Is the Mississippi River long compared to other rivers?

The Mississippi River is longer and wider than most of the rivers in North America, but the answers to these questions do not help you decide if it formed quickly or slowly. The Wikipedia article on the river seems have a pretty good summary of its formation history and links to comparisons of its size with other rivers. read more

When compared to other world rivers, the Mississippi-Missouri River combination ranks fourth in length (3,710 miles/5,970km) following the Nile (4,160 miles/6,693km), the Amazon (4,000 miles/6,436km), and the Yangtze Rivers (3,964 miles/6,378km). read more

The largest river in North America, the Mississippi river rises at Lake Itasca in Minnesota and flows south, meeting its major tributaries, the Missouri and the Ohio rivers, on its way to southeast Louisiana, where it enters the Gulf of Mexico. read more