View source for List of rivers of the Americas

{{Short description|None}}
{{See also|Geography of North America|Geography of South America}}
[[File:Rio Amazonas - Parintins.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Amazon River near [[Parintins]], Brazil]]
This is a '''list of [[river]]s 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" {{cvt|6400|km|mi}},<ref name=britannica-amazon>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River|title=Amazon River|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108222644/http://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River|archive-date=8 November 2020}}</ref> but reported values lie anywhere between {{cvt|6275|-|7025|km|mi}}.<ref name="liu-etal-river-length">{{Cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=Shaochuang|last2=Lu|first2=P|last3=Liu|first3=D|last4=Jin|first4=P|last5=Wang|first5=W|date=1 March 2009|title=Pinpointing the sources and measuring the lengths of the principal rivers of the world|url=https://zenodo.org/record/897056|journal=Int. J. Digit. Earth|volume=2|issue=1|pages=80–87|doi=10.1080/17538940902746082|bibcode=2009IJDE....2...80L|s2cid=27548511|access-date=29 December 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref>
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]]).<ref name=liu-etal-river-length/><ref name=river-source>{{Cite web|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140213-amazon-river-length-source-maps-science/|title=Where Does the Amazon River Begin?|date=15 February 2014|website=National Geographic News|access-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091707/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140213-amazon-river-length-source-maps-science/|archive-date=27 March 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There are 11 countries in the Americas that do not have rivers: Anguilla,<ref>{{citation |title=The Commonwealth Yearbook 2006 |first=Richard |last=Green |author2=[[Commonwealth Secretariat]] |publisher=Nexus Strategic Partnerships Ltd. |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-9549629-4-4 |page=404}}.</ref> Aruba, Bermuda,<ref>{{harvnb|Green|Commonwealth Secretariat|2006|page=405}}.</ref> Bonaire, Cayman Islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://waterauthority.ky/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=190|title=Water Suppliers in the Cayman Islands – Water Authority Cayman|website=waterauthority.ky|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref> Curaçao, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

==North America==

===Central America===
[[File:Map of Central America.png|thumb|250px|Map of 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.<ref>{{cite news | title=Nicaragua: The Land | url=http://www.experiencenicaragua.com/land.html | accessdate=2007-06-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405043908/http://experiencenicaragua.com/land.html | archive-date=2007-04-05 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Patuca />

Some of the significant rivers and their lengths in [[Central America]] include:

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" summary="Significant rivers in Central America"
|+ Significant rivers in Central America
|-
!River
!Countries
!Length
!Significance
|-
|[[Aguán River]]||Honduras||{{cvt|150|mi}}||The Aguán River's watershed is one of seven watersheds in Honduras,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pr.water.usgs.gov/public/rt/hn/aguan.html|title=USGS - Water Resources of Honduras - Aguan|work=usgs.gov|accessdate=2 May 2015}}</ref> and covers over {{convert|1|e6ha|mi2}}, of which around 200,000 are in the Aguán River Valley.<ref>Jeffrey R. Jones, [http://archive.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80653e/80653E0a.htm Colonization and Environment: Land Settlement Projects in Central America], The United Nations University Press, 1990</ref>
|-
|[[Cahabón River]]||[[Guatemala]]||{{cvt|122|mi}}||known for white water rapids<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anywhere.com/guatemala/attractions/cahabon-river-river|title=Cahabon River |website=Anywhere.com|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>
 
