See also: Geography of North America and Geography of South America. 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",[1] but reported values lie anywhere between .[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.
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]
Some of the significant rivers and their lengths in Central America include:
| River | Countries | Length | Significance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguán River | Honduras | The Aguán River's watershed is one of seven watersheds in Honduras,[8] and covers over 1e6ha, of which around 200,000 are in the Aguán River Valley.[9] | ||
| Cahabón River | Guatemala | known for white water rapids[10] | ||
| Choluteca River | Honduras | noted for severe flooding in 1998[11] | ||
| Chucunaque River | Panama | longest river in Panama | ||
| Coco River (Wanki River) | Honduras and Nicaragua | border river, longest river in Honduras and Nicaragua | ||
| Dulce River | Guatemala | largest bridge in Central America, location of Tarzan movie in 1939[12] | ||
| Lempa River | El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala | longest and only navigable river in El Salvador[13] | ||
| Los Esclavos River | Guatemala | known for bridge built over the river in 1579 as Spanish Colony[14] | ||
| Motagua River | Guatemala | longest river in Guatemala[15] | ||
| New River | Belize | longest river within Belize | ||
| Patuca River | Honduras | longest river within Honduras[16] | ||
| Reventazón River | Costa Rica | used to generate significant portion of Costa Rica's electricity | ||
| San Juan River | Costa Rica, Nicaragua | longest river in Costa Rica[17] | ||
| Tempisque River | Costa Rica | longest river totally within Costa Rica, important animal habitat, flows entirely within Costa Rica[18] | ||
| Ulúa River | Honduras | known for ornate calcite vessels that date from the Mayan times[19] |
See also: Northern America, List of rivers of Canada, List of rivers of Greenland, List of rivers of Mexico and List of rivers of the United States. 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 .[20] The second longest river in North America and the United States is the Mississippi River . The Rio Conchos is the longest river in Mexico. The longest river in Canada is the Mackenzie River .
Some of the longest or otherwise notable rivers include the rivers listed in the table below.
| River | Countries | data-sort-type=number | Length | Tributary of | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama River | US: Alabama | 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 | Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Ocean | wilderness river | ||
| Altamaha River | US: Georgia | Atlantic Ocean | bioreserve | ||
| Apalachicola River | US: Florida | Gulf of Mexico | scenic river, former border between East and West Florida | ||
| Chattahoochee River | US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida | Apalachicola River | state borders | ||
| Flint River | US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida | Apalachicola River | mentioned in Gone with the Wind | ||
| Colorado River | US: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California Mexico:Baja California, Sonora | 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 | Pacific Ocean | largest river in Pacific Northwest, largest river emptying into the Pacific Ocean in North America | ||
| James River | US: Virginia | 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 | Columbia River | largest tributary of Columbia River, shores populated by Native Americans, discovered by Lewis and Clark | ||
| Okanogan River | Canada: British Columbia US: Washington | Columbia River | early 1800s fur trading river | ||
| Kettle River | Canada: British Columbia, US: Washington | Columbia River | association with Columbia River | ||
| Pend Oreille River | US: Washington, Idaho, Canada: British Columbia | Columbia River | native people (Pend d'Oreilles and Kalispe) lived along the river | ||
| Kootenay River | Canada: British Columbia US: Montana | Columbia River | major tributary of Columbia River, early home to Native Americans | ||
| Willamette River | US: Oregon | Columbia River | well known vineyards around river | ||
| Delaware River | US: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland | 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 | Christina River, Delaware River | designated Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers, associated with the Battle of Brandywine | ||
| Schuylkill River | US: Pennsylvania | Delaware River | Philadelphia | ||
| Fraser River | Canada: British Columbia | Strait of Georgia Pacific Ocean | longest river in British Columbia, visited by Spanish explorers in 1792 | ||
| Thompson River | Canada: British Columbia | Fraser River | evidence of prehistoric settlements along river | ||
| Chilcotin River | Canada: British Columbia | Fraser River | important to indigenous people | ||
| Nechako River | Canada: British Columbia | Fraser River | first explored by Europeans in 1806 | ||
| Hudson River | US: New York, New Jersey | New York Harbor Atlantic Ocean | explored by Henry Hudson in 1609 | ||
| Mohawk River | US: New York | Hudson River | important to transportation and migration | ||
| Mackenzie River | Canada: Northwest Territories, Yukon | Beaufort Sea Arctic Ocean | longest river in Canada | ||
| Liard River | Canada: British Columbia, Northwest Territories | Mackenzie River | marks the north end of the Rocky Mountains | ||
| Slave River | Canada: Alberta, Northwest Territories | Mackenzie River | named for the Slavey people | ||
| Peace River | Canada: British Columbia, Alberta | 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 | Slave River | Canadian Heritage Rivers System | ||
| Majorqaq | Greenland | Atlantic Ocean | Greenland is considered part of North America physiography. This river is the outflow of a glacier.[21] | ||
| Mississippi River | US: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana | Gulf of Mexico | 2nd longest river in Northern Americas | ||
| Arkansas River | US: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas | Mississippi River | 6th longest river in US | ||
| Canadian River | US: Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas | Arkansas River | explored by Spanish in 1601 | ||
| Cimarron River | US: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma | Arkansas River | explored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, no major cities along route | ||
| Des Moines River | US: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri | Mississippi River | explored by early French explorers | ||
| Illinois River | US: Illinois | Mississippi River | important transportation route | ||
| Minnesota River | US: Minnesota | Mississippi River | longest river within Minnesota | ||
