In physical geography of rivers, which major river of the world crosses the equator two times during its course?

Introduction / Context:

Rivers and their courses often feature in competitive exam questions, especially when they have unusual paths such as crossing the equator or changing direction. One of the world's great rivers is famous because it crosses the equator twice as it winds through central Africa. This question asks you to identify that river.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked about a river that crosses the equator two times.
• Options include the Yangtze, Congo, Nile, and Amazon.
• Only one of these rivers has a course that goes from one hemisphere to the other and back again.

Concept / Approach:

To answer, visualise the world map and focus on equatorial regions. The Congo River flows through central Africa, forming a large arc that crosses the equator southwards and then again northwards. The Nile flows mainly from south to north but does not cross the equator twice. The Amazon flows in South America, entirely south of the equator, although parts of its basin lie close to it. The Yangtze is a major river of China in the northern hemisphere and does not cross the equator at all.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Atlas maps and geography textbooks often highlight the Congo as a unique example of a river that crosses the equator two times. When revising map based questions, verifying this fact becomes easy by tracing the river path on a globe or detailed map.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The Yangtze is entirely located in China within the northern hemisphere and never reaches the equator.

The Nile crosses the equator once near its sources in east Africa but then flows northward across the tropics into the Mediterranean without looping back.

The Amazon is a powerful equatorial river in South America but primarily runs just south of the equator and does not cross it twice.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes choose the Amazon because it is the largest river by discharge and is associated with the equatorial forests, but the question is about crossing the equator twice, which is a distinctive feature of the Congo.

Final Answer:

The river that crosses the equator two times is the Congo River.