Loading

  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

List Of Longest Main-stem Rivers In The United States
Download coordinates as:

The longest rivers of the United States include 38 that have main stems of at least 500 miles (800 km) long. The main stem is "the primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries". The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines a main-stem segment by listing coordinates for its two end points, called the source and the mouth. Some well-known rivers like the Atchafalaya, Willamette, and Susquehanna are not included in this list because their main stems are shorter than 500 miles.

Seven rivers in this list cross or form international boundaries. Three—the Milk River, the Red River of the North, and the Saint Lawrence River—begin in the United States and flow into Canada; two do the opposite (Yukon and Columbia). Also a segment of the Saint Lawrence River forms the international border between part of the province of Ontario, Canada, and the U.S. state of New York. Of these seven rivers, only the Milk River crosses the international border twice, leaving and then re-entering the United States. Two rivers, the Colorado and the Rio Grande, begin in the United States and flow into or form a border with Mexico. In addition, the drainage basins of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers extend into Canada, and the basin of the Gila River extends into Mexico.

Sources report hydrological quantities with varied precision. Biologist and author Ruth Patrick, describing a table of high-discharge U.S. rivers, wrote that data on discharge, drainage area, and length varied widely among authors whose works she consulted. "It seems," she said, "that the wisest course is to regard data tables such as the present one as showing the general ranks of rivers, and not to place too much importance on minor (10–20%) differences in figures."

Table

The primary source for watershed and discharge data in the table below is Rivers of North America. Conflicting data from other sources, if the difference is greater than 10 percent, is reported in the notes. Discharge refers to the flow at the mouth. In the "States, provinces, and image" column, the superscripts "s" and "m" indicate "source" and "mouth". Non-U.S. states appear in italics. Except in the "States, provinces, and image" column, abbreviations are as follows: "km" for "kilometer", "mi" for "mile", "s" for "second", "m" for "meter", and "ft" for "foot".