|- 
|[[Choluteca River]]||Honduras||{{cvt|217|mi}}||noted for severe flooding in 1998<ref>{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=John Ward|date=1999-04-19|title=A Hero Emerges From Mitch's Devastation|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/19/a-hero-emerges-from-mitchs-devastation/c6d4836b-8878-47ad-b719-e97620624083/|access-date=2021-01-08|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> 
|-
|[[Chucunaque River]]||[[Panama]]||{{cvt|144|mi}}||longest river in Panama
|-
|[[Coco River]] (Wanki River)||Honduras and [[Nicaragua]]||{{cvt|470|mi}}||border river, longest river in Honduras and Nicaragua
|-
|[[Dulce River (Guatemala)|Dulce River]]||Guatemala||{{cvt|27|mi}}||largest bridge in Central America, location of Tarzan movie in 1939<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conap.gob.gt/Members/admin/documentos/documentos-centro-de-documentacion/areas-protegidas/SIGAPublico_Enero.xls/view |publisher=conap.gob.gt |title=Listado de Áreas Protegidas (enero, 2011) |author=CONAP |access-date=2011-06-14 |format=xls |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008161133/http://www.conap.gob.gt/Members/admin/documentos/documentos-centro-de-documentacion/areas-protegidas/SIGAPublico_Enero.xls/view |archive-date=2011-10-08 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Lempa River]]||[[El Salvador]], Honduras, Guatemala||{{cvt|262|mi}}||longest and only navigable river in El Salvador<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Lempa-River|title=Lempa River|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Los Esclavos River]]||Guatemala||{{cvt|90|mi}}||known for bridge built over the river in 1579 as Spanish Colony<ref>{{cite journal|author=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|title=Nuestro grabados:El puente sobre el Río de los Esclavos|language=Spanish|url=https://archive.org/stream/ilustracionguate00guat#page/400/mode/2up|journal=La Ilustración Guatemalteca|date=1 April 1897|volume=I|issue=18|publisher=Síguere, Guirola y Cía|quote=Baltazar de Orena was a Spanish poet, friend of [[Miguel de Cervantes]].}}</ref>
|-
|[[Motagua River]]||Guatemala||{{cvt|250|mi}}||longest river in Guatemala<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Motagua-River|title=Motagua River|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[New River (Belize)|New River]]||[[Belize]]||{{cvt|82|mi}}||longest river within Belize
|-
|[[Patuca River]]||Honduras||{{cvt|310|mi}}||longest river within Honduras<ref name=Patuca>{{cite web|url=http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/lessons-from-the-field-patuca-river-honduras/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817223017/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/lessons-from-the-field-patuca-river-honduras/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 17, 2010|title=In Honduras, Scientists Try to Learn the Secrets of the Patuca River Before It's Dammed|website=National Geographic|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Reventazón River]]||[[Costa Rica]]||{{cvt|90|mi}}||used to generate significant portion of Costa Rica's electricity
|-
|[[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|San Juan River]]||Costa Rica, Nicaragua||{{cvt|110|mi}}||longest river in Costa Rica<ref name="CV">{{cite book|author=Greenberg, Amy S.|title=Manifest manhood and the Antebellum American empire|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|year=2005|isbn=0-521-84096-1}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tempisque River]]||Costa Rica||{{cvt|89|mi}}||longest river totally within Costa Rica, important animal habitat, flows entirely within Costa Rica<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govisitcostarica.com/region/city.asp?cID=59|title=Tempisque River|website=Government of Costa Rica|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ulúa River]]||[[Honduras]]||{{cvt|150|mi}}||known for ornate calcite vessels that date from the [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] times<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1931-0717-1|title=Ulua River Vessels|website=British Museum Collection}}</ref>
|}

{{Central America topic|List of rivers of}}

===Northern America===
{{See also|Northern America|List of rivers of Canada|List of rivers of Greenland|List of rivers of Mexico|List of rivers of the United States}}
[[File:NorthAmerica-WaterDivides.png|thumb|right|350px|North American watersheds ([[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]], [[Great Basin]], and [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]])]]
[[File:Columbiarivermap.png|thumb|right|350px|Columbia River basin]]
[[File:Mississippiriver-new-01.png|thumb|right|350px|Mississippi River basin]]
[[File:Yellowstone River, flowing through Paradise Valley.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Yellowstone River flowing through Paradise Valley]]
[[File:Great Basin map.gif|thumb|250px|Great Basin]]

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|date=June 2025}}

The Missouri River is the longest [[river]] in [[North America]] and the United States ({{cvt|2341|mi}}).<ref name="RiversWorld">{{cite web |author=Howard Perlman, USGS |url=https://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |title=Lengths of major rivers, from USGS Water-Science School |publisher=Ga.water.usgs.gov |date=October 31, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309100631/http://water.usgs.gov/edu/riversofworld.html |archive-date=March 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The second longest river in North America and the United States is the [[Mississippi River]] ({{cvt|2320|mi}}).  The [[Rio Conchos]] ({{cvt|350|mi}}) is the longest river in Mexico.  The longest river in Canada is the [[Mackenzie River]] ({{cvt|1080|mi}}).{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

