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.
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), but reported values lie anywhere between 6,275–7,025 km (3,899–4,365 mi). 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).
There are 11 countries in the Americas that do not have rivers: Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.
North America
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.
Some of the significant rivers and their lengths in Central America include:
| River | Countries | Length | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aguán River | Honduras | 150 mi (240 km) | The Aguán River's watershed is one of seven watersheds in Honduras, and covers over 1 million hectares (3,900 sq mi), of which around 200,000 are in the Aguán River Valley. |
| Cahabón River | Guatemala | 122 mi (196 km) | known for white water rapids |
| Choluteca River | Honduras | 217 mi (349 km) | noted for severe flooding in 1998 |
| Chucunaque River | Panama | 144 mi (232 km) | longest river in Panama |
| Coco River (Wanki River) | Honduras and Nicaragua | 470 mi (760 km) | border river, longest river in Honduras and Nicaragua |
| Dulce River | Guatemala | 27 mi (43 km) | largest bridge in Central America, location of Tarzan movie in 1939 |
| Lempa River | El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala | 262 mi (422 km) | longest and only navigable river in El Salvador |
| Los Esclavos River | Guatemala | 90 mi (140 km) | known for bridge built over the river in 1579 as Spanish Colony |
| Motagua River | Guatemala | 250 mi (400 km) | longest river in Guatemala |
| New River | Belize | 82 mi (132 km) | longest river within Belize |
| Patuca River | Honduras | 310 mi (500 km) | longest river within Honduras |
| Reventazón River | Costa Rica | 90 mi (140 km) | used to generate significant portion of Costa Rica's electricity |
| San Juan River | Costa Rica, Nicaragua | 110 mi (180 km) | longest river in Costa Rica |
| Tempisque River | Costa Rica | 89 mi (143 km) | longest river totally within Costa Rica, important animal habitat, flows entirely within Costa Rica |
| Ulúa River | Honduras | 150 mi (240 km) | known for ornate calcite vessels that date from the Mayan times |
Northern America
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.[citation needed]
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and the United States (2,341 mi (3,767 km)). 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)).[citation needed]
Some of the longest or otherwise notable rivers include the rivers listed in the table below.[citation needed]
| River | Countries | Length | Tributary of | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama River | US: Alabama | 318 mi (512 km) | Gulf of Mexico | The Edmund Pettus Bridge crosses the Alabama River near Selma. The bridge was the site of the famous marches for voting rights in 1965 |
| Alsek River | Canada: Yukon US: Alaska | 240 mi (390 km) | Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Ocean | wilderness river |
| Altamaha River | US: Georgia | 137 mi (220 km) | Atlantic Ocean | bioreserve |
| Apalachicola River | US: Florida | 160 mi (260 km) | Gulf of Mexico | scenic river, former border between East and West Florida |
| Chattahoochee River | US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida | 430 mi (690 km) | Apalachicola River | state borders |
| Flint River | US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida | 344 mi (554 km) | Apalachicola River | mentioned in Gone with the Wind |
| Colorado River | US: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California Mexico:Baja California, Sonora | 1,450 mi (2,330 km) | Gulf of California, Pacific Ocean | Known for its dramatic canyons, whitewater rapids, and eleven U.S. National Parks; vital source of water in Southwest US |
| Columbia River | Canada: British Columbia US: Washington, Oregon | 1,243 mi (2,000 km) | Pacific Ocean | largest river in Pacific Northwest, largest river emptying into the Pacific Ocean in North America |
| James River | US: Virginia | 348 mi (560 km) | Hampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean | the first permanent English settlement in America and all past and current Virginia capitols, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond are located along its shores |