Key
† River is not entirely within the United States.
‡ Watershed is not entirely within the United States.
Longest main-stem rivers of the United States
# Name Length States, provinces, and map Source
coordinates 		Mouth Mouth
coordinates 		Watershed
area 		Discharge Photo
1 Missouri River 2,341 mi
3,768 km 		Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri
Map of the Missouri River and its tributaries in North America
 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.92750°N 111.50806°W / 45.92750; -111.50806 (Missouri River (source)) Mississippi River 38°48′49″N 90°07′11″W / 38.81361°N 90.11972°W / 38.81361; -90.11972 (Missouri River (mouth)) 529,353 mi
1,371,017 km
‡ 		69,100 ft/s
1,956 m/s
The Missouri River as seen in Montana.
2 Mississippi River 2,340mi
3,766 km
 Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana
Mississippi River basin
 47°14′22″N 95°12′29″W / 47.23944°N 95.20806°W / 47.23944; -95.20806 (Mississippi River (source)) Gulf of Mexico 29°09′04″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W / 29.15111; -89.25333 (Mississippi River (mouth)) 1,260,000 mi
3,270,000 km
‡ 		650,000 ft/s
18,400 m/s
A small river flows from a lake.
3 Yukon River 1,979 mi
3,190 km
† 		British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alaska
Map of the Yukon River Watershed
 59°35′00″N 133°47′00″W / 59.58333°N 133.78333°W / 59.58333; -133.78333 (Yukon River (source)) Bering Sea 62°35′55″N 164°48′00″W / 62.59861°N 164.80000°W / 62.59861; -164.80000 (Yukon River (mouth)) 324,000 mi
839,200 km
‡ 		224,000 ft/s
6,340 m/s
Sunset over a large river flowing through mountains.
4 Rio Grande 1,759 mi
2,830 km
† 		Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas
Map of the Rio Grande drainage basin
 37°47′52″N 107°32′18″W / 37.79778°N 107.53833°W / 37.79778; -107.53833 (Rio Grande (source)) Gulf of Mexico 25°57′22″N 97°08′43″W / 25.95611°N 97.14528°W / 25.95611; -97.14528 (Rio Grande (mouth)) 340,000 mi
870,000 km
‡ 		1,300 ft/s
37 m/s
A small river winds through mountains under a rainbow.
5 Colorado River 1,450 mi
2,330 km
† 		Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Sonora, Baja California
Map of the Colorado River basin
 40°28′20″N 105°49′34″W / 40.47222°N 105.82611°W / 40.47222; -105.82611 (Colorado River (source)) Gulf of California 31°48′57″N 114°48′22″W / 31.81583°N 114.80611°W / 31.81583; -114.80611 (Colorado River (mouth)) 248,000 mi
642,000 km
‡ 		1,400 ft/s
40 m/s
A large river flows through a deep canyon.
6 Arkansas River 1,443 mi
2,322 km
 Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas
The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and its watershed also drains parts of Texas, New Mexico and Missouri.
 39°15′30″N 106°20′38″W / 39.25833°N 106.34389°W / 39.25833; -106.34389 (Arkansas River (source)) Mississippi River 33°46′30″N 91°04′15″W / 33.77500°N 91.07083°W / 33.77500; -91.07083 (Arkansas River (mouth)) 160,200 mi
414,910 km 		35,500 ft/s
1,004 m/s
Arkansas River headwaters in Colorado.
7 Columbia River 1,243 mi
2,000 km
† 		British Columbia, Washington, Oregon