Some of the longest or otherwise notable rivers include the rivers listed in the table below.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header" summary="Significant rivers in Northern America"
|+ Significant rivers in Northern America
|-
!River
!Countries
!data-sort-type=number|Length
!Tributary of
!Significance
|-
|[[Alabama River]]||US: [[Alabama]]||{{cvt|318|mi}}||Gulf of Mexico||The [[Edmund Pettus Bridge]] crosses the Alabama River near [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]]. The bridge was the site of the famous [[Selma to Montgomery marches|marches for voting rights]] in 1965
|-
|[[Alsek River]]||[[Canada]]: [[Yukon]] US: [[Alaska]]||{{cvt|240|mi}}||[[Gulf of Alaska]], [[Pacific Ocean]]||wilderness river
|-
|[[Altamaha River]]||US: [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]||{{cvt|137|mi}}||[[Atlantic Ocean]]||[[bioreserve]]
|-
|[[Apalachicola River]]||US: [[Florida]]||{{cvt|160|mi}}||Gulf of Mexico||scenic river, former border between East and West Florida
|-
|[[Chattahoochee River]]||US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida||{{cvt|430|mi}}||Apalachicola River||state borders
|-
|[[Flint River (Georgia)|Flint River]]||US: Georgia, Alabama, Florida||{{cvt|344|mi}}||Apalachicola River||mentioned in [[Gone with the Wind (novel)|Gone with the Wind]]
|-
|[[Colorado River]]||US: [[Colorado]], [[Utah]], [[Arizona]], [[Nevada]], [[California]] [[Mexico]]:[[Baja California]], [[Sonora]]||{{cvt|1450|mi}}||[[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 (state)|Washington]], [[Oregon]]
||{{cvt|1243|mi}}||Pacific Ocean||largest river in [[Pacific Northwest]], largest river emptying into the Pacific Ocean in North America
|-
|[[James River]]
|US: [[Virginia]]
||{{cvt|348|mi}}||[[Hampton Roads]], [[Chesapeake Bay]], Atlantic Ocean||the first permanent English settlement in America and all past and current Virginia capitols, [[Jamestown, Virginia|Jamestown]], [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], and [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] are located along its shores
|-
|[[Snake River]]
|US: [[Wyoming]], [[Idaho]], [[Oregon]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
||{{cvt|1078|mi}}||Columbia River||largest tributary of Columbia River, shores populated by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], discovered by [[Lewis and Clark]]
|-
|[[Okanogan River]]
|Canada: British Columbia US: Washington||{{cvt|115|mi}}||Columbia River||early 1800s fur trading river
|-
|[[Kettle River (Columbia River)|Kettle River]]
|Canada: British Columbia, US: Washington||{{cvt|175|mi}}||Columbia River||association with Columbia River
|-
|[[Pend Oreille River]]
|US: Washington, Idaho, Canada: British Columbia ||{{cvt|130|mi}}||Columbia River||native people (Pend d'Oreilles and Kalispe) lived along the river
|-
|[[Kootenay River]]
|Canada: British Columbia US: [[Montana]]||{{cvt|480|mi}}||Columbia River||major tributary of Columbia River, early home to Native Americans
|-
|[[Willamette River]]
|US: Oregon||{{cvt|187|mi}}||Columbia River||well known vineyards around river
|-
|[[Delaware River]]||US: [[New York (state)|New York]], [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Delaware]], [[Maryland]]
||{{cvt|301|mi}}||[[Delaware Bay]] and Atlantic Ocean||shores home to Native Americans, associated with several American Revolution battles and [[George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River|Washington Crossing the Delaware]]
|-
|[[Brandywine River]]||US: Pennsylvania, Delaware||{{cvt|20|mi}}||[[Christina River]], Delaware River||designated [[Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers]], associated with the [[Battle of Brandywine]]
|-
|[[Schuylkill River]]||US: Pennsylvania||{{cvt|135|mi}}||Delaware River||[[Philadelphia]]
|-
|[[Fraser River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|854|mi}}||[[Strait of Georgia]] Pacific Ocean||longest river in [[British Columbia]], visited by Spanish explorers in 1792
|-
|[[Thompson River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|304|mi}}||Fraser River||evidence of prehistoric settlements along river
|-
|[[Chilcotin River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|150|mi}}||Fraser River||important to indigenous people
|-
|[[Nechako River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|321|mi}}||Fraser River||first explored by Europeans in 1806
|-
|[[Hudson River]]||US: New York, New Jersey||{{cvt|315|mi}}||[[New York Harbor]] Atlantic Ocean||explored by [[Henry Hudson]] in 1609
|-
|[[Mohawk River]]||US: New York||{{cvt|149|mi}}||Hudson River||important to transportation and migration
|-
|[[Mackenzie River]]||Canada: [[Northwest Territories]], Yukon||{{cvt|1080|mi}}||[[Beaufort Sea]] [[Arctic Ocean]]||longest river in Canada
|-
|[[Liard River]]||Canada: British Columbia, Northwest Territories||{{cvt|693|mi}}||Mackenzie River||marks the north end of the Rocky Mountains
|-
|[[Slave River]]||Canada: [[Alberta]], Northwest Territories||{{cvt|270|mi}}||Mackenzie River||named for the [[Slavey]] people
|-
|[[Peace River (Canada)|Peace River]]||Canada: British Columbia, Alberta||{{cvt|1195|mi}}||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||{{cvt|765|mi}}||Slave River||[[Canadian Heritage Rivers System]]
|-
|[[Majorqaq]]||[[Greenland]]: [[Qeqqata]]||{{cvt|44|mi}}||Atlantic Ocean||Greenland is considered part of North America [[physiography]].  This river is the outflow of a glacier.<ref>''Maniitsoq'', Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992</ref> 
|-
|[[Mississippi River]]||US: [[Minnesota]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Iowa]], [[Illinois]], [[Missouri]], [[Kentucky]], [[Tennessee]], [[Arkansas]], [[Mississippi]], [[Louisiana]]||{{cvt|2320|mi}}||Gulf of Mexico||2nd longest river in Northern Americas
|-
|[[Arkansas River]]||US: Colorado, [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]], Arkansas||{{cvt|1469|mi}}||Mississippi River||6th longest river in US 
|-
|[[Canadian River]]||US: Oklahoma, Colorado, [[New Mexico]], [[Texas]]||{{cvt|906|mi}}||Arkansas River||explored by Spanish in 1601
|-
|[[Cimarron River (Arkansas River)|Cimarron River]]||US: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma||{{cvt|698|mi}}||Arkansas River||explored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, no major cities along route