| Snake River | US: Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington | 1,078 mi (1,735 km) | Columbia River | largest tributary of Columbia River, shores populated by Native Americans, discovered by Lewis and Clark |
| Okanogan River | Canada: British Columbia US: Washington | 115 mi (185 km) | Columbia River | early 1800s fur trading river |
| Kettle River | Canada: British Columbia, US: Washington | 175 mi (282 km) | Columbia River | association with Columbia River |
| Pend Oreille River | US: Washington, Idaho, Canada: British Columbia | 130 mi (210 km) | Columbia River | native people (Pend d'Oreilles and Kalispe) lived along the river |
| Kootenay River | Canada: British Columbia US: Montana | 480 mi (770 km) | Columbia River | major tributary of Columbia River, early home to Native Americans |
| Willamette River | US: Oregon | 187 mi (301 km) | Columbia River | well known vineyards around river |
| Delaware River | US: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland | 301 mi (484 km) | Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean | shores home to Native Americans, associated with several American Revolution battles and Washington Crossing the Delaware |
| Brandywine River | US: Pennsylvania, Delaware | 20 mi (32 km) | Christina River, Delaware River | designated Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers, associated with the Battle of Brandywine |
| Schuylkill River | US: Pennsylvania | 135 mi (217 km) | Delaware River | Philadelphia |
| Fraser River | Canada: British Columbia | 854 mi (1,374 km) | Strait of Georgia Pacific Ocean | longest river in British Columbia, visited by Spanish explorers in 1792 |
| Thompson River | Canada: British Columbia | 304 mi (489 km) | Fraser River | evidence of prehistoric settlements along river |
| Chilcotin River | Canada: British Columbia | 150 mi (240 km) | Fraser River | important to indigenous people |
| Nechako River | Canada: British Columbia | 321 mi (517 km) | Fraser River | first explored by Europeans in 1806 |
| Hudson River | US: New York, New Jersey | 315 mi (507 km) | New York Harbor Atlantic Ocean | explored by Henry Hudson in 1609 |
| Mohawk River | US: New York | 149 mi (240 km) | Hudson River | important to transportation and migration |
| Mackenzie River | Canada: Northwest Territories, Yukon | 1,080 mi (1,740 km) | Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean | longest river in Canada |
| Liard River | Canada: British Columbia, Northwest Territories | 693 mi (1,115 km) | Mackenzie River | marks the north end of the Rocky Mountains |
| Slave River | Canada: Alberta, Northwest Territories | 270 mi (430 km) | Mackenzie River | named for the Slavey people |
| Peace River | Canada: British Columbia, Alberta | 1,195 mi (1,923 km) | Slave River | part of Finlay–Peace–Slave–Mackenzie river system—13th longest in the world, traditional Danezaa people lived along its shores |
| Athabasca River | Canada: Alberta | 765 mi (1,231 km) | Slave River | Canadian Heritage Rivers System |
| Majorqaq | Greenland: Qeqqata | 44 mi (71 km) | Atlantic Ocean | Greenland is considered part of North America physiography. This river is the outflow of a glacier. |
| Mississippi River | US: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana | 2,320 mi (3,730 km) | Gulf of Mexico | 2nd longest river in Northern Americas |
| Arkansas River | US: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas | 1,469 mi (2,364 km) | Mississippi River | 6th longest river in US |
| Canadian River | US: Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas | 906 mi (1,458 km) | Arkansas River | explored by Spanish in 1601 |
| Cimarron River | US: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma | 698 mi (1,123 km) | Arkansas River | explored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, no major cities along route |
| Des Moines River | US: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri | 525 mi (845 km) | Mississippi River | explored by early French explorers |
| Illinois River | US: Illinois | 273 mi (439 km) | Mississippi River | important transportation route |
| Minnesota River | US: Minnesota | 370 mi (600 km) | Mississippi River | longest river within Minnesota |
