North America.

Colorado

The Colorado is one of the principal rivers in the Southwestern US and northern Mexico. Its journey begins in the central Rocky Mountains of the US state of Colorado and it flows southwest across the Colorado Plateau and through the amazing Grand Canyon before the Colorado reaches Lake Mead on the Arizona-Nevada border, at which point it turns south toward the international border. Once the river flows into Mexico it heads for the Colorado River Delta at the tip of the Gulf of California between Baja California and Sonora where its journey ends. The Colorado is known for its dramatic canyons, white-water rapids, and its journey through eleven US National Parks.

Montana

The Missouri is the world's 15th longest river and the longest river in North America. Its journey begins in the Rocky Mountains of the Eastern Centennial Mountains of Southwestern Montana. It flows through Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, as well as passing through Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. Around 1/3 of America's wheat barley and oats are grown along the river banks. The Missouri empties into the Mississippis River north of St, Louis, Missouri.

Colorado/New Mexico

The Rio Grande is one of the main rivers in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. The river begins its journey in south-central Colorado and ends its journey when it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande forms part of the Mexico-US border. On its journey, it passes through the US state of New Mexico.

Canada

The Saint Lawrence is a large river located in the middle latitudes of North America. It is a major waterway that connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean and forms the primary drainage outflow for the Great Lakes Basin. The river begins its journey from Lake Ontario and flows through the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec in Canada forming part of the international border between Ontario and the state of New York in the US.

British Columbia

The Columbia begins its journey in the Rocky Mountains of the Canadian province of British Columbia and flows northwest and then south into the US state of Washington. It forms most of the border between the state of Washington and Oregon. The Columbia ends its journey when it empties into the Pacific Ocean.

South America

The Amazon is the longest river in South America flowing through six countries. Its journey begins in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Along the way, it flows through lovely rainforests heading toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon basin is the largest drainage basin in the world. Finally the Amazon ends its journey as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the northwestern coast of Brazil.

Venezuela

The Orinoco begins its journey in the Sierra Parima Mountains of Venezuela and Brazil The river is one of the longest rivers in South America. It is home to more than 1,000 species of birds and fish including gargantuan 200-pound catfish and carnivorous piranhas. Along the way, it flows through rainforests, flooded forests, vast grasslands and a wide delta. Its journey ends when it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.