Rivers of South America

Name of the River

Length/ Source/Mouth Countries in which

flowing

Major cities along the river

Remarks

Amazon Length: 6800 km Source: Mt. Mismi in Southern Peru (also known as Nevado Mismi) Mouth: Atlantic Ocean

Brazil Peru Colombia

Manaus is the largest city along the R. Amazon (Brazil)

•2nd longest river in the world •Largest river in the world according to discharge •Largest drainage basin the world •Important tributaries are Branco, Rio Negro, Japura, Apurimac, Madeira, Pastaza, Napo, Putumayo, Tapajos, Xingu etc. •Largest tributary is R. Madeira

Orinoco Length: 2140 km Source: W. slopes of the Parima Mountains along the border between Venezuela and Brazil. Mouth: Atlantic Ocean

Venezuela Colombia

Ciudad Bolivar in Venezuela

• Amazon River Dolphin and Orinoco Piranha can be found in this river. • Orinoco Crocodile is also found in the river. •There is a natural canal called Casiquiare Canal which joins the Rio Negro river, a tributary of Amazon. •Important tributaries of the river are Apure, Caroni, Meta, Caura, Arauca etc. •Volume wise it is the world’s third largest river.

Parana Length: 1090 km Source: it is formed by the union of two rivers, Paranaiba River & Grande River both occurring in Brazil. Mouth: Atlantic Ocean (Rio de la Plata)

Brazil Paraguay Argentina

(In Argentina) Rosario, Santa Fe, Parana, Resistencia, Corrientes (In Brazil) Sao Paulo, Santos, Araguari

• Important tributaries is R. Salado •It is the second longest South American River • The Itaipu Dam on this river is the world’s second largest HEP power station in the world. • For a certain stretch the river forms the natural boundary between Paraguay & Argentina

Paraguay Length: 2621 km Source: Mato Grosso Region (Brazil) Mouth: falls into R. Parana

Paraguay Brazil Argentina Bolivia

(In Paraguay) Asuncion Concepcion (In Argentina) Formosa

• Important shipping corridor for the land locked countries like Bolivia & Paraguay. • There are no dams or HEP projects located on the rivers. •Fishing is an important economic activity done in this river. • The main tributaries are Pilcomayo, Apa, Negro, Barmejo & Miranda.

Rio de la Plata

Length: 290 km Source: confluence of Paraná & Paraguay river Mouth: South Atlantic Ocean

Argentina Uruguay

Buenos Aires • It is an estuary where fresh water and saline water get mixed • The La Plata drainage basin is the continent’s second largest drainage basin after Amazon • Main tributaries are Uruguay, Paraguay and Parana. •Most of the population of Argentina & Uruguay are found around this river.

Magdalena Length: 1540 km Source: Colombian Massif Mouth: Atlantic ocean

Colombia Neiva Honda El Dorado Girardot Puerto Boyacá

• Main river of Colombia •Main tributaries are San Jorge, Cesar & Cauca

Sao Francisco

Length: 2830 km Source: Canastra Mt. Range (Brazil) Mouth: Atlantic Ocean

Brazil Pirapora Bom Jesus da Lapa Sao Francisco Juazeizo Petrolina

• Discovered by Amerigo Vespucci • Main tributaries are Grande, Paraopeba, Paracatu, Corrente etc • Sobradinho reservoir is located on this river which is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world.

Tocantins Length: 2640 km

Source: Pirenues district

of Brazil

Mouth: Atlantic Ocean

Brazil • The main tributary is Araguaia. The

other tributaries are Rio das Mortes,

Paranatinga, Maranhao etc.

•The famous Tucurui HEP project in

Brazil is located on this river.

Rivers of North America

Name of

the

River

Length/

Source/Mouth

Remarks

St.

Lawrence

Length: 1197 km

Source: L. Ontario

Mouth: Atlantic

Ocean (Gulf of St.

Lawrence)

• Forms a part of boundary between

USA & Canada

• It consists of several lakes, islands

and manmade canals

• It is the main drainage of the Great

Lake Region

• It connects the Great Lake region

with Atlantic Ocean

• It falls into the Gulf of St, Lawrence,

which is considered as the world’s

largest estuary.

• It is the 2nd largest river of Canada

•The main tributaries of the river are

Ottawa, Saguenay, Manicouagan,

Saint-Maurice etc.

• It is an important route of USA-

Canada trade.

• The main cities found along the

river are Quebec City, Montreal,

Cornwall, Brokeville, Cape Vincent

(New York) etc.