| Missouri River | US: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri | 2,341 mi (3,767 km) | Mississippi River | longest river in Northern Americas |
| Yellowstone River | US: Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota | 692 mi (1,114 km) | Missouri River | important transportation route for Native Americans, associated with Yellowstone Park |
| Platte River | US: Nebraska | 310 mi (500 km) | Missouri River | home to Native Americans, first explored by the Spanish in the 1540s |
| Milk River | Canada: Alberta, US: Montana | 792 mi (1,275 km) | Missouri River | subject of 1908 Supreme Court case for Native American rights |
| Ohio River | US: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois | 981 mi (1,579 km) | Mississippi River | Native American significance |
| Allegheny River | US: Pennsylvania, New York | 325 mi (523 km) | Ohio River | Native American and early colonial history |
| Cumberland River | US: Kentucky, Tennessee | 688 mi (1,107 km) | Allegheny River | Native American and riverboat significance |
| Kanawha River | US: West Virginia | 97 mi (156 km) | Allegheny River | largest inland waterway in West Virginia |
| Scioto River | US: Ohio | 231 mi (372 km) | Allegheny River | longest river within Ohio |
| Tennessee River | US:Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky | 652 mi (1,049 km) | Ohio River | Cherokee lived along river, largest Ohio River tributary |
| Red River of the South | US: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana | 1,360 mi (2,190 km) | Gulf of Mexico | second largest river basin in the Great Plains, former border with Mexico |
| Rock River | US: Wisconsin, Illinois | 299 mi (481 km) | Mississippi River | notable Rock River Water Trail |
| Wisconsin River | US: Wisconsin | 420 mi (680 km) | Mississippi River | longest river within Wisconsin |
| Nass River | Canada: British Columbia | 270 mi (430 km) | Portland Inlet, Pacific Ocean | volcanic activity near river, salmon fishery |
| Potomac River | US: West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia | 405 mi (652 km) | Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean | 4th largest drainage basin on the East Coast of the US, largest river in DC, military historical events in US history |
| Shenandoah River | US: Virginia, West Virginia | 56 mi (90 km) | Potomac River | well known since colonial times |
| Roanoke River | US: Virginia, North Carolina | 410 mi (660 km) | Atlantic Ocean | site of early Native American and colonial settlements |
| Rio Conchos | Mexico: Chihuahua (state) | 350 mi (560 km) | Rio Grande | important river in northern Mexico, largest tributary of the Rio Grande |
| Rio Grande | Mexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, US: Colorado, New Mexico, Texas | 1,896 mi (3,051 km) | Gulf of Mexico | longest US/Mexico border river |
| Sacramento River | US: California | 400 mi (640 km) | Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, San Francisco Bay, Pacific Ocean | largest river in California, California Gold Rush |
| Pit River | US: California | 207 mi (333 km) | Sacramento River | Native American home |
| Feather River | US: California | 73 mi (117 km) | Sacramento River | home to the Maidu Native Americans |
| Saskatchewan | Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan | 340 mi (550 km) | Lake Winnipeg | important transportation route in Pre-Columbian era, three hydroelectric dams |
| Skagit River | Canada: British Columbia US: Washington | 240 mi (390 km) | Puget Sound, Pacific Ocean | home to Skagit peoples (Upper and Lower tribes |
| Skeena River | Canada: British Columbia | 350 mi (560 km) | Pacific Ocean | 2nd longest river in British Columbia |
| Babine River | Canada: British Columbia | 97 mi (156 km) | Skeena River | one of the last unspoiled rivers |
| St. Johns River | US: Florida | 310 mi (500 km) | Atlantic Ocean | longest river within Florida |
| Saint Lawrence River | Canada: Ontario, Quebec US: New York | 310 mi (500 km) | Gulf of St. Lawrence, Atlantic Ocean | connects Great Lakes, provides basis for St. Lawrence Seaway |
| Cuyahoga River | US: Ohio | 84.9 mi (136.6 km) | Saint Lawrence River | 1795 western boundary of US, so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire |
