Largest Rivers by Discharge Volume in South America
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Chart 1: Largest Rivers in South America by Discharge Volume
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Which river has the highest average discharge in South America?. The river with the highest average discharge in South America is Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac with a discharge rate of 209,000 m3/s and flowing out to Atlantic Ocean. At second and third, are Orinoco that discharges at 33,000 m3/s on average and outflows to Atlantic Ocean, and Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha with an average discharge of 31,200 m3/s


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Here are South America's largest rivers by average discharge.

Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac.

The life of Amazon Rain Forest

Amazon–Ucayali–Tambo–Ene–Apurímac is the largest river by drainage area in the world at 7,050,000 km2.

The river system, from Amazon River to Ucayali to Tambo to Ene and Apurímac river, is the longest river system in South America at 6,992km (4,344 miles), with its drainage area spreading across the width of the South American continent at an area of 7 million square kilometers (largest drainage basin in the world!). The Amazon river system is also the second longest in the world, with the Nile River system pipping slightly ahead at 7,088km.In terms of discharge volume, the Amazon river system is the largest in the world, discharging at 209,000 cubic meters per second onto the Atlantic Ocean.


Orinoco.

Splendid 360 degrees video of Orinoco river - you can change the angle of view (credit: AirPano VR)

Orinoco is the 3rd largest river by average discharge rate in the world at 33,000 m3/s.

Orinoco is a 2,101-km long (1,306 miles) river that drains from a 1,380,000-km2 wide basin in Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana.

Orinoco discharges at 33,000 m3/3 and flows out into Atlantic Ocean.

The Orinoco River is also known as Orinoquia.

 

 Compare Orinoco with Paraguay (Rio Paraguay) from South America.


Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha.

Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha
The Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha river system is 3,380 kilometers long (2100 miles) and has a drainage area of 1,485,200km2, third-largest in South America, stretching across Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It is also the third-largest river system by discharge volume at 31,200m3/s in South America, behind the Orinoco River and the Amazon River.The Madeira–Mamoré–Grande–Caine–Rocha river system is home to a rich diversity of freshwater fish species, with close to 900 fish species estimated in the Madeira River Basin.


Negro.

Meeting of the Waters Negro & Solimões rivers (Credit: Rodrigo CL) - interesting!

Negro is the 3rd largest river by average discharge rate in Brazil at 26,700 m3/s.

Negro is a river that is 2,250 kilometers (or 1,398 miles) long and drains from a 720,114 km2 drainage basin in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia.

The average volume of water flow is 26,700 m3/3 and the river flows out into Amazon River.

 

 Compare Negro with Içá (Putumayo) from South America.

 Compare Negro with Tocantins–Araguaia from South America.


Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande.

Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande

Río De La Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande is the 2nd longest river in South America at 4,880 kilometers (3,032 miles).

The Paraná river system is the second longest river system in South America at 4,880 kilometers (3032 miles), after the mighty Amazon river. Draining from an area of 2,582,672 square kilometers, the Paraná river flows south-westerly through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina at a rate of 22,000m3/s, before discharging onto Río de la Plata.


Tocantins–Araguaia.

Araguaia RIO

Tocantins–Araguaia is the 3rd longest river in South America at 3,650 kilometers (2,268 miles).

The Tocantins–Araguaia river system stretches a combined 3,650 kilometers (2,268 miles); it is the third longest river system in South America and the longest river that is wholly located in Brazil. The river basin has a vibrant aqua-fauna ecosystem, including large mammals like the Amazonian manatee, Araguaian river dolphin and reptiles such as the black caiman, spectacled caiman and yellow-spotted river turtle.

Draining from a basin that is 950,000 square kilometers wide, the river discharges at a rate of 13,598 cubic meters per second.


Magdalena.

Magdalena

Magdalena is a river that stretches 1,550 kilometers (or 963 miles) in length, draining from a 263,858 km2 basin in Colombia.

Magdalena discharges at 9,000 m3/3 and flows out into Caribbean.

 

 Compare Magdalena with Huallaga from South America.

 Compare Magdalena with Grande from South America.


Japurá (Rio Yapurá).

Japurá (Rio Yapurá)

Japurá (Rio Yapurá) is a river that stretches 2,615 kilometers (or 1,625 miles) in length, draining from a 242,259 km2 basin in Brazil and Colombia.

Its average discharge rate is 6,000 m3/3 and the river flows out into Amazon River.

 

 Compare Japurá (Rio Yapurá) with Orinoco from South America.

 Compare Japurá (Rio Yapurá) with São Francisco from South 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


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