Throughout history, rivers have been a source of fresh drinking water, irrigation and spots for scenic recreational activities for man. They are some of the most beautiful natural sights, and people all across the world visit rivers in their locale to enjoy the calm and beauty they have to offer. That being said, here are some of the most famous rivers in the world:

The Danube

Danube is one of Europe’s most popular rivers, coming second to perhaps the Rhine. Originateing in Germany near the Black Forest region, the Danube flows for seventeen hundred miles before it meets the Black Sea. It passes through famous tourist spots such as Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. Tourist companies offer great cruise options to see the Danuabe, taking visitors across all of the major European capitals for sight seeing and enjoying its beauty.

himuraseta/Pixabay. The Yangtze is Asia’s longest river.

The Yangtze

Ranked as the world’s third-longest river, the Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river. Originating from the Tibetan Plateau, the river flows across China, flowing for a total of three thousand and nine hundred miles before meeting the East China Sea. Known as the Long River or the Chang Jiang, the Yangtze is also used for generating hydroelectricity for China–it is home to the Three Gorges Dam, which is the world's largest hydroelectricity power generator.

Pexels/Pixabay. The Colorado River is home to the Grand Canyon.

Colorado River

Although it is not famous, the Colorado River is every bit as majestic as the most popular rivers in the world. It originates from the Colorado State, from the Rocky Mountains, flowing in the southwestern direction, through the states of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and California, as it empties into the Gulf of California before crossing into Mexico.

It is a crucial source of water for the southwest U.S. states and is also popular for its scenic beauty. It is an ideal body of water for water sports enthusiasts and is also one of the best fishing waters in the United States. The Colorado River houses the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead and Powell, all of which are ideal vacation spots.

8moments/Pixabay. The Zambezi houses the famous Victoria Falls.

The Zambezi

The Zambezi has the most famous African falls, known as the Victoria Falls. Being Africa’s fourth longest river, the Zambezi flows for 1599 miles, originating from Zambia and passing through Angola to Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique before finally meeting the Indian Ocean. The area along the Zambezi is home to a variety of mesmerizing flowers and wild animals. African wild animals, such as the monitor lizards, buffalo, hippos, zebras, giraffes, elephants and a wide variety of birds, all live along the Zambezi.