| Missouri River | US: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri | Mississippi River | longest river in Northern Americas | ||
| Yellowstone River | US: Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota | Missouri River | important transportation route for Native Americans, associated with Yellowstone Park | ||
| Platte River | US: Nebraska | Missouri River | home to Native Americans, first explored by the Spanish in the 1540s | ||
| Milk River | Canada: Alberta, US: Montana | Missouri River | subject of 1908 Supreme Court case for Native American rights | ||
| Ohio River | US: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois | Mississippi River | Native American significance | ||
| Allegheny River | US: Pennsylvania, New York | Ohio River | Native American and early colonial history | ||
| Cumberland River | US: Kentucky, Tennessee | Allegheny River | Native American and riverboat significance | ||
| Kanawha River | US: West Virginia | Allegheny River | largest inland waterway in West Virginia | ||
| Scioto River | US: Ohio | Allegheny River | longest river within Ohio | ||
| Tennessee River | US:Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky | Ohio River | Cherokee lived along river, largest Ohio River tributary | ||
| Red River of the South | US: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana | Gulf of Mexico | second largest river basin in the Great Plains, former border with Mexico | ||
| Rock River | US: Wisconsin, Illinois | Mississippi River | notable Rock River Water Trail | ||
| Wisconsin River | US: Wisconsin | Mississippi River | longest river within Wisconsin | ||
| Nass River | Canada: British Columbia | Portland Inlet, Pacific Ocean | volcanic activity near river, salmon fishery | ||
| Potomac River | US: West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia | 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 | Potomac River | well known since colonial times | ||
| Roanoke River | US: Virginia, North Carolina | Atlantic Ocean | site of early Native American and colonial settlements | ||
| Rio Conchos | 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 | Gulf of Mexico | longest US/Mexico border river | ||
| Sacramento River | US: California | Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, San Francisco Bay, Pacific Ocean | largest river in California, California Gold Rush | ||
| Pit River | US: California | Sacramento River | Native American home | ||
| Feather River | US: California | Sacramento River | |||
| Saskatchewan | Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan | Lake Winnipeg | important transportation route in Pre-Columbian era, three hydroelectric dams | ||
| Skagit River | Canada: British Columbia US: Washington | Puget Sound, Pacific Ocean | home to Skagit peoples | ||
| Skeena River | Canada: British Columbia | Pacific Ocean | 2nd longest river in British Columbia | ||
| Babine River | Canada: British Columbia | Skeena River | one of the last unspoiled rivers | ||
| St. Johns River | US: Florida | Atlantic Ocean | longest river within Florida | ||
| Saint Lawrence River | Canada: Ontario, Quebec US: New York | Gulf of St. Lawrence, Atlantic Ocean | connects Great Lakes, provides basis for St. Lawrence Seaway | ||
| Cuyahoga River | US: Ohio | Saint Lawrence River | 1795 western boundary of US, so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire | ||
| Detroit River | Canada: Ontario US: Michigan | Saint Lawrence River | |||
| Fox River | US: Wisconsin | Green Bay, Lake Michigan | largest tributary of Lake Michigan | ||
| Saginaw River | US: Michigan | Saginaw Bay, Saint Lawrence River | important shipping route | ||
| Ottawa River | Canada: Quebec, Ontario | Saint Lawrence River | vital role for Algonquin people, Provincial border | ||
| Morice | Canada: British Columbia | Saint Lawrence River or Skeena River | endangered river, Enbridge pipeline threat | ||
| Susquehanna River | US: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland | Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean | longest river on the East-Coast of the US | ||
| Yukon River | Canada: Yukon, British Columbia US: Alaska | Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean | longest river flowing through Canada and Alaska | ||
| Tanana River | US: Alaska | Yukon River | evidence of Paleo-Arctic human activity, Nenana Ice Classic contest for charity to predict ice-out | ||
| Usumacinta River | Mexico: Tabasco, Guatemala | Gulf of Mexico | important to Mayan Civilization | ||
| South Saskatchewan River | Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan River | |||
| North Saskatchewan River | Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan River | |||
| Assiniboine River | Canada: Saskatchewan, Manitoba | Red River of the North | |||
| Red River of the North | United States: Minnesota, North Dakota Canada: Manitoba | Lake Winnipeg |
See also: List of rivers of Barbados, List of rivers of Cuba, List of rivers of Dominica, List of rivers of the Dominican Republic, List of rivers of Grenada, List of rivers of Haiti, List of rivers of Jamaica, List of rivers of Saint Lucia, List of rivers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and List of rivers of Trinidad and Tobago. The significant rivers in the West Indies include the following:
| River | Countries | Length | Significance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artibonite River | Haiti, Dominican Republic | longest river in Haiti | ||
| Caroni River | Trinidad and Tobago | longest river in Trinidad and Tobago[22] | ||
| Cauto River | Cuba | longest river in Cuba and the Caribbean/West Indies[23] | ||
| Chavón River | Dominican Republic | historically used by pirates to hide treasure | ||
| Colonarie River | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | longest river in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | ||
| Constitution River | Barbados | longest river in Barbados[24] | ||
| Haina River | Dominican Republic | noted for discovery of gold in 1496[25] | ||
| Layou River | Dominica | longest river of Dominica | ||
| Nizao River | Dominican Republic | three hydroelectric plants on river, has since dried up due to aggregate extraction[26] [27] | ||
| Ozama River | Dominican Republic | 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 Minho | Jamaica | longest river in Jamaica[29] | ||
| 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.[30] [31] [32] | ||
| Rosseau River | Saint Lucia | longest river in Saint Lucia | ||
| Saint Johns River | Grenada | longest river in Grenada | ||
| Yaque del Norte River | Dominican Republic | longest river in the Dominican Republic | ||
| Yuna River | Dominican Republic | second longest river in the Dominican Republic[33] |
The following are some of the significant rivers in South America