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.
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