Rivers of South America

Name of the

River

Length/Source/Mouth Remarks

Mackenzie Length: 4241 km

Source: Great Slave Lake

in Canada (NW Territories)

Mouth: Arctic Ocean

(Beaufort Sea)

• It is the largest and longest river of Canada

• some important tributaries of the river are Kakisa, Jean Marie,

Liard, Arctic Red River, Great Bear, Peel, Athabasca, Peace etc

• The river is navigable in summer and rest of the year it is used as

frozen roads.

• The main cities found along this river are Fort Simpson, Fort Good

Hope & Inuvik.

• It terms of discharge is ranks second in the continent and fourth in

the world.

Yukon Length: 3187 km

Source: Llewellyn Glacier,

British Columbia, Canada

Mouth: Berring Sea

• The important tributaries of the river are Teslin, Pelly, Takhini,

Porcupine, Stewart etc.

• Fishing is an important activity in this river. It is well know for

fishing of Salmon.

• It is one of the largest salmon reserves of the world.

• Important towns found along the river are Fort Yukon, Circle,

Dawson, Whitehorse, Carmacks etc.

Churchill Length: 1609 km

Source: Churchill Lake,

Saskatchewan, Canada

Mouth: Hudson Bay

• The main tributary of the river is Beaver River

• Churchill in Manitoba is the largest city located along the river. It is

known as the ‘Polar Bear capital of the World’.

• Large-scale Fishing is done in this river.

Fraser Length: 1375 km

Source: Canadian Rockies,

British Columbia, Canada

Mouth: Strait of Georgia,

Vancouver, Canada

• The main tributaries of the river are Pitt, Harrison, Thompson, Stein,

Robson, Moose, Nechako, Brunette etc

• A 270 km long canyon has been curved by the river, which is known

as Fraser Canyon.

•Moran Canyon Dam project has been proposed on this river.

• The main cities along this river are Chilliwack, Abbotsford & New

Westminster

Columbia Length: 2000 km

Source: Columbia Lake,

British Columbia, Canada

Mouth: Pacific Ocean

• Important tributaries of this river are Beaver, Snake, kettle,

Okanogan, Yakima, and Spillimacheen etc.

• There is a Columbia River Treaty between US & Canada for the

successful flood control & maximization if HEP generation

• Some cities located along the river are Northport, Bridgeport,

Arlington, Roosevelt, Lyle, Columbia City, Prescott etc.

• The Grand Coulee Dam on this river is the largest electric power

producing facility in USA. The Dam is a product of Columbia Basin

Project.

• Fishing is an important economic activity in this river.

Colorado Length: 2334 km

Source: Rocky Mountain

National Park, Colorado, USA

Mouth: Gulf of California

• Some important tributaries of the river are Green River, San Juan

River, Paria River, Little Colorado, Virgin River etc.

• Hoover Dam, Parker Dam, Davis Dam & Glen Canyon Dam are the

two important dam situated across the river.

• The important cities located along the river are Page, Moab,

Boulder City, Glenwood Springs, Yuma, Las Vegas, McCoy etc.

• From its source to the Confluence of Green river it is known as

Grand River.

• The city of Moab in the north bank of the river is known for its

Uranium reserve.

Rio Grande Length: 3051 km

Source: San Juan Mountain,

Colorado, USA

Mouth: Gulf of Mexico

• A part of this river forms the natural boundary between US &

Mexico.

• The important tributaries are San Juan River, Pecos, Rio Chama, Rio

Conchos, Rio Salado etc.

• The cities located along the river are Nuevo Laredo, El Paso,

Laredo, Juarez etc

Mississippi Length: 3734 km

Source: L. Itasca, Minnesota,

USA

Mouth: Gulf of Mexico

• Largest river system of the continent.

• Important tributaries are Arkansas, Red River, Ohio, & Missouri etc.

• Important cities located along the river are Baton Rouge, Memphis,

Cape Girardeau, Hannibal, Minneapolis & Rock Island.

Tributaries of

Mississippi River

Missouri • It rises from the Centennial Mountains, Montana, USA

• It is 3767 km long.

• The important cities located along the river are Bismarck, Omaha,

Kansas City, St. Louis, Great Fall etc.

• Longest tributary of Mississippi, (even longer than Mississippi)

Ohio • Largest tributary of Mississippi.

• The cities of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New Albany, Henderson,

Petersburg are situated along this river

• The source of the river is the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania.

• It is 1579 km long.

Arkansas • 2nd longest tributary of Mississippi River

• Rises from the Rocky Mountain, Colorado, USA

•It is 2350 km long

• Important cities located along the river are Tulsa, Little Rock, Pine

Bluff, Pueblo etc.

Red river • It rises from the state of Oklahoma.

• It is 2189 km long

• Elmer, Denison, Texarkana are the main cities located along the

river.