| Detroit River | Canada: Ontario US: Michigan | 28 mi (45 km) | Saint Lawrence River | one of world's busiest waterways, border river, designated American Heritage Rivers and Canadian Heritage Rivers System |
| Fox River | US: Wisconsin | 200 mi (320 km) | Green Bay, Lake Michigan | largest tributary of Lake Michigan |
| Saginaw River | US: Michigan | 22 mi (35 km) | Saginaw Bay, Saint Lawrence River | important shipping route |
| Ottawa River | Canada: Quebec, Ontario | 791 mi (1,273 km) | Saint Lawrence River | vital role for Algonquin people, Provincial border |
| Morice | Canada: British Columbia | 150 mi (240 km) | Saint Lawrence River or Skeena River | endangered river, Enbridge pipeline threat |
| Susquehanna River | US: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland | 444 mi (715 km) | Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean | longest river on the East-Coast of the US |
| Yukon River | Canada: Yukon, British Columbia US: Alaska | 1,980 mi (3,190 km) | Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean | longest river flowing through Canada and Alaska |
| Tanana River | US: Alaska | 540 mi (870 km) | Yukon River | evidence of Paleo-Arctic human activity, Nenana Ice Classic contest for charity to predict ice-out |
| Usumacinta River | Mexico: Tabasco, Guatemala | 620 mi (1,000 km) | Gulf of Mexico | important to Mayan Civilization |
| South Saskatchewan River | Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan | 865 mi (1,392 km) | Saskatchewan River | |
| North Saskatchewan River | Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan | 800 mi (1,300 km) | Saskatchewan River | |
| Assiniboine River | Canada: Saskatchewan, Manitoba | 660 mi (1,060 km) | Red River of the North | |
| Red River of the North | United States: Minnesota, North Dakota Canada: Manitoba | 550 mi (890 km) | Lake Winnipeg |
West Indies
The significant rivers in the West Indies include the following:
| River | Countries | Length | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artibonite River | Haiti, Dominican Republic | 199 mi (320 km) | longest river in Haiti |
| Caroni River | Trinidad and Tobago | 25 mi (40 km) | longest river in Trinidad and Tobago |
| Cauto River | Cuba | 230 mi (370 km) | longest river in Cuba and the Caribbean/West Indies |
| Chavón River | Dominican Republic | historically used by pirates to hide treasure | |
| Colonarie River | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5 mi (8.0 km) | longest river in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Constitution River | Barbados | 0.35 mi (0.56 km) | longest river in Barbados |
| Haina River | Dominican Republic | 53 mi (85 km) | noted for discovery of gold in 1496 |
| Layou River | Dominica | 14.63 mi (23.54 km) | longest river of Dominica |
| Nizao River | Dominican Republic | three hydroelectric plants on river, has since dried up due to aggregate extraction | |
Ozama River
| Dominican Republic | 92 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). |
| Rio Minho | Jamaica | 57.7 mi (92.9 km) | longest river in Jamaica |
| Rivière Soliette | Haiti, 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. | |
| Rosseau River | Saint Lucia | longest river in Saint Lucia | |
| Saint Johns River | Grenada | longest river in Grenada | |
| Yaque del Norte River | Dominican Republic | 185 mi (298 km) | longest river in the Dominican Republic |
| Yuna River | Dominican Republic | second longest river in the Dominican Republic |
Rivers of North and Central America by discharge
| River | Average discharge (m3/s) at mouth |
|---|---|
| 01 Mississippi–Atchafalaya | |
| 02 St Lawrence | |
| 03 Mackenzie | |
| 04 Columbia | |
| 05 Yukon | |
| 06 Nelson–Churchill | |
| 07 Grijalva–Usumacinta | |
| 08 Fraser | |
| 09 La Grande–Eastmain–Rupert–Caniapiscau | |
| 10 Mobile–Alabama–Tombigbee | |
| 11 Churchill | |
| 12 Kuskokwim | |
| 13 Skeena | |
| 14 Copper | |
| 15 Koksoak | |
| 16 Stikine | |
| 17 San Juan | |
| 18 Thelon | |
| 19 Papaloapán | |
| 20 Susitna | |
| 21 Moose | |
| 22 Albany | |
| 23 Susquehanna | |
| 24 Nottaway | |
| 25 St John | |
| 26 Sacramento–San Joaquin | |
| 27 Coatzacoalcos | |
| 28 Nushagak | |
| 45 Hudson |
South America
