The map layer shows the 405 largest river basin areas in the world classified by the number of riparian states.
Rivers have always been of vital importance to humanity as habitats, shipment routes, sources of food and energy. Rivers are also an integral part of global climate systems. With increasing human activity in river basin areas, the impact on water quality of and also on the quantity in the rivers is growing. To maintain the quality and size of the rivers of the earth, which are often referred to as lifelines, transboundary cooperation between riparian states is needed. While this already happens in some river basin areas in the form of sustainable, transnational water resource management, in other regions the risk of conflict is increased due to a lack of or inadequate collaborations. The map illustrates that the river basin areas of the largest rivers on earth often stretch through many states.
Largest river basins by area
This chart shows the five biggest river basins worlwide by river basin area (in mio. m²).
Source: The Global Runoff Data Centre (2007)
Countries with highest amount of river basins
Countries with highest amount of river basins.
Source: The Global Runoff Data Centre (2007)
River basins with most riparian states
River basins with most riparian states.
Source: The Global Runoff Data Centre (2007)
© picture-alliance / dpa
Water - Conflict or cooperation?
Since the end of the 1980s, the link between environment (degradation), (violent) conflict and security has formed part of both public and political debates as well as social science research.
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