List of rivers of the Americas

This is a list of rivers of the Americas, it includes major historical or physiological significant rivers of the Americas grouped by region where they are located (Central America, Northern America, West Indies and South Americas). The longest rivers in each country are included. Further details and references are provided in each river's separate article. Unusually significant tributaries appear in this list, under the river into which they drain.

Amazon River near Parintins, Brazil

The longest river in the Americas is the Amazon River. The length of the Amazon River is usually said to be "at least" 6,400 km (4,000 mi),[1] but reported values lie anywhere between 6,275–7,025 km (3,899–4,365 mi).[2] The length measurements of many rivers are only approximations and differ from each other because there are many factors that determine the calculated river length, such as the position of the geographical source and the mouth, the scale of measurement, and the length measuring techniques (for details see also List of rivers by length).[2][3]

There are 11 countries in the Americas that do not have rivers: Anguilla,[4] Aruba, Bermuda,[5] Bonaire, Cayman Islands,[6] Curaçao, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

North America

North America

Map of Central America

The water in rivers in Central America flows to either the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean. The Río Coco, locally known as the Wanks, runs along the border with Honduras and is the longest river flowing totally within Central America. The second longest river in Central America is the Patuca River.[7][8]

Some of the significant rivers and their lengths in Central America include:

Significant rivers in Central America
River Countries Length Significance
Aguán RiverHonduras150 mi (240 km)The Aguán River's watershed is one of seven watersheds in Honduras,[9] and covers over 1 million hectares (3,900 sq mi), of which around 200,000 are in the Aguán River Valley.[10]
Cahabón RiverGuatemala122 mi (196 km)known for white water rapids[11]
Choluteca RiverHonduras217 mi (349 km)noted for severe flooding in 1998[12]
Chucunaque RiverPanama144 mi (232 km)longest river in Panama
Coco River (Wanki River)Honduras and Nicaragua470 mi (760 km)border river, longest river in Honduras and Nicaragua
Dulce RiverGuatemala27 mi (43 km)largest bridge in Central America, location of Tarzan movie in 1939[13]
Lempa RiverEl Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala262 mi (422 km)longest and only navigable river in El Salvador[14]
Los Esclavos RiverGuatemala90 mi (140 km)known for bridge built over the river in 1579 as Spanish Colony[15]
Motagua RiverGuatemala250 mi (400 km)longest river in Guatemala[16]
New RiverBelize82 mi (132 km)longest river within Belize
Patuca RiverHonduras310 mi (500 km)longest river within Honduras[8]
Reventazón RiverCosta Rica90 mi (140 km)used to generate significant portion of Costa Rica's electricity
San Juan RiverCosta Rica, Nicaragua110 mi (180 km)longest river in Costa Rica[17]
Tempisque RiverCosta Rica89 mi (143 km)longest river totally within Costa Rica, important animal habitat, flows entirely within Costa Rica[18]
Ulúa RiverHonduras150 mi (240 km)known for ornate calcite vessels that date from the Mayan times[19]

Northern America

North American watersheds (Atlantic, Arctic, Great Basin, & Pacific)
Columbia River basin
Mississippi River basin
Yellowstone River flowing through Paradise Valley
Great Basin

Water from rivers in the Northern Americas flows toward either the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, the land-locked Great Basin in the western United States or the interior basin in Mexico.

The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and the United States (2,341 mi (3,767 km)).[20] The second longest river in North America and the United States is the Mississippi River (2,320 mi (3,730 km)). The Rio Conchos (350 mi (560 km)) is the longest river in Mexico. The longest river in Canada is the Mackenzie River (1,080 mi (1,740 km)).

Some of the longest or otherwise notable rivers include the rivers listed in the table below.