Map of the Columbia River drainage basin
 50°13′00″N 115°51′00″W / 50.21667°N 115.85000°W / 50.21667; -115.85000 (Columbia River (source)) Pacific Ocean 46°14′39″N 124°03′29″W / 46.24417°N 124.05806°W / 46.24417; -124.05806 (Columbia River (mouth)) 279,548 mi
724,024 km
‡ 		273,000 ft/s
7,730 m/s
A large river flows through a wooded gorge.
8 Red River 1,125 mi
1,811 km
 Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana
Map of the Red River watershed
 34°34′35″N 99°57′54″W / 34.57639°N 99.96500°W / 34.57639; -99.96500 (Red River (source)) Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers 31°01′10″N 91°44′52″W / 31.01944°N 91.74778°W / 31.01944; -91.74778 (Red River (mouth)) 65,590 mi
169,890 km
 30,100 ft/s
852 m/s
Oxbow bend in a river seen from an airplane.
9 Snake River 1,040 mi
1,674 km 		Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Map of the Snake River watershed
 44°07′49″N 110°13′10″W / 44.13028°N 110.21944°W / 44.13028; -110.21944 (Snake River (source)) Columbia River 46°11′10″N 119°01′43″W / 46.18611°N 119.02861°W / 46.18611; -119.02861 (Snake River (mouth)) 108,000 mi
281,000 km 		55,300 ft/s
1,565 m/s
A river winds across a plain at the foot of jagged snow-covered mountains.
10 Ohio River 979 mi
1,575 km 		Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky
Map of the Ohio River basin
 40°26′34″N 80°01′02″W / 40.44278°N 80.01722°W / 40.44278; -80.01722 (Ohio River (source)) Mississippi River 36°59′12″N 89°07′50″W / 36.98667°N 89.13056°W / 36.98667; -89.13056 (Ohio River (mouth)) 204,000 mi
529,000 km 		308,400 ft/s
8,733 m/s
Modest skyscrapers, their images reflected in the water, line the bank of a wide placid river.
11 Colorado River of Texas 970 mi
1,560 km 		Texas
Map of the Colorado River and associated watershed
 32°40′47″N 101°43′51″W / 32.67972°N 101.73083°W / 32.67972; -101.73083 (Colorado River of Texas (source))) Gulf of Mexico 28°35′41″N 95°58′59″W / 28.59472°N 95.98306°W / 28.59472; -95.98306 (Colorado River of Texas (mouth)) 39,900 mi
103,341 km 		2,600 ft/s
75 m/s
A small stream flows through an arid plain populated with low shrubs. Much of the surrounding soil is red.
12 Tennessee River 935 mi
1,504 km 		Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky
Map of the Tennessee River watershed
 35°57′33″N 83°51′01″W / 35.95917°N 83.85028°W / 35.95917; -83.85028 (Tennessee River (source)) Ohio River 37°04′02″N 88°33′53″W / 37.06722°N 88.56472°W / 37.06722; -88.56472 (Tennessee River (mouth)) 40,880 mi
105,870 km 		71,000 ft/s
2,000 m/s
The Tennessee River flowing through the Tennessee River Gorge.
13 Canadian River 906 mi
1,458 km 		Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma
Canadian River watershed (yellow) within the Arkansas River watershed
 37°01′11″N 105°04′33″W / 37.01972°N 105.07583°W / 37.01972; -105.07583 (Canadian River (source)) Arkansas River 35°27′12″N 95°01′58″W / 35.45333°N 95.03278°W / 35.45333; -95.03278 (Canadian River (mouth)) 47,130 mi
122,070 km 		6,100 ft/s
174 m/s
A small stream in arid country flows under a railroad bridge high above the water.
14 Brazos River 860 mi
