Largest Rivers and Longest Rivers in United States

By  simple john , views , updated
Categories: Nature United States Americas
Dataset contains 27 data items (see table below).

Overview

Which is the longest river in the United States
The longest river in USA is Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring with a length of 6,275 kilometers (3,899 miles). At second and third, are Yukon which stretches 3,185 kilometers (1,979 miles) and Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes which is 3,058 kilometers (1,900 miles) long.The lengths of the major rivers and river systems in the U.S. range from 1,015 km to 6,275 km, with the average river being 1,866.1 km long.

 Compare Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring with Kuskokwim

Dataset Rank & segment full dataset here

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Rivers with the largest drainage basin. The river with the largest drainage basin in United States is Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring with a basin area of 2,980,000 square kilometers.

Rivers with the highest average discharge. The river with the highest average discharge in United States is Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring with a discharge rate of 16,792 m3/s.


Here are the longest rivers in USA.

Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring.

Above the Mississippi River

Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring is the longest river in North America at 6,275 kilometers (3,899 miles).

At 6,275km (3,899 miles), the Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson–Beaverhead–Red Rock–Hell Roaring river system is the longest in North America, helmed by the two longest rivers in the United States, the Missouri river (3,768 km) and the Mississippi River (3,544 km).The Missouri River is the longest river in North America. Originating from the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 2,341 miles (3,767 km) before merging into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River has its sources at Lake Itasca and Brower's Spring in Montana, and stretches for another 3,544km southwards before flowing out eventually to the Gulf of Mexico.

The drainage area of the river spans 2,980,000 square kilometers and discharges at a rate of 16,792m3. The deepest part of the Mississippi River is in New Orleans, where its depth could reach 200 feet (61m).


Yukon.

Yukon River

Yukon is the 3rd longest river in North America at 3,185 kilometers (1,979 miles).

Draining from an area as wide as 850,000 km2 in United States (59.8% of river) and Canada (40.2%), Yukon has a length of 3,185 kilometers (1,979 miles).

Yukon discharges at 6,210 m3/3 and flows out into Bering Sea.

 

 Compare Yukon with Upper Mississippi from North America.

 Compare Yukon with Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes from North America.


Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes.

Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes

Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes is the 3rd largest river by average discharge rate in North America at 10,100 m3/s.

Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes is a river that is 3,058 kilometers (or 1,900 miles) long and drains from a 1,030,000 km2 drainage basin in Canada (52.1% of river) and United States (47.9%).

Its average discharge rate is 10,100 m3/3 and the river flows out into Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

 

 Compare Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes with Colorado (western U.S.) from North America.

 Compare Saint Lawrence–Great Lakes with Athabasca from North America.


Rio Grande.

Rio Grande

Draining from an area as wide as 570,000 km2 in United States (52.1% of river) and Mexico (47.9%), Rio Grande has a length of 3,057 kilometers (1,900 miles).

Rio Grande discharges at 82 m3/3 and flows out into Gulf of Mexico.

 

 Compare Rio Grande with Arkansas from North America.

 Compare Rio Grande with Snake from North America.


Nelson–Saskatchewan.

Nelson–Saskatchewan

Nelson–Saskatchewan is the 3rd largest river by drainage area in North America at 1,093,000 km2.

Nelson–Saskatchewan is a 2,570-km long (1,597 miles) river that drains from a 1,093,000-km2 wide basin in Canada and United States.

Nelson–Saskatchewan discharges at 2,575 m3/3 and flows out into Hudson Bay.

 

 Compare Nelson–Saskatchewan with Lerma–Rio Grande De Santiago from North America.

 Compare Nelson–Saskatchewan with Red (USA) from North America.


Arkansas.

Arkansas

Draining from an area as wide as 505,000 km2 in United States, Arkansas has a length of 2,348 kilometers (1,459 miles).

Arkansas discharges at 1,066 m3/3 and flows out into Mississippi River.

 

 Compare Arkansas with Colorado (western U.S.) from North America.

 Compare Arkansas with Brazos from North America.


Colorado (western U.S.).

Colorado (western U.S.)

Colorado (western U.S.) is a river that stretches 2,333 kilometers (or 1,450 miles) in length, draining from a 390,000 km2 basin in United States and Mexico.

Its average discharge rate is 1,200 m3/3 and the river flows out into Gulf of California.

 

 Compare Colorado (western U.S.) with Green from North America.

 Compare Colorado (western U.S.) with Upper Mississippi from North America.


Columbia.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia is a river that is 2,250 kilometers (or 1,398 miles) long and drains from a 415,211 km2 drainage basin in United States and Canada.

Columbia discharges at 7,500 m3/3 and flows out into Pacific Ocean.

 

 Compare Columbia with Yellowstone from North America.

 Compare Columbia with Upper Mississippi from North America.


Red (USA).

Red (USA)

Red (USA) is a river that stretches 2,188 kilometers (or 1,360 miles) in length, draining from a 78,592 km2 basin in United States.

Red (USA) discharges at 875 m3/3 and flows out into Mississippi River.

 

 Compare Red (USA) with Yellowstone from North America.

 Compare Red (USA) with Tennessee from North America.


More on the longest and largest river systems in the world:

World: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

By Country: Australia  |  Brazil  |  Canada  |  China  |  France  |  Russia  |  UK  |  USA

Europe: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

Asia: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

Africa: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

Oceania: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

North America: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

South America: Longest  |  Largest by Discharge Volume  |  Largest by Drainage Area

Outflows: Amazon River  |  Atlantic Ocean  |  Black Sea  |  Mississippi River  |  Pacific Ocean

Attributions