Significant rivers in Northern America
River Countries Length Tributary of Significance
Alabama RiverUS: Alabama318 mi (512 km)Gulf of MexicoThe Edmund Pettus Bridge crosses the Alabama River near Selma. The bridge was the site of the famous marches for voting rights in 1965
Alsek RiverCanada: Yukon US: Alaska240 mi (390 km)Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Oceanwilderness river
Altamaha RiverUS: Georgia137 mi (220 km)Atlantic Oceanbioreserve
Apalachicola RiverUS: Florida160 mi (260 km)Gulf of Mexicoscenic river, former border between East and West Florida
Chattahoochee RiverUS: Georgia, Alabama, Florida430 mi (690 km)Apalachicola Riverstate borders
Flint RiverUS: Georgia, Alabama, Florida344 mi (554 km)Apalachicola Rivermentioned in Gone with the Wind
Colorado RiverUS: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California Mexico:Baja California, Sonora1,450 mi (2,330 km)Gulf of California, Pacific OceanKnown for its dramatic canyons, whitewater rapids, and eleven U.S. National Parks; vital source of water in Southwest US
Columbia RiverCanada: British Columbia US: Washington, Oregon 1,243 mi (2,000 km)Pacific Oceanlargest river in Pacific Northwest, largest river emptying into the Pacific Ocean in North America
Snake River US: Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington 1,078 mi (1,735 km)Columbia Riverlargest tributary of Columbia River, shores populated by Native Americans, discovered by Lewis and Clark
Okanogan River Canada: British Columbia US: Washington115 mi (185 km)Columbia Riverearly 1800s fur trading river
Kettle River Canada: British Columbia, US: Washington175 mi (282 km)Columbia Riverassociation with Columbia River
Pend Oreille River US: Washington, Idaho, Canada: British Columbia130 mi (210 km)Columbia Rivernative people (Pend d'Oreilles and Kalispe) lived along the river
Kootenay River Canada: British Columbia US: Montana480 mi (770 km)Columbia Rivermajor tributary of Columbia River, early home to Native Americans
Willamette River US: Oregon187 mi (301 km)Columbia Riverwell known vineyards around river
Delaware RiverUS: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland 301 mi (484 km)Delaware Bay and Atlantic Oceanshores home to Native Americans, associated with several American Revolution battles and Washington Crossing the Delaware
Brandywine RiverUS: Pennsylvania, Delaware20 mi (32 km)Christina River, Delaware Riverdesignated Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers, associated with the Battle of Brandywine
Schuylkill RiverUS: Pennsylvania135 mi (217 km)Delaware RiverPhiladelphia
Fraser RiverCanada: British Columbia854 mi (1,374 km)Strait of Georgia Pacific Oceanlongest river in British Columbia, visited by Spanish explorers in 1792
Thompson RiverCanada: British Columbia304 mi (489 km)Fraser Riverevidence of prehistoric settlements along river
Chilcotin RiverCanada: British Columbia150 mi (240 km)Fraser Riverimportant to indigenous people
Nechako RiverCanada: British Columbia321 mi (517 km)Fraser Riverfirst explored by Europeans in 1806
Hudson RiverUS: New York, New Jersey315 mi (507 km)New York Harbor Atlantic Oceanexplored by Henry Hudson in 1609
Mohawk RiverUS: New York149 mi (240 km)Hudson Riverimportant to transportation and migration
Mackenzie RiverCanada: Northwest Territories, Yukon1,080 mi (1,740 km)Beaufort Sea Arctic Oceanlongest river in Canada
Liard RiverCanada: British Columbia, Northwest Territories693 mi (1,115 km)Mackenzie Rivermarks the north end of the Rocky Mountains
Slave RiverCanada: Alberta, Northwest Territories270 mi (430 km)Mackenzie Rivernamed for the Slavey people
Peace RiverCanada: British Columbia, Alberta1,195 mi (1,923 km)Slave Riverpart of Finlay–Peace–Slave–Mackenzie river system--13th longest in the world, traditional Danezaa people lived along its shores
Athabasca RiverCanada: Alberta765 mi (1,231 km)Slave RiverCanadian Heritage Rivers System
MajorqaqGreenland: Qeqqata44 mi (71 km)Atlantic OceanGreenland is considered part of North America physiography. This river is the outflow of a glacier.[21]
Mississippi RiverUS: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana2,320 mi (3,730 km)Gulf of Mexico2nd longest river in Northern Americas
Arkansas RiverUS: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas1,469 mi (2,364 km)Mississippi River6th longest river in US
Canadian RiverUS: Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas906 mi (1,458 km)Arkansas Riverexplored by Spanish in 1601
Cimarron RiverUS: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma698 mi (1,123 km)Arkansas Riverexplored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, no major cities along route
Des Moines RiverUS: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri525 mi (845 km)Mississippi Riverexplored by early French explorers
Illinois RiverUS: Illinois273 mi (439 km)Mississippi Riverimportant transportation route
Minnesota RiverUS: Minnesota370 mi (600 km)Mississippi Riverlongest river within Minnesota
Missouri RiverUS: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri 2,341 mi (3,767 km)Mississippi Riverlongest river in Northern Americas