1,390 km 		Texas
Map of the Brazos River watershed
 33°16′07″N 100°00′37″W / 33.26861°N 100.01028°W / 33.26861; -100.01028 (Brazos River (source)) Gulf of Mexico 28°52′33″N 95°22′42″W / 28.87583°N 95.37833°W / 28.87583; -95.37833 (Brazos River (mouth)) 44,620 mi
115,566 km 		8,800 ft/s
249 m/s
A train crosses a bridge over a wide river.
15 Green River 760 mi
1,230 km 		Wyoming, Colorado, Utah
Map of the Green River watershed
 43°09′13″N 109°40′18″W / 43.15361°N 109.67167°W / 43.15361; -109.67167 (Green River (source)) Colorado River 38°11′21″N 109°53′07″W / 38.18917°N 109.88528°W / 38.18917; -109.88528 (Green River (mouth)) 44,900 mi
116,200 km 		6,100 ft/s
172 m/s
View from an airplane: A river meanders this way and that through a reddish-brown landscape.
16 Pecos River 730 mi
1,175 km 		New Mexico, Texas
Map of the Pecos River watershed.
 35°58′34″N 105°33′29″W / 35.97611°N 105.55806°W / 35.97611; -105.55806 (Pecos River (source)) Rio Grande 29°41′59″N 101°22′17″W / 29.69972°N 101.37139°W / 29.69972; -101.37139 (Pecos River (mouth)) 44,000 mi
113,960 km 		71 ft/s
2 m/s
A large river flows through a canyon.
17 White River (Arkansas) 720 mi
1,159 km 		Arkansas, Missouri
Map of the White River watershed
 35°50′20″N 93°36′16″W / 35.83889°N 93.60444°W / 35.83889; -93.60444 (White River (source)) Mississippi River 33°57′05″N 91°04′53″W / 33.95139°N 91.08139°W / 33.95139; -91.08139 (White River (mouth)) 27,872 mi
72,189 km 		34,600 ft/s
979 m/s
A wide placid river flows by a low wooded hill.
18 James River
 710 mi
1,140 km 		North Dakota, South Dakota
The course and watershed of the James River.
 47°28′53″N 99°51′32″W / 47.48139°N 99.85889°W / 47.48139; -99.85889 (James River (source)) Missouri River 42°52′17″N 97°17′26″W / 42.87139°N 97.29056°W / 42.87139; -97.29056 (James River (mouth)) 20,942 mi
54,240 km 		854 ft/s
24.2 m/s
A small stream winds through a town.
19 Kuskokwim River 702 mi
1,130 km 		Alaska
Watershed of the Kuskokwim River in Alaska
 63°05′16″N 154°38′33″W / 63.08778°N 154.64250°W / 63.08778; -154.64250 (Kuskokwim River (source)) Bering Sea 60°04′59″N 162°20′02″W / 60.08306°N 162.33389°W / 60.08306; -162.33389 (Kuskokwim River (mouth)) 48,000 mi
124,319 km 		67,000 fts
1,900 m/s
Men and boats along the shore of a very wide river.
20 Cimarron River 698 mi
1,123 km 		Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas
Map of the Arkansas River basin with the Cimarron River highlighted.
 36°54′24″N 102°59′12″W / 36.90667°N 102.98667°W / 36.90667; -102.98667 ("Cimarron River (source)) Arkansas River 36°10′14″N 96°16′19″W / 36.17056°N 96.27194°W / 36.17056; -96.27194 (Cimarron River (mouth)) 19,510 mi
50,540 km 		1,500 ft/s
42 m/s
A medium-sized river winds through a flat plain dominated by brown grasses.
21 Cumberland River 696 mi
1,120 km 		Kentucky, Tennessee
Map of the Cumberland River Watershed
 36°50′42″N 83°19′26″W / 36.84500°N 83.32389°W / 36.84500; -83.32389 (Cumberland River (source)) Ohio River 37°08′36″N 88°24′27″W / 37.14333°N 88.40750°W / 37.14333; -88.40750 (Cumberland River (mouth)) 17,930 mi
46,430 km 		30,400 ft/s