|-
|[[Des Moines River]]||US: Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri||{{cvt|525|mi}}||Mississippi River||explored by early French explorers
|-
|[[Illinois River]]||US: Illinois||{{cvt|273|mi}}||Mississippi River||important transportation route
|-
|[[Minnesota River]]||US: Minnesota||{{cvt|370|mi}}||Mississippi River||longest river within Minnesota 
|-
|[[Missouri River]]||US: Montana, [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Nebraska]], Iowa, Kansas, Missouri
 ||{{cvt|2341|mi}}||Mississippi River||longest river in Northern Americas
|-
|[[Yellowstone River]]||US: Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota||{{cvt|692|mi}}||Missouri River||important transportation route for Native Americans, associated with Yellowstone Park
|-
|[[Platte River]]||US: Nebraska||{{cvt|310|mi}}||Missouri River||home to Native Americans, first explored by the Spanish in the 1540s
|-
|[[Milk River (Alberta–Montana)|Milk River]]||Canada: Alberta, US: Montana||{{cvt|792|mi}}||Missouri River||subject of 1908 Supreme Court case for Native American rights
|-

|[[Ohio River]]||US: Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois||{{cvt|981|mi}}||Mississippi River||Native American significance
|-
|[[Allegheny River]]||US: Pennsylvania, New York||{{cvt|325|mi}}||Ohio River||Native American and early colonial history
|-
|[[Cumberland River]]||US: Kentucky, Tennessee||{{cvt|688|mi}}||Allegheny River||Native American and riverboat significance
|-
|[[Kanawha River]]||US: West Virginia||{{cvt|97|mi}}||Allegheny River||largest inland waterway in West Virginia
|-
|[[Scioto River]]||US: Ohio||{{cvt|231|mi}}||Allegheny River||longest river within Ohio
|-
|[[Tennessee River]]||US:Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky||{{cvt|652|mi}}||Ohio River||Cherokee lived along river, largest Ohio River tributary
|-
|[[Red River of the South]]||US: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana||{{cvt|1360|mi}}|| Gulf of Mexico ||second largest river basin in the Great Plains, former border with Mexico
|-
|[[Rock River (Mississippi River)|Rock River]]||US: Wisconsin, Illinois||{{cvt|299|mi}}||Mississippi River||notable Rock River Water Trail
|-
|[[Wisconsin River]]||US: Wisconsin||{{cvt|420|mi}}||Mississippi River||longest river within Wisconsin
|-
|[[Nass River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|270|mi}}||[[Portland Inlet]], Pacific Ocean||volcanic activity near river, salmon fishery
|-
|[[Potomac River]]||US: West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia||{{cvt|405|mi}}||[[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||{{cvt|56|mi}}||Potomac River||well known since colonial times 
|-
|[[Roanoke River]]||US: Virginia, North Carolina||{{cvt|410|mi}}||Atlantic Ocean||site of early Native American and colonial settlements 
|-
|[[Rio Conchos]]||Mexico: [[Chihuahua (state)]] ||{{cvt|350|mi}}||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||{{cvt|1896|mi}}||Gulf of Mexico||longest US/Mexico border river
|- 
|[[Sacramento River]]||US: California||{{cvt|400|mi}}||[[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]], [[San Francisco Bay]], Pacific Ocean||largest river in California, California Gold Rush
|-
|[[Pit River]]||US: California||{{cvt|207|mi}}||Sacramento River||Native American home 
|-
|[[Feather River]]||US: California||{{cvt|73|mi}}||Sacramento River||home to the [[Maidu]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] 
|-
|[[Saskatchewan River|Saskatchewan]]||Canada: Manitoba, Saskatchewan||{{cvt|340|mi}}||[[Lake Winnipeg]]||important transportation route in Pre-Columbian era, three hydroelectric dams
|-
|[[Skagit River]]||Canada: British Columbia US: Washington||{{cvt|240|mi}}||[[Puget Sound]], Pacific Ocean||home to Skagit peoples ([[Upper Skagit Indian Tribe|Upper]] and [[Lower Skagit|Lower tribe]]s
|-
|[[Skeena River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|350|mi}}||Pacific Ocean||2nd longest river in British Columbia
|-
|[[Babine River]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|97|mi}}||Skeena River||one of the last unspoiled rivers
|-
|[[St. Johns River]]||US: Florida||{{cvt|310|mi}}||Atlantic Ocean||longest river within Florida
|-
|[[Saint Lawrence River]]||Canada: Ontario, Quebec US: New York||{{cvt|310|mi}}||[[Gulf of St. Lawrence]], Atlantic Ocean||connects [[Great Lakes]], provides basis for [[St. Lawrence Seaway]]
|-
|[[Cuyahoga River]]||US: Ohio||{{cvt|84.9|mi}}||Saint Lawrence River||1795 western boundary of US, so polluted in 1969 that it caught fire
|-
|[[Detroit River]]||Canada: Ontario US: Michigan ||{{cvt|28|mi}}||Saint Lawrence River ||one of world's busiest waterways, border river, designated [[American Heritage Rivers]] and [[Canadian Heritage Rivers System]] 
|-
|[[Fox River (Green Bay tributary)|Fox River]]||US: Wisconsin||{{cvt|200|mi}}||[[Green Bay (Lake Michigan)|Green Bay]], Lake Michigan ||largest tributary of [[Lake Michigan]]
|-
|[[Saginaw River]]||US: Michigan||{{cvt|22|mi}}||[[Saginaw Bay]], Saint Lawrence River ||important shipping route
|-
|[[Ottawa River]]||Canada: [[Quebec]], Ontario||{{cvt|791|mi}}||Saint Lawrence River ||vital role for [[Algonquin people]], Provincial border
|-
|[[Morice River|Morice]]||Canada: British Columbia||{{cvt|240|km|order=flip}}||Saint Lawrence River or Skeena River||endangered river, [[Enbridge]] pipeline threat
|-
|[[Susquehanna River]]||US: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland||{{cvt|444|mi}}||[[Chesapeake Bay]], Atlantic Ocean||longest river on the East-Coast of the US 
|-
|[[Yukon River]]||Canada: Yukon, British Columbia US: Alaska||{{cvt|1980|mi}}||[[Bering Sea]], Pacific Ocean||longest river flowing through Canada and Alaska
|-
|[[Tanana River]]||US: Alaska||{{cvt|540|mi}}||Yukon River||evidence of Paleo-Arctic human activity, [[Nenana Ice Classic]] contest for charity to predict ice-out
|-
|[[Usumacinta River]]||Mexico: [[Tabasco]], Guatemala||{{cvt|620|mi}}||Gulf of Mexico||important to Mayan Civilization
|-
|[[South Saskatchewan River]]||Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan||{{cvt|865|mi}}||Saskatchewan River
|-
|[[North Saskatchewan River]]||Canada: Alberta, Saskatchewan||{{cvt|800|mi}}||Saskatchewan River
|-
|[[Assiniboine River]]||Canada: Saskatchewan, Manitoba||{{cvt|660|mi}}||Red River of the North
|-
|[[Red River of the North]]||United States: Minnesota, North Dakota Canada: Manitoba||{{cvt|550|mi}}||Lake Winnipeg
|}

