Europe has more than a dozen famous rivers—including the Danube, Thames, Seine, Tiber, Elbe, and Rhine, to name a few—but the longest river in Europe exists entirely in Russia.
The Volga River flows nearly 2,200 miles, beginning northwest of Moscow, through 11 of Russia’s 20 largest cities and draining in the Caspian Sea. Although it’s the longest river in Europe, it’s only the 18th longest river in the world.
Editor’s note (2021): This piece has been updated for clarity, accuracy, and relevance.