862 m/s

Several canoes pass under a bridge over a wide river in a forest.
22 Yellowstone River 678 mi
1,091 km 		Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota
Map of the Yellowstone River watershed
 43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.98833°N 109.92917°W / 43.98833; -109.92917 (Yellowstone River (source)) Missouri River 47°58′42″N 103°58′56″W / 47.97833°N 103.98222°W / 47.97833; -103.98222 (Yellowstone River (mouth)) 70,400 mi
182,336 km 		12,800 ft/s
362 m/s
Large waterfall encased in ice.
23 North Platte River 665 mi
1,070 km 		Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska
North Platte River watershed and course
 40°38′23″N 106°24′19″W / 40.63972°N 106.40528°W / 40.63972; -106.40528 (North Platte River (source)) Platte River 41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.11389°N 100.67583°W / 41.11389; -100.67583 (North Platte River (mouth)) 34,885 mi
90,352 km 		770 ft/s
21.9 m/s
Canoers run rapids on a boulder-strewn river in the mountains.
24 Milk River 625 mi
1,005 km† 		Alberta, Montana
The Milk River watershed
 48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.85556°N 113.01944°W / 48.85556; -113.01944 (Milk River (source)) Missouri River 48°03′26″N 106°19′07″W / 48.05722°N 106.31861°W / 48.05722; -106.31861 (Milk River (mouth)) 22,332 mi
57,839 km
‡ 		670 ft/s
18.9 m/s
Sandstones of the Milk River Formation flank the Milk river at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta.
25 Ouachita River 605 mi
974 km 		Arkansas, Louisiana
Map of the Ouachita River watershed. The Ouachita joins the Tensas River near Jonesville, Louisiana to form the Black River (Louisiana).
 31°41′56″N 94°19′57″W / 31.69889°N 94.33250°W / 31.69889; -94.33250 (Ouachita River (source)) Black River 31°37′53″N 91°48′25″W / 31.63139°N 91.80694°W / 31.63139; -91.80694 (Ouachita River (mouth)) 24,886 mi
64,454 km 		29,800 ft/s
843 m/s
A lock and dam on a medium-sized river
26 St. Lawrence River 600 mi
965 km
† 		New York, Ontario, Quebec
Map of the St. Lawrence/Great Lakes Watershed
 44°05′55″N 76°23′28″W / 44.09861°N 76.39111°W / 44.09861; -76.39111 (St. Lawrence River (source)) Gulf of St. Lawrence 49°40′00″N 64°30′00″W / 49.66667°N 64.50000°W / 49.66667; -64.50000 (Saint Lawrence River (mouth)) 620,000 mi
1,600,000 km
‡ 		440,000 ft/s
12,600 m/s
A large ship travels along a large river bordered by vegetation on one bank and urban development on the other.
27 Gila River 600 mi
960 km 		New Mexico, Arizona
Map of the Gila River watershed
 33°10′47″N 108°12′22″W / 33.17972°N 108.20611°W / 33.17972; -108.20611 (Gila River (source)) Colorado River 32°43′11″N 114°33′19″W / 32.71972°N 114.55528°W / 32.71972; -114.55528 (Gila River (mouth)) 57,850 mi
149,832 km
‡ 		210 ft/s
6 m/s
A shallow river with a sandy bed flows through an arid landscape.
28 Sheyenne River 591 mi
951 km 		North Dakota
Map of the Red River drainage basin, with the Sheyenne River highlighted
 47°41′46″N 100°29′52″W / 47.69611°N 100.49778°W / 47.69611; -100.49778 (Sheyenne River (source)) Red River of the North 47°01′25″N 96°49′31″W / 47.02361°N 96.82528°W / 47.02361; -96.82528 (Sheyenne River (mouth)) 8,800 mi
23,000 km
 288 ft/s
8.2 m/s
A small river rushes away from the base of a dam.
29 Tanana River 584 mi
940 km
 Alaska
Course of the Tanana River, formed by the shorter Nabesna River (left) and Chisana River (right), then flowing northwest to meet the Yukon River
 63°02′57″N 141°51′52″W / 63.04917°N 141.86444°W / 63.04917; -141.86444 (Tanana River (source)) Yukon River 65°09′38″N 151°57′37″W / 65.16056°N 151.96028°W / 65.16056; -151.96028 (Tanana River (mouth)) 44,000 mi
114,000 km 		41,800 ft/s
1,185 m/s
A shallow braided river flows over a plain partly covered by green plants and grasses. Jagged snow-covered mountains rise in the distance.
30 Smoky Hill River 576 mi
927 km 		Colorado, Kansas
Map of the Smoky Hill drainage basin