Yellowstone RiverUS: Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota692 mi (1,114 km)Missouri Riverimportant transportation route for Native Americans, associated with Yellowstone Park
Platte RiverUS: Nebraska310 mi (500 km)Missouri Riverhome to Native Americans, first explored by the Spanish in the 1540s
Milk RiverCanada: Alberta, US: Montana792 mi (1,275 km)Missouri Riversubject of 1908 Supreme Court case for Native American rights
Ohio RiverUS: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois981 mi (1,579 km)Mississippi RiverNative American significance
Allegheny RiverUS: Pennsylvania, New York325 mi (523 km)Ohio RiverNative American and early colonial history
Cumberland RiverUS: Kentucky, Tennessee688 mi (1,107 km)Allegheny RiverNative American and riverboat significance
Kanawha RiverUS: West Virginia97 mi (156 km)Allegheny Riverlargest inland waterway in West Virginia
Scioto RiverUS: Ohio231 mi (372 km)Allegheny Riverlongest river within Ohio
Tennessee RiverUS:Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky652 mi (1,049 km)Ohio RiverCherokee lived along river, largest Ohio River tributary
Red River of the SouthUS: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana1,360 mi (2,190 km)Gulf of Mexicosecond largest river basin in the Great Plains, former border with Mexico
Rock RiverUS: Wisconsin, Illinois299 mi (481 km)Mississippi Rivernotable Rock River Water Trail
Wisconsin RiverUS: Wisconsin420 mi (680 km)Mississippi Riverlongest river within Wisconsin
Nass RiverCanada: British Columbia270 mi (430 km)Portland Inlet, Pacific Oceanvolcanic activity near river, salmon fishery
Potomac RiverUS: West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia405 mi (652 km)Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean4th largest drainage basin on the East Coast of the US, largest river in DC, military historical events in US history
Shenandoah RiverUS: Virginia, West Virginia56 mi (90 km)Potomac Riverwell known since colonial times
Roanoke RiverUS: Virginia, North Carolina410 mi (660 km)Atlantic Oceansite of early Native American and colonial settlements
Rio ConchosMexico: Chihuahua (state)350 mi (560 km)Rio Grandeimportant river in northern Mexico, largest tributary of the Rio Grande
Rio GrandeMexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, US: Colorado, New Mexico, Texas1,896 mi (3,051 km)Gulf of Mexicolongest US/Mexico border river
Sacramento RiverUS: California400 mi (640 km)Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, San Francisco Bay, Pacific Oceanlargest river in California, California Gold Rush
Pit RiverUS: California207 mi (333 km)Sacramento RiverNative American home
Feather RiverUS: California73 mi (117 km)Sacramento Riverhome to the Maidu Native Americans
SaskatchewanCanada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan340 mi (550 km)Lake Winnipegimportant transportation route in Pre-Columbian era, three hydroelectric dams
Skagit RiverCanada: British Columbia US: Washington240 mi (390 km)Puget Sound, Pacific Oceanhome to Skagit peoples
Skeena RiverCanada: British Columbia350 mi (560 km)Pacific Ocean2nd longest river in British Columbia
Babine RiverCanada: British Columbia97 mi (156 km)Skeena Riverone of the last unspoiled rivers
St. Johns RiverUS: Florida310 mi (500 km)Atlantic Oceanlongest river within Florida
Saint Lawrence RiverCanada: Ontario, Quebec US: New York310 mi (500 km)Gulf of St. Lawrence, Atlantic Oceanconnects Great Lakes, provides basis for St. Lawrence Seaway
Cuyahoga RiverUS: Ohio84.9 mi (136.6 km)Saint Lawrence River1795 western boundary of US, so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire
Detroit RiverCanada: Ontario US: Michigan28 mi (45 km)Saint Lawrence Riverone of world's busiest waterways, border river, designated American Heritage Rivers and Canadian Heritage Rivers System
Fox RiverUS: Wisconsin200 mi (320 km)Green Bay, Lake Michiganlargest tributary of Lake Michigan
Saginaw RiverUS: Michigan22 mi (35 km)Saginaw Bay, Saint Lawrence Riverimportant shipping route
Ottawa RiverCanada: Quebec, Ontario791 mi (1,273 km)Saint Lawrence Rivervital role for Algonquin people, Provincial border
MoriceCanada: British Columbia150 mi (240 km)Saint Lawrence River or Skeena Riverendangered river, Enbridge pipeline threat
Susquehanna RiverUS: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland444 mi (715 km)Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Oceanlongest river on the East-Coast of the US
Yukon RiverCanada: Yukon, British Columbia US: Alaska1,980 mi (3,190 km)Bering Sea, Pacific Oceanlongest river flowing through Canada and Alaska
Tanana RiverUS: Alaska540 mi (870 km)Yukon Riverevidence of Paleo-Arctic human activity, Nenana Ice Classic contest for charity to predict ice-out
Usumacinta RiverMexico: Tabasco, Guatemala620 mi (1,000 km)Gulf of Mexicoimportant to Mayan Civilization
South Saskatchewan RiverCanada: Alberta, Saskatchewan865 mi (1,392 km)Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan RiverCanada: Alberta, Saskatchewan800 mi (1,300 km)Saskatchewan River
Assiniboine RiverCanada: Saskatchewan, Manitoba660 mi (1,060 km)Red River of the North
Red River of the NorthUnited States: Minnesota, North Dakota Canada: Manitoba550 mi (890 km)Lake Winnipeg

