Rivers are natural streams of water that flow through a bed, from a higher place to a lower one. The vast majority of rivers discharge their waters into the ocean, a lake or another river if they are tributaries, and are an important source of water supply for agricultural and domestic uses. In addition, they provide fishing and other resources, in addition to being an important tourist attraction in some areas of the globe . The longest rivers in the world are the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. Although they are common on all continents and there are countries with thousands of rivers, in others, however, there are none.
Some of these are very small countries, such as the city-states through which no river passes. In other cases we speak of islands, either very small or so flat that it is not possible for the water to flow from the highest to the lowest parts . Others are in the desert, and although they may have beds that flood at certain times of the year, in no case do they form permanent channels.
In addition, countries that do not have rivers need alternative sources of water . For example, coastal countries install plants to desalinate seawater. In others, artificial canals have been built to try to collect rainwater, although the problem is that many of these places are in desert areas, so the canals are dry most of the year.
However, having rivers in the territory is not synonymous with access to quality water. According to a UNESCO report, at approximately 4,600 km3 per year, current global withdrawals are already close to maximum sustainable levels. Since the 1990s, water pollution has worsened in almost all rivers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The deterioration of water quality is expected to increase in the coming decades, increasing threats to human health, the environment and sustainable development.
Here is a list of countries that do not have a river.
