WORLD’S DEADLIEST

There are many reasons to be wary of these well-known waterways

CONGO RIVER, AFRICA

With a depth up to 220 metres, this river in Africa is the deepest in the world. It has a navigable waterway of 9,000 miles and is useful for the transportation of goods like sugar, coffee, copper and cotton. However, the course of this river is full of rapids and waterfalls that cause many accidents. After overloading boats or travelling at night, many people have gone missing in the dark depths of the Congo River.

NILE RIVER, AFRICA

Passing through 11 different countries, the Nile is the world’s longest river. Some dangerous regions it passes through are teeming with predators, such as black mambas, hippopotamuses and crocodiles, that kill 200 people annually. However, the deadliest animals that live off this river are mosquitoes. These insects infect 500 million people with diseases every year and cause hundreds of thousands of deaths.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER, US

The Mississippi River is also home to dangerous animals like the bull shark. However, a more underestimated deadly feature of this river is the change of current. Swimmers often get into difficulty in the Mississippi due to the unpredictable undercurrents that sweep people up from the lower depths, making it difficult to navigate to safety.

AMAZON RIVER, SOUTH AMERICA

As one of the most famous rivers in the world and the largest river by water volume, the Amazon River attracts many tourists and passes through many communities. It winds through dense forested areas with high biodiversity and there are a range of unique and dangerous creatures to be wary of. These include electric eels, piranhas, bull sharks and anacondas.

RIVER WHARFE, ENGLAND

The River Wharfe flows through Yorkshire in England, where the wildlife is the least of a visitor’s worries. But many people who have fallen into this river’s waters have been swallowed up by the river itself due to hidden undercut tunnels on the riverbed. Some of its narrow sections are deceptive – the river flows underneath the rocks at the bank, where swimmers can be sucked down and trapped underwater.