 38°57′01″N 102°34′49″W / 38.95028°N 102.58028°W / 38.95028; -102.58028 (Smoky Hill River (source)) Kansas River 39°03′36″N 96°48′04″W / 39.06000°N 96.80111°W / 39.06000; -96.80111 (Smoky Hill (mouth)) 19,260 mi
49,900 km
 1,542 ft/s
43.7 m/s
A small, muddy river, as seen from a bridge, meanders between tree-lined banks.
31 Niobrara River 568 mi
914 km 		Wyoming, Nebraska
Map of the Niobrara River (light blue)
 42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.82083°N 104.64722°W / 42.82083; -104.64722 (Niobrara River (source)) Missouri River 42°45′58″N 98°02′50″W / 42.76611°N 98.04722°W / 42.76611; -98.04722 (Niobrara River (mouth)) 12,600 mi
32,600 km 		1,700 ft/s
49 m/s
A small river flows through a field of grass and yellow flowers.
A small river flows through a field of grass and yellow flowers.
32 Little Missouri River 560 mi
900 km 		Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota
Little Missouri watershed
 44°32′25″N 104°59′57″W / 44.54028°N 104.99917°W / 44.54028; -104.99917 ("Little Missouri River (source)) Missouri River 47°36′38″N 102°52′24″W / 47.61056°N 102.87333°W / 47.61056; -102.87333 (Little Missouri River (mouth)) 8,310 mi
21,500 km
 450 ft/s
13 m/s
A small river meanders through a landscape of forests, bluffs, and rocky outcrops.
33 Sabine River 553 mi
890 km 		Texas, Louisiana
Sabine River (right) and Neches River (left)
 32°48′29″N 95°55′14″W / 32.80806°N 95.92056°W / 32.80806; -95.92056 (Sabine River (source)) Gulf of Mexico 29°59′08″N 93°47′26″W / 29.98556°N 93.79056°W / 29.98556; -93.79056 (Sabine River (mouth)) 9,756 mi
25,268 km 		8,400 ft/s
238 m/s
A wide river flows under a highway bridge.
34 Red River of the North 550 mi
890 km
† 		North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba
Map of the Red River of the North
 46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W / 46.26444°N 96.59861°W / 46.26444; -96.59861 (Red River of the North (source)) Lake Winnipeg 50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W / 50.39639; -96.81083 (Red River (mouth)) 111,000 mi
287,500 km
‡ 		8,300 ft/s
236 m/s
A small river flows through a prairie landscape; brown grasses and leafless trees line the banks.
35 Des Moines River 525 mi
845 km 		Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa
The Des Moines River watershed
 44°05′02″N 95°41′17″W / 44.08389°N 95.68806°W / 44.08389; -95.68806 (Des Moines (source)) Mississippi River 41°22′52″N 91°25′21″W / 41.38111°N 91.42250°W / 41.38111; -91.42250 (Des Moines River (mouth)) 12,018 mi
31,127 km 		6,400 ft/s
182 m/s
A placid river flows through a prairie landscape.
36 White River (Missouri River) 506 mi
815 km 		Nebraska, South Dakota
Map of the White River watershed
 42°41′10″N 103°50′14″W / 42.68611°N 103.83722°W / 42.68611; -103.83722 (White River (source)) Missouri River 43°42′50″N 99°28′01″W / 43.71389°N 99.46694°W / 43.71389; -99.46694 (White River (mouth)) 10,200 mi
26,418 km 		570 ft/s
16 m/s
A small stream flows through grasses and shrubs at the base of a rocky hill.
37 Trinity River 506 mi
815 km 		Texas
Map of the Trinity River and its watershed
 32°47′54″N 96°53′52″W / 32.79833°N 96.89778°W / 32.79833; -96.89778 (Trinity River (source)) Galveston Bay 29°44′35″N 94°42′12″W / 29.74306°N 94.70333°W / 29.74306; -94.70333 (Trinity River (mouth)) 17,970 mi
46,540 km 		7,800 ft/s
222 m/s
A middle-sized river flows by a factory with two tall smokestacks.
38 Wabash River 503 mi
810 km 		Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
Map of the Wabash River catchment with the Wabash River highlighted.
 40°21′07″N 84°45′57″W / 40.35194°N 84.76583°W / 40.35194; -84.76583 (Wabash River (source)) Ohio River 37°47′53″N 88°01′38″W / 37.79806°N 88.02722°W / 37.79806; -88.02722 (Wabash River (mouth)) 32,950 mi
85,340 km 		1,001 ft/s
28 m/s
A middle-sized river with sandy and grassy banks flows under a bridge.