===West Indies===
{{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|List of rivers of Trinidad and Tobago}}
[[File:Karte Karibik Inseln.png|thumb|right|upright=1.15|The West Indies in relation to the continental [[Americas]]]]
The significant rivers in the [[West Indies]] include the following:
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" summary="Significant rivers in the West Indies"
|+ Significant rivers in the [[West Indies]]
|-
!River
!Countries
!Length
!Significance
|-
|[[Artibonite River]]||[[Haiti]], Dominican Republic||{{cvt|199|mi}}||longest river in Haiti
|-
|[[Caroni River (Trinidad and Tobago)|Caroni River]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]||{{cvt|25|mi}}||longest river in Trinidad and Tobago<ref>{{Cite book|last=Anthony|first=Michael|title=Historical dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=1997|isbn=0-585-21030-6|location=Lanham, Md.|pages=107|oclc=44959425|author-link=Michael Anthony (author)}}</ref>
|-
||[[Cauto River]]||[[Cuba]]||{{cvt|230|mi}}||longest river in Cuba and the Caribbean/West Indies<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/caribland.htm#:~:text=The%20longest%20river%20on%20a,extent%2C%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Mexico|title=Caribbean Geography|access-date=2021-06-09|website=World Atlas|date=25 April 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Chavón River]]||[[Dominican Republic]]|| ||historically used by pirates to hide treasure
|-
|[[Colonarie River]]||[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]||{{cvt|5|mi}}||longest river in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|-
|[[Constitution River]]||[[Barbados]]||{{cvt|0.35|mi}} ||longest river in Barbados<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/9/1401/files/2014/02/Barbados-wz8d0d.pdf|title=Barbados|website=CPB US|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Haina River]]||Dominican Republic||{{cvt|53|mi}}||noted for discovery of gold in 1496<ref>{{cite book|last1=Floyd|first1=Troy|title=The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526|date=1973|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|location=Albuquerque|pages=32–34, 44}}</ref>
|-
|[[Layou River]]||[[Dominica]]||{{cvt|14.63|mi}}||longest river of Dominica
|-
|[[Nizao River]]||Dominican Republic|| ||three hydroelectric plants on river, has since dried up due to aggregate extraction<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2008/10/22/29822/ |title=RD$350M to recover Nizao river, top Dominican ecologist says - DominicanToday.com |access-date=2013-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234927/http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2008/10/22/29822/ |archive-date=2014-04-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Dams and disease: ecological design and health impacts of large dams, canals and irrigation systems|first1=William R. |last1=Jobin |first2=William |last2=Jobin |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1999 |pages=157–158 |isbn=978-0-419-22360-3}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ozama River]]
*[[Isabela River]]
|Dominican Republic||{{cvt|92|mi}}||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]]).<ref name="Floyd">{{cite book|last1=Floyd|first1=Troy|title=The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492–1526|date=1973|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|location=Albuquerque|pages=34}}</ref>
|-
|[[Rio Minho]]||[[Jamaica]]||{{cvt|57.7|mi}}||longest river in Jamaica<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=08657dcf29924733aa9036d1048ed9e7|title=Rio Minho|website=ArcGIS|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A53283-2004May24?language=printer|title=Arroyo Blanco|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PED/dor0504.htm|website=Paho|title=Riviere Soliette}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article61988.ece|title=Riviere Soliette|website=The Independent UK}}</ref>
|-
|[[Roseau River (Saint Lucia)|Rosseau River]]||[[Saint Lucia]]|| ||longest river in Saint Lucia
|-
|[[Saint Johns River]]||[[Grenada]]|| ||longest river in Grenada
|-
|[[Yaque del Norte River]]||Dominican Republic||{{cvt|185|mi}}||longest river in the Dominican Republic
|-
|[[Yuna River]]||Dominican Republic|| ||second longest river in the Dominican Republic<ref>{{cite book| last = De la Fuente| first = Santiago | title = Geografía Dominicana| publisher = Editora Colegial Quisqueyana| year = 1976| location = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic| pages = 110–114}}</ref>
|}