The following are some of the significant rivers in South America
- Aconcagua - Chile
- Amazon - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil (4,086 mi (6,576 km)) (flows into the Atlantic Ocean)
- Solimões - name given in Brazil to the portions of the Amazon upstream of its confluence with the Rio Negro
- Ucayali - Peru
- Tambo - Peru
- Ene - Peru
- Mantaro - Peru
- Apurímac - Peru
- Ene - Peru
- Urubamba - Peru
- Tambo - Peru
- Marañón - Peru
- Pastaza - Ecuador, Peru
- Huallaga - Peru
- Ucayali - Peru
- Putumayo - Colombia, Peru, Brazil
- Juruá - Peru, Brazil
- Caquetá - Colombia, Brazil
- Purus - Peru, Brazil
- Rio Negro - Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil
- Casiquiare Canal - a large natural canal in Venezuela connecting the Rio Negro with the upper Orinoco River
- Vaupés - Colombia, Brazil
- Rio Branco - Brazil
- Madeira - Bolivia, Brazil
- Beni - Bolivia
- Madre de Dios - Peru, Bolivia
- Mamoré - Bolivia, Brazil
- Guaporé - Brazil, Bolivia
- Beni - Bolivia
- Tapajós - Brazil
- Xingu - Brazil
- Tocantins - Brazil
- Araguaia - Brazil
- Solimões - name given in Brazil to the portions of the Amazon upstream of its confluence with the Rio Negro
- Apure - Venezuela
- Atrato - Colombia
- Baudó - Colombia
- Bío-Bío - Chile
- Malleco - Chile
- Caroní - Venezuela
- Catatumbo - Colombia, Venezuela
- Zulia - Venezuela, Colombia
- Sardinata - Colombia
- Zulia - Venezuela, Colombia
- Cauca - Colombia
- Cautín - Chile
- Chubut - Argentina
- Colorado - Argentina
- Elqui - Chile
- Essequibo - Guyana
- Itata - Chile
- Ñuble - Chile
- Loa - Chile
- Magdalena - Colombia
- Maipo - Chile
- Mapocho - Chile
- Maule - Chile
- Loncomilla - Chile
- Achibueno - Chile
- Ancoa - Chile
- Longaví - Chile
- Perquilauquén - Chile
- Purapel - Chile
- Putagán - Chile
- Achibueno - Chile
- Melado - Chile
- Loncomilla - Chile
- Maullín - Chile
- Maroni - Suriname, French Guiana
- Mira - Colombia
- Orinoco - Colombia, Venezuela
- Apure - Venezuela
- Arauca - Colombia, Venezuela
- Meta - Colombia, Venezuela
- Guaviare - Colombia
- Meta - Colombia
- Tomo - Colombia
- Vichada - Colombia
- Parnaiba - Brazil
- Rapel - Chile
- Reñihue - Chile
- Río Bueno - Chile
- Rahue - Chile
- Damas - Chile
- Rahue - Chile
- Río de la Plata It is not really a river but the lower stretch of the Paraná and the estuary that forms after its confluence with the Uruguay
- Paraná - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
- Uruguay - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay
- Palena - Chile
- Patía - Colombia
- Petrohué - Chile
- Puelo - Chile
- São Francisco - Brazil
- San Jorge - Colombia
- San Juan - Colombia
- Sinú - Colombia
- Toltén - Chile
- Trancura - Chile
- Valdivia - Chile
- Calle-Calle - Chile
- San Pedro - Chile
- Enco - Chile
- Llanquihue - Chile
- Huahum - Chile, Argentina
- Chapelco - Argentina
- Liquiñe - Chile
- Huahum - Chile, Argentina
- Llanquihue - Chile
- Enco - Chile
- San Pedro - Chile
- Cau-Cau - Chile
- Cruces - Chile
- Cutipay - Chile
- Futa - Chile
- Calle-Calle - Chile
- Yelcho - Chile
- Futaleufú - Chile
Rivers of South America by discharge
| River | Average discharge (m3/s) at mouth |
|---|---|
| 01 Amazon | |
| 02 Orinoco | |
| 03 Paraná | |
| 04 Tocantins | |
| 05 Magdalena | |
| 06 Uruguay | |
| 07 Essequibo |
| River | Average discharge (m3/s) at mouth |
|---|---|
| 07 Essequibo | |
| 08 Atrato | |
| 09 São Francisco | |
| 10 San Juan | |
| 11 Jacuí | |
| 12 Maroni | |
| 13 Courantyne | |
| 14 Guayas | |
| 15 Araguari | |
| 16 Guamá | |
| 17 Patía | |
| 18 Oyapock | |
| 19 Doce | |
| 20 São Gonçalo | |
| 21 Paraíba do Sul | |
| 22 Río Negro | |
| 23 Catatumbo | |
| 24 Baudó | |
| 25 Esmeraldas | |
| 26 Parnaíba |
Related articles and lists
- List of Hudson Bay rivers
- List of rivers of Central America and the Caribbean
- List of rivers of the Americas by coastline
- List of rivers of the Great Basin
See also
- List of rivers of the Americas by coastline
- List of reference tables (lists other than rivers)
- List of rivers by length
- List of rivers of Africa
- List of rivers of Antarctica
- List of rivers of Asia
- List of rivers of Europe
- List of rivers of Oceania
- List of waterways
- Lists of rivers
- Paleo-Bell River (Ancient river)
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