Map

Map of North America showing all rivers on this list.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Dams, diversions for agriculture, and other human alterations to rivers have greatly affected the discharge of some rivers over time. For example, the virgin discharge of the Colorado River is estimated to have been 20,000 ft/s (566 m/s) compared to 1,400 ft/s (~40 m/s) in 2005.
  2. ^ Of the total, 10,700 mi (28,000 km), about two percent of the basin, is in Canada.
  3. ^ Kammerer: 76,200 ft/s (2,160 m/s).
  4. ^ Kammerer: 2,340 mi (3,766 km). The Atlas of Canada: 2,348 mi (3,779 km).
  5. ^ Of the total, 10,700 mi (27,800 km), less than one percent of the basin, is in Canada.
  6. ^ Of this total, 714 mi (1,149 km) are in Canada. This amounts to about 36 percent of the main-stem length.
  7. ^ The Atlas of Canada also lists the total basin size at 324,000 mi (839,200 km), split between 125,000 mi (323,800 km), about 39 percent, in Canada and 199,000 mi (515,400 km), about 61 percent, in the United States.
  8. ^ Kammerer: 1,900 mi (3,100 km). University of Texas (UT): 1,799 mi (2,895 km). The river forms the U.S.–Mexico border for 1.251 mi (2,013 km) (about 70 percent of its main-stem length) from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico.
  9. ^ Rivers of North America says that of this total only about 170,000 mi (450,000 km) of the basin contribute water to the river. The University of Texas (UT) says, "The river collects rain, snowmelt and spring water from an area [of] about 215,338 mi [557,722 km] including closed basins." It says that 87,020 mi (225,380 km) of the basin (about 48 percent), not counting closed basins, are in Mexico, while 93,821 mi (242,994 km) (about 52 percent) are in the United States. Kammerer cites a total basin size of 336,000 mi (870,000 km).
  10. ^ According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, 75 mi (121 km) of the river are in Mexico. This amounts to about 5 percent of the main-stem length. Of this, 17 mi (27 km) form the border between Mexico and the United States.
  11. ^ The United Nations Environment Programme cites a total basin size of 246,000 mi (637,000 km), split between 2,000 mi (5,200 km) (about 1 percent) in Mexico and 244,000 mi (632,000 km) (about 99 percent) in the United States.
  12. ^ Derived by subtracting the length of the East Fork Arkansas River of roughly 16 mi (26 km) from Kammerer's total of 1,459 mi (2,348 km).
  13. ^ About 498 mi (801 km) are in Canada. This amounts to about 40 percent of the main-stem length.
  14. ^ The Atlas of Canada lists the total watershed at 259,200 mi (671,300 km), split between 39,700 mi (102,800 km) (about 15 percent) in Canada and 219,500 mi (568,500 km) (about 85 percent) in the United States. Kammerer's figure for the total watershed is 265,000 mi (690,000 km).
  15. ^ This is the combined length, 1,360 mi (2,190 km), of the main stem, Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, and Tierra Blanca Creek minus the lengths of the latter two, 160 mi (260 km) and 75 mi (121 km). Kammerer gives the length as 1,290 mi (2,080 km).
  16. ^ Kammerer: 93,200 mi.
  17. ^ Kammerer: 56,000 ft/s (1,600 m)
  18. ^ Also known as the Dakota River or Jim River and not to be confused with the James River of Virginia.
  19. ^ This is the average discharge for the years 1982–94, derived by adding the discharge for each of these years and dividing by 13.
  20. ^ According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, a 110-mi (170 km) stretch of the river flows through Canada. This amounts to about 18 percent of the main-stem length.
  21. ^ The Atlas of Canada: 23,600 mi (61,200 km) split between 8,300 mi (21,600 km) (about 35 percent) in Canada and 15,300 mi (39,600 km) (about 65 percent) in the United States.
  22. ^ According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a 115-mi (185 km) stretch of the river forms part of the U.S.–Canada border. This amounts to about 19 percent of the main-stem length.
  23. ^ Kammerer: 396,000 mi (1,030,000 km). The Atlas of Canada: 519,000 mi (1,344,200 km), of which 324,000 mi (839,200 km) (about 62 percent) is in Canada and 195,000 mi (505,000 km) (about 38 percent) is in the United States.
  24. ^ Kammerer: 348,000 ft/s (9,900 m/s).
  25. ^ Of this total, 232 mi (600 km) (about 0.4 percent) are in the Mexican state of Sonora, and the rest is in the United States.
  26. ^ Rivers of North America describes the discharge as less than 210 ft/s (6 m/s.
  27. ^ This is the size of the basin upstream of a stream gauge near Kindred and at river mile 67.9 (river kilometer 109.3).
  28. ^ This is the average flow measured by a stream gauge near Kindred and at river mile 67.9 (river kilometer 109.3).
  29. ^ The main-stem length is calculated by subtracting the length of the Nabesna River from Kammerer's total of 659 mi (1,061 km). The Nabesna River is roughly 75 mi (121 km) long, calculated by adding the 60 mi (97 km) from the Nabesna mouth to Camp Creek to the distance, 15 mi (24 km), from Camp Creek to Nabesna Glacier, Kammerer's most remote source for the Tanana.
  30. ^ Reflects only that part of the basin above a stream gauge at river mile 43.3 (river kilometer 69.7) near Enterprise.
  31. ^ Measured by a stream gauge at river mile 43.3 (river kilometer 69.7) near Enterprise.
  32. ^ This is only a close approximation of the entire basin. It does not include a small fraction of the basin below the river gauge, located about 25 mi (40 km) upstream of the river mouth.
  33. ^ This is the average discharge for the years 1990–2010, derived by adding the discharge for each of these years and dividing by 21.
  34. ^ According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 394 mi (634 km) are in the United States. This amounts to about 72 percent of the main-stem length.
  35. ^ Of the total basin, 53,500 mi (138,600 km) (about 48 percent) are in Canada and 57,500 mi (148,900 km) (about 52 percent) are in the United States.

