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. 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", but reported values lie anywhere between.
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.
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:
RiverCountriesLengthSignificance
Aguán RiverHondurasThe Aguán River's watershed is one of seven watersheds in Honduras, and covers over, of which around 200,000 are in the Aguán River Valley.
Cahabón RiverGuatemalaknown for white water rapids
Choluteca RiverHondurasnoted for severe flooding in 1998
Chucunaque RiverPanamalongest river in Panama
Coco River Honduras and Nicaraguaborder river, longest river in Honduras and Nicaragua
Dulce RiverGuatemalalargest bridge in Central America, location of Tarzan movie in 1939
Lempa RiverEl Salvador, Honduras, Guatemalalongest and only navigable river in El Salvador
Los Esclavos RiverGuatemalaknown for bridge built over the river in 1579 as Spanish Colony
Motagua RiverGuatemalalongest river in Guatemala
New RiverBelizelongest river within Belize
Patuca RiverHonduraslongest river within Honduras
Reventazón RiverCosta Ricaused to generate significant portion of Costa Rica's electricity
San Juan RiverCosta Rica, Nicaragualongest river in Costa Rica
Tempisque RiverCosta Ricalongest river totally within Costa Rica, important animal habitat, flows entirely within Costa Rica
Ulúa RiverHondurasknown 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.
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and the United States. 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.
RiverCountriesLengthTributary ofSignificance
Alabama RiverUS: AlabamaGulf 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: AlaskaGulf of Alaska, Pacific Oceanwilderness river
Altamaha RiverUS: GeorgiaAtlantic Oceanbioreserve
Apalachicola RiverUS: FloridaGulf of Mexicoscenic river, former border between East and West Florida
Chattahoochee RiverUS: Georgia, Alabama, FloridaApalachicola Riverstate borders
Flint RiverUS: Georgia, Alabama, FloridaApalachicola Rivermentioned in Gone with the Wind
Colorado RiverUS: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California Mexico:Baja California, SonoraGulf 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, OregonPacific Oceanlargest river in Pacific Northwest, largest river emptying into the Pacific Ocean in North America
James RiverUS: VirginiaHampton Roads, Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Oceanthe first permanent English settlement in America and all past and current Virginia capitols, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond are located along its shores
Snake RiverUS: Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, WashingtonColumbia Riverlargest tributary of Columbia River, shores populated by Native Americans, discovered by Lewis and Clark
Okanogan RiverCanada: British Columbia US: WashingtonColumbia Riverearly 1800s fur trading river
Kettle RiverCanada: British Columbia, US: WashingtonColumbia Riverassociation with Columbia River
Pend Oreille RiverUS: Washington, Idaho, Canada: British ColumbiaColumbia Rivernative people lived along the river
Kootenay RiverCanada: British Columbia US: MontanaColumbia Rivermajor tributary of Columbia River, early home to Native Americans
Willamette RiverUS: OregonColumbia Riverwell known vineyards around river
Delaware RiverUS: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, MarylandDelaware Bay and Atlantic Oceanshores home to Native Americans, associated with several American Revolution battles and Washington Crossing the Delaware
Brandywine RiverUS: Pennsylvania, DelawareChristina River, Delaware Riverdesignated Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers, associated with the Battle of Brandywine
Schuylkill RiverUS: PennsylvaniaDelaware RiverPhiladelphia
Fraser RiverCanada: British ColumbiaStrait of Georgia Pacific Oceanlongest river in British Columbia, visited by Spanish explorers in 1792
Thompson RiverCanada: British ColumbiaFraser Riverevidence of prehistoric settlements along river
Chilcotin RiverCanada: British ColumbiaFraser Riverimportant to indigenous people
Nechako RiverCanada: British ColumbiaFraser Riverfirst explored by Europeans in 1806
Hudson RiverUS: New York, New JerseyNew York Harbor Atlantic Oceanexplored by Henry Hudson in 1609
Mohawk RiverUS: New YorkHudson Riverimportant to transportation and migration
Mackenzie RiverCanada: Northwest Territories, YukonBeaufort Sea Arctic Oceanlongest river in Canada
Liard RiverCanada: British Columbia, Northwest TerritoriesMackenzie Rivermarks the north end of the Rocky Mountains
Slave RiverCanada: Alberta, Northwest TerritoriesMackenzie Rivernamed for the Slavey people
Peace RiverCanada: British Columbia, AlbertaSlave Riverpart of Finlay–Peace–Slave–Mackenzie river system—13th longest in the world, traditional Danezaa people lived along its shores
Athabasca RiverCanada: AlbertaSlave RiverCanadian Heritage Rivers System
MajorqaqGreenland: QeqqataAtlantic OceanGreenland is considered part of North America physiography. This river is the outflow of a glacier.
Mississippi RiverUS: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, LouisianaGulf of Mexico2nd longest river in Northern Americas
Arkansas RiverUS: Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, ArkansasMississippi River6th longest river in US
Canadian RiverUS: Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, TexasArkansas Riverexplored by Spanish in 1601
Cimarron RiverUS: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, OklahomaArkansas Riverexplored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, no major cities along route
Des Moines RiverUS: Iowa, Minnesota, MissouriMississippi Riverexplored by early French explorers
Illinois RiverUS: IllinoisMississippi Riverimportant transportation route
Minnesota RiverUS: MinnesotaMississippi Riverlongest river within Minnesota