=== Rivers of North and Central America by discharge ===
{{Bar chart
| title       =  Largest primary rivers of North and Central America by discharge:
| label_type  = River
| data_type   = Average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at mouth
| bar_width   = 10
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 21,300
| label1   = 01 [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]]–[[Atchafalaya River|Atchafalaya]]
| data1    = 21,300
| label2   = 02 [[St. Lawrence River|St Lawrence]]
| data2    = 17,600
| label3   = 03 [[Mackenzie River|Mackenzie]]
| data3    = 9,800
| label4   = 04 [[Columbia River|Columbia]]
| data4    = 7,407
| label5   = 05 [[Yukon River|Yukon]]
| data5    = 7,000
| label6   = 06 [[Nelson River|Nelson]]–[[Churchill River (Hudson Bay)|Churchill]]
| data6    = 4,380
| label7   = 07 [[Grijalva River|Grijalva]]–[[Usumacinta River|Usumacinta]]
| data7    = 4,028
| label8   = 08 [[Fraser River|Fraser]]
| data8    = 3,944
| label9   = 09 [[La Grande River|La Grande]]–[[Eastmain River|Eastmain]]–[[Rupert River|Rupert]]–[[Caniapiscau River|Caniapiscau]]
| data9    = 3,808
| label10  = 10 [[Mobile River|Mobile]]–[[Alabama River|Alabama]]–[[Tombigbee River|Tombigbee]]
| data10   = 2,118
| label11  = 11 [[Churchill River (Atlantic)|Churchill]]
| data11   = 1,932
| label12  = 12 [[Kuskokwim River|Kuskokwim]] 
| data12   = 1,897
| label13  = 13 [[Skeena River|Skeena]]
| data13   = 1,760
| label14  = 14 [[Copper River (Alaska)|Copper]]
| data14   = 1,700
| label15   = 15 [[Koksoak River|Koksoak]]
| data15    = 1,600
| label16  = 16 [[Stikine River|Stikine]]
| data16   = 1,600
| label17  = 17 [[San Juan River (Nicaragua)|San Juan]]
| data17   = 1,590
| label18  = 18 [[Thelon River|Thelon]]
| data18   = 1,538
| label19  = 19 [[Papaloapan River|Papaloapán]]
| data19   = 1,461
| label20  = 20 [[Susitna River|Susitna]]
| data20   = 1,450
| label21  = 21 [[Moose River (Ontario)|Moose]]
| data21   = 1,440
| label22  = 22 [[Albany River|Albany]]
| data22   = 1,420
| label23  = 23 [[Susquehanna River|Susquehanna]]
| data23   = 1,199
| label24  = 24 [[Nottaway River|Nottaway]]
| data24   = 1,190
| label25  = 25 [[Saint John River (Bay of Fundy)|St John]]
| data25   = 1,189
| label26  = 26 [[Sacramento River|Sacramento]]–[[San Joaquin River|San Joaquin]]
| data26   = 1,185
| label27  = 27 [[Coatzacoalcos River|Coatzacoalcos]]  
| data27   = 1,163
| label28  = 28 [[Nushagak River|Nushagak]]
| data28   = 1,000
| label29  = ''45 [[Hudson River|Hudson]]''
| data29   = 620
}}