References

  1. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 1137.
  2. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 236.
  3. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 615.
  4. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 50.
  5. ^ The Road Atlas. Chicago, Illinois: Rand McNally & Company. 2008. ISBN 978-0-528-93961-7.
  6. ^ "Rivers". The Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on April 4, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  7. ^ "Missouri River Basin Basic Geography and Natural Features". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  8. ^ McCord, Marc W. "Gila River". Wind Spirit Community. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  9. ^ Patrick 1995, p. 24.
  10. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 527.
  11. ^ The mouth coordinates and source coordinates are from the Geographic Names Information System (United States Geological Survey) or the Canadian Geographical Names Data Base except for the coordinates of the mouth of the Colorado River, derived by geolocating with Google Earth.
  12. ^ From Rivers of North America (ed. Benke and Cushing) unless otherwise noted.
  13. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 432.
  14. ^ "Missouri River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  15. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 469.
  16. ^ Kammerer, J. C. (September 1, 2005). "Largest Rivers in the United States". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  17. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, pp. 237, 331.
  18. ^ "Mississippi River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  19. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 272.
  20. ^ "Atlin Lake (B.C.)". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  21. ^ "Yukon River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  22. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 796.
  23. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 186.
  24. ^ Patino, Carlos; McKinney, Daene C.; Maidment, David R. "Water Management Information System for the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin". University of Texas Center for Research in Water Resources. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  25. ^ "Rio Grande". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. March 30, 1979. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  26. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 220.
  27. ^ Anderson, D. Larry (May 2002). "Utah's Perspective: The Colorado River" (PDF). p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  28. ^ Arias, E.; Albar, M.; Parra, I; Reza, M. "Regional Definition" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. pp. 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  29. ^ "Colorado River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  30. ^ Derived via Google Earth
  31. ^ Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer (Map). DeLorme. 1998. § 47–48. ISBN 978-0-89933-265-9.
  32. ^ "Arkansas River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  33. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 315.
  34. ^ "Columbia Lake". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  35. ^ "Columbia River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  36. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 646.
  37. ^ Kleiner, Diana J. "Handbook of Texas: Red River". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  38. ^ "Handbook of Texas: Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  39. ^ "Handbook of Texas: Tierra Blanca Creek". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  40. ^ "Red River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  41. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 317.
  42. ^ "Snake River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. September 10, 1979. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  43. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 643.
  44. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 379.
  45. ^ "Ohio River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  46. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 413.
  47. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 198.
  48. ^ "Colorado River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  49. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 222.
  50. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 384.
  51. ^ "Tennessee River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. September 20, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  52. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 414.
  53. ^ "Canadian River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. December 18, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  54. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 316.
  55. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 203.
  56. ^ "Brazos River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  57. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 223.
  58. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 497.
  59. ^ "Green River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). December 31, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  60. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 528.
  61. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 213.
  62. ^ "Pecos River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  63. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 225.
  64. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 246.
  65. ^ "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 30, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  66. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 273.
  67. ^ "River Facts". American Rivers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  68. ^ "James River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  69. ^ "USGS 06478513 James River near Yankton, SD". United States Geological Survey. November 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  70. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 741.
  71. ^ "Kuskokwim River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  72. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 764.
  73. ^ "Cimarron River". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  74. ^ "Cimarron River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). December 18, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  75. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 319.
  76. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 390.
  77. ^ "Cumberland River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). September 20, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  78. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 415.
  79. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 440.
  80. ^ "Yellowstone River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  81. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 470.
  82. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 451.
  83. ^ "North Platte River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). October 13, 1978. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  84. ^ Marsh, James H. (March 4, 2015). "Milk River". Historica Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  85. ^ "Milk River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 4, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  86. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 475.
  87. ^ Benke and Cushing, p. 265
  88. ^ "Ouachita River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  89. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 279.
  90. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 987.
  91. ^ "St. Lawrence River (International Section)". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  92. ^ "St. Lawrence River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  93. ^ "Saint Lawrence River". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  94. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 983.
  95. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 511.
  96. ^ "Gila River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 8, 1980. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  97. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 531.
  98. ^ "National Hydrography Dataset". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  99. ^ "Sheyenne River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  100. ^ "Water-Data Report 2010: 05059000 Sheyenne River near Kindred, ND" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  101. ^ Irwin, Thomas (October 3, 2005). "Recordable Disclaimer of Interest Application for the Nabesna River" (PDF). U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  102. ^ Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (7th ed.). DeLorme. 2010. p. 98. ISBN 0-89933-289-7.
  103. ^ "Tanana River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  104. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 797.
  105. ^ "Smoky Hill River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). October 13, 1978. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  106. ^ "Water-Data Report 2010: 06877600 Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, KS" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  107. ^ "Niobrara River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). March 9, 1979. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  108. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 478.
  109. ^ Personius, Robert Giles; Eddy, Samuel (February 18, 1955). "Fishes of the Little Missouri River". Copeia. 1955 (1). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: 41. doi:10.2307/1439450. JSTOR 1439450.
  110. ^ "Little Missouri River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  111. ^ "USGS 06337000 Little Missouri River near Watford City, ND". November 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  112. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 208.
  113. ^ "Sabine River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  114. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 224.
  115. ^ "Red River of the North". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  116. ^ "Red River of the North: A Water Trail Guide" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  117. ^ "Red River of the North". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  118. ^ "Red River". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  119. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 896.
  120. ^ "National Recreation Trails: Des Moines River Water Trail - Polk County, Iowa". American Trails. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  121. ^ "Des Moines River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 30, 1979. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  122. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 372.
  123. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 445.
  124. ^ "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  125. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 471.
  126. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 215.
  127. ^ "Trinity River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  128. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 227.
  129. ^ "Wabash River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 14, 1979. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  130. ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 396.

Works cited

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_longest_rivers_of_the_United_States_(by_main_stem)&oldid=1230648894"