Missouri RiverUS: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, MissouriMississippi Riverlongest river in Northern Americas
Yellowstone RiverUS: Wyoming, Montana, North DakotaMissouri Riverimportant transportation route for Native Americans, associated with Yellowstone Park
Platte RiverUS: NebraskaMissouri Riverhome to Native Americans, first explored by the Spanish in the 1540s
Milk RiverCanada: Alberta, US: MontanaMissouri Riversubject of 1908 Supreme Court case for Native American rights
Ohio RiverUS: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, IllinoisMississippi RiverNative American significance
Allegheny RiverUS: Pennsylvania, New YorkOhio RiverNative American and early colonial history
Cumberland RiverUS: Kentucky, TennesseeAllegheny RiverNative American and riverboat significance
Kanawha RiverUS: West VirginiaAllegheny Riverlargest inland waterway in West Virginia
Scioto RiverUS: OhioAllegheny Riverlongest river within Ohio
Tennessee RiverUS:Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, KentuckyOhio RiverCherokee lived along river, largest Ohio River tributary
Red River of the SouthUS: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and LouisianaGulf of Mexicosecond largest river basin in the Great Plains, former border with Mexico
Rock RiverUS: Wisconsin, IllinoisMississippi Rivernotable Rock River Water Trail
Wisconsin RiverUS: WisconsinMississippi Riverlongest river within Wisconsin
Nass RiverCanada: British ColumbiaPortland Inlet, Pacific Oceanvolcanic activity near river, salmon fishery
Potomac RiverUS: West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, District of ColumbiaChesapeake 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 VirginiaPotomac Riverwell known since colonial times
Roanoke RiverUS: Virginia, North CarolinaAtlantic Oceansite of early Native American and colonial settlements
Rio ConchosMexico: Chihuahua (state)Rio Grandeimportant river in northern Mexico, largest tributary of the Rio Grande
Rio GrandeMexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, US: Colorado, New Mexico, TexasGulf of Mexicolongest US/Mexico border river
Sacramento RiverUS: CaliforniaSacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, San Francisco Bay, Pacific Oceanlargest river in California, California Gold Rush
Pit RiverUS: CaliforniaSacramento RiverNative American home
Feather RiverUS: CaliforniaSacramento Riverhome to the Maidu Native Americans
SaskatchewanCanada: Manitoba, SaskatchewanLake Winnipegimportant transportation route in Pre-Columbian era, three hydroelectric dams
Skagit RiverCanada: British Columbia US: WashingtonPuget Sound, Pacific Oceanhome to Skagit peoples (Upper and Lower tribes
Skeena RiverCanada: British ColumbiaPacific Ocean2nd longest river in British Columbia
Babine RiverCanada: British ColumbiaSkeena Riverone of the last unspoiled rivers
St. Johns RiverUS: FloridaAtlantic Oceanlongest river within Florida
Saint Lawrence RiverCanada: Ontario, Quebec US: New YorkGulf of St. Lawrence, Atlantic Oceanconnects Great Lakes, provides basis for St. Lawrence Seaway
Cuyahoga RiverUS: OhioSaint Lawrence River1795 western boundary of US, so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire
Detroit RiverCanada: Ontario US: MichiganSaint Lawrence Riverone of world's busiest waterways, border river, designated American Heritage Rivers and Canadian Heritage Rivers System
Fox RiverUS: WisconsinGreen Bay, Lake Michiganlargest tributary of Lake Michigan
Saginaw RiverUS: MichiganSaginaw Bay, Saint Lawrence Riverimportant shipping route
Ottawa RiverCanada: Quebec, OntarioSaint Lawrence Rivervital role for Algonquin people, Provincial border
MoriceCanada: British ColumbiaSaint Lawrence River or Skeena Riverendangered river, Enbridge pipeline threat
Susquehanna RiverUS: New York, Pennsylvania, MarylandChesapeake Bay, Atlantic Oceanlongest river on the East-Coast of the US
Yukon RiverCanada: Yukon, British Columbia US: AlaskaBering Sea, Pacific Oceanlongest river flowing through Canada and Alaska
Tanana RiverUS: AlaskaYukon Riverevidence of Paleo-Arctic human activity, Nenana Ice Classic contest for charity to predict ice-out
Usumacinta RiverMexico: Tabasco, GuatemalaGulf of Mexicoimportant to Mayan Civilization
South Saskatchewan RiverCanada: Alberta, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan River-
North Saskatchewan RiverCanada: Alberta, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan River-
Assiniboine RiverCanada: Saskatchewan, ManitobaRed River of the North-
Red River of the NorthUnited States: Minnesota, North Dakota Canada: ManitobaLake Winnipeg-

West Indies

The significant rivers in the West Indies include the following:
RiverCountriesLengthSignificance
Artibonite RiverHaiti, Dominican Republiclongest river in Haiti
Caroni RiverTrinidad and Tobagolongest river in Trinidad and Tobago
Cauto RiverCubalongest river in Cuba and the Caribbean/West Indies
Chavón RiverDominican Republichistorically used by pirates to hide treasure
Colonarie RiverSaint Vincent and the Grenadineslongest river in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Constitution RiverBarbadoslongest river in Barbados
Haina RiverDominican Republicnoted for discovery of gold in 1496
Layou RiverDominicalongest river of Dominica
Nizao RiverDominican Republicthree hydroelectric plants on river, has since dried up due to aggregate extraction
Ozama River
Dominican RepublicIn 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.
Rio MinhoJamaicalongest river in Jamaica
Rivière SolietteHaiti, Dominican Republic 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 RiverSaint Lucialongest river in Saint Lucia
Saint Johns RiverGrenadalongest river in Grenada
Yaque del Norte RiverDominican Republiclongest river in the Dominican Republic
Yuna RiverDominican Republicsecond longest river in the Dominican Republic

South America

The following are some of the significant rivers in South America

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