{{North America topic|List of rivers of|state=expanded}}

==South America==
[[File:Amazonrivermap.svg|thumb|350px|Amazon River basin]]

The following are some of the significant rivers in South America
*[[Aconcagua River|Aconcagua]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Amazon River|Amazon]] - [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]] ({{cvt|4086|mi}}) (flows into the Atlantic Ocean) 
**''[[Solimões River|Solimões]]'' - name given in [[Brazil]] to the portions of the Amazon upstream of its confluence with the [[Rio Negro (Amazon)|Rio Negro]]
***[[Ucayali River|Ucayali]] - [[Peru]]
****[[Tambo River (Peru)|Tambo]] - [[Peru]]
*****[[Ene River|Ene]] - [[Peru]]
******[[Mantaro River|Mantaro]] - [[Peru]]
******[[Apurímac River|Apurímac]] - [[Peru]]
****[[Urubamba River|Urubamba]] - [[Peru]]
***[[Marañón River|Marañón]] - [[Peru]]
****[[Pastaza River|Pastaza]] - [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]]
****[[Huallaga River|Huallaga]] - [[Peru]]
**[[Putumayo River|Putumayo]] - [[Colombia]], [[Peru]], [[Brazil]]
**[[Juruá River|Juruá]] - [[Peru]], [[Brazil]]
**[[Caquetá River|Caquetá]] - [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]]
**[[Purus River|Purus]] - [[Peru]], [[Brazil]]
**[[Rio Negro (Amazon)|Rio Negro]] - [[Venezuela]], [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]]
***[[Casiquiare canal|Casiquiare Canal]] - a large natural canal in [[Venezuela]] connecting the Rio Negro with the upper [[Orinoco|Orinoco River]]
***[[Vaupés River|Vaupés]] - [[Colombia]], [[Brazil]]
*** [[Branco River|Rio Branco]] - [[Brazil]]
**[[Madeira River|Madeira]] - [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]]
***[[Beni River|Beni]] - [[Bolivia]]
****[[Madre de Dios River|Madre de Dios]] - [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]]
***[[Mamoré River|Mamoré]] - [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]]
****[[Guaporé River|Guaporé]] - [[Brazil]], [[Bolivia]]
**[[Tapajós River|Tapajós]] - [[Brazil]]
**[[Xingu River|Xingu]] - [[Brazil]]
**[[Tocantins River|Tocantins]] - [[Brazil]]
***[[Araguaia River|Araguaia]] - [[Brazil]]
*[[Apure River|Apure]] - [[Venezuela]]
*[[Atrato River|Atrato]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Baudó River|Baudó]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Bío-Bío River|Bío-Bío]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Malleco River|Malleco]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Caroní River (Venezuela)|Caroní]] - [[Venezuela]]
*[[Catatumbo River|Catatumbo]] - [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]]
**[[Zulia River|Zulia]] - [[Venezuela]], [[Colombia]]
***[[Sardinata River|Sardinata]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Cauca River|Cauca]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Cautín River|Cautín]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Chubut River|Chubut]] - [[Argentina]]
*[[Colorado River (Argentina)|Colorado]] - [[Argentina]]
*[[Elqui River|Elqui]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Essequibo River|Essequibo]] - [[Guyana]]
*[[Itata River|Itata]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Ñuble River|Ñuble]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Loa River|Loa]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Magdalena River|Magdalena]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Maipo River|Maipo]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Mapocho River|Mapocho]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Maule River|Maule]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Loncomilla River|Loncomilla]] - [[Chile]]
***[[Achibueno River|Achibueno]] - [[Chile]]
****[[Ancoa River|Ancoa]] - [[Chile]]
***[[Longaví River|Longaví]] - [[Chile]]
***[[Perquilauquén River|Perquilauquén]] - [[Chile]]
****[[Purapel River|Purapel]] - [[Chile]]
***[[Putagán River|Putagán]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Melado River|Melado]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Maullín River|Maullín]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Maroni River|Maroni]] - [[Suriname]], [[French Guiana]]
*[[Mira River (Colombia)|Mira]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Orinoco River|Orinoco]] - [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]]
**[[Apure River|Apure]] - [[Venezuela]]
**[[Arauca River|Arauca]] - [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]]
**[[Meta River|Meta]] - [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]]
**[[Guaviare River|Guaviare]] - [[Colombia]]
**[[Meta River|Meta]] - [[Colombia]]
**[[Tomo River|Tomo]] - [[Colombia]]
**[[Vichada River|Vichada]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Parnaiba River|Parnaiba]] - [[Brazil]]
*[[Rapel River|Rapel]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Reñihue River|Reñihue]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Río Bueno River|Río Bueno]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Rahue River|Rahue]] - [[Chile]]
***[[Damas River (Chile)|Damas]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Río de la Plata]] It is not really a river but the lower stretch of the [[Paraná River|Paraná]] and the estuary that forms after its confluence with the [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]]
**[[Paraná River|Paraná]] - [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[Paraguay]]
**[[Uruguay River|Uruguay]] - [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[Uruguay]]
*[[Palena River|Palena]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Patía River|Patía]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Petrohué River|Petrohué]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Puelo River|Puelo]] - [[Chile]]
*[[São Francisco River|São Francisco]] - [[Brazil]]
*[[San Jorge River|San Jorge]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[San Juan River (Colombia)|San Juan]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Sinú River|Sinú]] - [[Colombia]]
*[[Toltén River|Toltén]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Trancura River|Trancura]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Valdivia River|Valdivia]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Calle-Calle River|Calle-Calle]] - [[Chile]]
***[[San Pedro River, Chile|San Pedro]] - [[Chile]]
****[[Enco River|Enco]] - [[Chile]]
*****[[Llanquihue River|Llanquihue]] - [[Chile]]
******[[Huahum River|Huahum]] - [[Chile]], [[Argentina]]
*******[[Chapelco River|Chapelco]] - [[Argentina]]
******[[Liquiñe River|Liquiñe]] - [[Chile]] 
**[[Cau-Cau River|Cau-Cau]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Cruces River|Cruces]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Cutipay River|Cutipay]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Futa River|Futa]] - [[Chile]]
*[[Yelcho River|Yelcho]] - [[Chile]]
**[[Futaleufú River|Futaleufú]] - [[Chile]]