West Indies

The West Indies in relation to the continental Americas

The significant rivers in the West Indies include the following:

Significant rivers in the West Indies
River Countries Length Significance
Artibonite RiverHaiti, Dominican Republic199 mi (320 km)longest river in Haiti
Caroni RiverTrinidad and Tobago25 mi (40 km)longest river in Trinidad and Tobago[22]
Cauto RiverCuba230 mi (370 km)longest river in Cuba and the Caribbean/West Indies[23]
Chavón RiverDominican Republichistorically used by pirates to hide treasure
Colonarie RiverSaint Vincent and the Grenadines5 mi (8.0 km)longest river in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Constitution RiverBarbados0.35 mi (0.56 km)longest river in Barbados[24]
Haina RiverDominican Republic53 mi (85 km)noted for discovery of gold in 1496[25]
Layou RiverDominica14.63 mi (23.54 km)longest river of Dominica
Nizao RiverDominican Republicthree hydroelectric plants on river, has since dried up due to aggregate extraction[26][27]
Ozama River Dominican Republic92 mi (148 km)In 1498, Bartolome Colon had a fort built on the Ozama River delta, which would later become the first permanent European settlement in the New World (Santo Domingo).[28]
Rio MinhoJamaica57.7 mi (92.9 km)longest river in Jamaica[29]
Rivière SolietteHaiti, Dominican Republic (called Arroyo Blanco)On 24 May 2004, it overran its banks resulting in the death of over one thousand individuals, with hundreds more injured and homeless near the city of Jimani.[30][31][32]
Rosseau RiverSaint Lucialongest river in Saint Lucia
Saint Johns RiverGrenadalongest river in Grenada
Yaque del Norte RiverDominican Republic185 mi (298 km)longest river in the Dominican Republic
Yuna RiverDominican Republicsecond longest river in the Dominican Republic[33]

