Which river has the largest discharge of any river?

The river with the largest discharge of any river is the Amazon.

The Amazon releases more water into the ocean than any other river, with an average discharge near 209,000 cubic metres per second at its mouth. Its immense flow comes from a drainage basin covering roughly 7 million square kilometres, fed by heavy rainfall and hundreds of tributaries across South America.

The river rises in the Andes of Peru and flows generally eastward through Peru, Colombia and Brazil before reaching the Atlantic. Its broad lower course includes numerous islands, channels and floodplain forests. Seasonal water levels can rise dramatically, expanding the river far beyond its dry-season channel.

“Largest” here means greatest discharge—the volume of water passing a point over time—not greatest length. The Nile is commonly described as the world’s longest river, although measurements and source definitions can prompt debate. The Congo has the second-largest discharge among rivers, but its average flow is still far below the Amazon’s. The Amazon basin’s forests and wetlands also make it globally important for biodiversity and climate research.