===Rivers of South America by discharge===

{{Bar chart
| title       =  Largest primary rivers of South America by discharge:
| label_type  = River
| data_type   = Average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at mouth
| bar_width   = 11
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 209,000
| label1   = 01 [[Amazon River|Amazon]]
| data1    = 209,000
| label2   = 02 [[Orinoco]]
| data2    = 39,000
| label3   = 03 [[Parana River|Paraná]]
| data3    = 19,706
| label4   = 04 [[Tocantins River|Tocantins]]
| data4    = 12,369
| label5   = 05 [[Magdalena River|Magdalena]]
| data5    = 8,371
| label6   = 06 [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]]
| data6    = 7,058
| label7   = 07 [[Essequibo River|Essequibo]]
| data7    = 5,650
}}
{{Bar chart
| title       = (continues)
| label_type  = River
| data_type   = Average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at mouth
| bar_width   = 12
| width_units = em
| data_max    = 5,650
| label1  = 07 [[Essequibo River|Essequibo]]
| data1   = 5,650
| label2  = 08 [[Atrato River|Atrato]]
| data2   = 4,900
| label3  = 09 [[São Francisco River|São Francisco]]
| data3   = 3,300
| label4  = 10 [[San Juan River (Colombia)|San Juan]]
| data4   = 2,649
| label5  = 11 [[Jacuí River|Jacuí]]
| data5   = 2,327
| label6  = 12 [[Maroni River|Maroni]]
| data6   = 1,871
| label7  = 13 [[Courantyne River|Courantyne]]
| data7   = 1,720
| label8  = 14 [[Guayas River|Guayas]]
| data8   = 1,655
| label9  = 15 [[Araguari River (Amapá)|Araguari]]
| data9   = 1,604
| label10 = 16 [[Guamá River|Guamá]]
| data10  = 1,542
| label11 =17 [[Patía River|Patía]]
| data11  = 1,453
| label12 =18 [[Oyapock River|Oyapock]]
| data12  = 1,273
| label13 =19 [[Doce River|Doce]]
| data13  = 1,241
| label14 =20 [[São Gonçalo Channel|São Gonçalo]]
| data14  = 1,186
| label15 =21 [[Paraíba do Sul]]
| data15  = 1,118
| label16 =22 [[Río Negro (Argentina)|Río Negro]]
| data16  = 1,112
| label17 =23 [[Catatumbo River|Catatumbo]]
| data17  = 1,024
| label18 = 24 [[Baudo River|Baudó]]
| data18  = 1,023
| label19 =25 [[Esmeraldas River|Esmeraldas]]
| data19  = 1,011
| label20 = 26 [[Parnaiba River|Parnaíba]]
| data20  = 1,000
}}

{{South America topic|List of rivers of|state=expanded}}

==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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

;General references
*{{cite web|url=https://geonames.nga.mil/namesgaz/|title=GEONet Names Server|website=[[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=June 25, 2021}}, [[GEOnet Names Server]]

{{Continent topic| prefix =  List of rivers of | title = Lists of rivers by continent | state = expanded}}
{{Americas topic| List of rivers of | title = Lists of rivers of the Americas }}
{{Portal bar|water|Geography|Americas}}
{{Authority control}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Lists of rivers by continent|Americas]]
[[Category:North America-related lists|Rivers]]
[[Category:South America-related lists|Rivers]]
[[Category:Americas-related lists|Rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers of North America| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of South America| ]]