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Here's a useful new mnemonic phrase for remembering the world's eight longest rivers:

" NAM-MI  YACH-Y! "

Nile (Africa) - 4,145 miles
Amazon (S.America) - 4,050 miles
Mississippi-Missouri (USA) - 3,760 miles
Irtysh (Russia) - 3,200 miles
Yangtse (China) - 3,100 miles
Amur (Asia) - 2,900 miles
Congo (Africa) - 2,718 miles
Huang-Ho (or Yellow) (China) - 2,700 miles

After the above 8 came another 4 rivers in "L-M-N" order:

By comparison, Europe's longest river (the Danube) comes only 26th at 1770 miles.

Fact Source: Readers Digest Great World Atlas (5th r, 1975)

Note: The "top ten" can vary between publications according to the chosen determination of river plus tributaries comprising the longest watercourse. For example the "Larousse Pocket Factfinder (1995)" lists the longest 14 rivers as (in miles):

4,160: Nile - Kagera - Ruvuvu - Ruvusu - Luvironza
4,080: Amazon - Ucayali - Tambo - Ene - Apurimac
3,740: Mississippi - Missouri - Jefferson - Beaverhead - Red Rock
  then:
3,720: Chang Jiang (Yangtze)
3,650: Yenisey - Angara - Selenga - Ider
3,590: Amur - Argun - Kerulen
3,360: Ob-Irtysh
3,030: Plata - Parana - Grande
3,010: Huang Ho (Yellow)
2,880: Congo (Zaire) - Lualaba
  then:
2,730: Lena
2,630: Mckenzie - Slave - Peace - Finlay
2,600: Mekong
2,550: Niger