South America

Amazon River basin

The following are some of the significant rivers in South America

See also

References

  1. "Amazon River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
  2. Liu, Shaochuang; Lu, P; Liu, D; Jin, P; Wang, W (1 March 2009). "Pinpointing the sources and measuring the lengths of the principal rivers of the world". Int. J. Digital Earth. 2 (1): 80–87. Bibcode:2009IJDE....2...80L. doi:10.1080/17538940902746082. S2CID 27548511. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. "Where Does the Amazon River Begin?". National Geographic News. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  4. Green, Richard; Commonwealth Secretariat (2006), The Commonwealth Yearbook 2006, Nexus Strategic Partnerships Ltd., p. 404, ISBN 978-0-9549629-4-4.
  5. Green & Commonwealth Secretariat 2006, p. 405.
  6. "Water Suppliers in the Cayman Islands – Water Authority Cayman". waterauthority.ky. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  7. "Nicaragua: The Land". Archived from the original on 2007-04-05. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  8. "In Honduras, Scientists Try to Learn the Secrets of the Patuca River Before It's Dammed". National Geographic. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. "USGS - Water Resources of Honduras - Aguan". usgs.gov. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  10. Jeffrey R. Jones, Colonization and Environment: Land Settlement Projects in Central America, The United Nations University Press, 1990
  11. "Cahabon River". Anywhere.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  12. Anderson, John Ward (1999-04-19). "A Hero Emerges From Mitch's Devastation". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  13. CONAP. "Listado de Áreas Protegidas (enero, 2011)" (in Spanish). conap.gob.gt. Archived from the original (xls) on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  14. "Lempa River". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. La Ilustración Guatemalteca (1 April 1897). "Nuestro grabados:El puente sobre el Río de los Esclavos". La Ilustración Guatemalteca (in Spanish). Síguere, Guirola y Cía. I (18). Baltazar de Orena was a Spanish poet, friend of Miguel de Cervantes.
  16. "Motagua River". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  17. Greenberg, Amy S. (2005). Manifest manhood and the Antebellum American empire. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-84096-1.
  18. "Tempisque River". Government of Costa Rica. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. "Ulua River Vessels". British Museum Collection.
  20. Howard Perlman, USGS (October 31, 2012). "Lengths of major rivers, from USGS Water-Science School". Ga.water.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  21. Maniitsoq, Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992
  22. Anthony, Michael (1997). Historical dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-585-21030-6. OCLC 44959425.
  23. "Caribbean Geography". World Atlas. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  24. "Barbados" (PDF). CPB US. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  25. Floyd, Troy (1973). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 32–34, 44.
  26. "RD$350M to recover Nizao river, top Dominican ecologist says - DominicanToday.com". Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  27. Jobin, William R.; Jobin, William (1999). Dams and disease: ecological design and health impacts of large dams, canals and irrigation systems. Taylor & Francis. pp. 157–158. ISBN 978-0-419-22360-3.
  28. Floyd, Troy (1973). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492–1526. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. p. 34.
  29. "Rio Minho". ArcGIS. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  30. "Arroyo Blanco". Washington Post.
  31. "Riviere Soliette". Paho.
  32. "Riviere Soliette". The Independent UK.
  33. De la Fuente, Santiago (1976). Geografía Dominicana. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Editora Colegial Quisqueyana. pp. 110–114.
General references
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